Our past rebirth into a future inheritance gives us a living hope in the present, even in suffering. There are three things described in this passage that we can praise God for no matter what we may be going through today.

Sermon Outline:

I. Praise God: we have been born again

II. Praise God: we are being guarded

III. Praise God: we are being refined

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think Peter begins not with the believers’ suffering but with praising God? What might that teach us about how to approach our own seasons of suffering or discouragement?

2. Why is it important to remember that our salvation is rooted in God's mercy rather than our own merit? How does this truth affect the way we relate to God and to others?

3. Peter describes our inheritance as “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” How does this promised inheritance differ from the things we typically hope for in this life? What practical difference could that make in the way we view success, loss, or aging?

4. According to verse 7, trials test and refine our faith like fire purifies gold. How can understanding this purpose help us respond differently when we face future trials?

5. What does it mean that God guards us through faith rather than from all suffering? How does this promise give you confidence about persevering in your faith until Christ returns?

First Peter is addressed to Christians who are suffering on account of their distinctiveness. Peter wants to encourage Christians that, though suffering is unpleasant, it is not an indication that God is not with us. Rather, it is a sign that he has chosen us for himself.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways do you personally feel like an outsider because of your faith? Are there particular situations at work, school, or in relationships where your values make you stand out?

2. How does understanding yourself as actively chosen and loved by God from before time began change the way you think about your identity? How might this truth help you when you feel rejected or excluded by others?

3. What does it mean to you practically that you “were bought with a price” and are “not your own”? How should this truth shape the way you live?

4. How do you normally respond to feeling like an outsider or exile? Where do you need to experience more of the grace and peace that Peter pronounces in verse 2?

If we were to sum up the final message of the book and the message of Joshua as a whole, it is this: God is faithful, and we can trust him. Those who do will find themselves caught up in a much bigger story than themselves and will make an impact that will last far beyond their years. We don’t remember Joshua today because Joshua was a great man, though he was. We remember Joshua today because he trusted in a great, promise-keeping God. May we learn to do the same.

We conclude our series in the book of JOSHUA: Trusting the Promise-Keeping God, with The Impact of a Servant of the Lord.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. What helps a person remain faithful to God’s calling over the long haul? What kinds of things tend to cause people to lose heart or give up?

2. Joshua was only called “the servant of the Lord” after his death, when the full course of his life could beseen.

3. What does this title tell us about the kind of life God honors?

If your life were summarized in one phrase today, what would it be, and what would need to change for“servant of the Lord” to describe you?

4. Whether you have children or not, how can you actively participate in sharing God’s faithfulness with the next generation?

5. What practical steps can you take to ensure the stories of God’s deliverance are not

forgotten?

6. What does it mean for a believer to “die in hope”? How does trusting in Jesus, the greater Joshua, shape the way we view both our present struggles and our future beyond this life?

Joshua reminds Israel in this text that they have been the recipients of centuries of God’s faithfulness and rescue. Yet he knows how prone they are to forgetting what God has done for them. If they forget, they will slide into serving the idols of the surrounding culture. And so will we. We must make a decisive determination regarding whom we will live for, whom we will serve.

Sermon Outline:

I. A History Lesson

II. A Decisive Choice

III. A Renewed Covenant

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Joshua reminded Israel of God’s gracious acts in their history before calling them to renewed commitment. What specific acts of God’s faithfulness in your own life or family come to mind, and how does remembering these strengthen your loyalty to Him?

2. What “default idols” are most tempting in your own life or in our culture (money, beauty, approval, success, etc.)? What does it practically look like to put away these false gods in your daily life?

3. For those with children at home: how are you intentionally leading your household to serve the Lord? For everyone: what specific practices or rhythms have you established (or want to establish) to pass your faith on to the next generation? Where might God be calling you to take greater initiative?

4. How does Jesus’ call to take up our cross daily sharpen our understanding of what true commitment looks like? How does this differ from the way Christianity is sometimes presented?

One of the great dangers for us as God’s people is to forget God's history of faithfulness. When we forget, we will likely drift into compromise and reap the consequences of disobedience. But God loves us and has shown us how we can avoid the consequences of mission drift.

Sermon Outline:

I. Remember God’s History of Faithfulness

II. Cling to God in Loving Obedience

III. Be on Guard Against Gradual Compromise

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Share a specific time when God showed His faithfulness in your life. What practices help you regularly remember and celebrate God's track record in your life?

