BBCC Sermon Outline

GOD WORKS Through Courageous People,-Joshua 1:7

Main Texts: Ephesians 4:11–13; 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12; Deuteronomy 6; Joshua 1, 24; Judges 2

Review

• We began by recognizing Jesus as our ascended King, ruling over all (Ephesians 4). In a world that seems chaotic ultimately Christ reigns supreme.
• The Church is Christ’s body, active on earth—He works through our hands, feet, generosity, and all the gifts He provides.
• Ephesians 4:11–13: Church leaders exist to equip God’s people for “works of service” so that the body of Christ may be built up.
• Jesus’ shocking statement (John 14:12): His followers will do “greater things” because we are empowered by the Holy Spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12: Every believer has a spiritual gift—teaching, serving, encouraging, giving, and more. Using these gifts in love reveals God’s character to others.
• Our vision at BBCC is to continue equipping everyone to use their gifts for God’s glory.

The order of the biblical books may be meaningful—studying it can deepen our insight into God’s message. Relevance to Deuteronomy 6: After Moses exhorts God’s people to love the Lord wholeheartedly and teach His commands (Deut 6), the next books (Joshua, then Judges and following) show two contrasting paths of response.

Living Out Deuteronomy 6: Two Divergent Paths

• Deuteronomy’s Challenge: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart... Teach these commands to your children…”
  • Will the people obey, or drift away?
• Joshua: A positive example of loving and obeying God.
  • Despite imperfections, the community addresses sin (e.g. Achan) with repentance.
  • Joshua 1:7; 24:14–15: Repeated calls to courageous obedience and wholehearted devotion to the LORD.
  • Result: “The LORD fights for you” (Josh 23:9–11). God grants victory, hope, and success.

Love for God gives Courage, Hope, and Success. Faith in a faithful God fuels bold obedience, even when God’s methods seem unconventional.

• Church and Family Life: We face uncertain times, but the bedrock truth remains: If we love God with all our heart, everything else—spiritual gifts, ministries, service—flows with courage and hope.
• Ministry Challenges: Whether organizing teams, raising children, or reaching neighbors, do it from a position of trust in God’s unwavering faithfulness.
• Personal Faith Step: When situations seem bigger than us—like Jericho was to Joshua—recall: The Lord is our strength. Loving Him wholeheartedly will also grant the courage we need.

BBCC Verse of the Week:  Joshua 1:9 (NIV) 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Study Notes

Canonical criticism, sometimes called canon criticism or the canonical approach, is a way of interpreting the Bible that focuses on the text of the biblical canon itself as a finished product. It has been made popular by Brevard Childs, though he personally rejected the term. Whereas other types of biblical criticism focus on the origins, structure and history of the text, canonical criticism looks at the meaning the text in its final form has for the community which uses it. (Wikipedia)

How do people like us respond to Deuteronomy 6? – The Bible (canon) offers two starkly contrasting options: Joshua vs Judges-2 Kings.

Joshua’s Option:

People’s response to Deuteronomy: Joshua 1:7 (NIV)  ⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

Joshua 24:14… 15 (NIV) ¹⁴ “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness… But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

What happens? Victory, Success Joshua 23:9–11 (NIV) ⁹ “The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. ¹⁰ One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised. ¹¹ So be very careful to love the Lord your God.

Judges’ (through 2 Kings) Option:

People’s Response to Deuteronomy: The children of Israel do evil in the eyes of the Lord (2:11; 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1)

Judges 2:11–12 (NIV)  ¹¹ Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. ¹² They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the Lord’s anger

What Happens? Military Defeat, Slavery, Oppression, Disunity, : Judges 21:25 (NIV)  ²⁵ In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

THE BOOK OF JUDGES has a coherent message concerning the consequences of disobedience to God with the resultant moral degeneration that characterized the history of this period. Marius has divided the book of Judges along the theme of degeneracy, using different categories of perspective. Judges 1:1–2:5 is developed along a historical/military perspective. Judges 2:6–3:6 utilizes a religious perspective. The cycles section (3:7–16:31) uses the religious perspective traced in individual lives. The final section of the book (17:1–21:25) represents all three perspectives in terms of “the spheres of cultus, family, and nation.” Israel as a nation expresses, in the final chapters, its fullest point of degeneracy in its corporate actions.  – Younger

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