CHOOSE THIS DAY
We are excited to begin our new preaching series, to hear what God is saying to us and to respond to Him in faithful obedience. Our new series is titled, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’. We will be looking into the books of Joshua and Judges.
Joshua shows how revival is entered. Judges shows how revival is lost. The key question Joshua asks of the nation is from Joshua 24:15, “Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Every generation must choose if they will follow after God and take ahold of His promises. We love to see revival but how does revival die? The book of Judges will help us see how. When Israel enters the promised land in Joshua, the generation that followed inherited victories they did not win. They failed to finish what God had called them to do. Instead of wholehearted obedience, they settled for partial obedience. What began as compromise eventually became spiritual drift.
This series isn’t asking, “What happened to Israel?” It’s asking, “What is happening in us?” Revival is entered through wholehearted devotion. But revival is lost through gradual drift. In Joshua we see faith-filled obedience. God promised the land but Israel still had to enter it. God’s promises never remove our responsibility. But then drift came with small compromises. Judges 2:10 says, “And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.”
VIDEOS AND LIFE GROUP RESOURCES:
Week 1: "STAY FAITHFUL"
Life Groups for this week
This weekend we began our series, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’. Here is what we can cover in Life Group.
And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.
Judges 2:10
Stay Faithful
Please note that this introduction to our new series was preached across our sites on 26 July. So this email is to be covered in life groups first. The previous email sent covers the preach for 2 August.
We are excited to begin our new preaching series, to hear what God is saying to us and to respond to Him in faithful obedience. Our new series is titled, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’. We will be looking into the books of Joshua and Judges.
Joshua shows how revival is entered. Judges shows how revival is lost. The key question Joshua asks of the nation is from Joshua 24:15, “Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Every generation must choose if they will follow after God and take ahold of His promises. We love to see revival but how does revival die? The book of Judges will help us see how. When Israel enters the promised land in Joshua, the generation that followed inherited victories they did not win. They failed to finish what God had called them to do. Instead of wholehearted obedience, they settled for partial obedience. What began as compromise eventually became spiritual drift.
This series isn’t asking, “What happened to Israel?” It’s asking, “What is happening in us?” Revival is entered through wholehearted devotion. But revival is lost through gradual drift. In Joshua we see faith-filled obedience. God promised the land but Israel still had to enter it. God’s promises never remove our responsibility. But then drift came with small compromises. Judges 2:10 says, “And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.”
Drift is rarely dramatic – it begins quietly. Prayer becomes inconsistent. The Word becomes optional. Gathering becomes occasional. Sin becomes tolerated. Conviction becomes weaker. Judges then ends with this one devastating sentence. “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” Revival is never sustained where self remains on the throne. Instead, we need another to rule in our lives: Jesus. Jesus is the better Joshua. Joshua teaches us how revival begins. Judges warns us how revival is lost. Hebrews tells us how revival is sustained. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
So we will continually ask of ourselves this day, and the generations to come too: whom will you choose? Let our answer now and forever be Jesus. Let us journey with the next generation to know Jesus and follow whole-heartedly after Him. We will seek after Him through this series, check our hearts, and our prayer church, is let us choose Jesus, today and forevermore.
1. Can you identify any ways or areas where drifting away from Jesus is happening in your life?
2. What should our response be to not drift away from Jesus or to fight for the next generation to know Him?
3. Jesus wants to rule in your life. Having some self-inspection, would you be happy for Him to, or are your wrestling with Him at times to try and keep self-rule?
Week 2: "COURAGE AND OBEDIENCE"
Life Groups for this week
This weekend we began our series, ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’. Here is what we can cover in Life Group.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
Courage and Obedience
We hope that you had a good, restful holiday period. As we kick off our next term, we continue to be excited and inspired by what God is saying to us. The fruit of God’s Word, His work and move across our sites, rippling into the city, nation and nations has been encouraging. We are excited to begin our new preaching series, to hear what God is saying to us and to respond to Him in faithful obedience. We will be looking into the books of Joshua and Judges.
Joshua shows how revival is entered. Judges shows how revival is lost. The key question Joshua asks of the nation is from Joshua 24:15, “Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” We want to be a people who passionately and in absolute devotion follow after God, and live lives of intimacy and obedience. We want to see how we can have this now, and how we can ensure the generations to come continue is such devotion an intimacy towards God.
In Joshua 1 we see the call to be strong and courageous. The promises from God require a courageous obedience. There are a few truths for us to take ahold of.
1. Promises do not remove responsibility. God promised the land to Israel but they still had to enter it and take ahold of it. Faith is not passive but requires us to respond, to act. There are things God is asking us to do as a response of faith. We want to obediently do that which God is asking of us.
2. Courage is not the absence of fear. Joshua undoubtedly felt overwhelmed as the tasks that lay ahead would have been beyond his strength and physical ability. Courage is obedience despite uncertainty. We need to hear what God is saying, trust Him, and then respond in courage.
3. God’s presence produces confidence. God’s repeated promise is “I will be with you.” The confidence of God’s people has never been their own strength but rather it has always been His presence. God desires to be known, to be sought after, to be found. We can be with God in such intimate ways. His presence gives us absolute confidence.
Jesus is asking us to believe every promise that He has spoken, to believe in His faithfulness to us, to believe that His presence is enough in what He is calling us to. Knowing this about Him, ask yourself, what is the next step He is asking you to take, and how can you then take it. This is obedience. Take the step He is asking, over and over again. Be strong and courageous.
1. Are there promises that you have heard God speak to you? What has become of them?
2. What is the next step you feel God is asking you to take? What do you have to do to take it?
3. How is your relationship with God? If there is a need for greater intimacy and devotion, what can you do as a constant response to God’s invitation to you?