The Last Words of a Great Man (Joshua 23-24)

If you could choose your last words, what would you want them to be? Why?

Joshua 23-24 are the last recorded words of Joshua. We can learn a lot about following God from these words.

Scan through Joshua 23-24 and make a list of everything God accomplished on the Israelite's behalf.

Has God accomplished anything like these same things for you? Which ones? What things has God accomplished for you in the past month?

What are the most important things in your life that God has accomplished for you? How does knowing what God has done for you change the way you live? How should it change the way you live?

Make a list of the things Joshua encouraged the Israelites NOT to do.

If Joshua were speaking to our group today, what are the things he would challenge us to remember? What are the things he would challenge us not to do?

What kinds of temptations are most likely to come between us and our relationships with God? How can we avoid these temptations?

Read Joshua 24:15.

Consider what it means to be a servant to someone. What do you think it means to "serve the LORD?"

If God were physically present, as your master, what types of instructions might He give you? What kinds of things might He command you to stop?

How can you know what your master expects of you?

What is one thing to which you believe the master is calling you today? What will help you accomplish this? What will stop you from accomplishing this?

Devoted to God or Coveted for Self? (Joshua 7)

Have you ever stolen anything? Tell the story.

Have the group talk about the story of Achan from Joshua 7. What do we know about the story? What parts raise questions?

Read Joshua 7:1. Remember that God had told Israel to devote all the silver and gold to Jericho. These were the "devoted things".

Why do you think God wanted the spoils from Jericho devoted to Himself? What principle do you think He was teaching Israel?

Would it have been okay for God to tell Israel to devote the spoils from all their conquests to Him? Why or why not? Why do you think He didn't tell them to do this?

Once Israel was done conquering Canaan, they were a wealthy people. What are the spiritual dangers that sometimes come with wealth and success? As people living in an extremely wealthy and successful country, how do we experience these dangers?

Devoting Jericho to God was a way to acknowledge that the victory was His, it was not something the Israelites had done for themselves.

What are some things you have because God gave them to you or allowed you to have them?

What do you think God expects us to devote to him? What would it mean for us to devote something to God today? How would we do it?

Read Joshua 7:20-21. Have you ever faced a temptation like the one Achan faced? What are some things that are easy for people today to covet?

Is coveting something for ourselves the opposite of devoting something to God? Why or why not?

What is something you need to devote to God? How will you do this? Is this going to be easy or difficult? Why?

How can our group support you?

Be Strong and Courageous! (Joshua 1)

What do you most fear in life? Why?

Read Joshua 1:1-9.

If you were Joshua, what would you have been feeling after the death of Moses?

What kinds of fears do you think Joshua was battling? What do you think God meant by "be strong and courageous"?

What types of fears do the people around you face from day to day? What kind of fears do you face?

What do you think God would say to you or those around you regarding your fears? What would it mean for you to live life "strongly" and with "courage"?

In verses 7 and 8, God gives very specific instructions to Joshua about his relationship to God's Word (the law). How would you summarize, in your own words, these instructions?

What do you think it means to not turn to the right or left of what God's Word says? Can you think of an illustration of someone turning to the right or left of God's instructions? How did it turn out?

How do you meditate on God's Word?

How might the words "prosperous" and "successful" be misunderstood? Is this a promise that people will have lots of money, and no suffering?  What does it mean to be prosperous and successful?

This week, do you need to address fear issues or do you need to work on your relationship with God's Word? How might the two issues be related? What is your plan for the week?

How can this group help you this week?

The Promise: God Provided a Land (Joshua 1)

• Read Joshua 1:6-9.  What things in life demand strength and courage?
• How might being obedient to God be difficult sometimes?  Why might fear keep us from being obedient?
• Review the story of Rahab (Joshua 2:1-21; 6:22-25).  What was the result of Rahab's obedience?  (Notice the how she fulfilled the instructions given her by the spies)  Did Rahab place a higher value on obeying men or obeying God?  How might obedience to God sometimes require disobedience to men?
• Review the story of Achan (Joshua 7).  Achan's disobedience caused great pain for the nation of Israel.  How might a person's disobedience to God cause pain and suffering for other people?  Has your disobedience ever had a negative effect on your friends or family?  How?
• Talk about a time you've observed someone who was hiding sin or disobedience (maybe yourself).  How does hiding our wrongdoings effect us?
• What are some obvious examples of ways every Christian should be obedient to God?
• What are some specific areas of your life you need to be more obedient to God?  How can this group help you pursue that?