Sunday, November 27, 2016

Whole 'Nother Level: Never Forget

Introduction / Background:

In Joshua 3, the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground by means of a miracle from God. God had the priests take the Ark of the Covenant into the water first. When the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the ark entered the water, the Lord caused the flow of the Jordan to stop and rise up. The people then crossed the river on dry ground.

In chapter 4, Joshua has the priests make a memorial to the event that had just happened. Read Joshua 4:1-9.

Group Discussion Questions:

Raise your hand if you love traditions and are sentimental. Ask someone why they love traditions. Ask someone why they hate traditions.

What's one item that you have that is super sentimental?

What is the reason for a memorial? For example, Memorial Day, a memorial service, a memorial museum, etc.

What do you do on that day or at those places?

Why did the Israelites make a pile of 12 stones?

What lessons can we learn from what they did?

What memorial has made a huge impact on your life?

What memorials or traditions do you have that cause you to remember God's hand in your life?

What memorials or traditions could you make or start to cause you and your family to remember God's work in your lives?

Whose responsibility is it to teach children about God and His work? How can someone do that?

What was Jesus doing when he instituted the practice of the Lord's Supper?

What does the bread signify? Why?

What does the cup of wine signify? Why?

Why is the Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation (the bread and wine become the physical body of Jesus) against the teaching of the Bible and therefore wrong?

How can we be careful not to fall into the trap of meaningless tradition or a perverted ritual?

What can you do to keep the Lord's Supper meaningful to you?

Are there any stories you'd like people to remember about what God's done in your life?

How will you share these stories?

Why is it important to remember what God has done in your life?

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Whole 'Nother Level: Famous Last Words

Read Joshua 24:14–16

Scripture Summary:

God has demonstrated His power and faithfulness throughout the book of Joshua. He's fulfilled EVERY promise he made, and has won EVERY battle He has fought. Now at the conclusion of the book (chapter 24), He asks Israel and us to reaffirm the most important decision of our lives: "Choose for yourselves whom you will serve today" (v. 15).

Group Discussion:

Part 1: Remembering Who God Is and What He's Done

As we've gone through the book of Joshua, what was your favorite story/detail/situation of how God demonstrated His power?

Who can share a great example of how God showed His faithfulness to the Israelites from the book of Joshua?

(If your group struggles to remember examples of God's power and faithfulness in Joshua, use this opportunity to ask them why they've forgotten.)

Why do you think God recites Israel's history from beginning to end in verses 1–13?

Would anyone like to share a story of how you saw God demonstrate His power in your life in 2016?

How has God proven His faithfulness to you this year?

Part 2: Responding to Who God Is and What He's Done

Notice that God said "choose" in verse 15. God has given us the ability to make choices. What are some dangers this freedom to choose could present?

Why does God let us choose?

Whether we realize it or not, we make the choice of who we will serve every day. Who is usually your choice, and why?

If someone else that knows you very well listed your top 3 to 5 priorities (based on your actions) in order, what would that list be? Are you happy with that order?

Joshua and the Israelites repeat the word serve 13 times in verses 14–27. Why is this a good word to describe our duty to God?

How does remembering who God is and what He's done help with your decision of whom to serve?

Why might serving the Lord seem undesirable to the Israelites (v. 15)?

In what ways is serving the Lord difficult for you?

What makes serving God worthwhile?

Conclusion:

Serve Hard is one of our five Core Values at Revo Church. Serving makes the list because we aren't anything like Jesus if we aren't serving. The word "hard" follows it because even Jesus knew it was hard to serve, yet he did it to the fullest.

Serving God and others should be a Core Value to all Christians. Meaning, no matter what, serving is something you'll always hold true to and will build your foundation upon. However, this isn't easy to do.

Pray that God will give you the courage to rise to the daily challenge of serving Him. Ask other people to hold you accountable.


Sunday, November 13, 2016

Whole 'Nother Level: Don't Stop Now

Read Joshua 17:13–18

Summary of Scripture:

The Israelites complain to Joshua that they don't have enough land. Seriously?! Joshua isn't hearing it, though, and tells them to man up and take some more land by invading the forest. The people complain again (What is up with these people?!) that there are Canaanites on this land, to which Joshua basically responds by repeating his initial response to "stop complaining and making excuses, and move forward!"

