An Expositional Sermon
Numbers 16:1-50
“Insubordinate Worship”
Theme/Big Idea: Those who destroy God’s mediator and order of their worship will in turn be destroyed by God.
Aim/Appropriation/Application: Jesus Christ is a greater mediator than Aaron or Moses to save a proud and rebellious people. There is no other acceptable worship of God than through repentance and faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone. Turn to Him, and trust Him, and obey His Word in how we might worship Him together as a church.
Outline:
(1) Rebellion against God’s worship and against God’s mediator is rebellion against God Himself (Numbers 16:1-17)
(2) God’s judgment is pronounced, and God’s order and mediators are vindicated (Numbers 16:18-35)
(3) God gives a sign of remembrance of God’s judgment against sin and God’s high priest gives an offering and mediates the wrath of God once again (Numbers 16:36-50)
Questions for Further Reflection
(1) Which person in the text do you most identify with? It should be the one who is most self-deceived in sin and rebellion; Korah. Why aren’t we inclined to identify with him first? How can we cultivate a heart that isn’t self-deceived?
(2) Why do we push back on God’s authority?
(3) What is one of the dangers of gossip?
(4) How might we guard against false teachers?
(5) “If you think you have a handle on your sin your self-deceived.” How do you struggle with this? What are you doing to study the ways of your sinful heart so you might fight it with your hope in Christ?
(6) How does your life reveal that that the only atonement we can have to bring us back to God is accomplished in the blood of Jesus Christ?
(7) In what ways are you resistant to the correction of others, like Korah? Do you cultivate relationships where people can rebuke you without becoming easily offended and emotionally hurt? If you don’t, consider this as a mark of pride, and ask God to help you face the sinful ways that others can see in you.
(8) Jordan used the phrase that Israel was “a nation of spiritual libertarians”. What do you think this means? Can you relate to this at all?
(9) Jordan encouraged the children in our congregation not to follow the sins of their fathers and mothers; how can we help our kids in this? In light of the sin of parents is there hope for their kids? Yes, through faith in God alone (See Psalm 42:8).
(10) How does the imagery of Aaron, God’s appointed mediator, running into the midst of the plague point to and typify the Lord Jesus Christ?
(11) Brainstorm about ways that you can cultivate a watchfulness and care in how we as a church operate in the face of a sinful culture.
(12) What does the phrase “ordinary means of grace” mean? (Hint consider how “means” or “means of grace” is used in our Statement of Faith). How do these function in our personal growth in Jesus Christ, and in our corporate growth as a church in the gospel?
(13) What does it mean that Jesus Christ is a good and better Aaron? What does it mean that Jesus Christ is a good and better Moses? How is He better? How is He good? Consider the gospel and give praise to God that Christ, who is without sin, ran into the midst of the plague of our sin, as the ultimate mediator-Messiah, to propitiate the wrath of God and make atonement through His blood for His covenant people. Hallelujah, what a Savior!