SUMMER 2015 LEADER GUIDE RONNIE FLOYD GENERAL EDITOR BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS: EVERYDAY LEADERSHIP FROM JOSHUA AWAKE: THE CALL TO A RENEWED LIFE

Transcription

1 SUMMER 2015 LEADER GUIDE RONNIE FLOYD GENERAL EDITOR BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS: EVERYDAY LEADERSHIP FROM JOSHUA AWAKE: THE CALL TO A RENEWED LIFE

2 Contents SUMMER 2015 VOL. 2, NO. 4 BIBLE STUDY SESSIONS STUDY THEME: Be Strong and Courageous: Everyday Leadership from Joshua 10 Suggested for week of: June 7 Session 1 Accept Your Leadership Role June 14 Session 2 Be Confident in God s Power June 21 Session 3 Stick to God s Plan June 28 Session 4 Move Beyond Failure July 5 Session 5 Work Through Conflict July 12 Session 6 Call Others to Step Forward Looking Back: Be Strong and Courageous STUDY THEME: Awake: The Call to a Renewed Life 88 July 19 Session 7 Return to God July 26 Session 8 Return to Your First Love August 2 Session 9 Return to Prayer August 9 Session 10 Return to God s Word August 16 Session 11 Return to Unity August 23 Session 12 Return to the Task Looking Back: Awake August 30 Session 13 Hospitality: How Ordinary People Can Live on Mission

3 Contents continued FEATURES Leading Someone to the Greatest Decision of All A Word from Ronnie Using Bible Studies for Life Help Members Who Resist Guidance The Ark of the Covenant Coming In Fall This Leader Guide is designed for leaders of senior adults ages 70 and up. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter, and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay s doctrinal guideline, please visit doctrinalguideline. Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adults Leader Guide (ISSN: ; Item ) is published quarterly by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President LifeWay. Printed in the United States of America. For ordering or inquiries, visit call (800) , or write LifeWay Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN For subscriptions or subscription address changes, subscribe@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, orderentry@lifeway.com, fax (615) , or write to the above address. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Commentary Sessions 1-6: Gregory T. Pouncey and various other writers. Greg is pastor of First Baptist Church Tillman s Corner, Mobile, Alabama. Sessions 7-12: W. Wayne VanHorn is dean of the School of Christian Studies and the Arts at Mississippi College, Clinton, Mississippi. Session 13: Ronny Marriott is the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church, Temple, Texas. Group Plans Sessions 1-6: Donna McKinney works in the public affairs office at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., and teaches adults at Downtown Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia.. Sessions 7-13: Polly Cooper Brown is a retired psychologist living in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. She teaches adults at Balboa Baptist Church. 24 ERIC GEIGER Vice President, Church Resources RONNIE FLOYD General Editor DAVID FRANCIS Managing Editor JEFFREY HOLDER Content Editor PHILIP NATION Director, Adult Ministry Publishing FAITH WHATLEY Director, Adult Ministry Send questions/comments to: Content Editor Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adults Leader Guide One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, Tennessee, or make comments on the Web at 4

4 A Word from Ronnie In my involvement with both individual followers of Christ and their churches, I ve observed a need for two things. Leadership. I m not talking simply about pastors and church leaders. We are all leaders in some way. Paul Jimenez has authored a study from the Book of Joshua called Be Strong and Courageous: Everyday Leadership from Joshua. I pray that it will encourage and strengthen you in the ways you influence and lead others. Renewal. God is ever calling us to a closer walk with Him. This includes a call to repentance to return to the One who loves us. I am so passionate about encouraging Christians to experience renewal in their lives that I wrote the study Awake: The Call to a Renewed Life. This study will definitely challenge all of us, but such a challenge brings with it great encouragement and joy. Alongside this study, let me invite you to read a 16-page e-book I have written. It is a call for us to humbly come together before God in clear agreement, visible union, and in extraordinary prayer for the next great awakening and for the world to be reached for Christ. This e-book is a free download at lifeway.com, and we have included it on the Leader Pack DVD-ROM. I hope you will share this e-book with your group members. These two studies touch us where we live every day. Let the Bible meet your life and the lives of those you lead in Bible study. Then watch what God does! General Editor 5

