With Us in the Wilderness - Leader Kit

The Book of Numbers continues the historical narrative in Exodus, the story of God’s people newly freed from Egypt’s shackles and wandering toward the promised land. Numbers is a story of wilderness wandering, but it’s also a story of God’s presence among His beloved.

Join Lauren Chandler in this 7-session, in-depth study of the Book of Numbers and God’s people. Discover how even when they rebelled—and this book tells of many rebellions—God’s love and promises remained. It’s in that love and those promises the children of Israel found their identity and where we must find ours today.

Leader Kit Includes:

• 1 Bible study book with personal study segments to complete between 7 weeks of group sessions and leader guide to lead discussion within small groups
• 2 DVDs with enriching teaching videos, approximately 12–15 minutes per session
• Card with 3 additional digital downloads of teaching videos

• Trade feelings of loneliness for the comfort of God’s presence.
• Know that God’s character is steady through every wilderness season.
• Unravel confusing Old Testament stories for a deeper understanding of God’s love.
• Understand how the Book of Numbers fits into the overarching redemptive story of Scripture.

• Session 1: Introduction (16:03)—In this introduction to our study and the Book of Numbers, Lauren talks about the way that we often see God's provision in a unique way in wilderness seasons. In our study of Numbers over the next few weeks, we'll trace the themes of comfort, hope, and warning.

• Session 2: Holy God, Holy People (11:47)—This week, we’ll discuss how God's people flourish when He is at the center of our lives. Lauren helps us to consider the joy that comes when we admit that we're not God. We can find comfort in being beloved by God and the understanding that we don't have to manage our lives all on our own.

• Session 3: Community and Conflict (13:06)—In this session, Lauren discusses the blessing and the challenge that living in community brings into our lives. With the covering of the grace of God, we can help one another become more like Christ and grow in unity together.

• Session 4: Distrust, Detour, and Discontent (12:31)—As we look at the story of the Israelites, we see that faithfulness to God means that even the detours we experience will lead to a destination. Lauren reminds us that we can be content in any situation because we are God's children—we find our identities in being loved by God, being called His children, and spending time with Him.

• Session 5: For Their Good (9:24)—In this session, Lauren unpacks how God uses our difficult seasons in the wilderness for our ultimate good. She reminds us that no matter what we're facing, if we are followers of Christ, the wilderness is not the end of our stories. God has good plans for us yet.

• Session 6: A New Generation (12:51)—As we discuss the new generation of Israelites who were poised to enter the promised land, Lauren asks us to consider the type of legacy, or residue, that we want to leave behind for the generations that come. Will we choose to leave a residue of faithfulness?

• Session 7: There's No Place Like Home (11:52)—As followers of Jesus, this world is not our home. In some ways, it feels like we are on one long "camping trip," sojourning in this world. But we can choose to make our home in God, even while we are here on earth as we abide in Him through His Word and Spirit until we see Him face to face one day in heaven.