I Believe the Scriptures 
Bible Text: 2 Timothy 3:16–17
Series: I Believe
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
This morning we began a new series entitled “I Believe,” focusing on the Bible doctrines that every believer should know and understand. Our first message dealt with the Scriptures—their inspiration, profitability, and sufficiency.
Tonight, I want to go a little further and give us some truths that I hope will cause us to love our Bible even more.
I love my Bible. I have several Bibles that are special to me. Some have different covers, and some belonged to family members and people who have meant something to me. But what makes the Bible precious is not the cover, the notes written inside, or who owned it before me.
What makes the Bible precious is what God said.
The real test of what the Bible means to us is not simply what we say about it in church. The rubber meets the road when we are walking through a difficult time, facing a dark day, or trying to find our way through something we don't understand.
What the Bible means to us in our darkest moments is far more important than what somebody else can tell us about the Bible.

1. THE WORD OF GOD WAS WRITTEN FOR A PURPOSE
The Bible was not written merely to be impressive.
It is an amazing book. Forty different human authors, writing across different periods of history and from different backgrounds, give us one unified message. The Bible contains historical information, practical wisdom, instruction about marriage and family, finances, relationships, and countless other areas of life.
But the greatest purpose of the Bible is not simply to teach us how to live a better life.

The Bible was written to tell us about Jesus Christ.
John 20:31 says:
“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
The Bible was written so that we might know who Jesus is, believe on Him, and have life through His name.

The Bible was also written to give us hope.
Romans 15:4 says:
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
When we go through difficult times and wonder if God will be faithful, we can look at the people who have gone before us.
God was faithful to Moses.
God was faithful to Abraham.
And the same God who was faithful to them will be faithful to us.

The Bible is also written to give us assurance of our salvation.
1 John 5:13 says:
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…”
God knew that we would sometimes struggle with doubts and questions about our salvation, so He gave us not only His Son but also a Book about His Son.
You can know.

A Bible With Everything We Need
Years ago, I heard a story about a young man who became rebellious and wandered away from his family.
He left home and went to the next town, living a life of rebellion. His father told him when he left, “When you get to where you're going, if you need anything, just let me know.”
Eventually, that young man got to the bottom of himself. He had lost everything and found himself in a desperate situation.
So he wrote his father a letter.
He told him, “Dad, I'm in a tough place. I'm in a difficult way, and I could really use $100.”
The father received the letter.
A few days later, the young man received a package in the mail. He rushed out and grabbed it, expecting to find the $100 he had requested.
But when he opened the package, there was a box inside.
He opened the box, and inside was a Bible.
Being the rebellious young man that he was, he said, “What's this? He's always trying to force the Bible down my throat. He's always trying to get me to read the Bible.”
And he threw the Bible to the side.
Six months to a year later, he finally came to himself and decided that perhaps the best thing he could do was go home.
He returned home, sat down with his family, and began to repair his relationship with his father.
After the meal, he said, “Dad, I have one question. You told me that if I ever needed anything, I could reach out to you and you'd help me.
“I sent you a letter telling you exactly what I needed. I needed $100. You got my letter, and you sent me a Bible.”
His father looked at him and said,
“You must have never opened it.”
The young man went and got the Bible. He opened it—and inside that Bible was the $100 bill.
His father had given him exactly what he needed. It was there all along. He just never opened the Book.
I believe that's a picture of the Word of God for us.
Everything we really need in life is found in this Book.
The comfort you need is here.
The strength you need is here.
The peace you need is here.
The wisdom you need is here.
The hope you need is here.
Don't leave the Book unopened.

2. THE WORD OF GOD HAS GREAT POWER
We often say, “The Bible is powerful,” but that is more than a church cliché.
The Bible describes its own power.

The Word Is a Fire
Jeremiah 5:14 says:
“Behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire…”
The Word of God is like a fire that does a work in the heart of man.
The hardest heart can be softened by the Word of God.

The Word Is a Hammer
Jeremiah 23:29 says:
“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”
The Word of God can break through the hard places of the heart.
That's why we need to give the Word of God to people who are lost.
We don't have to come up with clever words or impressive arguments.
Give them the Word.
It is a fire.
It is a hammer.

The Word Is Surgical Instrument
Hebrews 4:12 says:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword…”
The Word of God gets beneath the surface. It exposes our thoughts and intentions. It identifies the problem. It cuts away what needs to be removed.
It does a surgical work in our hearts.
There is power in the Word of God.

