Posts with the category “impact”

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPEN QUESTIONSWere you ever picked last for a team?  If so, why?  Or were you ever surprised by someone doing something that you never w...  Read More

Day 34 – The Hill CountryJoshua 14:9-12 [So Caleb reminded Joshua…] “on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.’â€â€œ Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while I...  Read More

Day 33 – The Destructive Power of NegativityNumbers 13:31-14:6, 9 But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!†So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw...  Read More

Day 32 – Leading From the MiddleNumbers 13:25-28, 30 After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land. This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is i...  Read More

Day 31 – Dividing the LandJoshua 14:6-9 Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, bu...  Read More

Day 30 – The Scarlet CordJoshua 6:17-18, 21 Before they left, the men told her, “We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down.“I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window.Rahab...  Read More

Day 29 – RahabJoshua 6:22-23 Meanwhile, Joshua said to the two spies, “Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute’s house and bring her out, along with all her family.”The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel.If you haven’t already, take a m...  Read More

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPEN QUESTIONSHave you ever held on to something that is a souvenir or reminder of an amazing experience in your life?  If so and you’d be...  Read More

Day 27 – “But This Time…”Joshua 6:15-16, 20  On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the town as they had done before. But this time they went around the town seven times. The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the town!When the people heard the sound of the rams’ hor...  Read More

Day 26 – CirclingJoshua 6:1-3  Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.Maybe you have felt the dissonance of claiming the promises of an almighty God wh...  Read More

Day 25 – Holy GroundJoshua 5:13-15  Now 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 went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lor...  Read More

Day 24 – SuperimposeJoshua 4:19-20  The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. Then they camped at Gilgal, just east of Jericho. It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River.Have you noticed that the instant you power past an obstacle and achieve a victory in your life, you are immediately faced with another, sometimes more signi...  Read More

Day 23 – Under the WaterJoshua 4:9  Joshua also set up another pile of twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, at the place where the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant were standing. And they are there to this day.By the end of the Jordan crossing, two altars had been erected. God requested the first. So, twelve men retrieved large stones from the river to build this monument. The imp...  Read More

Day 22 – MonumentsJoshua 3:17-4:7… the priests who were carrying the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.When all the people had crossed the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, “Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. Tell them, ‘Take twelve sto...  Read More

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPEN QUESTIONSThey say that in the US, the number one shared fear is public speaking, followed by death, heights, bugs and insects, and dr...  Read More

Day 20 – Dry GroundJoshua 3:14-16. So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance aw...  Read More

Day 19 – Purify YourselvesJoshua 3:1-5  Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing. Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp, giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, move out from...  Read More

Day 18 – ReadyJoshua 1:10-2:1  Joshua then commanded the officers of Israel, “Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you.”Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He told them, “Remember what Moses, the servant of th...  Read More

Day 17 – The Relative Nature of Disappointment – Part 2Joshua 3:14-16  … when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up i...  Read More

Day 16 – The Relative Nature of DisappointmentNumbers 14:30  Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home…Today, as I write, I am angry, sad, and, honestly, a little surprised. Let’s back up a couple of days.Friday, my wife and I began a trip to Portland for my annual unplugged work week. During this time, I disconnect from my usual routines, the internet, and my...  Read More

Day 15 – CourageJoshua 1:6-9 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of I...  Read More

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPEN QUESTIONSShare one thing in your life that you never thought you’d be able to accomplish, or others thought you’d never accomplish, b...  Read More

Day 13 – PerseveranceJoshua 1:5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.Our commitment to following God into the next square foot of space is easily undone. Frustration with our failings or the slowness of pace can derail us. One of the most common sources of paralyzation is the criticism or opposi...  Read More

Day 12 – MicromovementsProverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.As you read or listen to this today, there is a likelihood you have no idea where God intends to take you over a handful of next steps. I wouldn’t have imagined my current role at Crosswalk a few short years ago. I couldn’t see around a handful of corners and wouldn’t have named where I am t...  Read More

Day 11 – The Next SquareDeuteronomy 11:24 Wherever you set foot, that land will be yours.If I’m honest, God’s bold proclamation to Moses and later to Joshua frightens me a bit. It sounds like God is suggesting I can do anything. “Wherever I set my foot…” Does that include every board room and job interest? Do I get to have every relationship I desire? Does this carry to the basketball court and ev...  Read More

Day 10 – What is faith?Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.Faith is a tricky concept. We often describe it as something that happens deep inside—the kind of thing you probably don’t know a person is experiencing. You can’t see it. This often leads us to wonder if we have it. We pray for more faith and often talk about it like it has the consis...  Read More

Day 9 – FootprintJoshua 1:3 “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.”Have you ever felt like your prayers go unanswered and you are stuck in some difficult situation? Your struggles drag on for years, and the paralyzation seems endless. Still, as people of faith, we pray, even when it feels hopeless. But only some survive the sense of silence.We all have friends w...  Read More

Day 8 – Now Then, YouJoshua 1:2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you…”Every human being observes things they wish would be different. We all have pet peeves, a sense of what organizations should or should not do, observations about parenting, driving, or how to make a good cup of coffee. We all have opinions. And we share them freely. On Facebook or Instagram, around the dinner table, or in th...  Read More

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPEN QUESTIONSDo you know what your name means, why it was given to you, and have you always gone by that name, or another name/nickname? ...  Read More

Day 6 – DismountDeuteronomy 34:5-12So Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, just as the LORD had said. The LORD buried him in a valley near Beth-peor in Moab, but to this day no one knows the exact place. Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. The people of Israel mourned for Moses on the plains of Moab for thirty d...  Read More

Day 5 – The Problem of ComparisonGalatians 6:4Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.Joshua learned and grew from many years of assisting Moses. He had a close-up view of leading this challenging group of people. However, serving that closely created the potential for a dangerous probl...  Read More

Day 4 – Second FiddleExodus 17:8-13While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur c...  Read More

Day 3 – The power of mentorsExodus 24:13Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.Numbers 11:28Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth…I invite you to reflect on the journey of our central figure as he assumes the mantle of leadership over God’s people. His narrative begins long before the book that bears his name. In three instances, as we e...  Read More

Day 2 – What’s in a name (part 2)?Matthew 1:21“… you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”The Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name Joshua is Jesus. They are each translated as “The Lord saves.”Matthew tells us of the coming Christ in the opening chapter of his Gospel. He introduces us to Mary and Joseph while explaining the miraculous birth through the Ho...  Read More

Day 1 – What’s in a name?Numbers 13:16Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.I’m regularly puzzled about how to respond when asked my name. My parents named me David and I sign or write David Ferguson. But when I introduce myself, I always say, “Hi, I’m Dave.” I don’t remember exactly when it started, but I know why “Dave” is the name I associate with most.I have always revered my father. He...  Read More

Dear Reader,Welcome to IMPACT, our series on the life of Joshua. As we delve into portions of the Pentateuch, the New Testament, and the book that bears his name, I pray you will be inspired to find a new understanding of God’s calling on your life. This journey can potentially ignite momentum in your spirituality, leading to personal growth and transformation.There are two ways to understand the ...  Read More