Going Deeper- Session #2- "BE"

Last night we continued talking about this idea of courage by looking at the life of Joshua. We saw how oftentimes, when we step out in courageous, risk-filled living, we get this idea that God owes us something. Lets break down this idea of "Courage Math" once more. "A" (our courageous decision to follow God) + "B" (this decision pleases God)= "C" (God gives us what we want). In our minds, this is great looking math! But sometimes...oftentimes...God's answer to "C" isn't the same as our answer to "C", and we get left wondering why God hasn't "come through." We saw last night that Achan, Joshua, and the rest of the Israelites learned this lesson real quick. What we saw is that when God orginally called Joshua to courage, he wasn't doing so, so that Joshua could rely on God for a bit and then do is own thing. No, instead, God allowed Joshua and the Israelites to fail, because He wanted to remind them that courage isn't simply a giant leap of faith we take once in a blue moon. Courage rather, is everyday dependence on God. When we make courageous decisions each day, we are in essence saying, "God, I depend on you to help me through this"- this is courageous, risk-filled living. And when we, like Joshua and the Israelites forget this, God will sometimes allow life to get dark, so that He can remind us that of our lives depend on Him. And when we recognize this, He gets the glory and not us- and that is the whole point behind courage, isn't it?

During this next week, take some quiet time and use these questions to help you go deeper with this idea of constant dependence on God:

1. When you make a courageous decision, is it more about you, God, or your relationship with God? Explain.

2. Have you ever made a courageous decision in your life, only to see things get worse?

-How did you react? Anger? Frustration? Rebellion? Confusion? Understanding

- What were you expecting to happen as a result of your courageous decision?

3. Re-read Joshua 1:3-5...
- Who is the one calling the shots here?

- Who seems to be in control of what will happen- God or Joshua?

4. Re-read Joshua 3-6. Here we see Joshua and the Israelites crossing the Jordan, creating a stone memorial, celebrating Passover and remembering what God had done, and defeating Jericho.

- As you read, who again seems to be calling all of the shots? Who is telling Joshua and the Israelites what to do?

- Why do you think God gave the Israelites success whenever they and Joshua obeyed and honored Him?

5. Now re-read Joshua 7- what has changed between chapters 3-6 and chapter 7?

- Who is calling the shots?

- How have Joshua and the Israelites forgotten God?

6. "God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him"

- What does this quote teach you about the purpose of courage and the purpose of every aspect of our lives?

- Does it make sense then, that God sometimes will allow life to get dark, to remind us that we have forgotten Him, and to use those dark areas of our lives to bring us back to him?

We want to encourage you to come on out on Thursday night, from 7:00pm-8:30pm for small group at Matt and Amanda's where we will flesh these ideas out some more. Hope to see you there!