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Joshua- Enduring Faithfulness: The Significance of Circumcision

11/11/2018

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​
​This week we tackled the themes of Conversion, Consecration, Celebration, and Commissioning in the 5th chapter of Joshua.

Opener: What is the worst job you’ve ever had? Or, what is the worst job you can imagine doing? How does it measure up to the task God gave Joshua in Chapter 5:2-7?

  1. Crossing the Jordan was a type of conversion experience for the people of Israel. Pastor Jeremy talked about the link between this crossing and the symbol of Baptism. What do you think of the connection between these two things? You can also include Noah and the Ark (Gen. 6:9-22, 1 Peter 3:18-22) and the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:26-29, 1 Cor. 10:1-4) Why do you think that Baptism is a necessary step for a Christian?
  2. Speaking of circumcision, read Deut 10:12-16, Jeremiah 4:3-4, Colossians 2:8-14, Philippians 3:2-3. How do you understand the connection of these verses in correspondence to Joshua 5:8-9?
  3. The man, the warrior in Joshua 5:13-15. Who was this guy and why do you think he appeared to Joshua? Why did he say, “NO”? Pastor Jeremy said it was because Joshua was asking the wrong question. What would the correct question be? How do you understand this exchange in relation to your life? How did Jesus answer when confronted with this very same situation in Matthew 26:53-54 and Matthew 26:36-42
  4. We said this Sunday that Jesus was the plan from the beginning. What do you think of this idea that Scripture has one author (the Holy Spirit), one hero (Jesus), and one message (God redeeming and dwelling with His people)? What does the word ‘scriptures’ refer to in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4? How does your interpretation of this affect the way you read the Bible?
  5. In Joshua 5, the Commander of the Lord’s Army was a powerful hope for Joshua and the people as they prepared to march into their first battle in Canaan - what was the confidence they were given by this experience and what confidence does it give you as you prepare to walk into your day tomorrow and the day after that, etc? What is your current “battle”, “mission” or next step of obedience? The reason this command answered ‘No’ to Joshua was because he wanted Joshua to understand who the real commander was… and it certainly wasn’t Joshua… it was the Lord! How does this help you understand your battles? Just like it was for Joshua, the real question today is, are you on the Lord’s mission? In the struggles you face, does this help to change your perspective?

Bonus Track!

 Just in case you would like a hip hop break down of the theme of circumcision in Scripture, check out this epic piece by rapper Timothy Brindle. Click here for the lyrics.


​
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Joshua - Enduring Faithfulness:  If These Stones Could Speak

11/4/2018

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Opener: What, in your home, acts as a memento? Why is it special to you? What is the memory it points to and how do it represent that?
  1. In the story of Joshua leading the people across the Jordan (Joshua 3-4), what was the most interesting aspect? Some suggestions: God imparting his authority to Joshua; the fighting men lead the way; the Lord stops the water as He did at the Red Sea; or anything else which caught your eye.
  2. Pastor Brennan said that the Bible has one author, one hero, and one message. What do you think of reading the Bible this way? Have you ever considered that the ‘stories’ may be more connected than they appear on the surface? Where else do you find these themes showing up in scripture? Do they tie together to say something bigger?  Pick one of these themes and dig deeper in your group.
    1. The theme of 3 days (Josh 3:1-3, Jonah 1:17, 1 Cor. 15:4)
    2. The theme of 40 (days, years, 400 years)
    3. The theme of Adam (Josh 3:16, Rom. 5:12-21)
    4. The theme of going through the Jordan, or into it and out again (Josh. 3-4, The cleansing of Naaman in 2 Kings 5, The baptism of Jesus in Matt. 3:13-17)
    5. The theme of entering the Promised Land or God’s Rest (Heb. 4:1-11)
    6. The theme of burial and death as a result of a lack of trust for in the Lord (Heb. 3:16-19)
    7. Or something else you picked out of Josh. 3-4
  3. Why were the stones in Gilgal significant (v4:21-24)? Why were the stones under the river significant? Think about this as they relate to the themes of judgement, deliverance, and authority. Is it really important to have both sets of stones? What would have the message been if there was only one set of stones? Either the ones on the shore or the ones under the river? What would have been missing?
  4. How do you feel about being called a memorial stone? Pastor Brennan said, “God didn’t pull you out of the river to be silent.” Read Colossians 2:12-15
    1. This is the authority that we walk in now. Our very lives speak of the defeated foes of sin and death, and a victorious king Jesus. Jesus has added YOU to his collection of handpicked rocks and attached to you significance and a powerful story of deliverance, for you to share, not keep to yourself. Because it’s through YOU that he adds to his rock collection.
    2. What would need to change in your life for you to explore this role more openly this week?
  5. Over the next week, read Psalm 118 and meditate on the the work of the Lord in it. Sometime before Sunday, shoot an email to the rest of your group with a quick reflection on this passage and what God has shown you through it. ​
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Joshua - Enduring Faithfulness:  The Unlikliness of God

10/28/2018

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Joshua 2 - The Unlikeliness of God
Opener - What’s the longest you’ve gone “off the grid” for? What was it like when you finally made it back into civilization?

