Explore the Bible - Discover Study Guide - summer 2012 ...
An Interactive, Book-by-Book Bible Study for Adults
Joshua, Judges, Ruth: Character at the Crossroad
Study Guide
Summer 2012
D i s co v e r y
S t u dy
G u i d e
Contents Summer 2012 Lessons from joshua, judges, ruth
Unit One: Profile in Courage 10 June 3 June 10 June 17 June 24 July 1
The Leadership Dare The Faith Dare The Confession Dare The Loyalty Dare The Decision Dare*
Joshua 1:1-18 Joshua 2:1–6:27 Joshua 7:1–12:24 Joshua 13:1–22:34 Joshua 23:1–24:33
Unit Two: People in Crisis
42
July 8 July 15 July 22 July 29 August 5 August 12
Judges 1:1–3:6 Judges 3:7–5:31 Judges 6:1–8:21 Judges 8:22–12:15 Judges 13:1–16:31 Judges 17:1–21:25
Truth or Consequences Follow the Leader Risk Family Feud Trivial Pursuit The Domino Effect
Unit Three: Portrait of Commitment August 19 August 26
43 49 55 61 67 73
80
Expressing Love Ruth 1:1–2:23 Embracing Responsibilities Ruth 3:1–4:22
* Evangelistic Lesson
11 17 23 29 35
81 87
special articles & features: Plan of Salvation Make the Most of Discovery Study Guide Connect/Grow/Serve/Go: A Ministry Strategy for Adult Joshua, Judges, Ruth: Character at the Crossroad Meet the Writer Be Strong & Courageous An Ongoing Walk New Groups Reaching the Community Bible Study for the Busy Body! Memory Verse Cards ETB Scope and Sequence Map: Israel in Tribal Times
2 4 7 8 9 41 79 93 94 97 99 Back Cover
dd i sico s co v evre y r ys tsu tu dy dyg g uu i di d e e
33
Discovery Study Guide Volume 5, No. 4 Summer 2012 PRODUCTION AND MINISTRY TEAM BRENDA HARRIS—Content Editor PAT PHILLIPS—Production Editor DAWN RODGERS WYSE—Graphic Designer DARIN CLARK—Graphic Design Specialist ALAN RAUGHTON—Lead Adult Ministry Specialist DAVID APPLE—Adult Ministry Specialist DWAYNE McCRARY—Editorial Project Leader MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL BRET ROBBE—Director, Leadership and Adult Publishing KEN BRADDY, DEBBIE JOHNSON, AND RON KECK— Managing Directors, Leadership and Adult Publishing DAVID FRANCIS—Director, Sunday School BILL CRAIG—Director, Leadership and Adult Ministry Send questions/comments to Editor, ETB Discovery One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN 37234-0175 Or make comments on the Web at www.lifeway.com. Printed in the United States of America EXPLORE THE BIBLE: Discovery Adult Study Guide (ISSN 1552-7212) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President, © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For ordering or inquiries VISIT www.lifeway.com, or WRITE LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes E-MAIL [email protected], FAX 615.251.5818, or WRITE to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, E-MAIL [email protected], FAX 615.251.5933 or WRITE to the above address. We believe 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. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline. 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. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Suggestions for pronouncing Bible names are from That’s Easy for You to Say: Your Quick Guide to Pronouncing Bible Names, by W. Murray Severance, copyright © 1997 by Broadman & Holman Publishers. Used by permission. Printed in the United States of America. AMP—Scripture quotations taken from The Amplified® Bible, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.lockman.org) CEV—Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version. Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. Message—The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved. NCV—Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NLT—Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reserved.
Cover Image Composite: Getty Images All images inside Discovery Study Guide are © iStock Photo, LC unless otherwise noted.
