Bible Study Night, Lesson 3— “Simple Christianity”

Joshua 1:6-9

Last week, we saw some of these miracles—how God promised to bring us into a land that is full of everything we need to be happy, fulfilled, and satisfied! Scripture makes it clear that we DID NOT build, fill, dig, or plant in this land. It is a land that has been given to us by God—to eat and be satisfied! God said He had prepared a land with great and splendid cities that we did not build, and houses full of all good things which we did not fill, and hewn cisterns which we did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees which we did not plant (Deuteronomy 6:10-11).

Tonight, I want to share with you HOW God gives us these miracles in our life. How does He give us WISDOM, PEACE, JOY, and FULFILLMENT? How does He give us all of the things we covered last week?

Well, these four verses in tonight’s lesson reveal what God tells Joshua regarding HOW to be successful throughout ALL of his life. Let me share with you just a taste of this wonderful truth. The first four words of verse six say, “Be strong and courageous.” Then in verse seven we read, “Only be strong and very courageous,” and this exhortation continues in verse nine, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous!”

Now, at first glance, the words “be strong and courageous” appear to be God telling us that it is up to us to bolster ourselves into doing what God has commanded of us to do. In the previous verses we learned that God is directing His Children to cross over the Jordan, to a place they have never been to before. Then He says that we are to be strong and courageous. Doesn’t that sound like God expects us to suck up our strength, suppress our fears, and do our part to get across that raging water?

Thank God this is NOT what “be strong and courageous” means. In the previous verses God told Joshua more than just the command to cross the Jordan. He promised, as the Creator God—that He was going to be WITH them, that He would NOT FAIL them, NOR FORSAKE them, and He would give them ALL that they needed to experience His rest. God is saying “be strong and courageous,” not to get us to do something, but because He had promised to do everything for us. We can be strong and courageous because God has promised to be with us and not fail or forsake us!

I hope you can come tonight to learn more about what God shared with Joshua regarding HOW he could be successful in all of his life. The same truth works just as well for us today. Remember, the Bible study is now being broadcast live for those who cannot attend the class in person. To view this live broadcast, go to the Grace Upon Grace Ministries website (www.gugm.org) at approximately 6:45 p.m. Pacific Time, and click on the “Go Live” button on the home page.

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Bible Study Night, Lesson 2— “God gives us all we need to be happy and fulfilled”

Joshua 1:2-5

The first lie is: “We need to accomplish (or get for ourselves) what God says He gives.”

We will see tonight just how many times God repeats this same truth, in the first chapter alone, that He is the One who will give (and is giving) the land to His chosen people.

giving to them …” (Verse 2).
given it to you …” (Verse 3).
“… which I swore … to give them” (Verse 6).
“… the land which the Lord your God is giving you, to possess it” (Verse 11).
“The Lord your God gives you rest and will give you this land.” (Verse 13).
“the land which the Lord your God is giving them” (Verse 15).

God repeats eleven times: “I am giving you this land!”

Last week we began to see what kind of land the Lord was giving us. In Deuteronomy 6:10-11 we read about this land: “Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which YOU DID NOT build, and houses full of all good things which YOU DID NOT fill, and hewn cisterns which YOU DID NOT dig, vineyards and olive trees which YOU DID NOT plant, and you eat AND ARE SATISFIED.”

The land that God gives to us is full of everything we need to be happy, fulfilled, and satisfied! Scripture makes it clear that we DID NOT build, fill, dig, or plant in this land. It is a land that has been given to us—to eat and be satisfied!

I hope you can come tonight to learn more about this wonderful land that God has given us, and about the three lies the enemy loves to pollute our minds with. Remember, the Bible study is now being broadcast live for those who cannot attend the class in person. To view this live broadcast, go to the Grace Upon Grace Ministries website (www.gugm.org) and click on the “Go Live” button on the home page.

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Bible Study Night, Lesson 1 ~ God Operates in Miracles

Joshua 1:1-2

Our God wants to bring victory and rest to our daily lives! Joshua 1:13 best summarizes the entire book with these words:

The Lord your God gives you rest and will give you this land.

This book of Joshua illustrates how God does that.

Tonight, we will consider just the first two steps on our journey into the Promised Land—to understanding and experiencing God’s rest.

Let me share a bit about step one here. The first step is realizing that God operates in miracles on our behalf! This is not the realm of man’s ability or logic. God wants us to know that He works supernaturally in us—and for us! He wants us to know that there is NOTHING too difficult for Him to overcome. We may be struggling (sometimes for years) with unresolved bitterness, problems in a marriage or with rebellious children that looks hopeless, or struggles with guilt that is relentless. Perhaps it is something that we can’t even imagine being free of, yet God is making it clear that He will work in supernatural miracles to set us free and give us rest and peace.

I hope to see you at the study tonight. If you can’t make it in person, please log onto our website and click on the “go live” button to participate in the Bible study “live” from your computer, smart phone, or digital device.

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Consider It Great Joy

Have you ever thought to yourself, how can anyone possibly experience joy while going through difficult times? Whether it be tragedy, job loss, relationship issues or physical pain, it is possible to experience the joy of the Lord amidst troubling times. In James 1:2 we read, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” (NLT). Does this verse appear to contradict itself? How can we consider it great joy and all joy when we encounter various trials? Trials are things God uses to put our faith into effect and cause us to trust in what His word says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5). We will see that it is God’s word power, the true knowledge of God, which transforms our daily stress into daily joy.

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Bible study night – “How Big is God!”

John 21:20-25

For the last two years, we have been studying the book of John. Tonight we come to the end of this study. What a wonderful book and study this has been! Even though we covered all twenty-one chapters, literally verse by verse, we could have just as easily explored a ten-year study of the same book and still not explored all the riches contained within. For me personally, it has been one of the most enlightening studies I have ever traveled.

Tonight, even in his final words, John does not disappoint. He concludes this book with so much glory I am finding it difficult to plumb the depths of my limited ability to describe it. First, we will see the freedom that comes from just focusing on Christ! Next, we are going to take a moment to see how easy it is for us to misunderstand scripture. Third, we will consider what it means for God’s witness of truth to be IN US! And fourth, we will see the greatness of God! Our poor human language is no match for these glorious truths!

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