THREE THINGS TO KNOW
DON’T MISS THIS. Class is in session! Join us this week, starting on Thursday, October 16th, for ADA BIBLE ACADEMY. Dig deeper into topics that will strengthen your faith and help you grow in Christlikeness. This semester will feature two classes: Live it Well, a class focused on living with purpose in your 60s and beyond, and Made for More: Understanding God’s Design for Sexuality. We invite you to join us for these four-week classes at our East Paris campus. To register, click HERE.
GROUP VALUES. This month, we will focus on the value of CARE. We all desire for our groups to be spaces where people are cared for and loved. However, when someone in our group goes through a challenging time, it can be difficult to understand how to best provide support. Click HERE to review our care process for difficult situations in your group. If you have any questions navigating a difficult situation, reach out to your Group Life contact for support.
GROW AS A LEADER. The story of Joshua is one example of the importance of being spiritually prepared. We can strengthen our readiness through the practice of spiritual disciplines. Consider adding Dallas Willard’s classic, The Spirit of the Disciplines, to your reading list this fall. Willard’s book is a thoughtful guide through the disciplines that focuses on the practices Jesus himself used. It details how these practices can help us be spiritually ready for whatever life throws our way. To explore this book, click HERE.
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Welcome to another week of our sermon series, EPIC. This week, we explore the story of Joshua and how to navigate life’s unexpected turning points.
ICEBREAKER
Share about a significant turning point in your life (going to college, getting married, a new job, becoming a parent, etc.) What made that season feel so different from everything before it?
THIS WEEK’S TEXT
Have someone read Joshua 3:1-5 aloud.
Why does God command the people to follow the ark of the covenant? What does the ark represent?
What does this passage reveal about God’s character?
Why does Joshua tell the people to consecrate themselves?
THIS WEEK’S SERMON
Pastor Aaron Buer continued our series by exploring how Joshua led Israel through a pivotal turning point. As a group, recall some of the sermon’s big ideas and main points.
How does our culture tend to approach major life transitions? What do people tend to rely on during these moments?
If God is leading and you are following, it’s impossible to go wrong. What does this mean, and why is it important to remember?
God’s command to Israel to remain at a distance from the ark is all about honor. Why is it important for us to follow God on his terms, rather than our own?
In your life, is God’s word just advice or is it authority? What’s the difference, and why does it matter?
How does living in a state of spiritual preparation help us navigate the unexpected?
Preparing spiritually involves building rhythms and habits that strengthen our relationship with God. What is one habit you can put into practice this week to help your own spiritual readiness?
Remembering God’s work in the past fuels our faithfulness in the present. What is one way you’ve experienced God’s faithfulness that fuels your faith today?
WRAP UP
Like Israel, we are called to be prepared to follow God through life’s turning points. This is something that cannot be done alone. As we wrap up, how can we support one another in life’s current turning points?