Embodying Strength and Courage Through God's Word
Summary
In a thoughtful exploration of biblical leadership and the pursuit of spiritual strength and courage, Connor Bales delves into the Book of Joshua, focusing on the first chapter where God commissions Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. This narrative is not just a historical account but serves as a template for contemporary believers on how to embody the virtues of strength and courage through a deep engagement with the Word of God.
The crux of Bales' message revolves around the divine instructions given to Joshua, which are as relevant today as they were then. The emphasis is on the importance of obeying, trusting, speaking, thinking, and ultimately believing in all of God's Word for the betterment of one's spiritual journey. Bales underscores that strength and courage are not innate traits but are cultivated through a steadfast commitment to God's promises, plans, and personal presence in the lives of believers.
Bales highlights the significance of God's promise to Joshua, assuring him of the land that was sworn to his ancestors. This promise is the bedrock of strength and courage, as it reflects God's unwavering fidelity to His word. Furthermore, Bales points out that God's plan for Joshua to tread upon the land and claim it is a testament to God's guidance and providence. Lastly, the personal presence of God, who pledges never to abandon Joshua, is presented as the ultimate source of courage and strength.
The sermon further explores the practical aspects of living out God's Word. Bales encourages believers to internalize Scripture so deeply that it becomes a natural response to life's circumstances. This internalization is achieved through speaking God's Word consistently, which aligns one's convictions with divine truth rather than personal opinion. Bales also stresses the importance of teaching God's Word to the next generation, highlighting the role of parents and grandparents as primary spiritual educators in the home.
Bales shares a personal anecdote about a dinner encounter where he and his wife, Mary, offered to pray for their waitress who was struggling with anxiety. This encounter illustrates the natural outpouring of God's Word in everyday interactions and the comfort it can provide to others.
The concept of meditating on God's Word is also dissected, distinguishing Christian meditation from secular practices. Bales explains that Christian meditation involves filling oneself with the truths of Scripture, rather than emptying the mind. He cites Philippians 4:8 and Psalm 1 as key passages that encourage believers to meditate on whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy.
Bales concludes with practical steps for believers to engage with Scripture, such as joining a life group, participating in men's and women's Bible studies, and finding a good Bible reading plan. He emphasizes the importance of community and consistent exposure to God's Word as means to grow in spiritual strength and courage.
Key Takeaways:
- True strength and courage are rooted in the promises, plans, and personal presence of God, as demonstrated in the life of Joshua. Believers are called to stand firm on these divine assurances, knowing that God is faithful to fulfill His promises and guide His people. [03:08]
- The practice of speaking God's Word is not merely about recitation but about allowing Scripture to so deeply saturate one's heart that it naturally overflows in conversation and action. This practice shapes one's responses to life's challenges and opportunities to witness to others. [17:52]
- Christian meditation is a transformative practice that involves filling one's mind with the Word of God. This form of meditation is not about emptying the mind but about contemplating and internalizing divine truths, which leads to spiritual growth and discernment. [21:58]
- Engaging with Scripture through reading, studying, and meditating on it is essential for developing spiritual strength and courage. Believers are encouraged to find communities and resources that facilitate regular interaction with the Bible, fostering a deeper understanding and application of its teachings. [33:25]
- The pursuit of biblical strength and courage is not a passive endeavor but requires active belief in the entirety of God's Word. This belief is manifested through obedience, trust, and the conviction that God's Word is for the believer's ultimate good, leading to spiritual prosperity and success. [27:57]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Joshua 1:1-9
- Philippians 4:8
- Psalm 1:1-3
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific instructions did God give to Joshua in Joshua 1:1-9? How many times does God command Joshua to be strong and courageous? [06:10]
2. According to the sermon, what are the three sources of strength and courage mentioned by Connor Bales? [03:50]
3. How does Bales describe the practice of Christian meditation, and how is it different from secular meditation? [23:02]
4. What personal anecdote did Bales share to illustrate the natural outpouring of God's Word in everyday interactions? [20:27]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that God’s instructions to Joshua focused on obedience to His Word rather than military or organizational skills? [10:53]
2. How does the promise of prosperity and success in Joshua 1:7-8 relate to the concept of spiritual rather than material blessings? [28:47]
3. What does it mean to meditate on God's Word day and night, and how can this practice lead to spiritual growth and discernment? [23:46]
4. How does the practice of speaking God's Word shape one's responses to life's challenges and opportunities to witness to others? [17:30]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the need for strength and courage. How did you seek it, and how might engaging more deeply with God's Word have changed your approach? [04:25]
2. Bales emphasizes the importance of teaching God's Word to the next generation. How can you incorporate more Scripture into your interactions with your children or grandchildren? [18:48]
3. Consider your current practice of reading and meditating on Scripture. What specific steps can you take to make this a more consistent part of your daily routine? [35:12]
4. Think about a recent conversation where you could have shared a biblical truth but didn’t. How can you prepare yourself to naturally incorporate Scripture into future conversations? [20:27]
5. Identify one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's Word fully. What practical steps can you take to deepen your trust in that area? [14:19]
6. How can you use the practice of Christian meditation to fill your mind with God's truths, especially during times of stress or anxiety? [23:02]
7. Bales encourages joining a life group or Bible study. What are the potential benefits of such community engagement for your spiritual growth, and how can you take the first step to get involved? [33:12]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Assurance as Our Foundation
God's promises, plans, and personal presence are the bedrock upon which true strength and courage are built. This is exemplified in the story of Joshua, who was called to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. The assurance that God would never leave nor forsake him was pivotal in Joshua's success. Similarly, believers today can stand firm on the divine assurances that God is faithful and will fulfill His promises. The knowledge that God is with us should embolden us to face our own challenges with confidence, knowing that we are part of a larger, divine plan.
"Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go." - Joshua 1:6-7 ESV
Reflection: How can the assurance of God's presence in your life change the way you approach a current challenge or opportunity? [03:08]
Day 2: The Overflow of a Saturated Heart
The practice of speaking God's Word is transformative, shaping our hearts and minds to respond to life's situations with wisdom and grace. When Scripture saturates our being, it naturally overflows into our conversations and actions, aligning us with divine truth. This is not about mere recitation but about a deep, personal internalization that influences our worldview and interactions. As we allow God's Word to dwell richly within us, we become equipped to offer hope and guidance to others, just as it has been given to us.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." - Colossians 3:16 ESV
Reflection: What is one way you can incorporate speaking God's Word into your daily interactions to shape your responses and witness to others? [17:52]
Day 3: Contemplating Divine Truths
Christian meditation is a practice of filling the mind with God's Word, contemplating its truths, and allowing it to transform us from the inside out. Unlike secular meditation, which often focuses on emptying the mind, Christian meditation is about engaging deeply with Scripture, pondering its meaning, and applying it to our lives. This form of meditation leads to spiritual growth, discernment, and a renewed mind that aligns with God's will.
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." - Psalm 1:2-3 ESV
Reflection: What is one specific truth from Scripture you can meditate on this week to deepen your spiritual understanding and growth? [21:58]
Day 4: Engaging with Scripture in Community
Developing spiritual strength and courage requires regular engagement with Scripture. This is not a solitary endeavor but one that thrives in the context of community. By joining life groups, Bible studies, and finding a good Bible reading plan, believers can support one another in their spiritual journeys. Consistent exposure to God's Word in the company of fellow believers fosters a deeper understanding and application of biblical teachings, which is crucial for growth.
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV
Reflection: What step can you take this week to engage more deeply with Scripture in the context of your church community? [33:25]
Day 5: Active Belief in God's Word
The pursuit of biblical strength and courage is an active process that requires a firm belief in the entirety of God's Word. This belief is expressed through obedience, trust, and the conviction that God's Word is for our ultimate good. As we commit to living out the teachings of Scripture, we can expect to experience spiritual prosperity and success, not as the world defines it, but as God promises it.
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12 ESV
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to exercise more trust in God's Word, and how can you take a step of obedience in that area today? [27:57]
Quotes
1) "Because God's word is so deep within us that when life shows up and when circumstances are around us, God's word is kind of what spills out naturally as in response to that." [17:52] (Download)
2) "You can't say, 'well, I trust God, but I don't trust his word.' Like those things are incongruent. You recognize that, right?" [14:11] (Download)
3) "When we choose to obey and to trust and to speak and to think God's word, then we are evidencing a belief in the promise that he has tied to that." [27:57] (Download)
4) "Christian meditation is altogether different from that because Christian meditation... That's not emptying ourselves. That's filling ourselves with the things of God." [21:58] (Download)
5) "If you're willing to pursue biblical strength and courage, knowing its sourcing is God's promise and plan in person. Its pursuit is his word. It's the Bible." [37:09] (Download)
6) "Get plugged into life group, get plugged into a small group community that is going to gather together around the teaching and discussion of God's word." [33:25] (Download)
7) "The higher any man is raised in office, the more need he has of an acquaintance with the sacred oracles. And the better he will be qualified by the study of them for the discharge of his arduous duties." [11:22] (Download)
8) "It's difficult to be obedient to God's law because that requires a submission of self and an elevation of God. It requires the recognition that God might have a plan that is better than what you and I could devise on our own." [12:40] (Download)
9) "God's instruction, what he finds most significant to impart as his wisdom to Joshua, his man to lead his people into this land of promise is, 'hey, just obey my word.'" [11:22] (Download)
10) "We have an inclination in our sinful nature to want to pick and choose the best parts that are easiest for us to follow. But when it comes to the whole counsel of God's word, that's what we are to submit ourselves to." [12:40] (Download)
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