We are in week 2 of the series Every Last Drop, where we are looking at the command in Scripture to love God with everything in us, heart, soul, mind, and strength. Today, our focus is on the call to love God with all of our strength. Now, when you think of the word strength, you may automatically think of physical strength, but, as important as it is to be strong physically, growing in spiritual strength is far more important. In our study today, we will learn from Joshua, a man who demonstrated great spiritual strength as he led God’s people, the Israelites.
Who is the physically strongest person you know? Why?
WATCH SERMON RECAP HERE
1. Read Joshua 1:1-9. What is repeated throughout this passage of Scripture? What do you think was the purpose of the repetition?
Joshua 1:1-9
After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, 2“Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—4from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’ 5No 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. 6“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. 7Be 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. 8Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
2. Look at verses 7 and 8. How can we take steps toward being strong (and courageous!), according to God’s instructions to Joshua in these verses?
3. Read Joshua 6:1-5, a passage of Scripture that describes a time when Joshua led the Israelites to the town of Jericho, part of the land that God had promised to give to the Israelites to live in. What was unexpected about the way God instructed the Israelites to overtake the town of Jericho? Name some reasons why He might have called them to overtake this town in this unconventional way.
Joshua 6:1-5
Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. 2But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. 3You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. 4Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. 5When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”
4. Read Joshua 6:8-20. What can we learn about loving God with our strength based on the Israelites’ actions in these verses?
Joshua 6:8-20.
After Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests with the rams’ horns started marching in the presence of the Lord, blowing the horns as they marched. And the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant followed behind them. 9Some of the armed men marched in front of the priests with the horns and some behind the Ark, with the priests continually blowing the horns. 10“Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!” 11So the Ark of the Lord was carried around the town once that day, and then everyone returned to spend the night in the camp. 12Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests again carried the Ark of the Lord. 13The seven priests with the rams’ horns marched in front of the Ark of the Lord, blowing their horns. Again the armed men marched both in front of the priests with the horns and behind the Ark of the Lord. All this time the priests were blowing their horns. 14On the second day they again marched around the town once and returned to the camp. They followed this pattern for six days. 15On 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. 16The 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! 17Jericho and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies. 18“Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel. 19Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the Lord and must be brought into his treasury.” 20When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it.
1. What is an area of your life where you need to “be strong and courageous?”
2. Who is someone you have seen demonstrate spiritual strength, and what can we learn from them?
3. What is one step of strength and courage that you can take today? Maybe you can share your faith with someone who is far from Christ, even though you are nervous, find out about how you can use your gifts and serve at Sagebrush, or serve your neighbor who is going through a difficult time.
Pair up into groups of two or three and pray for each other. Pray that you all would have the courage to take the step of strength that you shared this week. Throughout the week, continue to pray for each other and check in with each other as you all take steps to love God with all your strength this week.
Unlike growing in physical strength, we do not have to go through the process of growing in spiritual strength on our own. In fact, we cannot. You see, we have a God who is all-powerful. His strength is infinite, and when we are weak, He is strong. Let’s take a look at a few ways that God gives us strength, especially when we feel weak.
When it comes to loving God with all of our strength, we do not have to “have it all together.” We do not even have to stand on our own. Our all-powerful God is with us, upholding us the whole way. Take a look at what Isaiah 41 teaches us about how God upholds us, and talk about it with your group now.
1. Read Isaiah 41:10.
Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
2. What does this passage of Scripture reveal specifically about God and His strength?
3. How has God upheld you in the past when you felt weak?
4. What is an area where you feel weak? How does this verse encourage and strengthen you in that area?
So many people today are walking around completely run down and exhausted. The problem is often that they are running to all of the wrong places to find rest and refreshment. The sources they rely on for the rest are temporary. They cannot sustain. God, however, offers a deeper rest and refreshment in Him that cannot be taken away. Take a look at what Psalm 23 teaches about how God restores us when we are weary, and discuss what you learn with your group.
1. Read Psalm 23:1-3 and Matthew 11:28-30.
Psalm 23:1-3
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
Matthew 11:28-30
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
2. On a scale of 1-10, how rested do you feel today? Why?
3. What does it look like to grow in spiritual strength, based on the verses you read, and is this different from how one might expect spiritual growth to take place? Why or why not?
4. Name some different ways we can find rest in the Lord today?
We may feel weak today, but you can rest assured that God is not. He never gets tired. His power is infinite. Even more, Scripture teaches that God works through our weaknesses to display His great power. Read the words of the apostle Paul about how God worked through his weaknesses in 2nd Corinthians 12 and discuss it with your group.
1. Read 2nd Corinthians 12:6-10.
2nd Corinthians 12:6-10
If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
3. Which of these verses do you think is Paul’s summary statement from his teaching in this passage of Scripture? Why?
4. How is this teaching in 2nd Corinthians 12 counter-cultural?
5. How might God be working through an area where you feel weak to display His power even today?
Take a few moments to reflect on the Scripture you studied today. Answer the questions below and discuss them with your group:
1. How do you find rest or refreshment in Christ? (Is it through prayer, listening to worship music, memorizing Scripture, or something else?)
2. What step can you take this week to turn to God specifically when it comes to the area where you feel weak? Commit to taking that step starting this week.
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