2. Can you identify areas in your own life where you might be experiencing “mission drift”? What circumstances or influences tend to pull you away from your core identity in Christ? How can we help each other stay on course?

3. What specific areas of obedience require the most strength and courage in your current season of life?

4. What are some of the most subtle or appealing idols in our current culture? How can you tell when something good (work, money, success, etc.) is becoming an idol in your life?

5. If you knew with absolute certainty that every promise and warning in God’s Word would come true, how might it change the way you live this week?

Theological error, idolatry, and sin are serious matters that cannot be ignored because they are a constant threat to the unity of God’s people. In this passage, we see the necessity of pursuing the peace and purity of the church.

Sermon Outline:

I. Because the LORD is God, We Must Cling to Him in Wholehearted Devotion

II. Because the LORD is God, We Must Pursue the Purity of the Church

III. Because the LORD is God, We Must Pursue the Peace of the Church

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. The word “cling” used in Joshua’s instructions is the same word used to describe how a husband and wife should hold fast to each other in marriage. What does it look like practically to “cling to God with loyalty, faithfulness, and affection” in the midst of busy daily life? What threatens to pull your affection away from Him?

2. The altar built by the eastern tribes was misunderstood as rebellion. Can you recall a time when you misjudged someone’s motives (or were misjudged yourself)? What would it look like for you to be slower to assume and quicker to ask questions in those situations?

3. The western tribes feared the altar represented idolatry because sin spreads and affects the whole community. In what ways have you seen sin (whether your own or others’) impact your family, church, or community? What does “guarding the purity of the church” look like in practice?

4. When the misunderstanding was cleared, Israel rejoiced that “the LORD is in our midst” (v. 31). How does pursuing peace with one another help us experience and display God’s presence today?

5. How does this central confession that “The LORD is God” give us unity as believers even when we disagree about lesser matters? How could remembering this confession change the way you approach conflict?

Left to ourselves, our communities fracture into injustice, vengeance, and idolatry. That does not make us unique; in fact, it is the common point of unity we share with people across the world and across the ages. We are not capable of creating communities of justice and mercy apart from God’s truth.

Sermon Outline:

I. Communities of Justice and Mercy

II. Communities of Truth

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. The cities of refuge were meant to ensure both justice and mercy. How does this balance challenge our own tendency either to minimize sin or to pursue vengeance? Where do you see these temptations in your own life or in our culture?

2. The manslayer had to run to the city of refuge to be safe. How does this imagery point us to Christ as our ultimate refuge? What does it mean practically for us to “run to Jesus” when we feel the weight of guilt and sin?

3. God scattered the Levites throughout the land so that his truth would be widely known and taught. In what ways can we be effective in spreading truth through our communities?

4. How should Christians faithfully engage the public square without arrogance or despair?

5. How does remembering God’s faithfulness in the past give us strength and hope to live as communities of justice, mercy, and truth today?

How long will you put off taking possession of what God has promised you? The inheritance for God’s people today is not in the Middle East, but we do have an inheritance. How do we properly respond?

Sermon Outline:

I. God has secured our inheritance

II. Faith gratefully receives the lot God gives

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. What areas of spiritual growth or obedience might you be “putting off” despite knowing God has already provided what you need? What practical steps could help you move forward?

2. God’s promises are meant to be “stimulants, not sedatives.” How does that change the way we think about God’s grace and the call to pursue holiness (see 1 Peter 1:13-16; 2 Peter 1:3-5)?

3. What aspects of your life circumstances (family background, abilities, challenges, etc.) have you struggled to accept as part of God’s sovereign plan? How might viewing these as your “lot from the Lord” change your perspective?

4. Read 2 Corinthians 8:13-14. In what ways might God be calling you to share your abundance (time, money, skills, resources) with others in need?

In these chapters we see two different kinds of people: one type of person takes God at his word and aims to fully possess all that God has promised. The other type sees all the reasons it won’t work, all the reasons to be afraid, all the reasons to feel sorry for themselves. As we compare these examples, we are to hold a mirror up in front of ourselves and ask which type of person we most resemble.

Sermon Outline:

I. We Must Take Hold of God’s Promises by Faith

II. We Must Not Forfeit God’s Promises Through Fear or Compromise

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways might we, as Christians, fail to “claim” the spiritual inheritance that is ours in Christ? What keeps us from living in the fullness of God’s promises?

2. Caleb, Othniel, Achsah, and the daughters of Zelophehad demonstrated faithful boldness. How do their stories challenge the way you approach prayer, obedience, or decision-making today?