Write It Down
A
blank computer screen can be intimidating—especially if you’re expected to fill it. It just sits there staring at you…waiting. That screen becomes more intimidating when a deadline is flashing in the corner. In preparing to write this editorial, I jotted down potential ideas on paper that could fill the blank screen staring at me. Some of the ideas recorded led to other ideas. As I looked at the list, one more idea surfaced…the value of writing your thoughts. As I work through each lesson in preparation to lead the class I teach, I record my answers to the questions included in Discovery as well as my thoughts, questions, and ideas. Some of these scribblings make no sense to anyone except me, but these notes help me think and get a handle on the truths discovered in God’s Word. Writing helps me organize my thoughts and leads to personal reflection. I have to think about it to be able to write it. Space for writing is one of the values of the Discovery Study Guide. We (me included) need to think about what we believe (not the things we say we believe, but the things we really believe and act upon) and how the Bible speaks into our acted-on beliefs. Our desire is to help you get started in the process by what we provide in Discovery, using the space provided to write your responses, ideas, and reflections. Doing so will bring clarity and insight. In His service,
G. Dwayne McCrary Share your thoughts about Discovery. E-mail me at [email protected]. Download FREE teaching plans for Discovery online at
www.lifeway.com/explorethebible. 66
eexxpplo lorree tth hee bbiibbllee
week of june 3
The Leadership Dare
How am I honoring God as a leader? Background Passage: Joshua 1:1-18 Lesson Passages: Joshua 1:1-11,16-18 Joshua 1:1-5a
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. 5a No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live.
Joshua 1:5b-9 5b 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. 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 Moses—A great leader and man of God. He that you may carefully observe everything writbrought the people of Israel out of slavery in ten in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in Egypt and led them for 40 years. whatever you do. † 9 Haven’t I commanded you:
Key Words
be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:10-11
Joshua son of Nun—Before Moses died, God chose Joshua to be the next leader for the people of Israel. See Numbers 27:15-23; Deuteronomy 31:14-15, 23; 34:9.
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the
I have given…— “Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you.” (NLT)
people, ‘Get provisions ready for yourselves, for within three days you will be crossing the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you to inherit.’”
great Euphrates River—formed the northern boundary of the land God promised to the people of Israel
Joshua 1:16-18
land of the Hittites—Indo-European people already living in the land of Canaan when the people of Israel conquered the land
16 They answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. 17 We will obey you, just as we obeyed Moses in everything. And may the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!”
† Memory Verse
Do not turn…— “Don’t get off track, either left or right.” (Message) We will obey you…—The people did not always obey Moses, but they looked up to him as a leader. They expressed that same confidence in Joshua.
d i s co v e r y s t u dy g u i d e
11
Consider This: Lyandon Warren was an associate pastor in western North Carolina, when he heard about a town of 600 people almost a thousand miles away in West Pawlet, Vermont, that needed a church and a pastor. At one time there had been a congregation in West Pawlet but the church had been closed and stood vacant. The North American Mission Board and Green Mountain Baptist Association had been invited to come and help revitalize the closed church. Lyandon had visited the town on mission trips so he was already familiar with the community. And he soon realized that God was calling him to serve there. He and his family moved to Vermont in the spring of 2007. Lyandon now serves as a bi-vocational pastor for the Mettowee Valley Church; his other job is working at a local dairy farm.1 Sometimes being a leader means moving to answer God’s call. At other times it simply means raising your hand to volunteer right in your own church. How are you currently responding to God’s call for your life? Sometimes a child will step into Mom’s or Dad’s shoes and go clomp, clomping across the floor, looking way too small to fill those big shoes. Joshua was an Old Testament military leader with some huge shoes to fill. After years of standing in the shadow of a heroic leader, God called Joshua to step into the leader’s shoes. What would Joshua do when God called him to leadership responsibilities? What will you do? Joshua courageously answered God’s call and now you’re challenged to do the same.
1
12
Learn more about Lyandon’s story and Mettowee Valley Church at http://www.namb.net/namb1cbvideo.aspx?id=8589935933.
e x p lo r e t h e b i b l e
week of june 3
Rest in His Promise
Reflect & Respond:
Picture this strategic conversation between God and the new leader of the Israelites as you read Joshua 1:1-5a. It was a time of tremendous change. Moses, who had led the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt and during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, had died. A new leader was about to take over. Times of transition and change offer new challenges and opportunities. They can also be scary times. Fortunately Joshua did not have to lead the Israelites all by himself; God promised to be with him. How do you typically face new challenges? People have a wide array of excuses for saying no when they’re called on for leadership roles. • “I’m too busy.” • “I’m not qualified.” • “I can’t commit to be here every Sunday.” • “I’m too old (or too young).” • “I’m inexperienced.” God is a promise-keeper. God had already promised the land of Canaan to Moses. He reaffirmed that promise to Joshua in these verses. God also made another remarkable promise. Read it aloud from Joshua 1:5a. How does God’s promise in Joshua 1:5a give you courage to shoulder leadership responsibilities?
