“Stepping Forward in Faith” Joshua 16:1-17:18

TRANSCRIPT

Date: November 9, 2025 Author: Wayne J. Edwards

In one of his many devotional books, American pastor, author, and biblical counselor, Paul David Tripp wrote, “The problem with partial obedience is that it is disobedience masquerading as obedience.” This truth was demonstrated in the Israelites’ disobedience when they ‘chose’ not to obey God’s command to destroy the Canaanites. Not only did their casual attitude toward God affect their lives, but their twin sins of laxity and lethargy yielded massive fruits of pain and disobedience in the lives of their children, and their children’s children for generations to come. Beloved, those small compromises with sin that seem so insignificant at the time, and may even make life better for us at that time, can, over time, become the loose pebble that causes a mighty avalanche of sinful activity in our lives, from which there may not be a point of return, and with which our children must live. If we want to live the Victorious Christian Life, we must learn to trust God and obey God with every decision we make, for trust is the foundation of our obedience. The title of this Sunday’s sermon is: “ Victorious Christian Living: Stepping Forward in Faith.” We are deeply grateful for your continued support and for sharing these sermon study guides with those you think might be interested.

In one of his many devotional books, American pastor, author, and biblical counselor, Paul David Tripp wrote, “The problem with partial obedience is that it is disobedience masquerading as obedience.” This truth was demonstrated in the Israelites’ disobedience when they ‘chose’ not to obey God’s command to destroy the Canaanites. Not only did their casual attitude toward God affect their lives, but their twin sins of laxity and lethargy yielded massive fruits of pain and disobedience in the lives of their children, and their children’s children for generations to come.

Beloved, those small compromises with sin that seem so insignificant at the time, and may even make life better for us at that time, can, over time, become the loose pebble that causes a mighty avalanche of sinful activity in our lives, from which there may not be a point of return, and with which our children must live. If we want to live the Victorious Christian Life, we must learn to trust God and obey God with every decision we make, for trust is the foundation of our obedience.

The title of this Sunday’s sermon is: “ Victorious Christian Living: Stepping Forward in Faith.”

We are deeply grateful for your continued support and for sharing these sermon study guides with those you think might be interested.

Download the following translated Sermon guides:

Old Testament Reading – Deuteronomy 7:1-8 New Testament Reading – 2 Corinthians 6:11-18

Chapters 1-13 of the Book of Joshua focus on the conquest of the land of Canaan – how Joshua led the Israelites to cross over the Jordan River and into the land God promised Abraham, and then, over the next seven years, how Joshua led the Israelites to victory in 13 key battles, and defeating over 30 Canaanite kings to conquer the land.

In his book, “Mere Christianity,” C.S. Lewis wrote:

Three examples of increasing failure on the part of the tribes of Israel.

Ingratitude is the first step towards disobedience.

In Joshua 24, Joshua reminded the people: “I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant. Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of 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.”

In Judges 2:12ff, “And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them…So, He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed.”

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