Building a Legacy of Faith and Hope

Summary

In today's gathering, we reflected on the profound journey of life, drawing inspiration from the book of Joshua. Our community has been through challenging times, with storms and hardships testing our resilience. Yet, these trials remind us of the Israelites' journey, where God was with them through every obstacle. This is a powerful reminder that God is with us wherever we go, in every storm, both literal and figurative. Our purpose, as followers of Christ, is to glorify God by loving Him, loving others, and making disciples. This shared purpose unites us, even though our individual journeys may differ.

The Israelites' journey was marked by seemingly insurmountable challenges, yet God had a purpose for each trial. Similarly, our trials are opportunities for God to work in us, building a steadfast faith. In a world that often feels hopeless, we are reminded that this world is not our forever home. Our hope is in the eternal, not in the temporary things of this world. We are called to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, understanding that our lives are but a vapor in the midst of eternity.

Today, we are invited to set up "legacy stones" in our lives, markers that remind us of God's faithfulness. These stones serve as memorials, prompting us to remember and share God's mighty works with future generations. Whether through photographs, journals, or artifacts, these reminders help us and others see God's hand in our lives. Our stories and testimonies should point to God's glory, not our own achievements.

As we gather stones and set them up, we are encouraged to remember and proclaim God's faithfulness. This is not just for our benefit but for the world to see and know the might of the Lord. Our legacy should be one that points others to Jesus, showing His love and faithfulness through our lives. Whether you are young or old, it's never too late to start setting up these stones and leaving a legacy that honors God.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Presence in Our Journey: Just as God was with the Israelites, He is with us in every storm and trial. Our journey may be difficult, but we are never alone. God's presence is a constant source of strength and hope. [33:39]

- Eternal Perspective: This world is not our forever home. Our hope lies in the eternal, not in the temporary things of this world. By focusing on eternity, we can navigate life's challenges with a sense of peace and purpose. [38:46]

- Legacy Stones: We are called to set up legacy stones in our lives, markers that remind us of God's faithfulness. These stones serve as memorials, helping us and others remember and proclaim God's mighty works. [50:13]

- Sharing Our Testimony: Our stories and testimonies should point to God's glory, not our own achievements. By sharing how God has worked in our lives, we can inspire others to seek Him and trust in His faithfulness. [56:50]

- Leaving a Godly Legacy: Our legacy should be one that points others to Jesus, showing His love and faithfulness through our lives. It's never too late to start setting up these stones and leaving a legacy that honors God. [57:34]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [31:43] - Gratitude for Service
- [32:44] - Introduction to Joshua
- [33:39] - God's Presence in Storms
- [34:40] - Our Shared Purpose
- [35:24] - The Israelites' Journey
- [36:11] - Rebuilding and Hope
- [37:05] - Eternal Perspective
- [38:46] - Temporary World
- [39:31] - Invitation to Know God
- [40:39] - Legacy Stones
- [42:52] - Gathering Stones
- [46:01] - Remembering God's Faithfulness
- [50:13] - Setting Up Stones
- [56:50] - Sharing Our Testimony
- [57:34] - Leaving a Godly Legacy

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Joshua 4:1-9
- James 1:2-4

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Observation Questions:

1. What specific instructions did God give to Joshua regarding the stones from the Jordan River? (Joshua 4:1-3)
2. How did the Israelites respond to Joshua's command to gather stones from the Jordan? (Joshua 4:8-9)
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of setting up "legacy stones" in our lives? [50:13]
4. What does James 1:2-4 say about the purpose of trials in a believer's life?