3. What forms of fear, compromise, or self-pity do you see most commonly hindering Christians from whole-hearted discipleship today?

4. How does remembering God’s faithfulness in the past strengthen our faith for present challenges? What are some practical ways we can cultivate this kind of biblical memory in our daily walk with God?

5. If you were to take inventory of your own walk with Christ, where do you see faithful boldness at work, and where do you see tendencies toward half-heartedness? What steps could you take this week to walk more fully in God’s promises?

Many picture the path to God like a mountain to climb through religion, good works, or devotion. But Psalm 24 asks, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?” The reality is, none of us can. Our hands aren’t clean, our hearts aren’t pure. That’s the mess.

But the good news? The Messiah came down. Jesus lived the life we couldn’t live, died the death we deserved, and rose to bring us up into the presence of the King of Glory. The mountain, the mess, the Messiah—this is the gospel of Psalm 24.

Sermon Outline

I. The Mountain.

II. The Mess.

III. The Messiah. 

Sermon Discussion Questions

1.    David asks, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? Who shall stand in His holy place?” (Psalm 24:3). How do you personally feel when you hear that question? Does it stir confidence, fear, discouragement, or something else? Why?

2.    Psalm 24 describes the requirement as “clean hands and a pure heart.” What’s the difference between outwardly “clean hands” and inwardly a “pure heart”? Which one do you tend to focus on more in your walk with God, and why?

3.    In the sermon, we saw David’s life reveal both moments of clean hands (sparing Saul) and times of failure (Bathsheba, Uriah, passivity with his children). What encouragement do we find in knowing that even David, “a man after God’s own heart”, fell short?

4.    Jesus alone has the perfectly clean hands and pure heart. How does it change your outlook on the Christian life when you realize your acceptance before God rests on His record, not yours?

5.    The sermon emphasized that Christianity is not about us climbing the mountain to God, but about God coming down to us in Christ. Where in your life are you most tempted to “climb” and prove yourself, instead of resting in Christ’s finished work?

6.    Psalm 24 shifts from instruction to worship: “Lift up your heads, O gates… that the King of glory may come in.” How can we “open the gates” of our own lives this week to let Jesus reign more fully…in our habits, relationships, or decisions?

7.    The closing challenge was framed in the question, “Do you love Jesus?” How would you answer that right now? What’s one concrete way you could live out your love for Jesus this week?

When we are guilty of sin, we try not to think about it, we try to distract ourselves, we pretend that nothing else needs to be done; but the guilt remains. Confession is the path to healing, but we run from it like it’s the disease. Psalm 32 reminds us that confession is not something to be avoided or evaded; it is a gift to be embraced.

Sermon outline:

I. The Blessed Condition

II. The Miserable Condition

III. The Transformational Act

IV. The Takeaways

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced the misery of unconfessed sin that David describes? What did that feel like, and how did it affect your daily life and relationship with God?

2. What makes it so difficult to confess completely rather than just partially? What fears or concerns hold us back from being totally honest with God?

3. How do we distinguish between godly conviction that leads to repentance and unhealthy shame or condemnation? Why might God allow us to feel the weight of unconfessed sin?

4. Verse 5 shows the immediate connection between confession and forgiveness. Why do you think we sometimes struggle to believe that God’s forgiveness is really that immediate and complete? What helps you trust in the fullness of God’s forgiveness?

5. For those who have experienced God’s forgiveness, how can we help each other live in that joy rather than returning to guilt and shame? How does understanding confession as a gift to be embraced rather than something to avoid change our approach to dealing with sin?

Whether it’s the fear of global conflict, political instability, climate change, economic collapse, or personal health issues, we are a culture ruled by fear, and our fears make us very easy to manipulate. But what if there were a people who were not ruled by fear? And what if all we need to become this kind of people is to make Psalm 46 our own song?

Sermon Outline:

I. We will not fear because God is our refuge, strength, and help.

II. We will not fear because God is in our midst.

III. We will not fear because God will be exalted.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Share about a time when something you thought was solid and dependable was shaken. How did that experience affect your faith (positively or negatively), and what did you learn about God’s faithfulness through it?

2. Where do you typically turn first when life’s storms hit: money, relationships, work, or other sources? How can we practically make God our first refuge rather than our last resort?

3. In what ways does knowing that God dwells within you and among us as a community change how you face daily fears and anxieties?

