Proclaiming God's Mighty Acts: The Church's Mission
Summary
In the Book of Joshua, chapter 4, we find a profound narrative that speaks to the heart of the Christian faith and the purpose of the church. As the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, God instructed Joshua to have twelve stones taken from the riverbed and set up as a memorial. These stones were to serve as a perpetual reminder of God's miraculous intervention and deliverance. This story is not just a historical account but a vivid illustration of the church's role today: to remind the world of God's mighty acts throughout history.
The church is not merely a place for teaching or a social club; it is a living testament to the historical acts of God. From the creation of the world to the resurrection of Christ, the Bible is a record of God's interventions in human history. These acts are not just stories but are foundational truths that demonstrate God's power and purpose. The church's mission is to proclaim these truths, reminding people of God's redemptive work and His ongoing involvement in the world.
The narrative of the Israelites' journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land is a microcosm of God's redemptive plan for humanity. Just as God delivered Israel, He offers deliverance to all who are enslaved by sin. This deliverance is not achieved through human effort but through God's miraculous intervention. The church is called to proclaim this message of hope and salvation, emphasizing that true freedom comes from God alone.
Furthermore, the church must emphasize the supernatural nature of God's work. Christianity is not just a set of teachings or moral guidelines; it is a miraculous transformation brought about by God's Spirit. This transformation is essential for understanding and living out the Christian faith. The church must boldly proclaim that God can and does change lives, offering new beginnings to all who believe.
Finally, the church must remain steadfast in its mission, trusting in God's power to sustain and grow His church. Despite challenges and opposition, God's purposes will prevail. The church is called to be a beacon of hope, proclaiming the mighty acts of God and His ultimate plan for redemption and restoration.
Key Takeaways:
- The church's primary role is to remind the world of God's historical acts, emphasizing that Christianity is rooted in real events, not just teachings or philosophies. This historical foundation is crucial for understanding the faith. [10:12]
- God's acts of redemption and deliverance, as seen in the story of the Israelites, illustrate His ongoing work in the world. The church must proclaim this message of hope and salvation, emphasizing that true freedom comes from God alone. [18:31]
- Christianity is a supernatural faith, marked by God's miraculous intervention in human lives. The church must emphasize that transformation comes from God, not human effort, offering new beginnings to all who believe. [42:12]
- The church's mission is to proclaim God's power and judgment, reminding the world of its responsibility to God and the hope of salvation through His mighty acts. This message is vital in a world often dominated by human pride and arrogance. [48:59]
- Despite challenges, the church must trust in God's power to sustain and grow His work. God's purposes will prevail, and the church is called to be a beacon of hope, proclaiming His mighty acts and ultimate plan for redemption. [53:41]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Introduction to Joshua 4
- [01:34] - The Memorial Stones
- [03:27] - Crossing the Jordan
- [05:32] - God's Mighty Hand
- [07:14] - The Church's Purpose
- [09:57] - Reminding of History
- [12:48] - Distinction from Other Teachings
- [15:11] - God's Acts in History
- [18:31] - Redemption and Deliverance
- [22:01] - The Message of Salvation
- [26:16] - God's Intervention
- [33:32] - The Birth of Christ
- [38:18] - The Church's Mission
- [42:12] - The Supernatural Nature of Faith
- [48:59] - Proclaiming God's Power
- [53:41] - Trusting in God's Sustaining Power
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Joshua 4:1-24
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#### Observation Questions
1. What specific instructions did God give to Joshua regarding the twelve stones from the Jordan River? ([00:33])
2. How did the Israelites respond to Joshua's command about the stones, and what was the purpose of these stones? ([01:51])
3. What miraculous event occurred as the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, and how does this relate to their previous experiences with God's deliverance? ([05:10])
4. How did the people of Israel react to Joshua after the crossing of the Jordan, and what does this indicate about his leadership? ([03:27])
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the act of setting up the twelve stones serve as a reminder of God's intervention in the lives of the Israelites, and what does this signify for the church today? ([09:20])
2. In what ways does the narrative of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River illustrate God's redemptive plan for humanity? ([18:31])
3. How does the sermon emphasize the supernatural nature of Christianity, and why is this important for understanding the Christian faith? ([42:12])
4. What role does the church play in proclaiming God's power and judgment, and how is this message relevant in today's world? ([48:59])
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's intervention in your life. How can you create a "memorial" to remind yourself and others of His faithfulness? ([09:20])
2. The Israelites' journey from slavery to freedom is a powerful metaphor for spiritual deliverance. How can you share this message of hope and salvation with someone in your life who feels trapped by sin? ([18:31])
3. The sermon highlights the importance of recognizing Christianity as a supernatural faith. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of God's miraculous work in your daily life? ([42:12])
4. In what ways can you and your church community be a beacon of hope, proclaiming God's mighty acts and His plan for redemption? ([53:41])
5. Consider the challenges and opposition the church faces today. How can you personally contribute to trusting in God's power to sustain and grow His work? ([53:41])
6. How can you remind yourself and others of the historical acts of God, ensuring that your faith is rooted in these real events rather than just teachings or philosophies? ([10:12])
7. The sermon calls for the church to proclaim God's power and judgment. How can you balance this message with one of love and grace in your interactions with others? ([48:59])
Devotional
Day 1: The Church as a Living Testament
The church's primary role is to remind the world of God's historical acts, emphasizing that Christianity is rooted in real events, not just teachings or philosophies. This historical foundation is crucial for understanding the faith. The church is not merely a place for teaching or a social club; it is a living testament to the historical acts of God. From the creation of the world to the resurrection of Christ, the Bible is a record of God's interventions in human history. These acts are not just stories but are foundational truths that demonstrate God's power and purpose. The church's mission is to proclaim these truths, reminding people of God's redemptive work and His ongoing involvement in the world. [10:12]
"Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’" (Isaiah 46:9-10, ESV).