Rely on His Presence As you read Joshua 1:5b-9, underline God’s command to Joshua that was repeated three times in these verses. Do you ever wonder why God repeated the command? Was Joshua a “strong and courageous” guy or did he have his moments of weakness and doubt (perhaps just like you)? Joshua faced a big
p e r s o n a l d i s c o v e r y
• What excuses have you used (or are you currently using) to avoid accepting a place of leadership? • When have you felt alone while serving God? How did God assure you that He would be with you if you followed His directions? d i s co v e r y s t u dy g u i d e
13
p e r s o n a l d i s c o v e r y
• In what area of your life do you need to apply God’s command to “be strong and courageous” right now?
task, but he served an even bigger God. Joshua had God’s promise that he would be successful in leading the people into Canaan. That same promise of God’s presence is yours today.
• Where is God calling you to lead? How would you rate your willingness? Explain.
What other commands besides “be strong and courageous” did God give in verses 5b-9? How can these instructions help you today? Today many cars or mobile devices have GPS navigation systems to help people get where they’re going. Joshua had no such device, but he did have a divine road map in God’s Word. Notice how God instructed that His Word was to be the focus of Joshua’s attention as he led the people into the land. In what ways can God’s Word help leaders (or those who are considering leadership positions) today? Joshua 1:9 is this week’s Memory Verse. The verse suggests that Joshua was already experiencing some fear and discouragement. Leaders are not immune from these emotions. But focusing on God’s presence can be the answer to the fear.
Respond with Obedience Jot down the positive leadership qualities you identify about Joshua as you read Joshua 1:10-11. God had chosen Joshua to be leader and given him specific instructions. The next step was in Joshua’s hand. Maybe you’ve faced a similar situation. A committee or an individual has called and asked you to step into a new role. Then it’s up to you to determine how you will respond to the call. With God’s help, Joshua was ready to answer the call. Joshua “commanded” the people to get ready. By giving the command to the people, Joshua obeyed God’s command and assumed his role as leader.
14
e x p lo r e t h e b i b l e
week of june 3 Reflect & Respond:
According to Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 1206), obedience means to hear God’s Word and act accordingly. In the Old Testament, the word obey means “to hear.” Disobedience comes from a sinful heart that will not trust God. Obedience comes from a heart that trusts God. How does obedience demonstrate trust in God? How does the obedience or disobedience of Christian leaders impact your church? Joshua had done his part in answering God’s call to leadership. Now how would the people respond? After all, Moses was really the only leader they had ever known. Imagine the murmuring that might have started: “that’s not the way Moses did it,” or “Moses never acted like that,” or “Moses wouldn’t approve of this.” The people had the choice to be obedient or disobedient followers.
Receive Affirmation Summarize the people’s response to Joshua as you read Joshua: 1:16-18. Why do you think the people echoed God’s command by calling for Joshua to “be strong and courageous”? Willing followers can help to make weak leaders stronger and strong leaders even better. These followers were not perfect people, as with all followers today. They had let Moses down in the past, and they would p e r s o n a l d i s c o v e r y let Joshua down in the future. But for that day described in verses 16-18, they affirmed Joshua’s • How could refusing to answer God’s call leadership with their confident response. to leadership affect your relationship
with Him? When have you seen leaders become stronger because of willing, faithful followers?
• What would you do for God if you knew you wouldn’t fail?
d i s co v e r y s t u dy g u i d e
15
Intentional Living: Serve: Perhaps you’ve attended church for years, content to be a follower
on the sidelines. You may have been asked to take on leadership responsibilities, but you refused. Maybe it’s fear of failure or unwillingness to make a commitment, or a lack of confidence or feelings of inadequacy. Joshua may have had a long list of reasons why he was not the man to lead the nation of Israel, too; but he chose to obey and follow God’s call. Will you trust God to provide total adequacy for whatever He calls you to do?
Go beyond the walls: Oswald Chambers said “Ministering as opportunity surrounds us does not mean selecting our surroundings, it means…to be available for use in any of the seemingly random surroundings which He has engineered for us” (My Utmost for His Highest, http://utmost.org/missionary-weapons-2/ ). How will I follow the path God has engineered for me?
Connect through prayer: How can I pray for the needs of those in our Bible study group?
Grow in my relationship to Christ: In what areas is God calling me to assume leadership? (Leadership doesn’t have to be a spotlight-job; it could mean serving in the childcare, counting the offering, or setting up the communion service.)
