Sometimes God asks us to do things that do not make sense to the rest of the world. For example, sometimes He asks us to practice generosity even though money is tight. Sometimes He asks us to forgive the person who has deeply wronged us, even though the world tells us it’s okay not to forgive. Sometimes God asks us to make a career decision that seems backward to the rest of the world. This is where faith comes in. You see, when God calls us to do these things that do not ordinarily make sense, He calls for us to act in faith, trusting His plan and obeying it, even when it looks silly to the rest of the world.
What is one risk that for you has been worth taking?
Bible Study Questions
1. In what ways does faith call us to be risky?
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Read Joshua 1:1-9. What did God call Joshua to do in these verses? What promise did He give him?
Joshua 1:1-9 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:1-9
After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.
“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
3. Read Joshua 6:1-5. What was God’s command in these verses? What do you think their enemies thought about them as they marched around the city silently for six days?
Joshua 6:1-5
Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”
4. What was the result of the Israelite’s faithful obedience to God?
Application
1. What holds people back from being faithful to God when He asks us to do something that does not make sense?
2. Why do you think Joshua and the rest of the Israelites acted faithfully, even when they knew marching around the city would not make sense to the rest of the world?
3. What might be one risk that you need to take this week in order to step out in faith.
Is there something you know God is calling you to do but you have been hesitant to do because you worry it will look foolish to the rest of the world? Share with your group. Also, share one step you can take in the direction toward faithful obedience. Then, after everyone has shared, pray together as a group for wisdom and courage to live faithfully, even when it will not make sense to the rest of the world.
There is a command repeated to Joshua from the Lord three times in the span of 4 verses. The command “be strong and courageous,” can be found three times in Joshua 1:6-9. Our ears should immediately perk up when we see something repeated as frequently as this command to Joshua in Scripture. Repetition is something that we need to pay attention to! Let’s spend some time together looking at this command and seeing what it looks like to be strong and courageous by exploring the lives of several people in Scripture. These people either demonstrated strength and courage or lacked at least one of these characteristics.
Joshua 1:6-9
• Read Joshua 1:6-9.
o “Strong” Definition: According to the Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, the Hebrew word that we translate as “strong” in these verses in Joshua 1 implies courage.
o Courageous definition: According to the Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament, the Hebrew word we translate as “courageous” in these verses also implies strength.
• After reading these verses and the notes about the definitions of “strong and courageous,” how are strength and courage intertwined?
Strength and courage go hand-in-hand. Courage requires strength to act courageously, and strength requires courage to act on that strength. When one of these is missing, we are not nearly as effective in our faith, and we even face ramifications from lacking one of the two characteristics. Let’s look in Scripture at the lives of people who either acted in strength and courage, acted in courage without strength, or acted in strength without courage. This will help you understand why these two characteristics are interconnected.
Strength and Courage:
• Let’s look back at Joshua’s story one last time. Read Joshua 6:1-17.
o How did Joshua demonstrate courage in these verses?
o How did Joshua demonstrate strength in these verses?
o Based on this story, how might strength look differently than we might expect today?
o What was the outcome of Joshua’s strength and courage?
Strength without Courage:
• Samson was an incredibly strong man but often lacked the courage to obey and honor God’s calling on his life. Read part of his story in Judges 16:1-31.
o How did Samson demonstrate strength in these verses?
o In what ways did Samson lack courage in these verses?
o How does this story help you understand the importance of strength and courage together?
o What was the outcome of Samson’s lack of courage along with his strength?
Courage without Strength:
• One person in Scripture who was courageous but lacked the strength to obey God faithfully was Ahab. Read part of His story in 1 Kings 22:1-40.
o How did Ahab demonstrate courage in these verses?
o How did Ahab lack strength in these verses?
o How does this passage of Scripture expand your understanding of strength portrayed in Scripture?
o What was the outcome of Ahab’s lack of strength along with his courage?
Strength and courage are meant to be exercised together. When we act in faith with God’s strength and courage, God moves. Of course, we know that God is our source of both strength and courage. In what areas do you specifically need God’s strength and courage right now? Tell your group. Next, spend some time praying with your group. Pray that God will give each group His strength and courage to live faithfully and take the steps He leads you to take.
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 1 Peter 1:8
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