4. Two of the primary drivers of fear are news and social media. How do you balance staying informed about real issues while not being ruled by fear? What boundaries might you need to set with news and social media consumption?

5. Does understanding Psalm 46:10 in its proper context change your perspective on it? How does knowing that God’s victory over all opposition is guaranteed affect the way you view current world events, political turmoil, or personal conflicts you're facing?

What do you pray when enemies surround you?

Psalm 109 is raw, intense, and fiercely honest—a prayer for justice when evil strikes.

David sang it. Jesus fulfilled it. The Church still needs it.

Sermon Outline:

I. Introduction

II. A Look at Psalm 109

III. Six Imprecatory Principles

IV. The One Big Lesson

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. When you're slandered, mistreated, or falsely accused, do you first run to God in prayer like David did in Psalm 109:4—"But I give myself to prayer"?

2. How does your understanding of the nature of Scripture—“breathed out by God” (2 Tim. 3:16)—shape your willingness to engage with difficult texts like the imprecatory psalms?

3. Is it possible that comfort, safety, or prosperity have dulled your sense of the spiritual war raging around you?

4. How do you hold together the biblical tension of praying for God's judgment upon the wicked while also longing for their repentance and salvation?

5. Have you fully surrendered to the Lordship of Christ or are you still resisting Him as an enemy of God?

Doubt is often treated like a dirty word in Christian circles, but Scripture is filled with faithful expressions of it. In Psalm 73, Asaph wrestles with the tension between what he believes about God’s goodness and what he sees happening in the world around him. His struggle is honest and raw—but it ultimately leads him not away from God, but toward Him.

Small Group Questions

1. When have you felt like your “feet had almost slipped” spiritually, as Asaph describes in verse 2? What was the time like?

2. Asaph’s doubt was fueled by envy of the prosperity of the wicked, what about the prosperity of the wicked tempts you to question God’s justice and goodness today?

3. Have you walked with anyone through an intense season of doubt? What did you learn about how to do that well and what to avoid?

4. What has been a helpful cure for your doubts? Why would going to the sanctuary be a helpful cure?

5. How has God held you fast when your grip has felt weak?

Sermon Outline:

I. The Rebellion of the Wicked is Futile.

II. The Victory of God’s Anointed is Certain.

III. The Record of God’s Faithfulness is Perfect.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. What forms of rebellion against God’s rule are most subtle in our culture—and even in our own hearts?

2. Is God’s sovereignty the basis for bold, faith-filled action in your life, or a truth you affirm but rarely apply? How might your life look different if you applied this truth to your life each day? How might you feel different?

3. What good things are you tempted to trust in instead of trusting in the name of the Lord? Can or should anything be done about that?

4. How do Romans 1 and Hebrews 3:12-13 help us understand the progression and danger of unrepentant sin? What role does the church community play in helping one another resist the hardening of the heart?

5. How are you intentionally remembering and rehearsing the faithfulness of God in your life? Or, how could you start doing so?

Doubt is often treated like a dirty word in Christian circles, but Scripture is filled with faithful expressions of it. In Psalm 73, Asaph wrestles with the tension between what he believes about God’s goodness and what he sees happening in the world around him. His struggle is honest and raw—but it ultimately leads him not away from God, but toward Him.

Small Group Questions

1. When have you felt like your “feet had almost slipped” spiritually, as Asaph describes in verse 2? What was the time like?

2. Asaph’s doubt was fueled by envy of the prosperity of the wicked, what about the prosperity of the wicked tempts you to question God’s justice and goodness today?

3. Have you walked with anyone through an intense season of doubt? What did you learn about how to do that well and what to avoid?

4. What has been a helpful cure for your doubts? Why would going to the sanctuary be a helpful cure?

5. How has God held you fast when your grip has felt weak?

Sermon Outline:

I. The Rebellion of the Wicked is Futile.

II. The Victory of God’s Anointed is Certain.

III. The Record of God’s Faithfulness is Perfect.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. What forms of rebellion against God’s rule are most subtle in our culture—and even in our own hearts?

2. Is God’s sovereignty the basis for bold, faith-filled action in your life, or a truth you affirm but rarely apply? How might your life look different if you applied this truth to your life each day? How might you feel different?

3. What good things are you tempted to trust in instead of trusting in the name of the Lord? Can or should anything be done about that?

4. How do Romans 1 and Hebrews 3:12-13 help us understand the progression and danger of unrepentant sin? What role does the church community play in helping one another resist the hardening of the heart?