3. THE WORD OF GOD GIVES US OUR STANDARD
We live in a world where very few people want standards.
People don't want to lead.
People don't want to set an example.
People don't want to be told what is right or wrong.
But the Bible was given to give God's people precepts by which we can live.
The church is not supposed to gather in a building, hide from the world, and become secret disciples of Jesus.
We gather together so that we can be strengthened by God's Word and then go back into the world and live for Christ.
We influence people every day.
The question is: What kind of influence are we having?
We cannot live according to God's standard if we don't know God's Word.

The Word Keeps Us From Sin
Psalm 119:11 says:
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
If you show me someone who is constantly dabbling in sin, I'll show you someone who has drifted from the Word of God.
We need the Word every day because it helps keep us on the straight and narrow.

The Word Keeps Us From Drifting
Deuteronomy 11:18 speaks of God's Word being before our eyes.
Just as blinders help an animal stay focused and plow a straight line, the Word of God helps us stay focused when the world is pulling us in every direction.
We are constantly being distracted.
We're looking to the left.
We're looking to the right.
We're being influenced by the world around us.
We need the Word of God keeping us on course.

The Word Helps Us Serve
Colossians 3:16 says:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”
Not poorly.
Not occasionally.
Not just a little bit.
Richly.
When the Word of Christ dwells in us richly, it affects how we teach, how we worship, how we sing, how we encourage one another, and how we serve the Lord.
The Word of God makes a difference in how we live.

DON'T LIVE BENEATH YOUR BLESSINGS
There was another story told of a man who traveled from New York across the Atlantic to England on a steamship.
He had spent everything he had to purchase his ticket. Because he had nothing left, he brought some fruit and crackers with him to eat.
The next morning, passengers invited him to breakfast, but he declined.
At lunchtime, they invited him to lunch, but again he declined.
At dinner, he was invited to join the other passengers for a wonderful meal, but he declined again.
Eventually, the captain heard about the man who wasn't eating with the other passengers. He went to him and asked, “Why haven't you come to breakfast, lunch, or dinner?”
The man explained, “Captain, buying this ticket took everything I had. I could afford the ticket, but I couldn't afford the meals.”
The captain looked at him and said,
“I don't think you understand. When you bought the ticket to get on the ship, it included all the other blessings that came with it—including the meals.”
That man had been living beneath the blessings that were already his.
And I wonder how many Christians do the same thing.
The day you trusted Christ, if I can use the illustration of a “ticket” to heaven, that ticket came with blessings.
It came with the comfort found in this Book.
It came with the encouragement found in this Book.
It came with the conviction found in this Book.
It came with the correction, reproof, and rebuke found in this Book.
But it also came with the joy, strength, peace, hope, and wisdom found in this Book.
Don't live beneath your blessings.
Everything you need for the journey has already been provided.
You just have to open the Book.
OPEN THE BOOK
We can preach about the Bible until we're blue in the face, but eventually the rubber meets the road.
What are we doing with the Word of God?
Are we reading it?
Are we studying it?
Are we digesting it?
Are we allowing it to correct us?
Are we allowing it to encourage us?
Are we allowing it to direct our lives?
The Bible is not simply something to carry into church.
It is not something to put on a shelf.
It is not something to use to prove how much we know.
It is God's Word given to us for our good.
The Father has already provided what we need.
The Book is in our hands.
The blessings are inside.
Open the Book.
Read it.
Study it.
Believe it.
Live it.
And let the Word of God do its work in your life.
What a blessing it is to have the Word of God.
And what a blessing it is to know the One the Word of God reveals to us—
Jesus Christ.

I Believe: The Scriptures
Bible Text: 2 Timothy 3:16–17
Series: I Believe
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” — 2 Timothy 3:16–17

We are beginning a new sermon series today that will take us through the month of September entitled “I Believe.” Over the next several weeks, we are going to discuss some Bible truths and doctrines that every believer should know.
These are not simply proverbs, church clichés, or my preferences as a pastor. These are doctrines of the Word of God and, specifically, doctrines that we stand upon as West End Baptist Church.
I never want anyone to be a part of West End Baptist Church and not know where we stand doctrinally. I want every person to be able to leave each service saying, “I learned something today. I know something today. The Bible says this, and now I can have it as part of my belief system and move forward with it.”
Because without Bible doctrine, a church is operating on opinion.
There are certainly things that are preferences. Whether a church has pews or chairs is a preference. What color we paint a wall is a preference. There are things that matter to us personally that are not necessarily doctrinal issues.
But there are things clearly taught in the Word of God that we cannot move on. The virgin birth of Christ is doctrinal. The fall of man and his sinful condition is doctrinal. The substitutionary death of Christ on Calvary is doctrinal.
So it is important that we know what the Bible teaches and that we don't get hung up on preferences while neglecting doctrine.
And before we can say, “I believe this” or “I believe that,” we need to understand why we believe it and where our belief comes from.
Today, we begin with the foundation of everything we will discuss over the next several weeks:
The Scriptures.

1. THE SCRIPTURES ARE INSPIRED
2 Timothy 3:16 says:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God…”
The word translated “inspiration” carries the thought of being God-breathed.
The Bible is not merely an inspiring book like a beautiful sunset or an encouraging speech. It is not simply good advice wrapped in leather.
It is the very breath of God.
The Bible is God's plan and God's voice given to us.
Think about man. In Genesis, God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.
And here in 2 Timothy, we find that God's Word is also God-breathed.
Don't you think God intended those two things to go together?
We need the Word of God. We need God's breath. We need God's voice in our lives.
Somebody may say, “The Bible was written by men.”
Well, that's true to a degree. Men held the pens. But while man was holding the pen, God was breathing the words.
Second Peter 1:21 says:
“Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The Scriptures are inspired because they came from God.
The Bible does not need my endorsement. It does not need your endorsement.
The Word of God stands alone.
And every doctrine we will study in this series is built upon one foundation:
The Word of God.
If the Bible is not what it claims to be, then nothing else we say in this series really matters. But if we believe this Book is true and that it is truth from God Himself, then everything else becomes easier to believe.

2. THE SCRIPTURES ARE PROFITABLE
The second part of 2 Timothy 3:16 says that Scripture is:
“…profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
The Word of God is beneficial to us in four specific ways.
Doctrine — It Tells Us What Is True
Without doctrine, we don't know what is true.
Two plus two is four. That's a standard. If someone tells you two plus three is four, you know that is not true.
In the same way, biblical doctrine establishes what is absolutely true according to the Word of God.
Reproof — It Shows Us Where We Are Wrong
Can I tell you something?
We need to be reproved often.
If you're driving down the road and begin drifting too far to the right or left, the lines on the road are there to tell you that you've gone too far.
Those lines are there to keep you out of a ditch and away from a head-on collision.
The Word of God does the same thing.
Every day, God's Word tells us:
“Don't say that.”
“Don't go there.”
“Don't do that.”
“Don't think that way.”
“Think this way.”
“Live this way.”
The Word of God reproves us and keeps us out of the ditches of life.
Correction — It Sets Us Back on the Right Path
The Bible doesn't just show us where we're wrong. It shows us how to get right.
The Word of God always teaches repentance.
If I'm going wrong, I need to repent.
If you're going wrong, you need to repent.
Sometimes we want the Bible to give us all the green lights.
“God, show me from Your Word how I can go buy that new thing.”
But sometimes what we really need is:
“God, if I shouldn't do this, please show me a stop sign in Your Word.”
We need to be willing to accept not only the doctrine, but also the reproof and correction.
Instruction in Righteousness — It Trains Us to Live Godly
We live in a difficult day spiritually. The world has taken what the Bible calls the straight and narrow way and tried to make righteousness into a broad way.
“Everybody has their own feelings.”
“Everybody was raised differently.”
“Everybody has their own opinion.”
But righteousness is not determined by our feelings. Righteousness is defined by the Word of God.
I am thankful that I was raised around people who were grounded in the doctrines of Scripture. I had Sunday school teachers who knew the Bible. I heard preachers who were grounded in the things of God. I heard music that was grounded in biblical truth.
I was taught right from wrong from the Word of God.
And that's why we need the Word of God today.

