The Land In-Between

Here are the study guides for the three sermons: "The Land In-Between".

“THE LAND IN-BETWEEN: FERTILE GROUND!!”
Read: Numbers 11: 4 – 35; Philippians 4: 4 – 7

The land in-between is any time we are in the middle of a journey, a race, a project or a life challenge. It is that time when are far enough away from the beginning that we’ve lost our drive, our energy and our vision has blurred, but we aren’t close enough to the finish/end to see the completion or gain energy from the fact we “are almost there.”
Can you identify one or two times when you’ve been in, or are in, a land in-between?

The Land In-Between is fertile ground for complaint.
How/why do you remember the “good old days” when they may not have been that good?
Do you ever find yourself looking back and longing for what was? What is the result?

The Land In-Between is fertile ground for emotional meltdown.
What/where is the focus when we ask “Why?” or “Why me?”
In your land in-between what has caused you emotional meltdown?
What events cause you to move to ‘why me?’ thinking and how do you respond?

The Land In-Between is fertile ground for God’s provision AND God’s discipline.
Is there an area in your life where you doubt God’s willingness or ability to provide?
Has God ever offered a “discipline” for your sinful complaint about God (different that your complaint TO God)?
What happened?

The Land In-Between is fertile ground for faith to grow.
How do you begin to thank God in your trials while rejoicing and offering prayers for God to supply your needs (supplication)?
Where do you see God at work and how do you trust God at work in the monotony of day-to-day life?


“THE LAND IN-BETWEEN: SNAKE ON A POLE!!”
Read: Numbers 21: 4 – 9; John 3: 1 - 21

In the land in-between the Israelites are getting more and more impatient. When their impatience gets the best of them, God becomes angry.
Think of a time when you have doubted that God is good and active in your life.

The impatience of Israel caused the people to speak out against God and against Moses.
What is the difference between complaining about something and complaining against someone? How does that fit here?
Is there a time in your life when a discouragement turned into a complaint against God? What happened?

Sometimes in the land in-between we erroneously conclude that God is evil, incompetent, apathetic or distracted. .
What do you think the Israelites were thinking?
What erroneous conclusions have you made about God because of life circumstances?

God becomes angry. God also gives a measure of grace.
Are you troubled by God’s response? Why? Why not?
What meaning do you find in God’s deliverance?
Do you see a connection between acknowledgement of sin and the action of “looking upon the pole”?

Jesus is lifted up on the “pole” of the cross as part of God’s redemptive plan for all people.
Who/what are the “snakes” in the Jesus story of salvation?
How is the Exodus story of a “snake on a pole” a fitting illustration of Jesus’ redemptive actions?
When was the first time you heard the words of John 3: 16?
What do these words stand for in your life?

“THE LAND IN-BETWEEN: WATER!!”
Read: Numbers 20: 2 – 13; Exodus 6: 1 - 8;
Luke 15: 1 – 7

God is a rescuer!! He loves to see people who are dying come to life. The problem is we tend to give up on people, and ourselves, before God does. Here we see Moses, fed up with the complaining, ready to leave the Israelites dead in the wilderness. God also wants to still their complaining, but also wants to rescue his people.

There is a problem of thirst in the desert. The People have given up. Moses is ready to give up too.
What gives the impression Moses has given up?
What does Moses do to “change” God’s plan? How does God react? Does Moses hold back his blessing of water?
Have you ever given up on somebody? Does God give up on them? How can you trust God with this person?
Where can you identify God’s persistence and grace in your life?

God’s covenant is rooted in Exodus 6: 1 – 8; and before that in Genesis 12: 1 – 4.
What is the promise? To whom is it made?
Make a full list of God’s promises. What do God’s promises suggest about the character of God?
What is it about humans that we have trouble believing and trusting God’s promises?

Luke records three stories of God’s faithfulness. In the parables of “the lost” we get a picture of God’s promise in Jesus.
Look at the setting of Jesus’ teaching. How/why is the setting important to the meaning of these stories?
What is the character of Jesus, the “shepherd”?
When are you like a “lost sheep”? Where do you go? How does it feel to know God is searching for you?
How can you encourage other “lost sheep” for whom God is also searching and willing to “carry” them home?

You might be interested in exploring this theme more fully in the book: "The Land Between: Finding God in Difficult Transitions" by Jeff Manion