Update from July 12th, 2015

Announcements:

Mrs. Pat called the church office Monday and found out that checks for the Royal Kids Camp need to be made out to Enterprise Christian Youth Camp. 

This is the camp we talked about on Sunday. In the past, we have helped support this camp with a gift of $600. 

I know many of you wish to contribute. You may do so next Sunday in class or mailing your check to the church office. Be sure to designate the Royal Kids Camp, but checks are made out to Enterprise Christian Youth Camp.

RIGHTEOUS LEADERS!

In the introduction of The Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens stated, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way."

When I was in high school, my first thoughts of this introduction were, "Make up your mind!" As I now view it, I see much of our nation in these words and thoughts. I see the insecurity people had and now have in the government and the leaders. I see the hunger of the people to have someone to step forward and be a righteous leader. In comparison, the Israelites in their journey to the Promised Land suffered some the same illusions and delusions. One huge difference: the Israelites had a righteous leader.

The past 5 weeks we have been in a study that details and exemplifies a true "righteous leader." God sent a righteous leader, Moses, to the nation of Israel while they were in Egypt. In turn as Moses was dying, God had already selected the next righteous leader for His people. Joshua, more remembered for his military feats, was a righteous pick for God and Israel. 

We have a great model of leadership in Joshua, the man called by God to move His people from wandering to conquering their own promised land. Throughout the Book of Joshua, God gives us a blueprint on how to be godly and effective servant-leaders. 

Joshua 24:14-15

14 “Therefore, fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship Yahweh. 15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh.”

Lessons from Joshua 24:14-15

1. God expects us to revere Him and worship Him sincerely.

2. We need to make an exclusive statement to God.

3. We should actively reject any so-called "gods" in our culture.

4. We should follow the example of mature Christian leaders, while recognizing that we all fail to serve God and walk in the footsteps of Christ completely in this life.

Joshua 24: 16-18

16 The people replied, “We will certainly not abandon the Lord to worship other gods! 17 For the Lord our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us all along the way we went and among all the peoples whose lands we traveled through. 18 The Lord drove out before us all the peoples, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will worship the Lord, because He is our God.”

Lessons from Joshua 24:16-18

1. Our commitment to God should be based on a clear understanding of who He is and what He has done to provide a way to salvation.

2. You can and should share your testimony about God's actions in your life.

3. Our spiritual trials and paths are not identical , but we benefit from hearing the testimonies of other believers.

Joshua 24:24-26

24 So the people said to Joshua, “We will worship the Lord our God and obey Him.”

25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people at Shechem and established a statute and ordinance for them. 26 Joshua recorded these things in the book of the law of God; he also took a large stone and set it up there under the oak next to the sanctuary of the Lord.

Lessons from Joshua 24:24-26

1. We should remember and commemorate our commitments to God.

2. Visible artifacts (written records and physical objects ) can be helpful in reminding what God has done for us.

3. Our activities communicate our life priorities to all.