3. THE SCRIPTURES ARE SUFFICIENT
Verse 17 says:
“That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
The word “perfect” here does not mean sinless. It carries the idea of being mature or complete.
The Word of God matures us into fruit-bearing Christians.
If you're going to grow fruit, there are certain things you need: good soil, water, sunlight, nutrients and oxygen.
And the Word of God provides what the Christian needs spiritually.
It gives us light.
It gives us nourishment.
It helps us grow.
It matures us.
And it is impossible to become a mature Christian without it.
If you've been saved for many years and you're still spiritually where you were when you first got saved, you need to get in the Word of God.
We have preaching. We have Sunday school. We have books, podcasts, Bible studies and all kinds of resources.
But there is still nothing quite like sitting down alone with a good cup of coffee, opening the Word of God and saying:
“God, give me one truth today that I can think about all day.”
Sometimes we get discouraged because we try to read through the Bible too quickly. We rush through chapter after chapter and never stop to digest what we have read.
Instead, take one truth.
Think about it.
Study it.
Ask what it means in its context.
Ask how it applies to your life.
Then take that truth with you throughout the day.
The Bible says we are “throughly furnished.”
That means we are completely equipped from the inside out.
It is like a soldier who has been properly equipped and trained for battle. The Christian who is grounded in the Word of God is equipped to face the battles of life.
The Book is enough.
Whatever you're going through, the Bible is enough to give you the truth, wisdom, direction, strength and hope you need.
That doesn't mean we shouldn't seek godly help. There are times when we need counselors, pastors, doctors, or other people God has placed in our lives.
But don't ever jump over what the Word of God can do.
The Bible can give you a peace like nothing else.
We don't need to change it to fit our lives.
We need to let it change us from the inside out.

THE DOCTRINE OF SCRIPTURE
When we say, “I believe the Bible,” that statement by itself doesn't fully describe the doctrine of Scripture.
The doctrine of Scripture is made up of several biblical truths.

Inspiration
The Scriptures are God-breathed.

Inerrancy
The Scriptures are without error.
I may put something on a screen and there may be a mistake in it. But the Word of God is without error.

Infallibility
The Scriptures cannot fail in what they teach or promise.
When God says, “My God shall supply all your need,” He will.
When He says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” He will not.
Every promise of God is true.

Authority
The Scripture is the final rule for faith and practice.
What does the church believe?
The Bible.
We try our best to know what the Bible says and then put those truths into practice as a church.
You don't have to be mean about biblical truth.
You don't have to be ugly about it.
You don't have to beat people over the head with the Bible.
But you can lovingly say:
“The Bible is my authority, and I am not changing from that.”

Sufficiency
The Scriptures contain everything we need for salvation and godly living.
I am thankful that salvation isn't based upon our good works. If it were, we'd have to determine how many good works are enough.
Instead, our hope and faith are in Jesus Christ.
The Bible gives us everything we need to know for salvation and godly living.

Clarity
The core message of Scripture can be understood by ordinary believers.
There are difficult words in the Bible. There are passages we need to study. There are things we may not immediately understand.
Study them.
Use a concordance.
Read a good commentary.
Talk with mature believers.
But the central message of Scripture is clear:
Faith in God and faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary.

Preservation
God has preserved His Word through the ages.
Think about what God did when He sent His Son to the cross. Jesus bore the sins of mankind. He shed His blood for us.
Don't you believe that the same God, in His wisdom, strength and foreknowledge, would preserve His Word and make sure it reached us?
The Word has not failed.
The Word has not been lost.
The Word has been preserved and given to us so that we can hear a clear presentation of the Gospel.

Canonicity
The word canon refers to a rule, standard or measuring stick.
We believe the 66 books of the Bible belong in the canon of Scripture—no more and no less.
There are other historical documents and writings that may be useful in understanding history, but the Word of God is the 66 books that God has given us as Scripture.
The church did not create the canon.
The church recognized what God had given.
And what a wonderful Book God has given us.

