Respond to Sunday, October 13th , 2019
“Our Irrevocable Inheritance” – Joshua 13-19 | Pastor Rickey Primrose
Truth: We possess an irrevocable inheritance in Christ. This land, like the land Israel lived in, has been thoroughly corrupted by sin. We experience incredible loss in this world. It is our hope in an inheritance not of this world that keeps us from despair here. Israel conquering and seizing the Promised Land as an inheritance from God is a model for what Christ has accomplished for God’s people.
Response: How often do you think about, and praise God for, the gift of your inheritance through Christ? Do you think more of the gift of the inheritance or the Giver of the inheritance? Take time now to thank God for our inheritance through Christ and praise and adore Him for who He is.
Truth: Our inheritance is a place and yet a Person. Israel is inheriting a place. However, the text makes it clear that Israel’s inheritance is much more than just a place. This models for us the ultimate inheritance of God’s people secured by Christ. What makes Heaven glorious is not the streets of gold; it is the presence of God.
Response: What do you lack in this world that your heart longs for? Relationship? Freedom from pain? How does knowing our irrevocable inheritance in Christ help you to deal with that lack? Rest in Christ today knowing that whatever you lack in this life will be supplied a thousand times more in Heaven.
Truth: Our inheritance is ours today and yet still future. There is an already, not yet tension with our inheritance in Christ. We see that tension in Israel’s inheritance. The land belongs to Israel. But they had not yet fully possessed the land. We have already received our inheritance. Yet, just like Israel, there is an aspect of our inheritance yet to be received.
Response: What aspects of the “already” inheritance are you neglecting today? Victory over sin? Joy? Rest? What aspects of the “not yet” inheritance are you neglecting today? Ask God to instill in you a vision of our future inheritance that gives you hope today.
Truth: Our inheritance is graciously received and yet must be seized. Israel did not work to earn their inheritance. It was given based upon a relationship to the one who owns the inheritance. Israel also had the responsibility to seize the inheritance. We have a responsibility in this life to walk by faith and seize what is ours in Christ.
Response: What is keeping you from receiving and seizing what is ours in Christ today? Fear? Complacency? Praise God for the inheritance that is ours in Christ through faith, an eternal and heavenly inheritance better than any land. Yet, pray for this hope to strengthen you as you seize what is ours in Christ today.
Family Response
Truth: Well, that was the most captivating sermon on how the land was divided I’ve ever heard. Let’s focus on the first truth Pastor Rickey shared about the inheritance of salvation being the place of heaven and the person of Jesus Christ.
Response: A common first step in a child’s faith journey is the desire for the place of heaven. The concept of heaven as a desirable, physical place is easy to contextualize because most kids have experienced learning about places that are later “proven real” when they visit them. A far more challenging understanding for children is believing in the person of Christ’s presence. In large part, this is attributed to the natural stages of cognitive development; most kids just don’t have the experience of knowing a real person that cannot be seen but is really present. As parents, we must go out of our way to contextualize the present person of Christ by talking about Him and identifying His works to overcome this natural obstacle.
Response: Today I pre-taught or clarified what the words “inheritance” and “irrevocable” mean during the Community Group opening for kids. An inheritance is a blessing you get because you’re part of a family and irrevocable means it can’t be taken away. Building understanding of big words used by the pastor or included in the scripture passage ahead of Sunday morning can play a huge part in your child’s comprehension during the service.
Prepare for Sunday, Oct. 20th, 2019
Pray for the Church
- Leaders in worship: Pastor Rickey Primrose, Brandon Ramey & the Worship Music Ministry.
- God will meet with us through His word and by His Spirit, lead us to worship Christ and grow in Christ-likeness.
- God will help us to be a church of zeal and hope, passionate about ministry and confident in His promises.
- God will make us more passionate about and obedient to His mission of leading people to trust and follow Christ.
Prepare for the Message
“A Place of Refuge” Joshua 20 | Pastor Rickey Primrose
As we continue our series from Joshua, “Seizing the Promises of God,” Pastor Rickey will be bringing us a sermon this week from Joshua 20 titled “A Place of Refuge.” Read through all of chapter twenty this week in preparation for this sermon. The business of inheritance is nearly complete but there are some “finishing touches” to take care of. How do the cities of refuge help us to understand God’s idea of justice? Do the cities of refuge come across as both a refuge and a prison? Why is God so concerned about the sojourner? What does this chapter teach us about God? About mankind? How does this chapter lead you to praise God, repent of sin, and trust in his gracious promises?
Music for Sunday
Holy, Holy, Holy
The Glory Is Yours