View source for Joshua 9: Discernment Matters

'''Theological Proposition/Focus: God is truth and hence the source of truth and has a high expectation that His people be truthful.''' 

'''Homiletical Proposition/Application: We must go to God and petition Him, as truth, for discernment. Failure to have asked God is not an excuse for making a bad decision.''' 

=Introduction:=
==Image: Over and under reactions==
Often times we find ourselves balancing on a knife edge. On one side there is danger, on the other there is danger. For example,
====Under Reacting: about 3% of Americans are thought to be immunodeficient====
====Overacting example: Every Spring 35 million Americans fight allergies that incorrectly identify pollen as a new virus or bacteria.====
You don't want to be in either state. 

==Need: We need to seek God so that we can practice godly discernment.==
==Preview: In this text we are going to see that discernment matters because God holds us to a very high standard.==

==Setting the Stage:==


=Body=

==Discernment matters because those not among God's people often play by different rules (1-13).==
===Two common, worldly responses to God's power.===
====When some witness God's power they attempt to rebel (1-2).====
====When some witness God's power they attempt to manipulate (3-6).====
===Without God there is no truth (John 14:6).===
====Satan is the father of lies who naturally speaks lies John 8:44====
===Image: Playing a game with a birght five year old who is determined to win.===
===MTR: Search yourself and make sure you are turning to Truth.===

==Discernment matters because God holds his people to a very high standard (14-21).==
===Failure comes from failing to turn to God.===
===Ignorance is not bliss.===
===God expects His people to keep their word.===
===Image: ===
===MTR: Get into the habit of going to God.===

==Discernment matters because our choices can have long-term consequences (22-26).==
===Bad decisions often have consequences.===
====Israel was forced to live with a constant reminder of their failure here====
===Saul's later violation of the oath brought national consequences (2 Sam. 21:1-6).===
===God redeems despite our failures.===
===MTR: Determine to show how God turns past failures into present redemptions.===

=Conclusion: =
==Image: ==


[[Category:Sermons]]