Posts with the category “joshua”

Seeing Through the CaramelReading: 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 -- The apostle Paul warns that deception rarely announces itself as deception; it disguises itself as something appealing and even righteous.T...  Read More

Idolatry in Modern ClothingReading: Exodus 20:1-6 -- God declares that no other gods are to come before him, and that he is a jealous God who will not share devotion.We tend to think of idolatry as an...  Read More

The Cost of CompromiseReading: Joshua 23:6-13 -- Joshua warns Israel not to associate with surrounding nations in ways that would draw their hearts toward foreign gods.Joshua's warning was not rooted ...  Read More

Remembering What God Has DoneReading: Joshua 23:1-5, 14 -- Joshua reminds the leaders that God has fought for them and fulfilled every promise he made.It is easy to move forward without pausing to loo...  Read More

2,000 Years of Grace -- and What Comes NextReading: Revelation 20:11-15; John 3:16-18; Romans 5:8-9The gospel is simultaneously the greatest message of hope ever spoken and the most serious warning ev...  Read More

Reading Scripture HonestlyReading: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:160; Proverbs 2:1-6Every word of Scripture is God-breathed, which means none of it can be safely ignored, including the parts that make ...  Read More

The God of JusticeReading: Genesis 15:13-16; Deuteronomy 32:3-4; Romans 2:5-8Justice is not a contradiction of love. It is one of love's most serious expressions. When God told Abram that the sin of t...  Read More

Slow to Anger, Abounding in LoveReading: Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 103:8-14; 2 Peter 3:9Long before the New Testament, God declared Himself compassionate, gracious, and slow to anger. These are not new qua...  Read More

The God Who Does Not ChangeReading: Hebrews 13:8; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17It is tempting to read the Old Testament and the New Testament as if they reveal two entirely different Gods -- one defined by ...  Read More

The Table Requires Clean Hands and a Clear ConscienceReading: 1 Corinthians 11:27-28; 1 John 1:9The sermon closed with an invitation to come to the Lord's table with a clear conscience. Scripture supp...  Read More

Discipline Is an Expression of LoveReading: Hebrews 12:5-11; Proverbs 3:11-12Nobody enjoys discipline. But Hebrews is clear that God's correction is not punishment from a distant judge. It is the inte...  Read More

There Are No Gray Areas With GodReading: James 2:10-11; Proverbs 14:12James draws a sharp and uncomfortable line. To stumble at one point of the law is to be guilty of breaking it entirely. Our cultur...  Read More

Hidden Sin Has Visible ConsequencesReading: Joshua 7:10-13; Galatians 6:7-8Achan buried his stolen treasure beneath the floor of his tent, certain no one would find it. But concealment is not the same...  Read More

The Danger of Confidence Without CautionReading: Joshua 7:1-5Fresh off a remarkable victory, Israel marched toward Ai with confidence bordering on carelessness. They had witnessed God bring down the w...  Read More

God's Victory, Not Ours Reading: Joshua 6:20When the walls of Jericho fell, no soldier had swung a sword to bring them down. The victory belonged entirely to God. Israel was present and obedient, but ...  Read More

Marching When Nothing Changes Reading: Joshua 6:12-16For six days, Israel marched and nothing visibly changed. The walls stood. The city remained. There was no outward evidence that any of it was work...  Read More

Consecrate Yourself Reading: Joshua 3:5Before the miracle, there was preparation. Joshua called the people to consecrate themselves -- to separate from what was unclean and devote themselves fully to ...  Read More

Step Into the River Reading: Joshua 3:14-16The waters did not part before the priests stepped in. They parted only after the priests feet hit the water. This sequence is not accidental. God was making...  Read More

When God's Instructions Do Not Make Sense Reading: Joshua 6:1-5God's directions to Joshua were not a military strategy anyone would have drawn up. March around the city. Blow trumpets. Wait. The plan ...  Read More

Strong and Courageous in Your NowReading: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Isaiah 41:10Being strong and courageous doesn't mean you're never afraid—it means you act in faith despite the fear. Joshua knew the pe...  Read More

Obedience Is the Path to ProsperityReading: Joshua 1:7-9; Psalm 1:1-3God's promise of prosperity and success to Joshua came with a condition: careful obedience to His word. This isn't prosperity gospe...  Read More

You Don't Walk AloneReading: Deuteronomy 31:6-8; Hebrews 13:5-6The most powerful promise God gave Joshua wasn't about military victory or territorial conquest—it was about presence. "I will be with yo...  Read More

Courage Means Trusting God's Plan Over YoursReading: Jeremiah 29:11-13; Proverbs 3:5-6We love making plans. Five-year strategies, detailed roadmaps, backup contingencies—they give us a sense of contro...  Read More

God's Promises Are Your FoundationReading: Joshua 1:1-9Joshua stood at a pivotal moment—Moses was gone, and an entire nation looked to him for leadership. God's first words weren't tactical instructio...  Read More