My minds made up.

The rosebud on the altar today is placed in honor of:

James Baker Poag

Born: October 5, 2025

8 lbs 11 oz; 21 3/4 inches

Parents are Brandon and Sarah Poag and Grandparents are Winston and Tamara Massengale

Joshua 24:13–24 NKJV

13 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.’ 14 “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! 15 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.” 16 So the people answered and said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; 17 for the Lord our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed. 18 And the Lord drove out from before us all the people, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land. We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God.” 19 But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good.” 21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord!” 22 So Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord for yourselves, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses!” 23 “Now therefore,” he said, “put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel.” 24 And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!”

I. I’m not looking back.

The past was a tempting distraction to the Israelites.

A. To the gods of the past.

B. To the sins of the past.

C. To yesterday

II. I’m not following worldly culture.

There was a warning about being attracted to the gods of the canaanites.

A. The world’s purpose.

B. The world’s god.

III. I will serve God.

What does it mean to serve the Lord?

There is a two part command on this [passage.

Fear and serve.

Serve the Lord out of fear.

Then serve in Sincerity (Integrity) and Truth.

It is not enough to just do for the Lord. We must do, with integrity and truth. That is we must serve him.

A. I will serve God alone.

Sincerity, means complete or completely.

B. I will serve faithfully.

Truth, in this context, means stability, or reliability.

Joshua is commanding the people to serve God faithfully and fully surrendered.

IV. I will lead my family to follow God.

It was not just that Joshua would serve the Lord. He said both he and his house would serve God.

This shows a clear intent from Joshua to lead his family in corporate worship and attention to spiritual matters.

But, how would Joshua lead?

A. By living an example.

Joshua lived out his faith.

B. By leading them to prioritize God.

Joshua did not make serving God am option. He demanded it of them.

I get concerned when God becomes optional in a home.

School is not optional, good hygiene isn’t optional, and sports practice isn’t optional.

V. My faith does have a future.

A. Because there is hope of life after death.

B. There is hope for the future of the church.

Matthew 16:18 NKJV

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Romans 8:37 NKJV

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Joshua 24:29–31 NKJV

29 Now it came to pass after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being one hundred and ten years old. 30 And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Serah, which is in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash. 31 Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel.