THEME:
When your life is over, how do you want to be remembered? What do you hope people say when your name comes up? Because whether we feel it today or not, every choice we make is telling a story. Joshua put a question before the people of Israel that still echoes across the centuries: Who do you want to be?
KEY SCRIPTURE:
Joshua 24:15
Joshua 24:15
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
If you want to walk with God, learn from those who already have
Joshua 24:31a
Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua…
Judges 2:10b
And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.”
Be on guard, because a commitment to God can turn sour in a moment
1 Samuel 8:7-9
And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”
Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Ridgewood is effective when each of us makes disciples