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the act of setting up stones serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness, both for the Israelites and for us today? [54:21]
2. In what ways do trials and challenges help build a steadfast faith according to James 1:2-4?
3. The sermon mentions that our hope should be in the eternal rather than the temporary. How does this perspective change the way we face life's challenges? [38:46]
4. How can sharing our testimonies point others to God's glory rather than our own achievements? [56:50]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent trial or storm in your life. How did you experience God's presence during that time? What "legacy stone" can you set up to remember His faithfulness? [46:01]
2. The sermon encourages us to focus on eternity. What practical steps can you take this week to shift your focus from temporary concerns to eternal values? [38:46]
3. Consider the legacy you are leaving for future generations. What specific actions can you take to ensure your life points others to Jesus? [57:34]
4. Identify a way you can share your testimony with someone this week. How can you ensure that your story highlights God's work in your life rather than your own accomplishments? [56:50]
5. Think about a time when you felt survivor guilt or anxiety about the future. How can you use that experience to empathize with and support others who are currently struggling? [36:11]
6. What are some modern-day "legacy stones" you can create, such as journaling or taking photos, to remember and share God's faithfulness with others? [48:24]
7. How can you involve your family or community in setting up and remembering these legacy stones, ensuring that God's mighty works are shared with future generations? [54:58]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Presence in Every Storm
In life's journey, we often face storms and trials that test our resilience and faith. Just as God was with the Israelites during their journey, He is with us in every storm, both literal and figurative. These challenges are not meant to break us but to remind us of God's constant presence and strength. We are never alone, and His presence is a source of hope and courage. By acknowledging His presence, we can navigate through life's difficulties with a sense of peace and assurance. [33:39]

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a current storm in your life. How can you invite God's presence into this situation today, and what steps can you take to rely on His strength?

Day 2: An Eternal Perspective
Our lives are but a vapor in the midst of eternity, and this world is not our forever home. By focusing on the eternal rather than the temporary, we can find peace and purpose amidst life's challenges. This perspective helps us to prioritize what truly matters and to live with hope, knowing that our ultimate destination is with God. In a world that often feels hopeless, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus allows us to navigate life's trials with a sense of eternal purpose. [38:46]

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Corinthians 4:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one temporary concern that has been consuming your thoughts? How can you shift your focus to an eternal perspective today?

Day 3: Setting Up Legacy Stones
We are called to set up "legacy stones" in our lives, markers that remind us of God's faithfulness. These stones serve as memorials, helping us and others remember and proclaim God's mighty works. Whether through photographs, journals, or artifacts, these reminders help us see God's hand in our lives. Our stories and testimonies should point to God's glory, not our own achievements. By setting up these stones, we create a legacy that honors God and inspires future generations. [50:13]

"And Joshua said to them, 'Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you.'" (Joshua 4:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one "legacy stone" you can set up today to remind yourself and others of God's faithfulness in your life?

Day 4: Sharing Our Testimony
Our stories and testimonies should point to God's glory, not our own achievements. By sharing how God has worked in our lives, we can inspire others to seek Him and trust in His faithfulness. Our testimonies are powerful tools for evangelism and encouragement, showing others the reality of God's love and power. As we share our stories, we invite others to experience the same hope and transformation that we have found in Christ. [56:50]

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person you can share your testimony with this week? How can you prepare to share your story in a way that points to God's glory?

Day 5: Leaving a Godly Legacy
Our legacy should be one that points others to Jesus, showing His love and faithfulness through our lives. It's never too late to start setting up these stones and leaving a legacy that honors God. Whether you are young or old, your life can be a testament to God's goodness and grace. By living intentionally and purposefully, we can leave a lasting impact on those around us, guiding them towards a relationship with Christ. [57:34]

"Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children." (Deuteronomy 4:9, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to begin leaving a godly legacy for future generations? How can your life point others to Jesus?