How This Scripture Applies to Us:

1. Sometimes we act like the Israelites, complaining about how little God has given us when we have not fully used what we have.

Group Discussion Questions:

What is something that you constantly complain about?

Why do we complain?

What is wrong with complaining?

Why do you think God doesn't want complaining?

Name a few things you are uncertain about in your life right now.

How does complaining and negativity affect people's relationship with Jesus Christ?

How about our relationships with the people around us?

Do you ever feel like you don't have a choice? That your circumstances dictate your current reality?

Do you ever find yourself complaining to those who have no ability to change the situation?

What about God? Do you take your complaints to God? If not, why?

What if you had a "No Complaining" rule? What do you think about that?

What roadblocks might you experience as you being the "No Complaining" rule?

2. We encounter open doors (opportunities provided by God, to act with Him and for Him), but our fears keep us from crossing the threshold with our whole heart.

Think about a time when you felt yourself at a crossroads in the decision making process. What feeling surfaced?

Why do we hold on to our fears and problems so much?

Why is it so difficult to step outside of our comfort zones?

What can we do to make the process of moving forward a better experience?

What is it that holds you back the most? (fear, uncertainty, guilt, not-caring, laziness, etc.)

Do you feel like God is calling you to move towards something great, but you find yourself hesitant to respond? Why?

Discuss the importance of surrounding yourself with positive people and environments.

Why does God still choose to help us when our faith is not strong?

God will take you places that will shock you. True or False? Why?

What door has God opened that you've not yet entered?

What's stopping you? What do you need to do about it?

What reward is there in going through the doors that God has called you to?

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Whole 'Nother Level: Beat Up By an Old Man

Read Joshua 14:6–15 
"The Message" (MSG) is good storytelling version

Summary:
Caleb was an 85-year-old man who was ALL IN with God the same as he was when he was 40-years-old. That's lifelong faithfulness right there! Even in his old age, he kept the faith. Even when he faced Giants, he wholeheartedly trusted God. Even at 85, he said he was ready to fight the battle as long as God was on his side. God is looking for more people like Caleb!

Group Discussion Questions:

What do you think is the biggest difference between someone who is ALL IN vs someone who is HALWAY IN? This could apply to anything (work, relationships, spirituality, hobbies, sports, etc.).

Caleb stood out as a hero. He had what the Bible calls "a different spirit" or attitude (14:24). Why did he stand out? What was different about how he followed God?

What does it mean to follow God wholeheartedly?

Who likes to weigh the pros vs cons when making a big decision? How does this help you?

What happens when the cons outweigh the pros on something that you know God wants you to do? What do you do?

When circumstances in life are bad, most people will doubt, complain and make excuses. This is exactly what the Israelites were doing. However, Caleb trusted God despite evidence to the contrary, and he stood out to God. Give an example of when you trusted God when it didn't make sense, and then share what happened next.

What's the difference between faith and feelings?

Faithfulness to God is hard because we tend to make decisions based on emotions. We usually do what feel like doing. How do you overcome your emotions when God wants you to do something that you don't feel like doing?

Following Jesus is not supposed to be a one-time decision, but lifelong faithfulness...a daily habit. How have you had to keep deciding to follow Jesus throughout your life?

What's the latest example of when you had to live by faith and decide to follow Jesus?

What daily habits of faithfulness to God do you have?

We've all struggled with faith in God's timing. His timing is rarely our preference. What advice would you give to someone else about God's timing?

When everyone else was ready to give up and retreat from God's promise, Caleb refused to rebel against God. What kind of things has God called you to or promised to you that you're running away from?

Caleb didn't just talk the talk, but he was ready to walk the walk when God gave Him the green light. If God decided to deliver His promise to you right now, are you ready?

What are some things that God has promised to you? Which things do you doubt?

How does God test someone's faith?

How does someone prove their faith?

What kind of long-lasting rewards or impact can there be because of your faithfulness?