New Song Community Church
The Story - Chapter 7, The Battle Begins
Join us on Sundays, 10am, beginning Sunday, August 18, 2019, for "The Story". God goes to great lengths to rescue lost and hurting people. That is what "The Story" is all about-the story of the Bible, God's great love affair with humanity. Condensed into 31 accessible chapters, "The Story" sweeps you into the unfolding progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation. Using the clear, accessible text of the NIV Bible, it allows the stories, poems, and teachings of the Bible to read like a novel. And like any good story, "The Story" is filled with intrigue, drama, conflict, romance, and redemption-and this story's true!
Locations & Times
New Song Community Church
2858 Hafenrichter Rd, Aurora, IL 60503, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
The Story - Chapter 7, The Battle Begins
Check out this video from The Story, Chapter 7, The Battle Begins (Teen Edition).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFBtYuzOtZgWe Will Serve the Lord!
It sits there every day, right inside the front door of my home, plastered on the wall, “As for me and my house(hold), we will serve the Lord.” I’m sure you’ve heard this statement before. For me, it’s sets the vision for my marriage and my family. But, did you know? This is a Bible verse spoken by Joshua, in Joshua 24:15, in the Old Testament, to the people of Israel, in ~1375 B.C.? I know. That’s almost 3400 years ago!
It sits there every day, right inside the front door of my home, plastered on the wall, “As for me and my house(hold), we will serve the Lord.” I’m sure you’ve heard this statement before. For me, it’s sets the vision for my marriage and my family. But, did you know? This is a Bible verse spoken by Joshua, in Joshua 24:15, in the Old Testament, to the people of Israel, in ~1375 B.C.? I know. That’s almost 3400 years ago!
The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People
Today, we continue The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People. This is an abridged, chronological, 31 chapter reading of the Bible. Today, let’s continue looking at the story of Israel in Chapter 7—The Battle Begins. Here, Israel is given a second chance to do what they failed to do the first time they stood at the border of the Promised Land—trust the Lord to bring victory as they walk in faithful obedience!
Today, we continue The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People. This is an abridged, chronological, 31 chapter reading of the Bible. Today, let’s continue looking at the story of Israel in Chapter 7—The Battle Begins. Here, Israel is given a second chance to do what they failed to do the first time they stood at the border of the Promised Land—trust the Lord to bring victory as they walk in faithful obedience!
Joshua's Last Words
And, before his death, Joshua says farewell to the leaders of Israel and renews the covenant. Listen closely to his words…
1Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. 2Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. 3But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his family 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. 6When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. 7But they cried to the Lordfor 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 wilderness 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. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. 9When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. 10But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand. 11“ ‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. 12I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 13So 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.’ 14“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15But if serving the Lordseems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” - Joshua 24:1-15
24And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lordour God and obey him.” 25On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws. 26And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the Lord. 27“See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lordhas said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.” 28Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance. 29After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten.
And, before his death, Joshua says farewell to the leaders of Israel and renews the covenant. Listen closely to his words…
1Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. 2Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. 3But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his family 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. 6When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. 7But they cried to the Lordfor 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 wilderness 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. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. 9When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. 10But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand. 11“ ‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. 12I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 13So 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.’ 14“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15But if serving the Lordseems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” - Joshua 24:1-15
24And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lordour God and obey him.” 25On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws. 26And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the Lord. 27“See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lordhas said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.” 28Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance. 29After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten.
What Did the People of Israel Learn about God?
In this chapter, the people of Israel, who enter the Promised Land, learn some things about God/themselves! In Exploring the Story: A Reference Companion, Adam Barr says, “First, the Lord, not the strength of Israel’s army, will make victory possible. Second, their mission (people of Israel) demands a heart of courage. Third, if Israel has any hope of achieving victory, they must trust God and walk in obedience to His word!”
In this chapter, the people of Israel, who enter the Promised Land, learn some things about God/themselves! In Exploring the Story: A Reference Companion, Adam Barr says, “First, the Lord, not the strength of Israel’s army, will make victory possible. Second, their mission (people of Israel) demands a heart of courage. Third, if Israel has any hope of achieving victory, they must trust God and walk in obedience to His word!”
Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve!
In the first part of Joshua 24:15 (NIV), Joshua says, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” Joshua’s invitation to the people was to not be afraid, trust God and His word, obey Him and His commands, and walk in His will and ways. Then, Joshua makes the statement, “As for me and my house(hold), we will serve the Lord.” Then, in 24:24 (NIV), the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord and obey Him.”
In the first part of Joshua 24:15 (NIV), Joshua says, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” Joshua’s invitation to the people was to not be afraid, trust God and His word, obey Him and His commands, and walk in His will and ways. Then, Joshua makes the statement, “As for me and my house(hold), we will serve the Lord.” Then, in 24:24 (NIV), the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord and obey Him.”
Our Lower Story
What about you? Joshua’s invitation still exists for us to choose for our self and our house to serve the Lord today! In fact, Jesus says, in Luke 9:23 (NIV), “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” We all know what it feels like to choose battles that fall outside of the word and will of God. We’re on our own and the outcome is unpredictable! It is a daily battle of faithfulness and forgiveness. But, in your faith, family, and friendships, choose to follow God’s word, His will, and His ways!
What about you? Joshua’s invitation still exists for us to choose for our self and our house to serve the Lord today! In fact, Jesus says, in Luke 9:23 (NIV), “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” We all know what it feels like to choose battles that fall outside of the word and will of God. We’re on our own and the outcome is unpredictable! It is a daily battle of faithfulness and forgiveness. But, in your faith, family, and friendships, choose to follow God’s word, His will, and His ways!
Closing Prayer
Let’s pray. Lord, over and over, throughout The Story, we hear, “The Lord is with us.” And, in Joshua 1:9 (NIV), the Lord says to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Lord, no matter what battle we may be facing or fighting, remind us of Your promise in 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (NIV), “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen.
Let’s pray. Lord, over and over, throughout The Story, we hear, “The Lord is with us.” And, in Joshua 1:9 (NIV), the Lord says to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Lord, no matter what battle we may be facing or fighting, remind us of Your promise in 1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (NIV), “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen.
Discussion Question
*How could Joshua be “strong and courageous” in such intimidating situations?
*What do you learn about God from the story of the salvation of Rahab the prostitute?
*What do the string of amazing battle victories the people experienced as they entered the land reveal about who is really in charge of history?
*Why did God order the Israelites to go to war against others? How was this war justified?
*How did Joshua challenge the people in his final speech?
*How could Joshua be “strong and courageous” in such intimidating situations?
*What do you learn about God from the story of the salvation of Rahab the prostitute?
*What do the string of amazing battle victories the people experienced as they entered the land reveal about who is really in charge of history?
*Why did God order the Israelites to go to war against others? How was this war justified?
*How did Joshua challenge the people in his final speech?
Family Memory Verse
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
New Song Website
If you would like to know more information about New Song, check us out online!
http://www.newsongchurch.net