Embracing God's Call to Move and Grow
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone, and a special welcome to our rising sixth graders. Today, we are focusing on the broader picture of what God is doing at First Alliance Church of Lexington. We began by reading from Joshua 3, where Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River, emphasizing that God is a God who moves and leads His people. This story serves as a reminder that God is always active, calling us to move forward in His mission.
God is not content with stagnation, and neither should we be. Churches can easily become complacent, but God calls us to be dynamic and forward-moving. First Alliance Church is entering a season of movement and growth. We are witnessing God’s work in our children’s ministry, with 14 kids recently coming to know Jesus. This growth necessitates expanding our capacity to disciple these young believers, and we need more volunteers to step up and serve.
Additionally, we are excited about a new initiative to plant a Spanish-speaking church in Lexington. This vision was confirmed through prayer and a divine encounter with Pastor Moises from Clemens. This new church will start as a missional community, focusing on outreach and discipleship within the Latino community. Pastor Wes and Danielle Labyrinth will be leading this effort, and we are calling on our congregation to support this mission through prayer, financial contributions, and active participation.
God’s call to be strong and courageous, as He instructed Joshua, is also our call today. This strength comes not from ourselves but from God. As we step into new and challenging ministries, we rely on His Spirit to guide and empower us. The promise remains that God is with us wherever we go, and His presence follows His mission.
### Key Takeaways
1. God is a God Who Moves: God is always active, redeeming and restoring His creation. He calls us to join Him in His mission, moving forward in faith and obedience. Just as He led the Israelites across the Jordan, He leads us today. [39:01]
2. Avoiding Complacency: Churches can easily become stagnant, focusing only on internal activities. However, God calls us to be dynamic and forward-moving, continually seeking new ways to serve and reach out. [39:46]
3. Expanding Children's Ministry: The recent growth in our children's ministry, with 14 kids coming to know Jesus, highlights the need for more volunteers. Serving in children's ministry not only impacts the kids but also deepens the volunteers' own faith. [57:32]
4. Planting a Spanish-Speaking Church: God has opened doors for us to plant a Spanish-speaking church in Lexington. This initiative, led by Pastor Wes and Danielle, will start as a missional community, focusing on outreach and discipleship within the Latino community. [01:02:32]
5. Strength and Courage in God: The call to be strong and courageous is a call to rely on God's strength, not our own. As we step into new and challenging ministries, we trust that God is with us, guiding and empowering us every step of the way. [01:21:37]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[34:30] - Introduction to First Alliance Church
[35:11] - Reading from Joshua 3
[36:14] - Context of Joshua 3
[37:08] - The New Generation of Israelites
[38:07] - God's Call to Joshua
[39:01] - God is a God Who Moves
[39:46] - Avoiding Complacency
[41:29] - God Leads the Way
[42:45] - Experiencing God Study
[43:58] - Children's Ministry Update
[57:32] - Expanding Children's Ministry
[58:33] - Volunteer Participation
[01:00:00] - Reaching Families
[01:02:32] - Planting a Spanish-Speaking Church
[01:08:06] - Missional Community Explained
[01:15:13] - Prayer for Wes and Danielle
[01:17:51] - Supporting the New Church Plant
[01:21:37] - Strength and Courage in God
[01:24:23] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Joshua 3:1-6 (ESV)
> "Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, 'As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about two thousand cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.' Then Joshua said to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.' And Joshua said to the priests, 'Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.' So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people."
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific instructions did Joshua give to the Israelites regarding the Ark of the Covenant before crossing the Jordan River? ([35:11])
2. How did the Israelites respond to the command to follow the Ark of the Covenant? ([35:11])
3. What significant event happened in the children's ministry at First Alliance Church recently? ([57:32])
4. Who is leading the new Spanish-speaking church plant in Lexington, and what is the initial focus of this church? ([01:02:32])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God instructed the Israelites to keep a distance of about two thousand cubits from the Ark of the Covenant? What might this signify about God's presence and guidance? ([35:11])
2. How does the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River illustrate the concept that "God is a God who moves"? ([39:01])
3. In what ways can complacency affect a church's mission and growth, according to the sermon? ([39:46])
4. How does the call to be "strong and courageous" apply to the new initiatives at First Alliance Church, such as expanding the children's ministry and planting a Spanish-speaking church? ([01:21:37])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God was calling you to move forward in faith. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? ([39:01])
2. In what areas of your life or church involvement might you be experiencing complacency? How can you take steps to become more dynamic and forward-moving? ([39:46])
3. Considering the recent growth in the children's ministry, how can you personally contribute to discipling young believers? Are there specific ways you can volunteer or support this ministry? ([57:32])
4. How can you support the new Spanish-speaking church plant in Lexington? Are there practical steps you can take, such as praying, giving financially, or participating in outreach activities? ([01:02:32])
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of relying on God's strength rather than our own. How can you cultivate a habit of seeking God's strength in your daily life and ministry? ([01:21:37])
6. Think about the call to be "strong and courageous." What specific fears or challenges are you facing right now, and how can you trust God to guide and empower you through them? ([01:21:37])
7. How can you encourage and support others in your small group or church community to step into new and challenging ministries? What role can you play in fostering a culture of movement and growth within the church? ([01:00:27])
Devotional
Day 1: God is Always Active and Leading
God is a God who moves and leads His people. He is not content with stagnation and calls His followers to join Him in His mission. Just as He led the Israelites across the Jordan River, He continues to guide us today. This movement is not just physical but also spiritual, urging us to grow in faith and obedience. God’s activity in our lives is a reminder that we are part of a larger story of redemption and restoration. [39:01]
Joshua 3:17 (ESV): "Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan."