5 USING BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE Invite the Holy Spirit s Guidance Because God is the guide for your study, invite Him to show you how to be the best facilitator for your group. Read the Bible passage several times, and ask the Holy Spirit to show you its meaning and application. Personal Study Guide Start with the Personal Study Guide. Its content provides the foundation and direction for the discussion and study by your group. Leader Guide Follow the simple directives in the group plan. This plan will guide you in engaging your group in discussion around the Bible passage. Read the commentary to help you understand the passage. Share insights from the commentary as needed during the group discussion. Leader Pack The optional Leader Pack is designed to enhance the group experience, especially for visual learners. Use the posters as referenced in the group plan. The Leader Pack also includes a DVD-ROM with an electronic version of the group plan and a video presentation from the study author to help you prepare. 6

6 Additional Ideas Extra discussion questions and suggestions for leaders are available online for specific groups (women, men, boomers, and singles) at biblestudiesforlife.com/blog. Additionally, free online training on how to lead a group is available at ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife. Find suggestions for opening assemblies and leadership meetings at lifeway.com/extra under the heading Quarterly Meeting Helps. Prepare Your Group Members Encourage your group members to read the Personal Study Guide prior to the group meeting. (Some group members will prefer to read the Personal Study Guide after the meeting as a way to follow up and reflect.) Encourage them to join the conversation with others on our Facebook page (facebook.com/biblestudiesforlife); our blog (biblestudiesforlife.com); or on Twitter (@biblemeetslife). For Those Who Want To Go Deeper Advanced Bible Commentary is written for group members who desire more extensive commentary. It includes exposition of each session s Scripture passage, an examination of Key Words, an introduction to the setting of the passage and biblical life and times, questions to guide the study, and interactive responses to help readers apply God s truths to their lives today. Herschel Hobbs Commentary is designed specifically for leaders and provides a comprehensive exposition of each session s Scripture passage. Specific attention is called to items in the biblical text that readers would miss without a commentary to point them out. This commentary is KJVbased but interacts with all major English translations. Biblical Illustrator is designed to give in-depth background information on Bible customs, history, culture, archaeology, and word studies through vivid photography, engaging maps and graphics as well as lesson-targeted articles. 7

7 HELP MEMBERS WHO RESIST GUIDANCE By Ken Braddy If you ve ever tried leading a group of people, you know one or two people are always in the group who don t see things your way. This is especially important when you lead a Bible study group, because you must exercise great skill and tact if you want them to continue following your leadership. What do you do when a person resists your guidance? Do you do what you want anyway? Do you take time to think through their objections, concerns, and comments? Or do you play the I m in charge card? Here are five approaches for working with group members who resist guidance. 1. Don t hang a label on the person. One of the temptations any leader faces is to hang a label on someone. We may use words like stubborn, unreasonable, or troublemaker. But hanging a label on a fellow believer, group member, and perhaps friend is wrong. It could forever influence the way you see that person; or worse, it might lead others to see that person in a negative light. Instead of using a label, view the person as perhaps overusing a strength. For example, if a person you lead is objecting to a plan of action you d like to implement, he or she may simply be overusing a good quality: cautiousness. 2. Seek to hear the real objection. Listen for the reason behind the reason when a group member objects to something you want to lead the group to do or to become. Watch for body language clues as to what the person is feeling. Ask your group member to restate the objection, or say something like, I hear you saying. 8

8 Is that right? Ask for clarification until you have peeled back the layers and understand what is really behind her resistance. 3. Pray with the person. Before a meeting with the person ends, take a few minutes to take turns praying for each other. Ask the Lord to bring about unity in the relationship and clarity of vision for the task at hand. 4. Find a compromise. Find a win-win. There may be a middle ground that will allow you to accomplish your goals without sacrificing the relationship with the other person. Occasionally you may find yourself on one of those hills worth dying on, but those are usually pretty rare. Instead, ask yourself if there is another way to accomplish your goal, one that you may have not considered until now. 5. Listen. This may be the most important thing you can do with the group member who resists your guidance. If he feels you don t care to hear him or you don t value his opinion and advice, he may build a wall that will take a long time to tear down. As you talk with the person, maintain eye contact, nod, restate some of the things he says, and ask questions. All of this will assure him you are listening, hearing, and valuing what he is trying to tell you. Every situation is different and every person is unique. Guiding resistant group members is more of an art than a science. Seek God s wisdom, ask for patience, and always love the people in your group. The high road is always the best ground on which to travel. Ken Braddy is manager of LifeWay s ongoing adult Bible studies, and he has served for more than 18 years as a pastor of Christian education. He and his wife Tammy lead an ongoing Bible study group at their church in Tennessee. 9

