Message Action PlanAnd do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we
first believed. Romans 13:11 (NIV)
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12 (NIV)
• KAIROS: A TURNING POINT THAT MUST BE PRESSED THROUGH TO ACHIEVE ITS GOD-INTENDED PURPOSE
God has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of his Son, whom he loves. His Son paid the price to free us, which means that our sins are forgiven. Colossians 1:13-14 (GW)
Don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! Romans 13:11 (Message)
1Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. 2Joshua said to all the people . . . 14"Now, fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:1-2, 14-15 (NIV)
• THE CHOICE IS INTENTIONAL: "Choose for yourselves."
• THE CHOICE IS URGENT: "Choose for yourselves this day."
• THE CHOICE IS UNAVOIDABLE: "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve."
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God
and Money." Matthew 6:24 (NIV)
• THE CHOICE IS GENERATIONAL: "As for me and my house . . ."
Action Plan:Pastor Buddy said that what we prioritize is best seen through our calendar and our bank account. Spend some time thinking through these two areas, and ask yourself what they are reflecting.
16Then the people answered . . . 18"We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God . . . 21We will serve the Lord." 22Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord" . . . 23"Now, then, throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord." 24And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the Lord our God and obey him." Joshua 24:16-24 (NIV)
• GODS OF EGYPT = THE GODS OF MY PAST
• GODS OF THE AMORITES = THE GODS OF MY CULTURE
Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. Jonah 2:8 (NIV)
They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. 2 Kings 17:15 (NIV)
Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
Put to death, therefore, the evil desires at work in you, such as sexual immorality, indecency, lust, evil desires, covetousness and greed, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:5 (GNB/NIV)
• HOW DO YOU GET RID OF AN IDOL? STARVE IT TO DEATH
25On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he drew up for them decrees and laws. 26And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD. 27"See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God." 28Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance. Joshua 24:25-28 (NIV)
Action Plan: Carve out time this week to be with your family without distractions. Get out and do an activity together that is fun, relaxing, and encourages conversation. Ask your family members questions to find out something about them you didn't know before.
Doable Discipleship: This week's episode of Doable Discipleship features part 2 of an interview with Jeremy Elder on how to overcome spiritual obstacles. New episodes release every Tuesday. To watch or listen,click here.
Talk It Over: Have you ever discussed the weekend message in your small group? Talk It Over provides weekly small group discussion questions as a way to bring the weekend message into your small group. To view this week's Talk It Over,click here.
