Cheryl Nembhard (Co-Founder at Exousia Media Group)
Maintaining a Posture of Faith
Jesus People
APPETIZER: WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH THE RINGER
Joshua 1:6-9
"Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their ancestors to give them as an inheritance.
Joshua 1:6 CSB
If we're honest, many of us would agree that the past 18 months have served up some of the biggest challenges of our lives:
Global pandemic job losses, losses losses losses
Racial tensions
Natural disasters earthquakes
Political upheaval Taliban persecuting Christians
Mass job loss
Trying to people in this is hard
So many of us have been deeply changed by the events that we have experienced and are left wondering what life will look like on the other side of this new normal.
How do we navigate from here? Joy? Freedom? Abundance?
Joshua is encouraging. 40 years they looked for the Promised Land until their beloved leader passed away. Pain. Prayers being answered.
In the midst of devastation God is still good. God is still leading.
2020 was hard. 7 people in our family died last year. An Ocean of grief. Wave after wave. Getting crashed against the rocks. Why me? Why another one?
DINE IN: OUR FUTURE IS STILL BRIGHT
In order to get into the land that God had for them, the people of Israel had to cross the river Jordan. No small feat, and they had already been through so much. But through it all God was faithful. Through it all God was still going before and leading His people.
God is faithful.
Step out of the prison of why. Shift to what? What can I be grateful for. My heart opened up to see the blessings of God in the storm. Some storms clear a path to something new. Speak on social justice. Crossroads See Her Love show. Words for 2020
Resolute hope
Purposeful. Hope is the glorious holy posture of deviance against the darkness. Hope. Trust. Reconnect. God is calling us to Hope. Trust. Reconnect. God's promises. Trust humanity. Love our neighbor. Step out of the bubbles.
God is still God. In everything. Still Good.
Pray for strengthening faith. Plans for the future.
Ps 42,11 why am I sad? I will hope again.
Elijah had a posture of faith praying for rain. 6x no. Yes on the 7th.
He had seen the fire of God. God answers prayer.
Abraham had faith. Willing to sacrifice his son trusting God to raise him from the dead.
Only God is God. He doesn't want us to understand, just trust HiFree fall into God's hands
Paul and Silas sang in their hardship.
Daniel's friends stood on faith in God's power. God can. I will trust no matter what.
Hope is defiance against the darkness.
and declared: May the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to him. He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals the deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him.
Daniel 2:20-22 CSB
God is calling us to live open handed. Not pandemic fatigue. Pray. Care.
Self centredness. God is saying. Turn back. Worship. Trust. Not be apathetic. Ignite faith.
God is good and faithful.
TAKE OUT: GOD WANTS TO REIGNITE OUR HOPE
Hope in our God is this glorious holy posture of defiance to the overwhelming darkness that tries to surround us.
He is still God and He will never leave you without hope.
Stand in faith on the promises of God – Jeremiah 29:11
Encourage yourself – Psalms 42:11
Put your hope in the promise keeping God – Isaiah 46:8-10
Worship – Acts 16:26
Stand your ground – Daniel 3:17-18
Remember that we serve a Great God!
Remember to use these questions like a menu, not a checklist. These questions are not mandated material you have to cover, but options to help guide your discussion as much or as little as you like.
HANG OUT | Large Group
1. What about the Sunday teaching stood out to you?
HEAR | Discussion Groups
2. This week, we're going to apply the HEAR method to our Home Church discussion...
H- Highlight key themes in the passage
E- Based on your reading, explain what the passage means in its context
A- Draw application for our own lives
R- Respond back in Prayer (in Huddles)
a) Read Joshua 1:1-9. What are the themes of this text? Highlight the challenges that Joshua and the children of Israel were facing. Explain all the things that God told Joshua, including His promises to him.
b) Read Daniel 3:17-18. In what way does this passage impact your faith?
4. If you were to describe your current posture in this season, what would it be and why?
HUDDLE | Huddles
5. Talk about what God has been saying to you this week, and/or about how you are doing in your lives, and pray for one another.
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