9 BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS: EVERYDAY LEADERSHIP FROM JOSHUA 10

10 Take the lead. When you think of a leader, who comes to mind? > > An entrepreneur or CEO? > > A pastor? > > A coach? > > A general? Let me add one more: YOU! Do you think of yourself as a leader? You may not have lead a business, a church, a team, or a military unit, but God calls each of His children to lead and influence others in some capacity. Not convinced yet? Consider these questions: > > How might grandparents use their wisdom and experience to influence their families? > > How might senior church members lead by example as they greet guests, lead a Bible study, serve on a committee, mentor a teenager or young adult, or? Joshua was a man tapped to move God s people from wandering in the wilderness to the conquest of their own land. Throughout the Book of Joshua, God has given us a blueprint for how to be godly and effective leaders. What is your blueprint for leading and influencing others in your senior years? Remember, God isn t finished with you yet. Open your heart to what God can do by His power through available servants like you. Let s walk through this door together and be changed into people who lead and influence others as God desires. Paul Jimenez Paul Jimenez is senior pastor at Taylors First Baptist Church in Taylors, South Carolina. Paul served on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., before God called him to seminary and to the local church. He is married to his best friend, Cheri, and together they deeply love and parent a daughter and a son. Most of all Paul wants to see the kingdom of God break through in his family, his church, and throughout the world. 11

11 Library Of Congress SESSION 1 ACCEPT YOUR LEADERSHIP ROLE 12 Session 1

12 GET INTO THE STUDY The Point As you lead, submit to God s authority and direction. The Bible Meets Life Leadership takes many forms, and we are all leaders in one way or another. Whether leadership is carried out in the business world, the family, the playing field, or the church, how we lead is ultimately a reflection of our relationship with Christ. A person s approach toward leadership says much about his or her dependence on and commitment to God. Our leadership and influence are to be carried out under the leadership and influence of God s Spirit in our lives. The Passage Joshua 1:1-9 The Setting God had led His people through Moses for a lengthy and eventful time from enslavement in Egypt, through the 10 plagues, out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, and for 40 years in the wilderness. Moses had been at the helm through the giving of the Law, surveying of the promised land, and constructing of the tabernacle. Though some had challenged Moses leadership, most of those alive had known no other. But now Joshua had to fill those shoes. 10 minutes GUIDE: Direct attention to the contents page in the Personal Study Guide [PSG] (p. 3). Note that today the group begins a six-session study from the Book of Joshua. Review the titles. (ENHANCEMENT: Note the session titles on Pack Item 1: Be Strong and Courageous. ) GUIDE: Direct the group to look at the picture (see p. 12; PSG, p. 8). DISCUSS: Question #1 (PSG, p. 8): When have you wondered, Am I ready for this? GUIDE: Direct attention to The Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 9). Stress that Eisenhower faced a task that must at times have seemed impossible. But he did not let fear and doubt keep him from acting. GUIDE: Introduce The Point (PSG, p. 9): As you lead, submit to God s authority and direction. When we are called to lead and influence others, we too can overcome fear and doubt. SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF JUNE 7 13

13 THE POINT As you lead, submit to God s authority and direction. STUDY THE BIBLE Joshua 1:1-6 TIP: Before getting into the Scripture, caution the group about disengaging from this study because some may feel they are not leaders in the traditional sense. Emphasize that each of us leads through our influence and example. Even if that influence and example only touches the life of one person, it s leadership. God calls us to lead in all kinds of circumstances. READ: Invite a volunteer to read Joshua 1:1-6 GUIDE: Direct attention to verse 1. Note that many seniors have experienced a passing of the torch. A parent passed away, or a boss retired leaving us to take up responsibilities in their place. SAY: Some of us have a sense of what Joshua may have been feeling. 10 minutes Joshua 1:1 6 1 After the death of Moses the Lord s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, who had served Moses: 2 Moses My servant is dead. Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites. 3 I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will be from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great Euphrates River all the land of the Hittites and west to the Mediterranean Sea. 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance. God calls you to lead. Verses 1 2. The Book of Joshua begins with a somber reminder that Moses had died. The phrase after the death of Moses and the statement Moses My servant is dead remind us that God s work goes on even after we experience the loss of a great leader. But who fills the leadership void? The first part of the answer is found in the title used of Moses, the Lord s servant. When God approached Moses about being the leader of His people, he was an 80-yearold shepherd tending his father-in-law s sheep (Ex. 3:1; 7:7). Initially, Moses declined God s invitation to lead, citing several excuses to avoid leadership responsibilities Notes 14 Session 1