Reflection: How can you actively participate in your church's mission to remind others of God's historical acts this week?
Day 2: God's Deliverance and Redemption
God's acts of redemption and deliverance, as seen in the story of the Israelites, illustrate His ongoing work in the world. The church must proclaim this message of hope and salvation, emphasizing that true freedom comes from God alone. The narrative of the Israelites' journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land is a microcosm of God's redemptive plan for humanity. Just as God delivered Israel, He offers deliverance to all who are enslaved by sin. This deliverance is not achieved through human effort but through God's miraculous intervention. The church is called to proclaim this message of hope and salvation, emphasizing that true freedom comes from God alone. [18:31]
"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14, ESV).
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to experience God's deliverance and redemption today?
Day 3: The Supernatural Nature of Faith
Christianity is a supernatural faith, marked by God's miraculous intervention in human lives. The church must emphasize that transformation comes from God, not human effort, offering new beginnings to all who believe. Furthermore, the church must emphasize the supernatural nature of God's work. Christianity is not just a set of teachings or moral guidelines; it is a miraculous transformation brought about by God's Spirit. This transformation is essential for understanding and living out the Christian faith. The church must boldly proclaim that God can and does change lives, offering new beginnings to all who believe. [42:12]
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV).
Reflection: What miraculous transformation do you need to ask God for in your life today?
Day 4: Proclaiming God's Power and Judgment
The church's mission is to proclaim God's power and judgment, reminding the world of its responsibility to God and the hope of salvation through His mighty acts. This message is vital in a world often dominated by human pride and arrogance. The church must remain steadfast in its mission, trusting in God's power to sustain and grow His church. Despite challenges and opposition, God's purposes will prevail. The church is called to be a beacon of hope, proclaiming the mighty acts of God and His ultimate plan for redemption and restoration. [48:59]
"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods." (1 Chronicles 16:24-25, ESV).
Reflection: How can you personally proclaim God's power and judgment in your community this week?
Day 5: Trusting in God's Sustaining Power
Despite challenges, the church must trust in God's power to sustain and grow His work. God's purposes will prevail, and the church is called to be a beacon of hope, proclaiming His mighty acts and ultimate plan for redemption. The church must remain steadfast in its mission, trusting in God's power to sustain and grow His church. Despite challenges and opposition, God's purposes will prevail. The church is called to be a beacon of hope, proclaiming the mighty acts of God and His ultimate plan for redemption and restoration. [53:41]
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21, ESV).
Reflection: What specific challenge are you facing that requires you to trust in God's sustaining power today?
Quotes
The church is here to remind people of history, of certain great historical events. That is the primary business of the church. This is the message of the church when people pass this building, for instance, and say, well now, what is that calls itself a Christian Church? It's a building in which Christian people meet together, but what's it all about? [00:10:07]
The thing that marks off the Christian faith, the message of the Bible, from all these others is that this is primarily a record of historical facts, events. This is not a theory, this is not an idea, it's not primarily a teaching. It is primarily a great record of history. [00:13:54]
The history which is a record of facts and events is not the record of the history of what men have done. It is the history of what God has done. See, that's the thing that's emphasized here, that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, what God has done. [00:15:11]
The church is here to remind the world, to remind everybody of God's activity, God's intervention, God's action in the affairs of man. But then I was go on to make a second point which is very obvious in this story, which is of course that the record, the history that we have in the Bible is the history of God's acts or action of redemption, of deliverance, and of salvation. [00:18:31]
The story of the children of Israel is of course actual history, and the children of Israel were God's people, but they are a picture of the same time of God's relationship to the whole world. And the message of the Bible from beginning to end is this great message of God's redemption, God's deliverance. [00:19:57]
The church is not a club, not a social club. It's not a club where you can have entertainment. Now the world is full of that kind of thing. All right, let them have it. I'm not here of necessity to criticize it, but I am here to say that that's not the business of the church. [00:21:38]
Christianity is not merely a set of teachings or moral guidelines; it is a miraculous transformation brought about by God's Spirit. This transformation is essential for understanding and living out the Christian faith. The church must boldly proclaim that God can and does change lives, offering new beginnings to all who believe. [00:42:12]
The church is here to proclaim the birth of a baby in a stable in Bethlehem and to say that that baby born in the stable is the Eternal Son of God. God has visited and redeemed his people. God sent forth his son. It's an act. This isn't a teaching. It isn't a philosophy. It's not a religion. It's what God has done. [00:33:32]
The church is going on until God's plan is perfect and complete, until the fullness of the Gentiles and all Israel shall be saved, and God's work and plan is complete and entire. And there'll be a final judgment upon all evil and sin and wrong, and the Devil Himself will be cast into the Lake of Perdition. [00:54:41]
The power of God reminds us also that we have to tell people that there is hope for everybody. Salvation, thank God, doesn't depend upon our power. I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, says Paul. Why? It is the power of God and salvation to everyone that believeth. He's a God of the miracle, a God of the supernatural. [00:48:59]
The church's mission is to proclaim God's power and judgment, reminding the world of its responsibility to God and the hope of salvation through His mighty acts. This message is vital in a world often dominated by human pride and arrogance. [00:48:59]
Despite challenges, the church must trust in God's power to sustain and grow His work. God's purposes will prevail, and the church is called to be a beacon of hope, proclaiming His mighty acts and ultimate plan for redemption. [00:53:41]
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