Resources For "Enough" From Each Harderwyk Preacher
I. New For This Week
"Numbers" in the BibleProject's Torah Series - Israel leaves Mount Sinai only to rebel against God again. But God responds with short-term severity and long-term generosity. CLICK HERE for the video.
Praying During The War In Ukraine - On Good Friday, April 15 you are invited to join us in prayer for the conflict in Ukraine by signing up for a 20 minute prayer time slot. You can pray right where you are, or you may stop in to the sanctuary (open from 8am-6pm) to pray. CLICK HERE to sign up for a time slot. CLICK HERE for a blog post of several prayer resources on this issue.
Celebration Sermon Outline - CLICK HERE for this Sunday's Sermon Outline.
II. From The Commentaries On This Passage
From Roy E. Gane in his commentary "The NIV Application Commentary: Leviticus, Numbers":
"Epidemics of attitude. Just a short time before the scouts return to the main camp at Kadesh (from the root qdš, referring to holiness), the Israelites are a well-organized army of the Lord, cooperating together and bound for the Promised Land under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Now they turn into a mutinous mob, and even those they have honored and trusted turn on them. How can there be such a radical shift in the attitude of so many people, apparently all at once? M. Gladwell explains this as the “Tipping Point”:
These three characteristics—one, contagiousness; two, the fact that little causes can have big effects; and three, that change happens not gradually but at one dramatic moment—are the same three principles that define how measles moves through a grade-school classroom or the flu attacks every winter. Of the three, the third trait—the idea that epidemics can rise or fall in one dramatic moment—is the most important, because it is the principle that makes sense of the first two and that permits the greatest insight into why modern change happens the way it does. The name given to that one dramatic moment in an epidemic when everything can change all at once is the Tipping Point.
Just as modern fads sweep through society because people exert strong influence on each other, the negativity of naysaying Israelite scouts is wildly contagious to people who share a lack of adequate trust in God. A mere speech reporting powerful peoples, fortified cities, and giants (13:28–29) has an explosive effect, kindling a firestorm of fear and fury in one dramatic moment.
How do we protect ourselves and others from negative tipping points, such as giving in to temptation and strife, and promote positive ones, such as decisions to wholeheartedly follow the Lord? Here are a few tips:
- Foster a healthy influence on others, especially with regard to attitudes or attitude-shaping pieces of information that can be passed on without control from one person to another (e.g., avoiding gossip, slander, paranoia, or sensationalism).
- Critique influences on you, no matter how compelling they look. Don’t allow them to lead you to make damaging choices.
- Keep things in perspective and don’t run or jump just because all the other lemmings do.
- Be aware of spiritual, social, intellectual, and emotional environments that provide fertile ground for sudden change, whether for better or for worse.
- Maintain personal anchor points of faith and ethics to hang on to when everything else seems to be shifting fast.
When nothing is moving, let alone tipping in a positive direction, it is easy to tip into frustration. When we feel as though we are in a “holding pattern,” without signs of measurable progress, perhaps our situation is like Caleb’s prolonged desert experience. Rather than writing the time off as wasted, we can prepare for victory of biblical proportions by teaching precious people how to follow God all the way, in spite of distractions like giants, fortified obstacles, and other tribulations, to the place where “the Lamb … will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 7:17)."
III. Ongoing Resources
1) Spiritual Formation Resources Page - CLICK HERE - This is still a work in progress, but be a part as we look to build out.
2) Scotty Smith’s Heavenward Daily Prayers - CLICK HERE - to see the daily prayer blog of Scotty Smith. You will see an option to have them delivered to your email inbox each day as well.
3) Simple Lectio Divina Overview - CLICK HERE - for a simple introduction of the spiritual practice of a more personal way of experience the Word through contemplation and reflection.
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