14 (Ex. 3 4). However, when he died forty years later (Deut. 34:7), the reluctant shepherd had developed into the Lord s servant. Leadership voids are filled by people who are willing to serve. The second part of the answer to the question, Who fills the leadership void? is to realize God selects another person to undertake the leadership position before the current leader is off the scene. Joshua son of Nun aided Moses during the exodus from Egypt, being mentioned as early as Exodus 17:9 14 in reference to the defeat of Amalek. In Exodus 24:13, Joshua was called Moses assistant. Numbers 11:28 indicates Joshua had assisted Moses since his youth. Moses selected Joshua as one of the spies who scouted out the land of Canaan (Num. 13:8,16). Only Joshua and Caleb encouraged the people to trust the Lord and to invade the land (14:6 9). God was so displeased with His people s lack of faith He declared only Joshua and Caleb would enter the promised land; the unbelieving adults who were 20 years or older would die in the wilderness (14:29 30,38; 26:64 65). Then, even as Moses took his first glimpses of the promised land, the Lord reminded him that he would not be the one leading the people into the land (27:12 14). In response, Moses appealed to God to select a new leader for Israel to lead them into the land; God instructed Moses to commission Joshua son of Nun (vv ). Tying together the two parts of the answer to our question, Who fills the leadership void? is the fact that the leader God had chosen to replace Moses was himself a servant; Joshua was described as the one who had served Moses. Not everyone is called to lead exactly like Joshua. However, God s interaction with Joshua holds valuable principles applicable to all people and all forms of leadership. First, when God calls someone to lead, that man or woman needs to realize the Lord will be actively involved in the endeavor. God is constantly working ahead of and alongside of us as we lead others to do His will. The Lord s identification of Moses as My servant, together with the reference to the Israelites, places the leadership issue within the context of the covenant relationship. Thus, a second principle of leadership is for potential leaders to be aware of the spiritual nature Notes SUMMARIZE: The encouraging message in the Book of Joshua is that God is in control. He was in control as Joshua took up the leadership challenge, and He is in control as we exercise our influence in the challenges we face. After leading the Israelite people for many decades, Moses died just outside the promised land. God then called Joshua, Moses assistant, to lead the people across the Jordan River and into the land. GUIDE: Emphasize God s being in control of Joshua s leadership situation as you point out the three statements in bold print on PSG pages 10, 11, 12: God had engineered all that had happened up to this point in Joshua s life. God had engineered the circumstances of the people Joshua was leading. God was ready to engineer the circumstances of what was ahead. 15

15 THE POINT As you lead, submit to God s authority and direction. SUMMARIZE: God had engineered all that had happened up to this point in Joshua s life. Joshua likely had seen the supernatural power of God as He brought His people out of Egypt and miraculously took care of them for 40 years. As Moses aide, God had prepared Joshua well for the task ahead. God had engineered the circumstances of the people Joshua was leading. Hundreds of years earlier, God promised the patriarchs of the Israelites that He would give the land of Canaan to their future generations. He was at work to fulfill the promises He had made. God was ready to engineer the circumstances of what was ahead. God mapped out the steps ahead for Joshua and the people regarding the land they were to inherit. Additionally, God wouldn t allow any other nations to prevent them from inheriting the land God had promised to them. of the leadership role. Every type of leadership to which God invites Christian men and women is within God s overarching plan of redemption. Verse 3. A third principle gleaned from God s interaction with Joshua is the assurance each leader has of God s trustworthiness. The Lord guaranteed Joshua and the Israelites every place where the sole of your foot treads He already had given to them. The reason God could declare a future event as an accomplished fact is based on His promise to Moses. The phrase just as I promised Moses effectively renders the literal Hebrew just as I spoke to Moses. When God called Moses to leadership at the burning bush, He promised Moses He would give the people a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex. 3:8). Joshua and the Israelites could trust God precisely because He was good for His word. By telling Moses He would bring the Israelites into the land, He obligated Himself to work on their behalf, ensuring their success in the venture. Everyone called of God to lead has this assurance. Verse 4. The Lord mentioned specific places that would serve as the promised land s boundaries. The wilderness referred most likely to the southern part of the region, extending southward toward the Gulf of Aqaba. To the north, Lebanon would mark the boundary along with the Euphrates River to the northeast, with the Mediterranean Sea forming the western boundary. The vast Arabian desert separating the promised land from Babylon served as the eastern boundary and possibly was included in the term wilderness. The Hittites were Indo-European people who lived within the population of Canaan and probably migrated from the region of modern Turkey. The phrase all the land of the Hittites probably referred to the entire region enclosed within the boundaries specifically named. The fourth principle of leadership is to remember that the God who calls us to positions of leadership is intricately involved in and knowledgeable of the world in which we live. He is more than aware of all that awaits His leaders. The fifth principle is to remember God s promises are not just Notes 16 Session 1