➲
Coming Next Week: Take “The Faith Dare.” Read the compelling story of Rahab and her brave demonstration of faith in Joshua, chapters 2 and 6. Connect, Grow, Serve, Go® is a LifeWay ministry strategy providing a balanced approach to adult discipleship. 16
e x p lo r e t h e b i b l e
Joshua, Judges, Ruth: Character at the Crossroad
Study Guide
Summer 2012
D i s co v e r y
S t u dy
G u i d e
Contents Summer 2012 Lessons from joshua, judges, ruth
Unit One: Profile in Courage 10 June 3 June 10 June 17 June 24 July 1
The Leadership Dare The Faith Dare The Confession Dare The Loyalty Dare The Decision Dare*
Joshua 1:1-18 Joshua 2:1–6:27 Joshua 7:1–12:24 Joshua 13:1–22:34 Joshua 23:1–24:33
Unit Two: People in Crisis
42
July 8 July 15 July 22 July 29 August 5 August 12
Judges 1:1–3:6 Judges 3:7–5:31 Judges 6:1–8:21 Judges 8:22–12:15 Judges 13:1–16:31 Judges 17:1–21:25
Truth or Consequences Follow the Leader Risk Family Feud Trivial Pursuit The Domino Effect
Unit Three: Portrait of Commitment August 19 August 26
43 49 55 61 67 73
80
Expressing Love Ruth 1:1–2:23 Embracing Responsibilities Ruth 3:1–4:22
* Evangelistic Lesson
11 17 23 29 35
81 87
special articles & features: Plan of Salvation Make the Most of Discovery Study Guide Connect/Grow/Serve/Go: A Ministry Strategy for Adult Joshua, Judges, Ruth: Character at the Crossroad Meet the Writer Be Strong & Courageous An Ongoing Walk New Groups Reaching the Community Bible Study for the Busy Body! Memory Verse Cards ETB Scope and Sequence Map: Israel in Tribal Times
2 4 7 8 9 41 79 93 94 97 99 Back Cover
dd i sico s co v evre y r ys tsu tu dy dyg g uu i di d e e
33
Discovery Study Guide Volume 5, No. 4 Summer 2012 PRODUCTION AND MINISTRY TEAM BRENDA HARRIS—Content Editor PAT PHILLIPS—Production Editor DAWN RODGERS WYSE—Graphic Designer DARIN CLARK—Graphic Design Specialist ALAN RAUGHTON—Lead Adult Ministry Specialist DAVID APPLE—Adult Ministry Specialist DWAYNE McCRARY—Editorial Project Leader MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL BRET ROBBE—Director, Leadership and Adult Publishing KEN BRADDY, DEBBIE JOHNSON, AND RON KECK— Managing Directors, Leadership and Adult Publishing DAVID FRANCIS—Director, Sunday School BILL CRAIG—Director, Leadership and Adult Ministry Send questions/comments to Editor, ETB Discovery One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN 37234-0175 Or make comments on the Web at www.lifeway.com. Printed in the United States of America EXPLORE THE BIBLE: Discovery Adult Study Guide (ISSN 1552-7212) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President, © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For ordering or inquiries VISIT www.lifeway.com, or WRITE LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes E-MAIL [email protected], FAX 615.251.5818, or WRITE to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, E-MAIL [email protected], FAX 615.251.5933 or WRITE to the above address. We believe 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. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline. 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. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Suggestions for pronouncing Bible names are from That’s Easy for You to Say: Your Quick Guide to Pronouncing Bible Names, by W. Murray Severance, copyright © 1997 by Broadman & Holman Publishers. Used by permission. Printed in the United States of America. AMP—Scripture quotations taken from The Amplified® Bible, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.lockman.org) CEV—Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version. Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. Message—The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved. NCV—Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NLT—Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reserved.
Cover Image Composite: Getty Images All images inside Discovery Study Guide are © iStock Photo, LC unless otherwise noted.
Write It Down
A
blank computer screen can be intimidating—especially if you’re expected to fill it. It just sits there staring at you…waiting. That screen becomes more intimidating when a deadline is flashing in the corner. In preparing to write this editorial, I jotted down potential ideas on paper that could fill the blank screen staring at me. Some of the ideas recorded led to other ideas. As I looked at the list, one more idea surfaced…the value of writing your thoughts. As I work through each lesson in preparation to lead the class I teach, I record my answers to the questions included in Discovery as well as my thoughts, questions, and ideas. Some of these scribblings make no sense to anyone except me, but these notes help me think and get a handle on the truths discovered in God’s Word. Writing helps me organize my thoughts and leads to personal reflection. I have to think about it to be able to write it. Space for writing is one of the values of the Discovery Study Guide. We (me included) need to think about what we believe (not the things we say we believe, but the things we really believe and act upon) and how the Bible speaks into our acted-on beliefs. Our desire is to help you get started in the process by what we provide in Discovery, using the space provided to write your responses, ideas, and reflections. Doing so will bring clarity and insight. In His service,
G. Dwayne McCrary Share your thoughts about Discovery. E-mail me at [email protected]. Download FREE teaching plans for Discovery online at
www.lifeway.com/explorethebible. 66
eexxpplo lorree tth hee bbiibbllee
week of june 3
The Leadership Dare
How am I honoring God as a leader? Background Passage: Joshua 1:1-18 Lesson Passages: Joshua 1:1-11,16-18 Joshua 1:1-5a
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. 5a No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live.
Joshua 1:5b-9 5b 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. 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 Moses—A great leader and man of God. He that you may carefully observe everything writbrought the people of Israel out of slavery in ten in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in Egypt and led them for 40 years. whatever you do. † 9 Haven’t I commanded you:
Key Words
be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:10-11
Joshua son of Nun—Before Moses died, God chose Joshua to be the next leader for the people of Israel. See Numbers 27:15-23; Deuteronomy 31:14-15, 23; 34:9.
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the
I have given…— “Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you.” (NLT)
people, ‘Get provisions ready for yourselves, for within three days you will be crossing the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you to inherit.’”
great Euphrates River—formed the northern boundary of the land God promised to the people of Israel
Joshua 1:16-18
land of the Hittites—Indo-European people already living in the land of Canaan when the people of Israel conquered the land
16 They answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. 17 We will obey you, just as we obeyed Moses in everything. And may the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!”
† Memory Verse
Do not turn…— “Don’t get off track, either left or right.” (Message) We will obey you…—The people did not always obey Moses, but they looked up to him as a leader. They expressed that same confidence in Joshua.
d i s co v e r y s t u dy g u i d e
11
Consider This: Lyandon Warren was an associate pastor in western North Carolina, when he heard about a town of 600 people almost a thousand miles away in West Pawlet, Vermont, that needed a church and a pastor. At one time there had been a congregation in West Pawlet but the church had been closed and stood vacant. The North American Mission Board and Green Mountain Baptist Association had been invited to come and help revitalize the closed church. Lyandon had visited the town on mission trips so he was already familiar with the community. And he soon realized that God was calling him to serve there. He and his family moved to Vermont in the spring of 2007. Lyandon now serves as a bi-vocational pastor for the Mettowee Valley Church; his other job is working at a local dairy farm.1 Sometimes being a leader means moving to answer God’s call. At other times it simply means raising your hand to volunteer right in your own church. How are you currently responding to God’s call for your life? Sometimes a child will step into Mom’s or Dad’s shoes and go clomp, clomping across the floor, looking way too small to fill those big shoes. Joshua was an Old Testament military leader with some huge shoes to fill. After years of standing in the shadow of a heroic leader, God called Joshua to step into the leader’s shoes. What would Joshua do when God called him to leadership responsibilities? What will you do? Joshua courageously answered God’s call and now you’re challenged to do the same.
1
12
Learn more about Lyandon’s story and Mettowee Valley Church at http://www.namb.net/namb1cbvideo.aspx?id=8589935933.
e x p lo r e t h e b i b l e
week of june 3
Rest in His Promise
Reflect & Respond:
Picture this strategic conversation between God and the new leader of the Israelites as you read Joshua 1:1-5a. It was a time of tremendous change. Moses, who had led the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt and during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, had died. A new leader was about to take over. Times of transition and change offer new challenges and opportunities. They can also be scary times. Fortunately Joshua did not have to lead the Israelites all by himself; God promised to be with him. How do you typically face new challenges? People have a wide array of excuses for saying no when they’re called on for leadership roles. • “I’m too busy.” • “I’m not qualified.” • “I can’t commit to be here every Sunday.” • “I’m too old (or too young).” • “I’m inexperienced.” God is a promise-keeper. God had already promised the land of Canaan to Moses. He reaffirmed that promise to Joshua in these verses. God also made another remarkable promise. Read it aloud from Joshua 1:5a. How does God’s promise in Joshua 1:5a give you courage to shoulder leadership responsibilities?
Rely on His Presence As you read Joshua 1:5b-9, underline God’s command to Joshua that was repeated three times in these verses. Do you ever wonder why God repeated the command? Was Joshua a “strong and courageous” guy or did he have his moments of weakness and doubt (perhaps just like you)? Joshua faced a big
p e r s o n a l d i s c o v e r y
• What excuses have you used (or are you currently using) to avoid accepting a place of leadership? • When have you felt alone while serving God? How did God assure you that He would be with you if you followed His directions? d i s co v e r y s t u dy g u i d e
13
p e r s o n a l d i s c o v e r y
• In what area of your life do you need to apply God’s command to “be strong and courageous” right now?
task, but he served an even bigger God. Joshua had God’s promise that he would be successful in leading the people into Canaan. That same promise of God’s presence is yours today.
• Where is God calling you to lead? How would you rate your willingness? Explain.
What other commands besides “be strong and courageous” did God give in verses 5b-9? How can these instructions help you today? Today many cars or mobile devices have GPS navigation systems to help people get where they’re going. Joshua had no such device, but he did have a divine road map in God’s Word. Notice how God instructed that His Word was to be the focus of Joshua’s attention as he led the people into the land. In what ways can God’s Word help leaders (or those who are considering leadership positions) today? Joshua 1:9 is this week’s Memory Verse. The verse suggests that Joshua was already experiencing some fear and discouragement. Leaders are not immune from these emotions. But focusing on God’s presence can be the answer to the fear.
Respond with Obedience Jot down the positive leadership qualities you identify about Joshua as you read Joshua 1:10-11. God had chosen Joshua to be leader and given him specific instructions. The next step was in Joshua’s hand. Maybe you’ve faced a similar situation. A committee or an individual has called and asked you to step into a new role. Then it’s up to you to determine how you will respond to the call. With God’s help, Joshua was ready to answer the call. Joshua “commanded” the people to get ready. By giving the command to the people, Joshua obeyed God’s command and assumed his role as leader.
14
e x p lo r e t h e b i b l e
week of june 3 Reflect & Respond:
According to Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 1206), obedience means to hear God’s Word and act accordingly. In the Old Testament, the word obey means “to hear.” Disobedience comes from a sinful heart that will not trust God. Obedience comes from a heart that trusts God. How does obedience demonstrate trust in God? How does the obedience or disobedience of Christian leaders impact your church? Joshua had done his part in answering God’s call to leadership. Now how would the people respond? After all, Moses was really the only leader they had ever known. Imagine the murmuring that might have started: “that’s not the way Moses did it,” or “Moses never acted like that,” or “Moses wouldn’t approve of this.” The people had the choice to be obedient or disobedient followers.
Receive Affirmation Summarize the people’s response to Joshua as you read Joshua: 1:16-18. Why do you think the people echoed God’s command by calling for Joshua to “be strong and courageous”? Willing followers can help to make weak leaders stronger and strong leaders even better. These followers were not perfect people, as with all followers today. They had let Moses down in the past, and they would p e r s o n a l d i s c o v e r y let Joshua down in the future. But for that day described in verses 16-18, they affirmed Joshua’s • How could refusing to answer God’s call leadership with their confident response. to leadership affect your relationship
with Him? When have you seen leaders become stronger because of willing, faithful followers?
• What would you do for God if you knew you wouldn’t fail?
d i s co v e r y s t u dy g u i d e
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Intentional Living: Serve: Perhaps you’ve attended church for years, content to be a follower
on the sidelines. You may have been asked to take on leadership responsibilities, but you refused. Maybe it’s fear of failure or unwillingness to make a commitment, or a lack of confidence or feelings of inadequacy. Joshua may have had a long list of reasons why he was not the man to lead the nation of Israel, too; but he chose to obey and follow God’s call. Will you trust God to provide total adequacy for whatever He calls you to do?
Go beyond the walls: Oswald Chambers said “Ministering as opportunity surrounds us does not mean selecting our surroundings, it means…to be available for use in any of the seemingly random surroundings which He has engineered for us” (My Utmost for His Highest, http://utmost.org/missionary-weapons-2/ ). How will I follow the path God has engineered for me?
Connect through prayer: How can I pray for the needs of those in our Bible study group?
Grow in my relationship to Christ: In what areas is God calling me to assume leadership? (Leadership doesn’t have to be a spotlight-job; it could mean serving in the childcare, counting the offering, or setting up the communion service.)
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Coming Next Week: Take “The Faith Dare.” Read the compelling story of Rahab and her brave demonstration of faith in Joshua, chapters 2 and 6. Connect, Grow, Serve, Go® is a LifeWay ministry strategy providing a balanced approach to adult discipleship. 16
e x p lo r e t h e b i b l e
