NEXT STEP 2018
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NE T STEP 2018 MESSAGE: “Turning 50” SERIES: Starting Over PASSAGE: Joshua 3:4-5 DATE: January 7th, 2018
START HERE: (Pick one or more as a WARM-UP) 1. 2. 3. 4.
What are some of our bright spots/defining moments as a church throughout our first 50 years? How do you foresee our church 5 years from now, 10 years from now, 50 years from now? Where in your own life would you like to start over with a second chance? Who are some of the biblical heroes who got a second chance? What is the lesson we can learn?
FOCUS OF THE WEEK: Joshua 1:1-3:17 1. Joshua 1: Summarize chapter 1 with a one word title (other than courage). In the first ten verses, what do we learn about the Lord? How about Moses and Joshua? Why was God wanting Israel to start over in their covenant relationship with Him? What did the Lord expect from the Israelites? 2. Joshua 2: Summarize chapter 2 with a one word title (besides Rahab or Jericho). What do verses 2:4, 2:8-10, and 2:24 reveal to us about who the Lord our God is? What do they teach us about transitions? Which individuals was God giving a second chance to and why did he give them that? 3. Joshua 3: Spend the majority of your time in this chapter this week! As a group read this together, if you can in multiple translations. What does the chapter reveal to us about our Lord Almighty? What does it teach us about second chances and fresh starts? How would your life be different if you applied the truths of this chapter to your current situation? How might we apply this at HCC? 4. Joshua 1:1: Why was the death of Moses an opportunity for starting over? What does the death of Moses teach us about salvation and service? 5. Joshua 1:7-9: How would your life be different if you applied the principles and practices in these 3 verses? What role does meditation of Scripture play in starting over? Where do you need strength and courage this week or month? Read 1:16-18. What do these verses teach us about commitment? 6. Rahab: Why do you think Rahab hid the spies? What gave the spies courage to move forward? 7. Joshua 3:1-6: What are the principles of change in these verses? What is the significance of the Ark of the Covenant? Joshua told the people that they had not been on this road before, but to press on! What would have been your thoughts or feelings if you were an Israelite at that time? 8. Joshua 3:5-6: What is the significance of consecration? What does consecration look like in our culture today? What are some of the miracles you would like the Lord to do in 2018? What wonders might the Lord display in the life of our church if we practiced corporate sanctification? 9. Joshua 3:7-13: Do you think the Israelites struggled with believing that the Lord would do a miracle at the river? What are some of the hurdles that you feel you are facing this year? What about HCC? 10. Joshua 3:14-17: In what ways do these verses symbolize the challenges that we face as believers? What steps do we need to take to ensure safety in the midst of the pass over? How might our church be different if we displayed the courage of Joshua and the Israelites? FINAL STEP: Re-read Joshua 1-3 this week. Look for examples of starting over and second chances. Create a list of principles that will help you reach your goals and objectives for 2018.
Joshua 3 Amplified Bible (AMP) Israel Crosses the Jordan 3 Joshua got up early in the morning; then he and all the children of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they spent the night there before they crossed [the river]. 2 And it happened at the end of three days that the officers went throughout the camp, 3 and they commanded the people, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from where you are and follow it. 4 However, there shall be a distance between you and it of about 2,000 cubits (3,000 ft.) by measurement. Do not come near it,
[a]
so that you may [be able to see the ark and] know the way you are to go,
for you have not passed this way before.” 5
Then Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves [for His purpose], for tomorrow
the LORD will do wonders (miracles) among you.” 6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over [the river] ahead of the people.” So they took up the Ark of the Covenant and went on ahead of the people. 7
The LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to magnify and exalt you in the sight of all Israel,
so that they may know that just as I was with Moses, I will [also] be with you. 8 You shall command the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” 9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here, and listen to the words of the LORD your God.”
10
Joshua said, “By this you shall know
that the living God is among you, and that He will, without fail, drive out from before you the
[b]
Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the
Jebusite.
11
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of
you [leading the way] into the Jordan. Israel, one man from each tribe.
13
12
So now take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of
When the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of
the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, [come to] rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing down from above will be cut off, and they will stand in one mass [of water].” 14
So when the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan with the priests who were
carrying the ark of the covenant before the people,
15
and when those who were carrying the ark
came up to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were submerged at the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all of its banks throughout the time of harvest),
16
the
waters which were flowing down from above stopped and rose up in one mass a great distance away at
[c]
Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan. Those [waters] flowing downward toward the
sea of the Arabah, the opposite Jericho.
17
[d]
Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed [the river]
And while all [the people of] Israel crossed over on dry ground, the priests
who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan [riverbed], until all the nation had finished crossing over the Jordan.