Quotes

1) "Because when I'm preparing sermon series for our church family, normally what I do is I prepare them three, six months in advance. And so as I was praying through all last year about where God had us going as a church family, God brought me personally to the book of Joshua. And so I was just reading that for my own time with the Lord. And then as I was reading it, I was like, man, there's a lot in here that I would love to share with our church family. And so I put it in motion to start our series in Joshua. And that's where God has us right now. And I don't think that there's any other book of the Bible that is so applicable to where you are. You and I find ourselves today, in this moment right now." [32:44] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "And so in the previous weeks, we see that God has brought us on this place where we see that life is a journey. Life is a journey that we are taking. And we don't always understand what God is doing or why God does what he does. And even though your story and my story and the person next to you's story, they all might look different, so our journeys may look different, we still have a journey. And if you have the same purpose, if you call Jesus your Lord and Savior, if you have a personal, intimate, interactive relationship with the God of the universe, then we are children of God and we have the same purpose. And that purpose is to glorify God by loving God, loving others, and making disciples." [34:40] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "But whether we are rebuilding what was lost or recovering from who we've lost, maybe, maybe not. Maybe you're sitting here today and you're just experiencing survivor guilt. And that's a real thing, where you're sitting here and you've prepared for this massive storm and then all of a sudden it wasn't as bad as anticipated. And now you're looking at the news and you're looking at articles and you're looking at neighbors that have been affected and you're like, oh man, I feel almost like wrong, the fact that I was spared. And so, wherever you come in here today, whether you're looking at the pending elections freaking out, I mean, these things causing us anxiety and fear, often depression. I mean, look at the financial crisis that we're experiencing. So all of these things can look impossible, but I want to declare hope for every child of God that is in this room today." [37:05] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "This world is not your forever home. And I know for some of you, you may be like, that doesn't sound hopeful. Listen, if what is around us, all of the temporary, all the crazy, if that's all that we have to look forward to, we're in a pretty bad spot. Why is the world around us helpless and hopeless? Why is the world around us giving themselves to addiction and giving themselves to all sorts of different things that are escapism, trying to get out of the reality of life? Because they look at what is around them and that is their hope. Their hope and their faith in what is found on earth. So we try to build a kingdom here. We try to get a bigger house, better cars, nicer stuff. We build our 401ks. We try to leave this financial legacy to our kids and we want to set them up so that they can see it as they move forward in life. And so we're just building stuff that's just temporary and all of that will one day be gone." [38:03] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "So would we be the type of people that keep our eyes fixed and focused on Jesus? Because God promises that he is with us wherever we go. And I know that there are some here today who have not fully come to understand how much God loves them. I know that there are some here today that are sitting here and this God stuff, this church stuff, doesn't make a whole lot of sense. You see people singing, maybe raising their hands, maybe praying, and you don't understand it because you've never met Jesus for yourself. And I want you to know, one, I appreciate you being here. I so appreciate you walking into a place that may be uncomfortable for you, but I also want you to know that the God of the universe loves you and he wants a personal, intimate relationship with you. He wants you to know him." [39:31] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "And so often we're so consumed with just trying to get to the other side that we forgot along the way to look at what the Lord is doing. And there's a call. Christians, believers, followers of Jesus, children of God to go back and to pick up stones so that we will remember what the Lord has done. Now, that's not comfortable. That's not something we want to do. Sometimes going back into those moments are really hard. It's really painful. But I can promise you that any time that I've been led and ushered back to something in my past to gather a stone and see what the Lord has done and see how he has redeemed me in those moments, it's always actually led to long-term health. And so he's calling us to gather these stones, these things that will help us remember the faithfulness of God." [46:01] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "Remembering God's historic faithfulness is the first step in enjoying his present faithfulness to you, even if you don't feel it. He's reminding us that God's historic faithfulness, remembering God's historic faithfulness is our first step to enjoying his present faithfulness. I think we're really bad at remembering. I don't know about you. Maybe it's just me, but we're bad at remembering the things that happen in our lives. I mean, if I were to go around the room and pull some of you married guys and ask you when your wedding date was, would you remember? It's supposed to be the happiest day in our lives, but we barely even remember the details." [47:12] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "Why do we set up these stones? Well, here's the purpose. To proclaim how the Lord moved, how he worked, how he protected, how he guided, and got us through. Whatever the storm was, whatever the circumstance was, whatever the situation is, that the Lord was with us. Now, just some clarity because often when we talk about our grace story or our testimony of how God has saved us, I have seen videos and I have seen like heard like in different settings people's testimony. Often, the testimony is way more about the person and what the person did than about God. The guitar that sat in my room is not there to serve as a reminder that I can play guitar. It's not there to serve as a reminder that I'm a musician. It's there to show the faithfulness of the Lord, to show what he has done." [56:04] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

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