16 generally true; they are specifically true, tied to the very time and space His people inhabit. Verse 5. God had made promises to Moses; He also made promises to Joshua. The Lord deliberately used the phrase just as I was with Moses to enable Joshua to make the connection. God promised Joshua no one would be able to stand against him just as He had promised Moses earlier (Deut. 7:24b). Note carefully the promise was not a guarantee of no opposition; during the quest to take the land from its sinful inhabitants, Joshua would face many adversaries. The Lord s promise that no one would stand against him referred to the ultimate failure of all such opponents. The additional phrase as long as you live meant God gave Joshua a lifetime guarantee. This verse provides a sixth principle of leadership. Godcalled leaders are assured of His presence throughout the course of their lives. He did not abandon Moses during his leadership years. His promise to Joshua, I will not leave you or forsake you, is as applicable to Christians as when God uttered these words to Joshua (see Heb. 13:5). Verse 6. The Lord had commanded Joshua and the people to prepare to cross over the Jordan (Josh. 1:2). Obeying the command would involve crossing a flooded river (3:15-16; 4:16) and facing many hostile kingdoms. Therefore, God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous. This analysis provides us a seventh applicable principle of leadership, namely, that a godly leader s boldness is derived from his or her faith in the Lord s presence and in following His prescribed plan of action. As noted earlier, God is good for His word. His promise that Joshua would distribute the land and give it to the people as an inheritance was based on the oath He had given by promising the land to their fathers. The phrase to their fathers is used to bracket the Israelite conquest of the promised land, appearing in Joshua 1:6 before the conquest and in 21:43 after the conquest. Their fathers most likely referred to the Lord s promises to Israel s patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen. 12:7; 13:14-15; 15:18; 17:8; 24:7; 26:3; 35:12). Notes GUIDE: Note the image of the road on PSG page 12. Acknowledge that seniors have traveled many roads in life on which we didn t know what we might be facing around the next bend. Yet experience has taught us that we can trust God for what lies ahead. DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 13): How has God been preparing you for the responsibilities you are facing today? (Alternate: How might God be using us to prepare younger people to lead when we re gone?) TRANSITION: IN ADVANCE, get a recent copy of the newspaper job ads. Comment there may have been times when we did not feel like we were the right match for a job. Read aloud several of the job ads, pointing out the skills required for the job. Note that when God calls us to lead or use our influence, He does not leave us ill-equipped or unprepared. 17

17 THE POINT As you lead, submit to God s authority and direction. STUDY THE BIBLE Joshua 1:7-8 5 minutes READ: Invite a volunteer to read Joshua 1:7-8 SAY: One way God equips us is with His Word. GUIDE: Direct attention to verse 8 and the command to recite it day and night. Invite two or three volunteers to recite for the group a Bible verse they have memorized. After hearing several Scripture verses, note that many of us can quote favorite verses of Scripture because we spent time reading, reciting, and meditating on them. SAY: Because we know those portions of God s Word, we can call on them immediately for comfort, courage, or direction in whatever life throws at us. Joshua 1:7-8 7 Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. 8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. KEY WORDS: Recite (v. 8) The Hebrew term means to meditate, as in Psalm 1:2. The modern idea of rehearsing something through repetition captures the meaning of recite perfectly. Prosper (v. 8) This term does not mean to make money, but rather to accomplish God s directives and goals for us as revealed in His Word. Succeed (v. 8) This word is similar to prosper but emphasizes developing the ability to see and to do things God s way, resulting in a God-honoring lifestyle. God equips you with His Word. Verse 7. For the second time in two verses, the Lord commanded Joshua to be strong and very courageous. The command is clarified by linking it to faithful obedience to God s teaching. To be an effective leader, Joshua had to carefully observe God s whole instruction He gave to Moses. God would equip Joshua with His Word. The phrase whole instruction included all the ordinances, commands, and injunctions God provided for Israel through Moses. We cannot pick and choose what aspects of God s Word fit our self-chosen lifestyles and then ignore the rest. Notes 18 Session 1

