SESSION 5 Tainted by Sin Summary and Goal The story of Achan gives us a powerful picture of how one man s sin can affect everyone around him. It shows us the terrible punishment for sin (death) and how God s enemies are overcome. This story shows us the high cost of being tainted by sin and points forward to the glorious hope of seeing that sin dealt with on the cross. Main Passages Joshua 7:1-12 Joshua 7:19-26 Joshua 8:1-2 Session Outline 1. The sin of one man affected all of Israel (Josh. 7:1-12). 2. The penalty for sin is death (Josh. 7:19-26). 3. God s enemies are overcome only after sin is dealt with (Josh. 8:1-2). Theological Theme All of us are tainted by sin because we have inherited a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Christ Connection The Valley of Achor is a chilling reminder of sin and its consequences, but God later promises to make the Valley of Achor a door of hope (Hos. 2:14-15). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 6:23). Missional Application God calls us to exalt His name in our battle against lingering sin and its consequences. Date of My Bible Study: 55 2015 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser.
Session Plan Tainted by Sin Introduction Option Prior to the group meeting, encourage group members to collect newspaper headlines and online news sources that illustrate how we live in an environment that is inclined toward sin. As group members arrive, have them display what they found through the week, along with a few of your own finds. Then ask group members to create their own headlines regarding sins that are easy to hide or seen as normal, along with their consequences for the community. Call for some responses. Ask: How can our secret sins affect those around us? For Further Discussion How do you feel about the biblical reality that one person s sin can affect others? How does the consequence of Achan s sin compare and contrast with the consequence of Adam s sin in the garden of Eden? Introduction Begin by using the dead end illustration to show how Christians sometimes ignore the warnings about sin in Scripture (leader p. 58; PSG p. 46). What are some warning signs you may encounter before you make a bad choice in life? In what way does consideration of sin s consequences deter you from sin? Recap the previous sessions on Joshua s coming to leadership and the destruction of Jericho (leader p. 58). Summarize this session on the story of Achan and Israel s battle with the city of Ai (leader p. 58; PSG p. 47). 1. The sin of one man affected all of Israel (Josh. 7:1-12). Explain the significance of the change-of-direction conjunction used to open Joshua 7. Then read Joshua 7:1-12. Note the surprising turn of events in how Ai, a small city, put the Israelites on the run (leader pp. 59-60; PSG pp. 47-48). Ai s location is identified on Pack Item 5: The Conquest Map. What aspects of God s goodness to you are you most likely to take for granted? Describe Joshua s reaction to the news about Israel s defeat, and compare how he prayed with Moses prayers. Ask group members to pair up and answer the questions about Joshua s prayer in Joshua 7:7-9, using the chart in the PSG; call for some responses after a few moments (leader p. 61; PSG pp. 48-49). Ask group members to circle the pronouns used in God s response to Joshua s prayer (e.g., they ). Point out that the reason for Israel s defeat was because Achan had sinned. This shows that the sins of individual believers affect the family, the church, and the community (leader p. 62; PSG p. 49). What are some examples of one person s sin leading to terrible consequences for others? 56 Leader Guide Spring 2016
Why do you think God allowed all the people to suffer when just one man committed the offense? 2. The penalty for sin is death (Josh. 7:19-26). Read Joshua 7:19-26. Compare Achan s actions (I saw, I coveted, I took) with 1 John 2:16. Explain how it is possible that members of his family knew Achan hid these treasures inside his tent (leader pp. 62-63; PSG pp. 50-51). Ever since Adam hid from God in the garden, we have been trying to hide our sin. What are some ways we can help each other bring our sin out into the open? Show how since all Israel was affected by Achan s sin, the whole community took responsibility for ridding themselves of the accursed thing. Contrast Achan with Jesus Achan died for his sin; Jesus died for our sin (leader pp. 63-64; PSG p. 51). What happens when we minimize the horrible consequences of our sin? Why does sin deserve death? 3. God s enemies are overcome only after sin is dealt with (Josh. 8:1-2). Ask a volunteer to read Joshua 8:1-2. Point out that the Lord told Joshua that he and Israel would have a second chance to defeat Ai in battle (leader p. 64; PSG p. 52). Compare Achan with Adam and Eve Eve saw, desired, and took the forbidden thing. Then they hid from the Lord rather than repent. Every time we face sin and refuse to repent, we harden our hearts toward God. Achan had opportunities to repent but didn t and experienced the consequences (leader p. 65; PSG pp. 52-53). After the sin in Israel was dealt with, God told Joshua not to be discouraged or afraid. What is the connection between hidden sin and discouragement? Or hidden sin and fear? Conclusion Emphasize that Achan s death illustrates the bad news the wages for sin is death. The good news is Jesus received these wages in our place and gave us the free gift of God eternal life (leader p. 65; PSG p. 53). Apply the truths of this session with His Mission, Your Mission (PSG p. 54). For Further Discussion What makes repentance so hard? Why do you think Achan didn t repent of his sin? Christ Connection: The Valley of Achor is a chilling reminder of sin and its consequences, but God later promises to make the Valley of Achor a door of hope (Hos. 2:14-15). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 6:23).... Missional Application: God calls us to exalt His name in our battle against lingering sin and its consequences. 57