5. How are you intentionally remembering and rehearsing the faithfulness of God in your life? Or, how could you start doing so?

When life feels unbearably heavy—from natural disasters to personal heartbreak—what can we even say? The Bible doesn't ignore suffering or gloss over pain. Instead, it gives voice to our sorrow. Psalm 13 offers us a path from weeping to worship, showing how honest lament can lead to deep trust in a faithful God.

Outline

I. Turn

II. Complain

III. Petition

IV. Trusting Praise

Sermon Discussion Questions

1) When suffering strikes, where do you instinctively turn first? What are some reasons you don’t turn to the Lord first?

2) If you were to present some complaints to the Lord right now, what would be some of those complaints?

3) Are your prayers boldly asking God to act according to His promises? Why or why not? How specific are your requests?

4) How does suffering with the end in view change how you approach suffering? What about lament leads to trust and praise? How would this reshape your perspective?

5) Read Psalm 6 and look for the different elements of lament (Turn, complain, petition, and trusting praise). Write your own lament prayer and share it with someone you trust.

Only those whose lives reflect God’s righteousness may dwell in God’s presence, and those who receive that righteousness as a free gift of God, also receive power to live it out.

We’ve been told that a great life is a comfortable life with comfortable circumstances, but a truly blessed life is a life in harmony with God and God’s word. To prosper in all you do in life—and to experience God’s loving embrace on the day of judgement—sing the psalms day and night.

I. Sing the Psalms, day and night

II. Sing the Psalms, day and night, so that you will prosper in all that you do in this life

III. Sing the Psalms, day and night, so that you will prosper in all that you do in life—and experience God’s loving embrace on the day of judgement.

Discussion questions:

1. According to scripture, what does it mean to live a “blessed life”, and how does that differ from the version of blessing often presented by our culture?

2. Psalm 1 warns against “walking in the counsel of the wicked.” What are some modern ways we might unknowingly absorb ungodly counsel, and how can we guard against it?

3. How does singing or meditating on the Psalms shape our hearts to be “in tune” with God’s purposes, even during times of suffering or hardship?

4. How can we balance the call to spiritual disciplines (like singing the Psalms) with the gospel truth that Jesus has already fulfilled the law on our behalf?

5. In what ways can your small group or your family make singing or meditating on the Psalms a regular part of life this summer?

Caleb refused to be satisfied with half-hearted devotion or be lulled into complacency. At its heart, complacency is a willingness to be satisfied with how things are, but not how things should be. It affects people of every age and generation. Like rivers, people flow toward the path of least resistance. But not Caleb.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Fully Satisfied are Fully Devoted to God’s Cause.

II. The Fully Satisfied are Fully Devoted to God’s Word.

III. The Fully Satisfied are Fully Devoted to God’s Glory.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. What competing causes or priorities sometimes pull you away from being fully devoted to God’s cause? How have you experienced the tension between living for yourself and living for God?

2. Caleb waited 45 years for God’s promise to be fulfilled and never gave up. Share about a time when you’ve had to wait on God’s promises. How did that season affect your faith? What helps you continue trusting when God’s timing doesn't match your expectations?

3. What fears, sins, challenges, or obstacles are you currently facing or avoiding? What would it look like for you to have Caleb’s mindset about the challenges in your life?

4. What would full devotion to God look like practically in your current season of life? What specific step of obedience or trust is God calling you to take this week?

Even when we die with work left undone, God finishes what he starts. God’s mission continues beyond any one leader, lifetime, or generation. Our calling is to be faithful in our time, trusting that God will finish what he has started.

Sermon Outline:

I. Our Strength will Fade, But God’s Mission Remains.

II. God Uses People but the Results Belong to Him.

III. God Commands Obedience Even When We Won’t Complete the Work.

IV. God Secures the Inheritance by Grace, Not Merit

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Are there tasks, conversations, or goals you’ve been carrying that you either need to finish or give yourself permission to let go of? How does it feel to consider that even faithful leaders like Joshua and Moses died with unfinished work?

2. In what area of your life or ministry do you most struggle with wanting to control outcomes rather than simply being faithful in your role? How might remembering that “the results belong to God” change the way you approach parenting, work, ministry, or relationships?

3. What long-term, multi-generational work is God calling you to invest in, even if you won’t see the final results? How can we faithfully plant seeds for future generations in our families, church, community, or calling, trusting that God will bring the harvest in his timing?

4. How does knowing that God’s promises are grounded in his grace rather than your performance free you to serve differently?