moving forward

MOVING FORWARD WARMING UP 1. How would you describe your grandparents? a. Distant d. Strict b. Fun e. Supportive c. Involved f. Other?

2. What are some things you learned from your grandparents or someone else who had a similar role in your childhood?

2. The Israelites took three days to rest, prepare, and consecrate themselves before crossing the Jordan. By the end of this week, how can you step out in faith, following God, and go where you’ve never been before?

3. The GC Mission is to be a church that is Helping People Find Jesus and Helping Believers Become Disciples.

This sums up Jesus’ commission to his disciples; if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, then it is your commission. How are you fulfilling this mission? This week, how will you invest your resources in the life of a child, neighbors, parent, friend, student, or co-worker as you seek to fulfill this mission?

IN THE WORD Joshua 3 • Joshua 1-2 will help with context • Also Exodus 12-14 and Numbers 13-14

1. What had happened the first time the children of Israel sent spies to explore Canaan (Numbers 13-14)?

2. How was the time recorded in Joshua 3 different than that in Numbers 13-14?

3. As the people prepared to enter Canaan, what were they told to follow? (3:1-4)

4. What rationale did Joshua provide for why they should follow (3:4)?

5. How was this crossing similar to what had happened earlier in the history of their journey (Exodus 12-14)?

6. How were the people to prepare for the crossing? What could they expect to observe (3:5)?

7. How was this crossing similar to what had happened earlier in the history of their journey (Exodus 12-14)?

APPLICATION 1. In crossing Jordan the Israelites exited decades of failure and frustration. What do you need to leave behind?



Joshua 3:1-5 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

NOTE: It was recorded of those of the tribe of Issachar who came to make David king that they “understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32).

As we move forward, pray for such understanding as individuals and as a church!