Expanded Session Content Tainted by Sin Voices from Church History Does it make sense to pray for guidance about the future if we are not obeying in the thing that lies before us today? How many momentous events in Scripture depended on one person s seemingly small act of obedience! Rest assured: Do what God tells you to do now, and, depend upon it, you will be shown what to do next. 2 Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015) Introduction In All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Robert Fulghum tells about the street he grew up on, a dead-end street that was clearly marked. Despite the signs, he would see drivers navigate the twoblock street until encountering a third sign located in the cul-de-sac the one reading, DEAD END. Fulghum speculates why drivers took the chance to drive down the street as if the two warning signs at the head of it were inaccurate: So you drive as far as you can, even when you can clearly read the sign. You want to think you are exempt, that it doesn t apply to you. But it does. 1 Christians can be like that sometimes. We see warnings in Scripture about sin and its consequences, and yet we persist in thinking that maybe the warning doesn t apply to us. We think we can keep from sinning, even if we put ourselves in a position of temptation. Or we think that if we sin, we surely won t face the consequences. We can keep it hidden or contained. Somehow, we will be exempt. What are some warning signs you may encounter before you make a bad choice in life? In what way does consideration of sin s consequences deter you from sin? Session Summary In previous sessions, we ve seen Joshua as he has received God s charge to be strong and courageous. We ve watched the children of Israel cross over the Jordan River. We ve seen God bring down the wall of Jericho and begin to give them the land He promised Abraham. But next we see what happened when Israel failed to obey God completely. In this session, we will study the story of Achan and Israel s battle with the city of Ai. The story of Achan gives us a powerful picture of how one man s sin can affect everyone around him. It shows us the terrible punishment for sin (death) and how God s enemies are overcome. This story shows us the high cost of being tainted by sin and points forward to the glorious hope of seeing that sin dealt with on the cross. 58 Leader Guide Spring 2016
1. The sin of one man affected all of Israel (Josh. 7:1-12). In Joshua 6:27, we read: So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land. But chapter 7 opens with a change-of-direction conjunction But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things. A change-of-direction conjunction is an interpretive part of speech that indicates whatever happened before will now be different. Whenever you see a however or a but in Scripture, it s usually a good thing when it comes before God, and usually a bad thing when it comes after God. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph said to his brothers who betrayed and sold him: As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. The psalmist declared in Psalm 30:5: Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. The psalmist also said in 34:19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Jesus announced in John 16:33: In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. Paul proclaimed in Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Unfortunately, in this text, the change-of-direction conjunction is a bad sign because it comes after a statement about how the Lord was with Joshua. Take a look: 1 But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel. 2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, Go up and spy out the land. And the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few. 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai, 5 and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water. Further Commentary The Lord s response to Joshua s and the elders mourning was directed to Joshua alone, and it was a rebuke couched in holiness terms. Israel (not just Achan; see v. 1) had sinned, and God would not tolerate it. This passage shows that God was not open to the charge of a double standard with reference to his treatment of Israel and the Canaanites. He had ordered Israel to exterminate the Canaanites because of their sin, but here he allowed all Israel to be affected by the sin of one man. The overriding concern in all such episodes was his demand for holiness and obedience and the concern for purity of worship. 3 David M. Howard Jr. Further Commentary In Hebrew, Ai, the city, always appears with a definite article. Ai without the article means a heap of ruins. Arguably the Israelites would consider the name as a sign of easy defeat. 59
