Who Will You Serve?

Joshua 24:1-25

We must...

I. Serve only God

A. We may not bow down to idols, but it is certainly possible to serve other “gods”.

1. What do you put the most time and effort into?

2. What comes first in your life?

a. Matthew 6:24

b. John 12:25-26

B. Why should we serve God?

1. He has done so many wonderful things for us.

2. He sent his only son to die for us.

3. He sets us free from the bondage of sin.

a. “Give me liberty, or give me death…”

b. I Chronicles 28:9

C. Serving God does not always seem the most fun thing at the time, but is always the best thing.

1. If the Israelites had continued to serve idols like their forefathers, they would have suffered the wrath of God.

2. It was not popular to serve God, but Joshua did what he knew to be right and changed many people’s lives.

3. Fathers and parents should be the Christian example for their families.

II. Serve God through our actions.

A. We must be pure and blameless.

1. James 3:1-12 “Pure speech”

2. James 3:13-18 “Pure lifestyle”

3. Philippians 2:15

III. We must serve God daily.

A. This decision is not simply a statement, it is a lifestyle.

1. It has been said that diets only work when they become your lifestyle.

2. If you diet for a while, then quit dieting, you will eventually be in the same position you started in.

B. We must serve God through words and deeds.

1. James 2:14-17

2. It does absolutely no good to promise to serve God if you don’t back it up with actions.

3. The devil has seen too many “all bark and no bite” Christians to be afraid anymore.

IV. There are consequences to a broken promise.

A. If you make a promise to God, you had better keep it!

1. Joshua 24:20 “20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.””

Conclusion: