refocus week 5

Faith in Focus: Choosing God Over Distractions

Bible Passage: Joshua 24:14-15

Summary: In Joshua 24:14-15, Joshua urges the Israelites to serve the Lord sincerely and completely, challenging them to confront the reality of their divided loyalties. Joshua emphasizes that choosing to serve the Lord is an active choice that requires a rejection of the influences that threaten to distract them from their true purpose and devotion to God. This call encompasses not just a communal decision but a deep personal commitment to prioritize faith in their lives.

Application: This sermon encourages believers to consciously evaluate the distractions surrounding them in today's world. By making a deliberate choice to serve God, they can begin to clear their minds and hearts of the noise and influences that dilute their faith. The call to action is to invite individuals to refocus their lives by embracing practices and community that strengthen their faith and commitment.

Teaching: The teaching suggests that faith is not a passive state, but an active commitment that requires ongoing decisions to focus on God's will. By recognizing the distractions and false gods in their lives, the congregation can learn to make daily choices that affirm their faith and strengthen their relationship with God. This approach fosters a mindset of intentionality in spiritual growth.

How this passage could point to Christ: This passage points to the necessity of choosing Christ in the midst of distractions and competing allegiances, mirroring the call to be devoted to Him amid worldly temptations. Just as Joshua calls the Israelites to serve the Lord, Jesus offers an invitation to follow Him and remove anything that stands between believers and their relationship with God, culminating in His ultimate sacrifice on the cross to fortify this commitment.

Big Idea: Choosing to serve God wholeheartedly requires intentionality in our faith journey, prompting us to actively remove distractions and foreign influences that dilute our commitment to Him.

Recommended Study: In preparing for this sermon, consider exploring the cultural context of Joshua's time, especially the prevalence of idol worship among surrounding nations. Investigate commentaries in your Logos library regarding the implications of Joshua's challenge and how it corresponds to the struggles faced by believers today. Additionally, consider researching modern distractions that believers encounter and how they can maintain focus on their faith amidst societal pressures.

1. Revere with Sincere Reverence

Joshua 24:14

You could suggest that the act of revering and serving God with sincerity and truthfulness demands a conscious decision to eliminate distractions. Joshua's call to "fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness" marks the beginning of a journey where faithfulness is nurtured by discarding external influences. This sermon point can be an invitation to assess personal distractions and idols, encouraging a refocused commitment to serving God wholly.

2. Recognize the Real Choice

Joshua 24:15a

Perhaps this part of the passage suggests that every believer must acknowledge that choosing whom to serve is a crucial aspect of spiritual maturity. By presenting a choice—whether to serve the God of Israel or other gods—Joshua challenges us to define our loyalties. You might engage your audience by highlighting the daily choices we face that can influence our dedication to God and affirm the necessity of strong, intentional faith decisions.

3. Resolve with Determined Dedication

Joshua 24:15b

Maybe this section illustrates the power of personal testimony in declaring one's faith. Joshua's personal commitment, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord," can serve as an exemplary statement for believers to make. Encourage your congregation to boldly declare their allegiance to God, amidst a world of distractions, and commit individually and collectively to serve Him wholeheartedly.

Here speaks the sturdy old warrior, who had led them to victory in many a battle. He invites them, as Elijah did on another even more memorable occasion, to make their choice between the false worship and the true, between the present and the future, between the indulgence of their lusts and the approval of their conscience. But as for himself, his choice is already made. No desire to stand well with the children of Israel obscures the clearness of his vision. No temptations of this lower world pervert his sense of truth. The experience of a life spent in His service has convinced him that Jehovah is the true God. And from that conviction he does not intend to swerve. In days when faith is weak and compromise has become general, when the sense of duty is slight or the definitions of duty

Joshua Chapter 24:1–28

Here speaks the sturdy old warrior, who had led them to victory in many a battle. He invites them, as Elijah did on another even more memorable occasion, to make their choice between the false worship and the true, between the present and the future, between the indulgence of their lusts and the approval of their conscience. But as for himself, his choice is already made. No desire to stand well with the children of Israel obscures the clearness of his vision. No temptations of this lower world pervert his sense of truth. The experience of a life spent in His service has convinced him that Jehovah is the true God. And from that conviction he does not intend to swerve. In days when faith is weak and compromise has become general, when the sense of duty is slight or the definitions of duty is slight or the definitions of duty vague, it is well that the spirit of Joshua should be displayed among the leaders in Israel, and that there should be those who will take their stand boldly upon the declaration, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” - The Pulpit Commentary