2. New Ground

FLASHBACK

What did you experience with God this week?
In the last few days, did you have the opportunity to share an experience with God with someone close to you that doesn’t know Jesus yet? Or could you pray for them or help them practically?
Do you need God‘s help in an area of your life?

■ Pray together: Give thanks for your experiences, ask God for help where you need it.

■ Pray together to learn new things about God and that your relationship with God deepens and gets stronger.

BIBLE STUDY

Read the passage silently. What words or phrases stick out?
One person reads the passage out loud.
One person retells the passage in his/her own words (Bibles closed).
If necessary, the others complement what was said (Bibles closed).

Joshua 1

¹After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:²“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.³I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.⁴Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.⁵No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.⁶Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

⁷“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.⁸Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.⁹Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

¹⁰So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:¹¹“Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”

¹²But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,¹³“Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’¹⁴Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them¹⁵until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

¹⁶Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.¹⁷Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.¹⁸Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

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Everyone by themselves:
- What words or phrases stick out now? Are there any differences to what you noticed before?
- Why do you feel drawn to those words or phrases?
- What can you learn about people?
- What could God be telling you?
Share in the group.

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS & ACTION STEPS

After 40 years in the desert, the people of Israel are about to cross the river Jordan and conquer the Promised Land. God keeps His promise and they obtain their land. Where have you experienced God keeping His promises? Give thanks for specific experiences.
Are you facing new ground as well? What do you need from God (to conquer it)? What does He promise you in His word? What is your responsibility for these promises to become true (see Joshua 1)?
What does God’s challenge in Joshua 1:8 (“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips”) mean to you?

■ Everyone chose two or three verses that are particularly encouraging. Take these promises into prayer and proclaim them over your life (share aloud in a group of two or three people).

SCRIPTURE COMMENTS

Jews read the Bible out loud, because they believe that the Word should not stop coming from their lips (in reference to Joshua 1:8).
The Old Testament is referred to as “the Law” (see, for example, Matthew 12:5 and John 10:34 ).
God’s word does not solely consist of words, but it always contains the reality of His kingdom. It contains transformational power ( Hebrews 4:12 )! Jesus compares the Word of God to seed ( Luke 8:15 ) – If we hear it (that is, from our own lips!) and hold on to it with perseverance, it will bring fruit. This means it will release faith, certainty, power and God’s plan in our life!
You can practice holding on to God’s word the following way: In the following days, read aloud the verses you wrote down that encourage you. Additional scripture:

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