58 SESSION LifeWay

Transcription

1 58 SESSION 6

2 Who are some of your favorite leaders from history? QUESTION 1 #BSFLBeStrong BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 59

3 THE POINT Leaders set the example and call others to follow God. THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE As I stood with my kids on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, we marveled at our view as we looked across the Reflecting Pool, up to the World War II Memorial, and finally, at the majestic Washington Monument towering in the background. Then I looked behind me where Abraham Lincoln sat deep in the shadows of his own memorial. The Gettysburg Address is engraved in one of the walls. With that speech, Lincoln made a courageous call for the nation to preserve unity even if it would call for the highest price. Martin Luther King, Jr. also stood on these same steps, calling the nation to racial equality. Reverend King stood on the proverbial shoulders of Lincoln, a leader who called people to a higher and nobler ground. Both men impacted history. Leaders influence others, calling them to the place God desires for them to go. At the end of Moses life, he did this for Joshua, and Joshua did the same for the Israelites after bringing them safely to the promised land. Like Moses, Joshua challenged the people to new heights of love and loyalty for God. Today, our ultimate calling, whether in our homes, churches, or communities, is to lead others to a place of greater commitment to Him. 60 SESSION 6

4 WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Joshua 24:14-18, (HCSB) 14 Therefore, fear the LORD and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship Yahweh. 15 But if it doesn t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh. 16 The people replied, We will certainly not abandon the LORD to worship other gods! 17 For the LORD our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us all along the way we went and among all the peoples whose lands we traveled through. 18 The LORD drove out before us all the peoples, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will worship the LORD, because He is our God. 24 So the people said to Joshua, We will worship the LORD our God and obey Him. Fear (v. 14) To fear the Lord means having a deep reverence toward God and a heightened awareness of His presence and His will for one s life. Covenant (v. 25) From the Hebrew term berith, covenant refers to a binding agreement between two parties, most often Yahweh and His people, comparable to a relational contract. Statute and ordinance (v. 25) Statutes and ordinances refer to the stipulations for maintaining the covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel, notably to abstain from idolatry and immorality. 25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people at Shechem and established a statute and ordinance for them. 26 Joshua recorded these things in the book of the law of God; he also took a large stone and set it up there under the oak next to the sanctuary of the LORD. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 61

5 THE POINT Leaders set the example and call others to follow God. Joshua 24:14-15 Joshua led and influenced others throughout his life. Even at the end of his life, he gave a farewell message that included a great challenge to the Israelites. With the nation gathered before him, Joshua called the people to renew their loyalty to God. He began by reviewing the history of God s involvement in the lives of their people. Based on how God had worked among the people throughout their history, they were to fear the LORD and worship Him in sincerity and truth. The fear of God includes the knowledge that His character demands us to honor and reflect His holiness. We see God fully displayed in the Person of Jesus Christ. We deserve God s full wrath, but God s anger against sin was poured out on His own Son who was guiltless. He also displayed the deepest commitment of love to us in sending Jesus (John 3:16). Therefore, to fear God is to be in awe of Him for how His infinite power has combined with His limitless love to bring us to Himself through Jesus. In reverential gratitude, we respond in ways that honor or revere Him through our worship, obedience, and devotion. As we fear the LORD we are also to worship Him in sincerity and truth. The one whom we fear or revere is the one whom we worship and will devote our lives to serving, and the one on whom we will depend. How we choose to live is shaped by what we fear, revere, or desire the most. Knowing this, Joshua called the people to make a choice. They were free to choose for themselves whom they would fear and, as a result, whom they would serve. Joshua declared that he and his family were choosing to fear the God who had worked on their behalf. Joshua led not only with his words, but with his example as well. How can we obey what Joshua commanded in these verses? QUESTION 2 62 SESSION 6

6 Joshua 24:16-18 It takes courage to call people to a commitment. It takes even greater courage to put your own reputation on the line by pointing to your own example, by allowing others to see you live out what you say you believe. So where do you find such courage? We ve already seen how Joshua reminded the people of God s work on their behalf. God had poured out one blessing after another on them. The people were to choose would they continue to follow God, or not? The Israelites wholeheartedly agreed they would follow God alone. It s as if Joshua had pulled back the curtain to allow them to see the full measure of God s faithfulness. Once they saw the wider perspective, they were filled with confidence in their decision to serve God alone. They would serve the God who had worked on their behalf. How could they follow other gods and forsake the God who had worked so mightily to provide for and protect them? We too will worship the Lord, because He is our God. My father drove a tank in the army. Life inside the tank was tight, crammed with the loaders and gunners. As the driver, he could only see a small part of his surroundings through a periscope. But the commander sat above him with a window that enabled him to see in every direction front, sides, and rear. Although my father had limited vision, he knew he could trust the voice of a commander who saw it all. This is what leaders church members, parents, friends, and Bible study leaders do. Like the commander who sees the larger panorama of what God has done and is doing, they give a greater perspective. Leaders do this by reminding those around them that God has not forsaken them. They affirm that the same God who has worked mightily in the past can do mighty things today. How does God s past faithfulness influence your current actions? QUESTION 3 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 63

7 THE POINT Leaders set the example and call others to follow God. What are some tangible ways we can commemorate our commitments to God? "One living sermon is worth a hundred explanati ons." ROBERT COLEMAN, MASTER PLAN OF EVANGELISM QUESTION 4 TRIED AND TRUE Which of the following images best depicts God s provision and protection in your own life? Explain. 64 SESSION 6

8 Joshua 24:24-26 Monuments served as significant markers of God s provision on behalf of His people. Several are mentioned in the Book of Joshua alone (Joshua 4:1-9; 22:26-29). Now in chapter 24, Joshua raised another monument. The Israelites made a commitment to serve the Lord, and Joshua recorded these things in the book of the law of God to remind them and guide them as they served God in the new land. Then, because this was a significant moment, Joshua raised a monument as a way to remind them and bind them to their commitment: he set a large stone next to the sanctuary. Perhaps the idea was that, as the people came to the sanctuary for worship, the monument would remind them faithfulness was to extend into their daily lives. The large stone was a witness as to the people s commitment to follow and obey God. Each of us can have monuments ways to remember and commemorate what God has done in our lives and the lives of those we lead. A day a time when God stepped in to do something special. A place a hospital, chapel, or camp where God called you to a place of greater understanding of Himself and a deeper commitment to follow Him. A picture something or someone who influenced you greatly. A book a passage from a book God used to turn your heart toward Him. But don t stop there. Lead others to see what you gained and what that monument signifies for you. Help those you lead by showing them those tangible, memorable things that moved you. Then pray that the witness God has given you will move them as well. Be ready to influence others by pointing them toward what God has done and to what He longs to do in the days ahead. How can we lead our community in renewing a commitment to God? QUESTION 5 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 65

9 THE POINT Leaders set the example and call others to follow God. LIVE IT OUT How will you call others to follow God this week? Create a marker. Find something tangible that serves as a reminder a monument to something God has done in your life. Place this marker somewhere you see often. Share the story of God s provision with someone this week. Make a list of two or three ways you ve seen God work in your life or someone else s in recent months. Spend time thanking God for His faithfulness and provision in all areas of our lives. Identify an area of your life where you need reminding of God s faithfulness. Whether it s a relationship or a career decision, renew your commitment to follow God s leadership in that area. Ask a trusted friend to keep you accountable to God in this area and to pray with you on a regular basis. Whom are you challenging to new depths of love and loyalty to God? He desires to use each of us. Let your life be a testament to God s sovereignty and your commitment to Him. Unmasked I love superhero movies. And, I m fairly indiscriminate about them too. Superman, Batman, Ironman, X-men I like them all. Maybe it stems from the little boy inside of me. Maybe it s because I have a subconscious desire to leap tall buildings in a single bound or drive cars that look like sleek tanks. Regardless, I like them a lot. To continue reading Unmasked from Threadsmedia.com, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles. 66 SESSION 6

10 My group's prayer requests My thoughts 67

11 Be Strong and Courageous: Everyday Leadership from Joshua You are a leader. By applying the leadership principles gained from the Book of Joshua, you can have a incredible impact on the community and culture around you for the kingdom of God. The best example of leadership is Jesus Christ. He fully obeyed the Father and was consequently successful in the mission He came to accomplish. Jesus dealt with our sin on the cross. His death made it possible for us to be free from our sin and failure, and to do what is right. God doesn t call us then leave us alone. He gives His Holy Spirit to instruct and empower us. 68 SESSION 6

12 God has given all believers spiritual gifts, and we lead as we use those gifts in ministry. Our example and confidence in Christ motivate others to use their gifts and serve Him, as well. Our willingness to confront a problem with integrity not only leads to resolution but points to the One we follow. Our influence and approach to leadership influences others to follow Christ. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 69