Difference between revisions of "Joshua 3: Big Steps"
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=Body= | =Body= | ||
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| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | 1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits c between you and the ark; do not go near it.” | ||
| + | 5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” | ||
| + | 6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. | ||
| + | <ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jos 3:1–6.</ref> | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
==God expects his people to follow him one step at a time (1-6).== | ==God expects his people to follow him one step at a time (1-6).== | ||
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===MTR: Ask, what is the next step God wants from me?=== | ===MTR: Ask, what is the next step God wants from me?=== | ||
| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | 7 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’ ” | ||
| + | 9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. | ||
| + | <ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jos 3:7–11.</ref> | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
==God uses his provision to remind his people that he is among them (7-11).== | ==God uses his provision to remind his people that he is among them (7-11).== | ||
===It was not about the tool but the one wielding the tool.=== | ===It was not about the tool but the one wielding the tool.=== | ||
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===MTR: Ask yourself, how do I need to be reminded that God is among us?=== | ===MTR: Ask yourself, how do I need to be reminded that God is among us?=== | ||
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| + | <blockquote> | ||
| + | 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” | ||
| + | 14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. | ||
| + | <ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jos 3:12–17.</ref> | ||
| + | </blockquote> | ||
==God often works through faithful leaders who step out and demonstrate faith (12-17).== | ==God often works through faithful leaders who step out and demonstrate faith (12-17).== | ||
===The priests were called to step out in faith.=== | ===The priests were called to step out in faith.=== | ||
Revision as of 16:57, 23 May 2022
Theological Proposition/Focus: No matter what, God is with us but there are times when he asks us to follow him in what may seem absurd.
Homiletical Proposition/Application: Regardless of how crazy something may seem, if God has clearly asked we must obey.
Contents
- 1 Introduction:
- 2 Body
- 2.1 God expects his people to follow him one step at a time (1-6).
- 2.2 God uses his provision to remind his people that he is among them (7-11).
- 2.2.1 It was not about the tool but the one wielding the tool.
- 2.2.2 It was not about the strength of the enemy but the one leading the charge.
- 2.2.3 It was not about the size of the obstacle but the faith of the follower
- 2.2.4 Image:
- 2.2.5 MTR: Ask yourself, how do I need to be reminded that God is among us?
- 2.3 God often works through faithful leaders who step out and demonstrate faith (12-17).
- 2.3.1 The priests were called to step out in faith.
- 2.3.2 The priests were called to remain in the middle.
- 2.3.3 The people were called on to continue marching forward.
- 2.3.4 Image:
- 2.3.5 MTR: If you are a leader then ask, how is God asking me to step out?
- 2.3.6 MTR: If you are not a leader then ask, how is God asking me to push forward?
- 3 Conclusion:
Introduction:
Image:
Need:
Subject:
Preview:
Text:. Joshua 3
Setting the Stage:
Body
1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits c between you and the ark; do not go near it.” 5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” 6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. [1]
God expects his people to follow him one step at a time (1-6).
The people were commanded to follow the ark.
The people were not told where they would go.
The people were reminded that they followed none other than God.
Image:
MTR: Ask, what is the next step God wants from me?
7 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’ ” 9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. [2]
God uses his provision to remind his people that he is among them (7-11).
It was not about the tool but the one wielding the tool.
It was not about the strength of the enemy but the one leading the charge.
It was not about the size of the obstacle but the faith of the follower
Image:
MTR: Ask yourself, how do I need to be reminded that God is among us?
12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” 14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. [3]
