Embracing Our Legacy: A Call to Faithfulness
Summary
Today, we reflected on the rich history of Granville Chapel, tracing our roots from the beginnings of the Brethren Movement, through the establishment of Regent College, and into the decades of faithful service that have shaped our community. This legacy is not just a collection of stories, but a living testimony to God’s grace and mercy poured out over generations. We stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us, inheriting blessings—spiritual, communal, and material—that we did not earn or build ourselves. Like Israel entering a land of cities they did not build and vineyards they did not plant, we are recipients of God’s unmerited favor.
Yet, as we look back with gratitude, we are also called to look forward with responsibility. The narrative from Joshua 24 reminds us that God’s gifts come with a call to faithfulness. The Israelites were challenged to put away idols and serve the Lord wholeheartedly, not simply to rest on the blessings of the past. In the same way, we are invited to examine our own lives and our life together as a church. Are there “idols” or distractions—whether pride in our heritage, reliance on our own resources, or comfort in past successes—that we need to surrender? The challenge is to hold all that God has given us with open hands, ready to follow wherever He leads next.
This is a moment of transition for us, just as it was for Israel. The question is not only what God has done, but who we will become as we move forward. Will we be a people marked by gratitude, humility, and sacrificial obedience? Will we continue to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, offering back to Him all that He has entrusted to us? As we come to the Lord’s Table, we are invited to reflect on these questions, to surrender anew, and to seek God’s guidance for the next chapter of our shared journey.
Key Takeaways
- God’s blessings are acts of grace, not rewards for our merit. Just as Israel received cities and vineyards they did not build or plant, we too inherit spiritual and material blessings that are the result of God’s mercy and the faithfulness of those who came before us. Recognizing this should cultivate deep gratitude and humility in our hearts. [12:14]
- Every gift and promise from God carries a call to faithfulness and obedience. The story of Joshua reminds us that God’s grace is not a license for complacency, but an invitation to renewed allegiance and wholehearted devotion. Our response to God’s generosity must be a life surrendered to His purposes. [14:28]
- The temptation to idolize our heritage or rely on our own resources is real, especially in seasons of blessing and success. We must guard against pride and self-sufficiency, remembering that all we have is from God and for God. True stewardship means holding our legacy and resources with open hands, ready to be led in new directions. [16:30]
- Sacrificial living is at the heart of our calling, both individually and as a community. The example of those who founded and sustained Granville Chapel—ordinary people dedicating themselves to God’s work—challenges us to consider what we might need to surrender or give up for the sake of God’s kingdom today. [17:55]
- Times of transition are opportunities for spiritual renewal and recommitment. As we stand on the threshold of a new era, we are invited to reflect on areas of our lives that need surrender, to let go of distractions or idols, and to seek God’s direction for the future. Communion becomes a sacred space for this reflection and recommitment. [20:10]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - Introduction to Granville Chapel’s History
[02:10] - The Brethren Movement and Its Beginnings
[03:45] - Establishment of Regent College
[05:20] - Reflections on 75 Years of Faithfulness
[07:00] - Gratitude for Past Participation
[09:00] - Preparing for the Lord’s Supper
[09:40] - The Book of Joshua: A Transitional Narrative
[10:50] - Remembering the Past, Facing the Future
[12:14] - God’s Grace in Inheritance
[14:28] - The Call to Faithfulness and Obedience
[16:30] - Idols and Distractions in Our Time
[17:55] - Sacrificial Living and Open-Handed Stewardship
[19:30] - Personal Reflection and Surrender
[20:10] - Entering Communion and Invitation to Reflect
Study Guide
Granville Chapel Small Group Bible Study Guide
---
### Bible Reading
Joshua 24:13-15 (NIV)
> "So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant. Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
---
### Observation Questions
1. According to Joshua 24:13, what did God give to the Israelites, and what was significant about how they received these blessings?
