07.01.08
Small Group Plan - June 29, 2008
“We’re in This Together”
Unity
Small Group Plan
June 29, 2008
Dear Small Group Leader,
At the end of his life, Moses last act was to call a new generation of God’s people to renew the covenant their parents made at Mount Sinai. He said, “choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Since that time Israel has crossed the Jordan and taken the land. Many have died and their children have grown up. Like Moses, Joshua now stands before a new generation and calls them to renew their covenant. He says, “Choose for yourselves this day, whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:5.)
Throughout the book of Joshua, God’s faithfulness has been clear. Every promise God made was fulfilled. Every battle God fought was won. And now, He asks Israel, and us, to make a decision. Who will guide our lives? Who will steer our ship? Whose core values will we follow? “Choose for yourselves this day, whom you will serve.”
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· What have been the “turning point” decisions in your life?
· Why is a refusal to quit so important to leadership in ministry?
· People today don’t usually think of being tempted by “other gods” but if we were to personify the things that do tempt us, who are the “gods” that our faith must resist?
· Why do people forget the lessons of the past so easily?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
Joshua 24:2-8, 13
2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. 5 “‘Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out. 6 When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. 7 But they cried to the LORD for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the desert for a long time. 8 “‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands … You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 13 So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’
· What is the theme of the first 13 verses?
· Why did God want Joshua to recount Israel’s history?
· Explain the joy, the pleasure, and the power of getting together and telling old family stories.
Joshua 24:14-15
14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
· Why is the word “serve” mentioned 13 times in Vs. 14-27?
· In this story, what does serving include and exclude?
· Today, what does it mean to serve the Lord?
· Why might serving God seem “undesirable” to Israel?
· Honestly, when is serving God “undesirable” in today’s world?
· What makes serving God worthwhile?
Joshua 24:19-24
19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.” 21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the LORD.” 22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” “Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied. 23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey him.”
· Why did Joshua not simply accept the words of the people at face value? Why did he make the whole process a longer, more drawn out experience?
· When did you make the decision to serve God? What changes did this decision make in your life?
· Explain the wisdom of both Joshua here, and Jesus later, in saying that no one can serve two gods.
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Why is it important for us to remember where we came from?
· For those who are willing – What is a faith decision that you need and want to make?
· What kind of help do you need in order to take that decisive step?
· Write down, for no one else to see, the name of the “god” that you want to “throw away.” Symbolically wad the paper up and throw it away.
Close with prayer for our unity over the next two months?