Further Commentary After defeating the great city of Jericho, the Israelites focused their attention on the city of Ai (7:2-5). Even though the city was smaller than Jericho, Ai was an important city to control. Situated on a prominent road that led to Jerusalem, Ai was only a few hours in distance away. It was also on the main road taken by pilgrims from the hill country of Ephraim to Gilgal. Further, the location afforded the victor control of the approaches to the heart of the hill country and to the fertile district of Samaria. 4 Daniel P. Caldwell, Biblical Illustrator 6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name? 10 The Lord said to Joshua, Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. 12 Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. Joshua sent some spies to the city of Ai, just as he sent two spies to collect intelligence on Jericho (Josh. 2:1). He was preparing to take the next steps in his quest to conquer Canaan and knew he could not attack the larger cities of Canaan without being seen by Ai. He needed to conquer Ai to maintain an element of surprise. The spies returned with a jubilant (and somewhat arrogant) recommendation: Sir, it will not be necessary to expend the entirety of our military forces in our attack upon Ai. Since Ai is a smaller city (Israel had just defeated a most formidable foe in Jericho), only deploy about 2,000 or 3,000 men to engage Ai s smaller ranks. Joshua usually received his marching orders from the Lord from how the Israelites were to march across the Jordan River to how they were to march around the wall of Jericho. But this time, he quickly accepted the recommendation and deployed 3,000 men to fight against Ai. In a surprising turn of events, this small city put the Israelites on the run. Apparently, Israel had forgotten that it was not their army who defeated the much larger city of Jericho it was the Lord who fought for them. They lost the battle at Ai because the Lord who fought for them was no longer fighting for them. 60 Leader Guide Spring 2016
What aspects of God s goodness to you are you most likely to take for granted? The text says the Israelites hearts melted and became as water (Josh. 7:5) What a surprising reuse of a familiar phrase! In Jericho, Rahab had said that the hearts of her people melted and there was no spirit left in any of them because of their fear of the Israelite nation whose God was fighting for them (2:11). Now the tables have turned. Joshua reacted to this shattering news by tearing his clothes and falling on his face before the ark of the Lord. The elders of Israel put dust on their heads. Torn clothes signified mourning and repentance. Dust indicated great shame. Joshua did not know what egregious act had caused God to turn against Israel, but he recognized the signs of God s disapproval. In his prayer to God, Joshua sounded a lot like Moses (Ex. 32:12-13; Num. 14:13-16; Deut. 9:28), who was always concerned about God s reputation among the surrounding nations. Joshua knew that God had not brought the people into the promised land to abandon them. After all, God had promised: Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life (Josh. 1:3,5). Joshua s knowledge of the God of his fathers led him to repent for the Israelites over the loss at Ai. Joshua knew God would not violate His trustworthy name. Voices from the Church Achan had sinned against God s explicit command. As a result, God allowed his countrymen to be defeated. This was a tangible lesson that one person s sin can affect everyone around him. So it is within the fellowship of believers. 5 Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby Take a closer look at Joshua s prayer to God in Joshua 7:7-9. What aspects focus on the Israelites dire situation? What aspects focus on God s name and honor? 61
Further Commentary Both the patronym ( son of Zerah ) and the record of all of Achan s property and offspring indicate that the correct individual was punished along with all that belonged to him. As long as the nation had failed to identify and separate from itself the devoted things and the perpetrator of the sin, God had regarded all of Israel as devoted things Once the identification occurred, this ban was restricted to the perpetrator with everything that could be considered as belonging to him. The sad inclusion of his sons and daughters in the punishment implies that God would not only take Achan s own life but also demand his name, here a reference to all future generations. They would all be given back to God as part of the devoted things. The salvation of Rahab and the preservation of her family and name contrasts with this judgment. Joshua and Israel delivered Rahab and her family from a Jericho that perished among the devoted things. Achan would perish among the devoted things and thereby deliver Joshua and Israel from divine destruction. 6 Richard S. Hess The reason for Israel s defeat was the presence of rebellion in the camp. A man named Achan had sinned, and God associated Achan s individual sin with the entire community. Usually, one man (Achan) would be referred to by the first person singular pronoun he, and yet Joshua 7:11 uses the third person plural pronoun they three times they have transgressed my covenant; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied. God viewed Achan s individual sin as a congregational transgression. God indicted the entire nation, and His anger was leveled against all Israel. Sin is destructive. The sins of individual believers affect the family, the church, and the community. Perhaps others knew what Achan did and allowed it to persist. If they did, they affirmed him in his destructive actions. God told Joshua that He would not fight for him and the Israelites until the correction for their sin has been made. What are some examples of one person s sin leading to terrible consequences for others? Why do you think God allowed all the people to suffer when just one man committed the offense? 2. The penalty for sin is death (Josh. 7:19-26). 19 Then Joshua said to Achan, My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me. 20 And Achan answered Joshua, Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath. 22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. 23 And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the Lord. 24 And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. 25 And Joshua said, Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today. And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor. 62 Leader Guide Spring 2016
As Achan confessed his sin, he described what he did wrong. The three actions (I saw, I coveted, I took) are similar to the description of worldliness in 1 John 2:16 as the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and pride in possessions. When Adam and Eve sinned, they saw the tree was good for food (desire of the flesh), the fruit was a delight to the eyes (desire of the eyes), and the fruit could make them wise (pride in possessions, or life). For Achan, the lust of the flesh was apparent when he coveted (Josh. 7:21); the lust of the eyes was apparent when Achan saw a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels (v. 21); and his pride of life was apparent when he coveted them and took them (v. 21), knowing that he was violating God s law concerning devoted things that were to be taken from the battle in Jericho and deposited in the treasury of the Lord. Achan hid these treasures inside his tent. It is possible that members of his family saw him dig the hole in which to hide the forbidden treasure. Perhaps they thought it more honorable to keep Achan s secret rather than risk alienation through divulging his transgression. If they knew, they kept silent, allowing Achan to look innocent on the outside. The inside of his tent revealed otherwise. First Samuel 16:7 declares, For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart, and Psalm 51:6 states, You delight in truth in the inward being. Ever since Adam hid from God in the garden, we have been trying to hide our sin. What are some ways we can help each other bring our sin out into the open? Joshua asked Achan, with Israel standing as waiting participants in the Valley of Achor ( Valley of Trouble ), Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today. (Josh. 7:25). In 1 Chronicles 2:7, Achan is later identified as Achar, the troubler (HCSB). With this nickname, we see how Achan has, in effect, traded places with Rahab. Rahab the prostitute acted faithfully and became a believer. Achan the troubler acted unfaithfully and became an idolater. Since all Israel was affected by Achan s sin, which resulted in the defeat of the nation and the loss of 36 lives, all Israel picked up stones to stone Achan and his family. The whole community took responsibility for ridding themselves of the accursed thing. They also burned them. When the fire reduced the bodies of Achan, his family, livestock and stolen valuables to ashes, a stone memorial of infamy was placed over him as a warning to those who would consider transgressing the Word of God. Further Commentary For Christians, the story of Ai has often been used as an illustration of sin in the life of a believer. Like Achan in Israel, as long as rebellion against God s will is tolerated there can be no success in life. Instead, it is necessary to eradicate the sin in order to grow in one s relationship with God and to receive the fullness of blessing. The sin of one member of a community has an effect upon the whole community and especially upon that person s family. The story of Achan is one that emphasizes the dangers to the people of God and the terrible consequences of sin for those involved It may be compared with the experience of Ananias and Sapphira and their fate in the young church of Acts 5:1-11. 7 Richard S. Hess Voices from Church History For when he calls death the wages of sin, he alarms them again, and secures them against dangers to come. For the words he uses to remind them of their former estate, he also employs so as to make them thankful, and more secure against any inroads of temptations. 8 Chrysostom (circa 347-407) 63
Further Commentary God s words do not be afraid or discouraged recall His first charge to Joshua, where they set the stage for His promise of presence and for the miracles that followed (1:9). With the whole military force, Israel would again be united (unlike 7:3) and thus their victory was more likely. As with the promise about Jericho (6:2), God s instructions to Joshua began with the promise that victory was already assured. As with Jericho (6:21), all the people of Ai were to be destroyed. However, here it was possible for Israel to keep the livestock for their own use. The change demonstrates that flexibility in the matter of devoting things to God was possible. The use of an ambush is a strategy known in the ancient Near East and used more than once in Israel s history (Judg. 9; 20). Its deceptive nature recalls the ruse of Rahab in Joshua 2:4-5. The references to the king of Ai and the city might suggest that Ai was not a fort. However, as with Jericho, a king could be a military leader rather than an independent sovereign (6:2), and the word for city refers to any population center, including a fort (2 Sam. 5:7). 9 Richard S. Hess, HCSB Study Bible The chapter ends with these words, Then the Lord turned from his burning anger (Josh. 7:26). As frightening as this scene may seem, it later gives rise to a promise. In Hosea 2:14-15, God promised to one day make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. This place where Achan brought trouble upon Israel and then suffered the penalty of death for his sin would one day be a doorway to hope, because though the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life (Rom. 6:23). Unlike Achan, who took unlawful things, Jesus Christ came to give the unthinkable His life for ours (2 Cor. 5:21). Achan died for his sin so that the Lord s anger would turn from Israel. Jesus died for our sin so that we who, like Achan, were enemies of God could be reconciled to Him. What happens when we minimize the horrible consequences of our sin? Why does sin deserve death? 3. God s enemies are overcome only after sin is dealt with (Josh. 8:1-2). 1 And the Lord said to Joshua, Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land. 2 And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Lay an ambush against the city, behind it. Though Joshua had uncovered the sin in the camp, he did not presume success on the battlefield. This time, He listened to the Lord about the number of soldiers who should fight against Ai. God instructed Joshua to take all the soldiers with him and go to Ai. (Apparently, Joshua did not go out to fight with the soldiers during the first battle between Israel and Ai.) The Lord told Joshua that he and Israel would have a second chance this was the second time around for them as they faced Ai in battle again. The Lord informed Joshua that Ai would suffer what Israel had suffered when there was sin in the camp defeat. Interestingly enough, although the Israelites were not permitted to keep the spoils in their victory against Jericho, this time God permitted them to take valuables (including livestock) and employ them for personal use. Had Achan waited on the Lord instead of disobeying the Lord s command regarding the valuables of Jericho, he would have been able to take valuables from Ai. 64 Leader Guide Spring 2016
In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve sinned against God. Eve saw, desired, and took the forbidden thing. Then they hid from the Lord. As believers, we face the choice of following God or disobeying Him. Every time we face sin and refuse to repent, we harden our hearts toward God. We run from Him and hide rather than run to Him and repent. The story of Achan reminds us of the terrible consequences of sin. Achan had opportunities to repent. Each time he entered his tent, he knew of his stolen, hidden treasure. When Joshua instructed the people to consecrate themselves (Josh. 7:13), Achan should have repented during the process of consecration. Even before Joshua isolated Achan s family, Achan could have repented. Instead, because he hid his sin, Israel suffered a terrible defeat, and Achan lost everything his life, his possessions, and his family. Sin resulted in death, and only after sin was dealt with could Israel move forward in victory. After the sin in Israel was dealt with, God told Joshua not to be discouraged or afraid. What is the connection between hidden sin and discouragement? Or hidden sin and fear? Conclusion Joshua s ancestor Abraham was called a friend of God because he believed God. To have faith means to have confidence in something or put your trust in Someone. Abraham entrusted his life to God and had confidence in God s plan for his life. Conversely, enemies of God are alienated from Him and are hostile in their minds because of their evil behavior (Col. 1:21). They do not trust God or seek to follow His ways. Enemies of God live as though God s rules do not apply to them. They are wrong. The wages for sin is death; this is bad news. The good news is Jesus received these wages in our place and gave us the free gift of God eternal life. Christians have a responsibility to pray, worship, and witness as those who were tainted by sin but who have been washed white as snow by Jesus. CHRIST CONNECTION: The Valley of Achor is a chilling reminder of sin and its consequences, but God later promises to make the Valley of Achor a door of hope (Hos. 2:14-15). The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 6:23). 99 Essential Christian Doctrines 42. Sin and Death The ultimate consequence for sin is death physical death, spiritual death, and eternal death (Rom. 6:23). God was clear to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden that if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would surely die (Gen. 2:17). The type of death that would result from the fall in the garden of Eden wasn t only physical death but spiritual death as well, the separation of a person from God. Spiritual death continues in a permanent state when someone dies apart from the reconciling work of Christ, who defeated death through His own death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. Voices from Church History [To have faith in Christ] means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to Heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you. 10 C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) 65
Additional Resources Tainted by Sin References 1. Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, 15 th ed. (New York: Ballantine Books, 2003), 108. 2. Elisabeth Elliot, Quest for Love: True Stories of Passion and Purity (Grand Rapids: Revell, 2002), 145. 3. David M. Howard Jr., Joshua, vol. 5 in The New American Commentary (Nashville: B&H, 1998), 193. 4. Daniel P. Caldwell, Ai, Biblical Illustrator (Fall 2006): 61. 5. Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby, Hearing God s Voice (Nashville: B&H, 2002), 178. 6. Richard S. Hess, Joshua, in Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove: IVP, 1996) [Biblia.com]. 7. Ibid., 173. 8. John Chrysostom, Homilies of Chrysostom, Bible Hub [online], 2014 [cited 14 July 2015]. Available from the Internet: biblehub.com. 9. Richard S. Hess, in HCSB Study Bible (Nashville: B&H, 2010), 353-54, n. 8:1; n. 8:2. 10. C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, in The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics (New York: HarperOne, 2002), 121. Study Material Get expert insights on weekly studies through Ministry Grid at MinistryGrid.com/web/TheGospelProject. Grow with other group leaders at the Group Ministry blog at LifeWay.com/GroupMinistry. -- Tragedy Strikes Chapter 8 from Joshua: People of God s Purpose (Preaching the Word) by David Jackman -- The Impact of Sin on the Mission of God Article by Ed Stetzer; find a link to this article at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources --Previous Biblical Illustrator articles, including Ai, can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at LifeWay.com/BiblicalIllustrator. Look for Bundles: The Gospel Project. Sermon Podcast Kent Hughes: The Folly of Hidden Sin Find a link to this at GospelProject.com/AdditionalResources Tip of the Week How Do I Organize Care Groups? (Part 2) Contact members weekly. The contact may not be a visit, but some kind of contact should be made weekly to every member. Remember it is about building relationships. Make short but frequent contacts. The contacts don t have to be long letters, visits, or phone calls. Shorter and more frequent visits are probably more productive than one long, infrequent visit. 66 Leader Guide Spring 2016
About the Writers The Gospel Project Adult Leader Guide ESV Volume 4, Number 3 Spring 2016 Eric Geiger Vice President, LifeWay Resources Ed Stetzer General Editor Trevin Wax Managing Editor Daniel Davis Content Editor Josh Hayes Content and Production Editor Ken Braddy Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies Michael Kelley Director, Groups Ministry Send questions/comments to: Managing Editor, The Gospel Project: Adult Leader Guide, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0102; or make comments on the Web at www.lifeway.com. Printed in the United States of America The Gospel Project : Adult Leader Guide ESV (ISSN 2330-9377; Item 005573550) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. 2015 LifeWay Christian Resources. For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, email subscribe@lifeway.com, fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, email orderentry@lifeway.com, fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address. 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 www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Unit 1: Philip Nation (sessions 1-2) is the content development director for LifeWay and the teaching pastor for The Fellowship, a multi-campus church in Nashville, Tennessee. His newest book is Habits for Our Holiness: How the Spiritual Disciplines Grow Us Up, Draw Us Together, and Send Us Out. Robert Smith (sessions 3-6) is a professor of Christian preaching and holds the Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He is the author of Doctrine That Dances. He is married to Dr. Wanda Taylor-Smith, and they have four adult children with one in heaven. Tanya McAvoy (assisted with unit 1 session plans) serves in the areas of evangelism and education at Neptune Baptist Church in Neptune Beach, Florida. She earned her MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Ryan, have three children. Unit 2: Afshin Ziafat resides with his wife, Meredith, and two daughters in Frisco, Texas, where he is the lead pastor of Providence Church. He serves on the board of Vertical Ministries, East-West Ministries International, the 9Marks Council, and the Leadership Council of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Matt Boswell has been leading worship and writing songs for the church for over 20 years. A graduate of Southern Seminary, he serves as the pastor of ministries and worship at Providence Church in Frisco, Texas. Additionally, he is the president of Doxology & Theology. He is married to Jamie, and they have four small children. Unit 3: Steven Smith is the vice president for Student Services and Communications and professor of preaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of Dying to Preach: Embracing the Cross in the Pulpit and Recapturing the Voice of God: Shaping Sermons Like Scripture. He is married to Ashley, and they have three children. WRITERS