2. In the sermon, what examples were given of Granville Chapel receiving blessings that were not earned by the current generation? [12:14]
3. What challenge did Joshua give to the Israelites as they entered the land, and how does the sermon connect this to our church today? [14:28]
4. What are some “idols” or distractions mentioned in the sermon that can affect a church or individual believer? [16:30]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the passage emphasize that the Israelites received cities and vineyards they did not build or plant? What does this reveal about God’s character and the nature of His blessings? [12:14]
2. The sermon says that God’s gifts come with a call to faithfulness and obedience. Why is it important not to become complacent when we experience God’s blessings? [14:28]
3. How might pride in our heritage or reliance on our own resources become a form of idolatry for a church community? [16:30]
4. The sermon describes this as a “moment of transition” for Granville Chapel. What are some spiritual dangers and opportunities that come with times of transition? [20:10]
---
### Application Questions
1. The Israelites were told to “throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped” (Joshua 24:14). Are there any “idols” or distractions in your own life—such as comfort, pride, or self-reliance—that you sense God is asking you to surrender? What would it look like to do that this week? [16:30]
2. The sermon challenges us to hold our blessings “with open hands.” Is there a specific area—like your time, finances, or talents—where you tend to hold on tightly? How could you practice open-handed stewardship in that area? [17:55]
3. Think about the legacy you have inherited, whether in your family, church, or community. How can you express gratitude for what you’ve received, and how might you pass on a legacy of faithfulness to others? [12:14]
4. The sermon mentions the temptation to rest on past successes. In what ways might you or our church be tempted to look backward instead of forward? How can you personally help our community move into the next chapter God has for us? [14:28]
5. Sacrificial living was highlighted as a key part of Granville Chapel’s history. What is one practical way you could live more sacrificially for God’s kingdom this month? [17:55]
6. During communion, we are invited to reflect and recommit. Is there a specific area of your life where you sense God calling you to renewed obedience or surrender? How will you respond? [20:10]
7. The sermon asks, “Who will we become as we move forward?” What kind of person do you want to be in this next season, and what is one step you can take this week to move in that direction? [20:10]
---
Devotional
Day 1: God’s Grace and Mercy Are the Foundation of Our Story
The story of Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land is a powerful reminder that all we have is a gift from God’s grace and mercy, not something we have earned or deserved. Just as the Israelites received cities they did not build and vineyards they did not plant, we too stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, inheriting blessings and opportunities that are the result of God’s generous provision. This truth calls us to humility and gratitude, recognizing that our history, our community, and every good thing in our lives are ultimately acts of divine grace. [12:14]
Joshua 24:13 (ESV)
"I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant."
Reflection: What is one specific blessing in your life that you recognize as a gift from God’s grace rather than your own effort? How can you express gratitude for it today?
Day 2: God’s Promises Invite Our Faithfulness and Obedience
God’s gifts and promises are not given in isolation—they invite a response of faithfulness, obedience, and allegiance to Him. The Israelites were called to live as God’s people in the land, not just to enjoy His blessings but to remain loyal and obedient, removing idols and loving God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. In the same way, we are called to respond to God’s grace by living lives marked by faithfulness, surrender, and wholehearted devotion, continually seeking to align our actions and priorities with His will. [14:28]
Joshua 24:14-15 (ESV)
"Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where God is inviting you to deeper faithfulness or obedience? What practical step can you take today to respond?
Day 3: Remembering the Past, Trusting God for the Future
Looking back with gratitude at God’s faithfulness in our history is essential, but we are also called to look forward with trust, asking how God wants to lead us into the next season. The Israelites were challenged to remember their story, but also to consider what kind of people they would become as they settled into the land. Likewise, we are invited to honor our heritage, but not to rest on it—instead, we are to hold our legacy with open hands, seeking God’s direction for the future and being willing to follow wherever He leads. [10:50]
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 (ESV)
"And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."
Reflection: As you reflect on your personal or church history, what is one way you sense God calling you to trust Him for the future?
Day 4: Surrendering Our Gifts and Blessings to God
Every resource, talent, and opportunity we have is a gift from God, and we are called to hold these gifts with open hands, surrendering them back to Him for His purposes. It is easy to become attached to our status, achievements, or resources, but true faithfulness means asking God how He wants us to use what He has given us—whether that means letting go, giving away, or using our gifts in new ways for His kingdom. This posture of surrender keeps us dependent on God and open to His leading, both as individuals and as a community. [14:28]
Romans 12:1 (ESV)
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Reflection: What is one gift, resource, or area of influence in your life that you need to surrender more fully to God’s direction today?
Day 5: Removing Idols and Distractions to Love God Wholeheartedly
The call to remove idols from our lives is as relevant today as it was for the Israelites. While our idols may not be as visible, they can take the form of distractions, misplaced priorities, or anything we rely on more than God. We are challenged to examine our hearts, identify what competes for our allegiance, and intentionally choose to love and serve God with all that we are. This ongoing process of surrender and devotion is at the heart of what it means to be God’s people, both individually and together as a church. [14:28]
Matthew 22:37-38 (ESV)
"And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.'"
Reflection: What is one distraction or “idol” in your life that you sense God asking you to lay down so you can love Him more wholeheartedly?
Quotes
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 29, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?