18 The command for Joshua to not turn from God s instruction renders a Hebrew verb meaning to turn aside from something in an attempt to evade it. Rather than avoiding God s guidance, Joshua was to seek it out. No turning was acceptable, whether to the right or the left. The command is couched in positive terms. Keeping God s whole instruction would lead to success wherever Joshua went. In this context, success refers to victory in conquering the promised land and wresting it from the grip of sinful nations. Verse 8. The Lord referred to this book of instruction, indicating Moses had written God s instruction. God equipped Joshua for the leadership task by inspiring Moses to write His instruction in this book. Joshua was told not to let the instruction depart from his mouth. When Joshua spoke words of instruction to Israel, his mouth was to be uttering advice from God s book of instruction. Joshua was instructed to recite the book day and night. God s instruction was to be so important to Joshua that he was to rehearse daily the words Moses had written. The purpose of God s prescription is indicated by the words so that. Everything following the words so that represents the result of Joshua s daily care to recite God s instruction. By thoroughly rehearsing God s Word, Joshua could carefully observe everything written therein, just as the Lord had commanded him (Josh. 1:7). Reading and meditating on God s Word is the prerequisite for obeying His instruction. As a result, God promised Joshua would prosper and succeed. The Hebrew verb rendered prosper in this context means to advance or prevail with regard to God s enterprise of leading His people into the promised land. So also the word succeed; in the present context, it confirms that if Joshua leads Israel according to God s instructions both he and they will successfully defeat the sinful inhabitants and claim the promised land. Notes GUIDE: Note the last sentence in verse 8: For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Clarify that this is not a promise guaranteeing financial prosperity or material success. In the Old Testament, to prosper meant that God by His goodness would enable a person to complete his or her endeavors. Succeed carries the idea of acting wisely and with insight as one carries out his task or mission. DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 15): How does meditating on Scripture every day help us carry out our responsibilities? (Alternate: How has God s Word equipped you for challenges in your life?) TRANSITION: Hold up a letter you received. Note that it s good to receive a letter from a loved one, but how much better it is to spend time with that person. Stress that without God s presence in our lives, His Word alone doesn t do us much good. 19

19 THE POINT As you lead, submit to God s authority and direction. STUDY THE BIBLE Joshua 1:9 READ: Invite a volunteer to read Joshua 1:9 GUIDE: Stress that God knows fear and discouragement come when we are uncertain, but He also knows we can overcome those feelings through the supernatural presence of the Holy Spirit. DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 16): How have you experienced God s presence in a challenging situation? 15 minutes GUIDE: Direct attention to the statements in bold print on PSG pages to encourage group members as they are challenged to influence others: Joshua 1:9 9 Haven t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. God equips you with His presence. Verse 9. Our final verse provides another reminder that Joshua needed to be strong and courageous. Notably, God repeatedly told Joshua to be strong and courageous. Yet, why did God tell him so frequently? The answer might be revealed in the additional command, Do not be afraid or discouraged. We reasonably can assume Joshua was afraid of the task before him. Fear often makes people retreat to the safety of anonymity. Individuals usually prefer situations with little stress or risk. Leading a band of former slaves against fortified cities and trained armies constituted a daunting task. How could the Lord expect Joshua to step out of Moses shadow and lead the people in so difficult an undertaking? Yet, God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous and also to not be afraid or discouraged for a very good reason. Joshua could be brave, courageous, unafraid, and encouraged because of this promise: The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. This assurance demonstrated the power of God s presence in His peoples lives. In Joshua 1:5, the Lord promised to be with Joshua as He was with Moses. When we consider Moses delivering the Hebrews from Pharaoh, the parting of the Red Sea, the provisions in the wilderness, and the divinely-wrought military victories, we understand the full potential of the words the Lord your God is with you. The final phrase wherever you go assured Joshua that God s presence would be with him, precisely what (and who) he needed to succeed in claiming the promised land. Notes 1. Be strong and courageous when you consider the great task in front of you. 20 Session 1

