Life Group Study – Week of 02/28

Life Group Study – Week of 02/28

Uncharted Territory: Whose side are YOU on?

My Message Highlight

On Sunday, Pastor Lennon spoke about a penetrating question that we must all answer again and again as we live our life with Jesus: Do we want what God wants more than we want our own way?

QUESTION: What was a key take away for you from this week’s message?

My Story

Light Hearted Question: Growing up, was there a team or club that you thought was the greatest and most important thing in the world? Describe your passion and commitment.

This Is God’s Word

Take time to re-read Joshua 5:13–15 and Joshua 6:1–5

Let’s Go Deeper With Reflection Questions

1.  All of life you must have a greater allegiance than to your , your , or .

Joshua 5:13–15 When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand.  Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.”

Question: Is it possible, even as a Christian, to want God to “be on your side” rather than seeking first God’s will?  Can you think of instances where this happened in Scripture (or perhaps your own life)?

Question: Can you think of an important “Biblical prayer” that Jesus prayed and taught His disciples to pray that addresses (at least in part) the basic challenge Joshua was faced with near Jericho?  What are some of the practical consequences/results of praying a prayer like that? 

2. More than we want, we must want what .

Joshua 5:14b-15 Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground and asked Him, “What does my Lord want to say to His servant?” 15 The commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.”  And Joshua did so.

Question: Why do you think it is so difficult for us to “bow with our face to the ground” before the Lord and ask, “What does my Lord want to say to His servant?”   

Question: Has there ever been a time where you learned the hard way that pride is not blessed by God?

3. Your primary strategy for victory in life is and .

Joshua 6:1–5 Jericho was strongly fortified….2 The Lord said to Joshua, “Look, I have handed Jericho, its king, and its fighting men over to you…4 …on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the trumpets…have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the city wall will collapse, and the people will advance, each man straight ahead.”

Question: Use your imagination – your reasoning…What might have been some “rational strategies” for defeating and conquering the stronghold of Jericho for Joshua and the children of Israel?  (But would God have honored any of these strategies with victory?  What do you think?)

Question: Sometimes successful battle strategies seem “counter-intuitive.”  Can you think of any Biblical strategies for deliverance and victory, beyond this one, that probably seemed “counter-intuitive?”

Final Thought: Jesus is our ultimate example. Let’s close by looking at Him, even in His toughest moments right before crucifixion, He was praying for the strength to do God’s will rather than his own:

Luke 22:39–42 He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”  

Question: Has there been a time in your life, even right now, where you submitted yourself to the seemingly costly or difficult will of God? What was it an what was the outcome?

Let’s Pray