1. 40 years earlier the Israelites stood in this same place, deciding whether it was time to go in. What has changed for them between now and then?
2. Read through all of chapter 2 or the leader can recount the story to their group.

3. The Israelites were about to invade what looks like a “stronghold” city. Yet they hear a report that the hearts of the people of Jericho were melted. Where do you see signs of this in your current secular circles? Is this still happening? Are people's hearts still aware that a power beyond themselves exists?

4. Rahab seemed like an unlikely convert. She lived in a pagan culture, she lived an immoral lifestyle and to top it off she was a woman. A woman's testimony was not worth much in the Ancient Near East yet God used her testimony to encourage a nation! Are there Rahab’s in your life? Have you ever written someone off because of who they were or what they’ve done?

5. Do you see yourself as an unlikely convert or an easy convert?  

6. Rahab really put herself out there. She had, in effect, just cut herself off from her background, cut herself off from her culture and would have been charged as a traitor for what she did. If God’s people would not have welcomed her in, Rahab and her family would have been dead. We can not put ourselves anywhere near her situation but yet it can be hard for us to put ourselves out there in order to follow God.

What kinds of things would we lose if we followed God radically?

Is it worth it to you to lay those things on the line for your obedience to God?

7.  Rahab’s faith is also unlikely. In verse 9-11 she gives an amazing confession that not even the most optimistic Israelite could have imagined. It’s interesting to note that Rahab doesn’t give the recognition to Moses or any other human leader; rather she gives the credit to “the Lord your God who is both God in the heavens above and the earth beneath.”  

How much of the credit to the blessings in your life and the lives of others do you give to human achievement, hard work and wisdom? How much do you give to God? Why is it so hard for us to see how God is at work and to give him credit for it?

8. Rahab also had a test of her faith. She was not being asked for one act of obedience but an ongoing commitment to “coming through” for the Israelites. This would culminate in the hanging of the scarlet cord in her window. What do you think was going through Rahab’s head in those days that followed? Imagine every knock on her door from that point forward.
Do you struggle with following through on the commitments you make to God? Why do we have a hard time with this? What are practical ways we could combat this from happening?  

9. In light of this most unlikely of stories, let’s both pray and expect God to work.

​
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Joshua: Enduring Faithfulness

10/21/2018

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Study Questions for Joshua 1:1-9
​

For some context, check out Deuteronomy 34. This is the account of the death of Moses, and the establishment of Joshua.

Read through Joshua 1:1-9

What is the task or the mission God gives to Joshua? What are the promises God makes to Joshua? And what are the commands God gives Joshua. ?

The three promises God makes to Joshua are…

God promises the people a PLACE.

What did it mean to them to have a place to call their own? What does it mean for you to have a place to belong? What are some of these places for you? What does God say his place for you is? He often talks about this place in his word as ‘his rest’.

Read Matt. 11:28. How does Jesus speak to the idea of rest? How has he actually fulfilled this promise in himself and for you?

God promises his PRESENCE AND POWER

God promises that he will never leave them and never forsake them. While they journey toward taking hold of the promised rest, God says that he is with them and that he will never leave them.

Do you have any relationships in your life where you know that the person will never leave you or forsake you? Do you long for this kind of relationship?

The promise of God’s presence in our lives is life changing. How have you experienced his presence in your life this last week? Is he still faithful today? If you haven’t tasted his presence in the last week, how do you long to experience him in the coming week? What would make the difference for you?

2 Kings 6:15-17 shows us an interesting picture of God’s presence. What made the difference in the servant’s perception of his situation? Could this be you? Another picture of this is the meditation in Psalm 77 (check it out on your own time).

God promises PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS

Pastor Jeremy said that God is in the business of transforming us daily more into his image. How does this help you define prosperity and success? Measure it against Joshua’s mission. Measure it against Matt. 28:18-20

How did Joshua and the people take hold of these promises? How do we take hold of these promises today?

Meditate on the Word of God day and night.

How do we know if we are living this out? Take a look at the driving force in your life. What pushes you into action? How do you choose what to love? How do you choose what to turn away from?
Are your thoughts shaped by the word of God?
Are your decisions shaped by the word of God?
Are your words shaped by the word of God?

Jesus said that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. What are you filling your heart with?

Be Careful to do All the Law

There are dire consequences for not following God’s law. So often, our failure to do what God has commanded us to do leave us empty and dealing with brokenness.

Jesus leads us with this exact same requirement. He says this multiple times in fact. He cares about what we do. Read John 14:15. Jesus reiterates this again in Matt. 28:20. Not only are we to follow him in obedience, but we are left with the mission of teaching others to do the same.

How do you process these commandments of obedience? How do you try to live this out? How do you seek to pass it on?

Be Strong and Courageous

Pastor Jeremy said that when we are meditating on God’s word, and living in obedience, we are then free to be strong and courageous.
Yet, is it all about the things we do? What is God’s role here? How does God promise to provide for Joshua? How does Jesus promise to provide in John 14:15-21? All of these promises are given shape by the mission we are to strongly and courageously accomplish.

How do you wish you could have been stronger and more courageous this past week?
What do you think strength and courage look life for you in this coming week?

​
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