NE T STEP 2018 MESSAGE: “Turning 50” SERIES: Starting Over PASSAGE: Joshua 3:4-5 DATE: January 7th, 2018
START HERE: (Pick one or more as a WARM-UP) 1. 2. 3. 4.
What are some of our bright spots/defining moments as a church throughout our first 50 years? How do you foresee our church 5 years from now, 10 years from now, 50 years from now? Where in your own life would you like to start over with a second chance? Who are some of the biblical heroes who got a second chance? What is the lesson we can learn?
FOCUS OF THE WEEK: Joshua 1:1-3:17 1. Joshua 1: Summarize chapter 1 with a one word title (other than courage). In the first ten verses, what do we learn about the Lord? How about Moses and Joshua? Why was God wanting Israel to start over in their covenant relationship with Him? What did the Lord expect from the Israelites? 2. Joshua 2: Summarize chapter 2 with a one word title (besides Rahab or Jericho). What do verses 2:4, 2:8-10, and 2:24 reveal to us about who the Lord our God is? What do they teach us about transitions? Which individuals was God giving a second chance to and why did he give them that? 3. Joshua 3: Spend the majority of your time in this chapter this week! As a group read this together, if you can in multiple translations. What does the chapter reveal to us about our Lord Almighty? What does it teach us about second chances and fresh starts? How would your life be different if you applied the truths of this chapter to your current situation? How might we apply this at HCC? 4. Joshua 1:1: Why was the death of Moses an opportunity for starting over? What does the death of Moses teach us about salvation and service? 5. Joshua 1:7-9: How would your life be different if you applied the principles and practices in these 3 verses? What role does meditation of Scripture play in starting over? Where do you need strength and courage this week or month? Read 1:16-18. What do these verses teach us about commitment? 6. Rahab: Why do you think Rahab hid the spies? What gave the spies courage to move forward? 7. Joshua 3:1-6: What are the principles of change in these verses? What is the significance of the Ark of the Covenant? Joshua told the people that they had not been on this road before, but to press on! What would have been your thoughts or feelings if you were an Israelite at that time? 8. Joshua 3:5-6: What is the significance of consecration? What does consecration look like in our culture today? What are some of the miracles you would like the Lord to do in 2018? What wonders might the Lord display in the life of our church if we practiced corporate sanctification? 9. Joshua 3:7-13: Do you think the Israelites struggled with believing that the Lord would do a miracle at the river? What are some of the hurdles that you feel you are facing this year? What about HCC? 10. Joshua 3:14-17: In what ways do these verses symbolize the challenges that we face as believers? What steps do we need to take to ensure safety in the midst of the pass over? How might our church be different if we displayed the courage of Joshua and the Israelites? FINAL STEP: Re-read Joshua 1-3 this week. Look for examples of starting over and second chances. Create a list of principles that will help you reach your goals and objectives for 2018.
Joshua 3 Amplified Bible (AMP) Israel Crosses the Jordan 3 Joshua got up early in the morning; then he and all the children of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they spent the night there before they crossed [the river]. 2 And it happened at the end of three days that the officers went throughout the camp, 3 and they commanded the people, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from where you are and follow it. 4 However, there shall be a distance between you and it of about 2,000 cubits (3,000 ft.) by measurement. Do not come near it,
[a]
so that you may [be able to see the ark and] know the way you are to go,
for you have not passed this way before.” 5
Then Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves [for His purpose], for tomorrow
the LORD will do wonders (miracles) among you.” 6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over [the river] ahead of the people.” So they took up the Ark of the Covenant and went on ahead of the people. 7
The LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to magnify and exalt you in the sight of all Israel,
so that they may know that just as I was with Moses, I will [also] be with you. 8 You shall command the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” 9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here, and listen to the words of the LORD your God.”
10
Joshua said, “By this you shall know
that the living God is among you, and that He will, without fail, drive out from before you the
[b]
Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the
Jebusite.
11
Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of
you [leading the way] into the Jordan. Israel, one man from each tribe.
13
12
So now take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of
When the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of
the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, [come to] rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing down from above will be cut off, and they will stand in one mass [of water].” 14
So when the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan with the priests who were
carrying the ark of the covenant before the people,
15
and when those who were carrying the ark
came up to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were submerged at the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all of its banks throughout the time of harvest),
16
the
waters which were flowing down from above stopped and rose up in one mass a great distance away at
[c]
Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan. Those [waters] flowing downward toward the
sea of the Arabah, the opposite Jericho.
17
[d]
Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed [the river]
And while all [the people of] Israel crossed over on dry ground, the priests
who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan [riverbed], until all the nation had finished crossing over the Jordan.