Reflection: Think about a recent situation where you felt God leading you. How did you respond, and what steps can you take today to be more attentive to His guidance?
Day 2: Avoiding Spiritual Complacency
Churches and individuals can easily become complacent, focusing only on internal activities and neglecting the broader mission. God calls us to be dynamic and forward-moving, continually seeking new ways to serve and reach out. This requires a mindset shift from comfort to action, from maintenance to mission. By staying active in our faith, we align ourselves with God’s ongoing work in the world. [39:46]
Revelation 3:15-16 (ESV): "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
Reflection: Identify one area in your spiritual life where you have become complacent. What practical steps can you take this week to reignite your passion and commitment to God’s mission?
Day 3: Investing in the Next Generation
The recent growth in the children’s ministry, with 14 kids coming to know Jesus, highlights the importance of investing in the next generation. This growth necessitates expanding our capacity to disciple these young believers. Serving in children’s ministry not only impacts the kids but also deepens the volunteers' own faith. It’s a call to action for more volunteers to step up and serve, ensuring that these young believers are nurtured in their faith journey. [57:32]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Reflection: Consider how you can contribute to the spiritual growth of the next generation. Is there a way you can volunteer or support the children’s ministry in your church?
Day 4: Embracing New Ministry Opportunities
God has opened doors for planting a Spanish-speaking church in Lexington. This initiative, led by Pastor Wes and Danielle, will start as a missional community, focusing on outreach and discipleship within the Latino community. This new ministry opportunity is a call for the congregation to support through prayer, financial contributions, and active participation. It’s a chance to extend God’s love and message to a broader audience. [01:02:32]
Acts 13:47 (ESV): "For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’"
Reflection: How can you support the new Spanish-speaking church plant? Consider ways you can contribute through prayer, financial support, or active involvement.
Day 5: Strength and Courage in God
The call to be strong and courageous, as God instructed Joshua, is also our call today. This strength comes not from ourselves but from God. As we step into new and challenging ministries, we rely on His Spirit to guide and empower us. The promise remains that God is with us wherever we go, and His presence follows His mission. [01:21:37]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to rely more on God’s strength and courage? How can you actively seek His guidance and empowerment in this area today?
Quotes
1. "Our God is a God who moves. He's a God who moves. God is not a static or stagnant person. He is a God with a mission. He is a God who has a plan and He is carrying it out. God is redeeming and restoring His broken creation. He is calling a people out to be His own. He is preparing us for an eternity of blessing and adventure and deep relationship with Him. And He is always actively moving in that direction." [39:01] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God is building His kingdom. He isn't sitting around in heaven. Waiting for us to come up with good ideas that we think He should do so we can tell Him about them. God is on the move. God is on the move. And just as God Himself is not content to sit around waiting for things to happen, so it is with His people. God is not content for us to remain stagnant. He calls us, as He called Joshua and the Israelites way back when, He calls us to be on the move." [39:29] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "It is very easy for a church, especially when a church reaches some degree of financial stability and ministry self-sustainability. That isn't really a thing, but I'll use that phrase. It's easy for a church when it gets to that point of having a certain critical mass to kind of drop anchor, cut the engines, and float in place. Now, it's not that nothing is happening at that church. That church might be doing a very good job of teaching the Bible to its young people, preaching the Word to the congregation, probably helping each other out in times of need, even maybe reaching out to the new people that might happen to stumble upon their fellowship." [39:46] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The big message that we took away from that study is that God is on a mission, that God is always speaking to us in different ways to invite us to join Him on this mission. And so following Christ is largely a matter of listening to God, discovering what He's up to, and joining Him in what He's already doing. Just as Jesus said about His Father, He said, The Son can do nothing by Himself. He only does what He sees His Father doing because whatever the Father does, the Son also does." [43:22] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We need you. I don't know of another church in this county that does a better job of discipling children than this one, but if FAC is gonna continue to be a place where God has the room to do the work He wants to do in the lives of our kids and the kids that God is bringing here from all over the county, we need you. We need you. And one other note, these kids do not get here by themselves. None of them have their driver's license, unless they flunked many times, fifth grade or something like that." [01:00:00] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The call to be strong and courageous is not a call to suck it up and do something that's going to make you fail or make you miserable. The call to be courageous and to be strong is a call to ask God for spiritual reinforcements through His Holy Spirit and then to obey Him even though you're not sure how it's going to turn out or how you're going to succeed." [01:22:54] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Do you want to know the presence of the Lord in a way that you haven't felt it for a while? Then do something new or something hard for Jesus, because God's presence always follows His mission. And that's true even to the ends of the earth, is what Jesus said, as Jesse comes forward to close us." [01:23:54] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "We pray that you will keep moving, but we know, Lord, that the bigger thing is that we need to get on your page and catch your wave. And understand where you're going, and even if we don't understand, we need to obey. And so, Lord, as you've been moving and as you've been speaking to people in the church about different things, being open to different things, being involved in different things, Lord, I just, I pray that your spirit would go with them, remind them of what they've heard today, but also remind them that the fact is that it's your strength, not ours." [01:24:23] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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