20 ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/BOB SCHATZ What about you? Are you ready to accept your leadership role? A commitment to lead means submitting to God s authority and direction. As you consider the seven leadership principles gleaned from Joshua 1:1-6, ask yourself whether God has called you to be a leader. Ask the Lord to renew your faith in the reliability of His Word, trusting Him to equip you with His Word (Josh. 1:7-8). Commit to studying His Word day and night and to implementing its teachings in your daily life. As you enter the leadership enterprise, be assured of God s abiding presence (v. 9). Just as He was with Moses and Joshua, He will be with you also. Providing godly leadership is a great way to tell God, I love you. to set the tone for the entire book. It prepares Joshua and the people for the intense labor that lay before them. God s command for Joshua and the people to be strong and courageous steeled them for the difficult days that awaited them. God s command warned them of what they would need and reassured them that God was indeed with them. 2. Be strong and courageous so you can respond diligently to the Word of God. 3. Be strong and courageous as you move forward. DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 17): What areas in our lives provide opportunities for us to lead? (Alternate: How has God s Word equipped you for challenges in your life?) DO: Invite volunteers to share their responses to Lead Where God Plants You (PSG, p. 17). Jordan Valley near Mount Nebo where Moses encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous. The following excerpt is from, Be Strong and Courageous (Spr. 2000), which can be purchased at Being strong and courageous is one of the dominant themes of the Book of Joshua. The phrase is found five times (1:6,7,9,18; 10:25), with four of those appearing in the first chapter. Joshua 1 seems Previous articles, Joshua: The New Leader (Fall 1993), Joshua: A Man on Mission (Win. 1990), and The Jordan River (Spr. 1989), relate to this session and can be purchased at Look for Bundles: Bible Studies for Life. Subscribe to Biblical Illustrator at or call SHARING THE GOOD NEWS We need not fear because Christ has removed our greatest danger: death. Jesus conquered death, and when we trust in Him, He gives us a new and eternal life. Make yourself available to speak with anyone in your group who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. 21

21 THE POINT As you lead, submit to God s authority and direction. LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes DO: Emphasize The Point: As you lead, submit to God s authority and direction. GUIDE: Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 18; see text to the right). Invite group members to think about which application speaks most to their needs. Emphasize that our roles in leadership may have changed, but we can still influence others for Christ. Wrap It Up GUIDE: State that each of us still has a role to play in God s story. Those who are coming behind us are looking to us to finish the race well. LIVE IT OUT You may think your leadership days are past, or that the influence you once had has slipped away. The children have been grown up for a long time. Your church may be going through some growing pains of its own. True, your leadership and influence are probably different from what they used to be. But you still have a role to play in God s story. Those who are coming behind you still need your godly wisdom and influence. Consider what God may be leading you to do this week. > > Seek. Write down one area in your life in which your influence is not the same as it used to be. Ask God to help you submit to His authority and direction as you adjust to this change. Starting today, seek His guidance every morning to be sensitive to new ways to be a godly influence. > > Meditate. Read and meditate on Joshua 1:1-9 each day this week. Memorize verse 9. Begin each day by reciting it, and thank God for His presence and strength. Note what you wrote in the activity on page 17 [PSG]. Pray for strength each day to carry out your commitment. > > Connect. Connect weekly or monthly with three or four friends who face similar leadership challenges as you do. Share challenges and successes. Pray for and encourage one another. PRAY: Thank God for His promise to be with us wherever we go. Pray that God will empower each member to place his or her full trust in the Lord as He calls them exercise godly influence in the lives of others. 22 Session 1

22 My Thoughts My Group's Prayer Requests Additional suggestions for specific groups (women, men, boomers, and singles) are available at BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. And for free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife. Taking Up the Mantle I feel burdened to make sure we don t drop the ball, that we pass on our faith, [Ann Graham] Lotz said. We pass it to the next generation and the next generation, and we do that within our families because if you look at the world, that next generation is being lost. But at least for me and my house, we ll have that legacy and that foundation from generation to generation. To continue reading Taking Up the Mantle from Mature Living magazine, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles, and enter the article title in the search bar. Or use your smartphone to access the article directly by scanning the QR code. 23