WHAT A BOOK WE HAVE!
The Bible is the greatest living document ever given to mankind.
If you have a copy of the Bible today, you are blessed.
Not everyone in the world has a Bible.
We live in an area where we are free to open the Bible whenever we want. We have no excuse for leaving it closed.
If you don't know what to do, get in the Book.
If you don't know where to go, get in the Book.
The Bible may not tell you whether to buy this house or that house, but it will teach you how to trust God.
It may not answer every modern question word-for-word, but it will give you wisdom and principles for living.
The Bible gives us strength and direction for everyday life.
It is God-breathed, God-given and God-ordained.
And it has been given to us so that we can be our best for God.
THE BIBLE IS ALL ABOUT JESUS
When you get into the Word of God, you will find Jesus throughout the entire Book.
In Genesis, Adam and Eve sinned, and an animal was sacrificed. Blood was shed to cover their sin—a picture pointing us toward Jesus.
Abraham and Isaac went up the mountain. Isaac asked where the lamb was, and Abraham said:
“My son, God will provide himself a lamb…”
A picture of Jesus.
Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish—a picture pointing toward Jesus.
Noah and the ark give us a picture of salvation and refuge.
You can go book after book, chapter after chapter, and what will you find?
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
If you get into the Word of God, it will help you keep Jesus as the main thing.
THE WORD OF GOD IS SWEET
Psalm 119:103 says:
“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
There are widows and widowers sitting in this room who have experienced bitter days. And yet, there have been times when you opened the Word of God and found something sweeter than honey.
It brought comfort.
It brought strength.
There have been people who were financially broken and found that God's Word reminded them:
“My God shall supply all your need…”
There have been people walking through the darkest days of their lives who found:
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
The Word of God has been our comfort.
It has been our strength.
It has been our wisdom.
Jeremiah 15:16 says:
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart…”
The Word of God is more than a list of rules we don't like.
It is the very thing our souls need.
STAY IN THE BOOK
We are living in an anti-Bible, anti-truth culture.
Everywhere you turn, somebody has a new interpretation.
“This isn't what the Bible meant.”
“That isn't what Paul meant.”
“That isn't what Jesus meant.”
Now, certainly, there are passages that require study, and there have been people who have taken a hobby horse and run with it far beyond what Scripture teaches.
But we should never approach the Bible looking for loopholes.
We should study the Bible because we want to know what God says.
We should not dissect Scripture simply to find a way around it.
We should search the Scriptures so that we can draw closer to God and obey Him.
And we need to remember this:
The Holy Spirit will never contradict the Word of God.
God will never lead you to do something that violates His Word.
The Spirit will never contradict the Scriptures.
God's Word will always agree with God's Word.
So when someone says, “God told me this,” we should always ask, “Does it line up with the Bible?”
Because God will never contradict Himself.
THE RESPONSE
As we prepare to close, you may wonder, “What is the response to a message about the Bible?”
Maybe today we simply need to say:
“God, thank You for giving me the Word of God.”
Some of you have Bibles that belonged to grandparents, parents, aunts or uncles.
What a treasure.
But perhaps our prayer today should also be:
“God, forgive me for not opening Your Word and finding out Your will for my life.”
Maybe you need something fresh from heaven today.
You wish God would speak to you.
Take His Word and read it.
You'll hear from Him.
We can have church opinions without the Bible.
We can have rules and regulations without the Bible.
We can have preferences without the Bible.
But if we want to be a church that pleases God, we must see the Bible as God's direction for the lost, God's direction for the saved, and God's direction for His church.
The lost need the Word of God because:
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” — Romans 10:17
The saved need the Word of God.
When you're discouraged, get in the Word.
When life is hard, get in the Word.
When you don't know what to do, get in the Word.
God didn't leave us without an owner's manual.
He gave us the Word of God.
And the church needs the Word of God.
When I came to West End Baptist Church, I didn't come and create our doctrine. It was already here.
And if we ever change direction as a church, I don't want us to change unless we're going with Him.
We can change chairs.
We can paint a wall.
We can change programs.
We can change preferences.
But when somebody asks, “What are we going to preach?”
The answer is simple:
It's right there in the Book.
We're not changing from it.
BELIEVE THE BOOK ABOUT JESUS
And if you've never trusted Christ as your Savior, I want to invite you today to believe the Book about Jesus.
Because this Book is about Jesus from beginning to end.
The Bible says:
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Kevin Ryder recently bowed at this altar and confessed with his mouth that he wanted Jesus in his heart. We have several people preparing to be baptized who have confessed that Jesus is Lord.
The greatest word you need to know today is salvation.
The greatest thing you need to know is that God loves you and wants you to be a part of His family.
You don't have to understand every theological word we talked about today.
You need to know Jesus.
You need to believe Him.
You need to trust Him.
The Book points us to Jesus, and Jesus is the answer.
What a Book we have.
What a Savior we have.
And what a blessing it is that God has given us His Word.
Stay in the Book.
Believe the Book.
Live the Book.
And most of all—
Follow the One the Book is all about: Jesus.

How We Come to God
Bible Text: 2 Peter 3:9

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
—2 Peter 3:9

This week has been such an amazing week of celebration and reflection for our church as we enjoyed our annual homecoming revival. We had some much-needed preaching on the subject of who God is and what God can do.
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in who we are, what we have, or what we don't have that it becomes almost impossible for us to go forward or do anything greater for God. But when we hear preaching about who God is, it reminds us that we cannot do all things in ourselves, but we can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth us.
The preaching this week was such an encouragement. I did not tell the preachers what to preach or give them a particular theme, yet God directed every message with an amazing common thread.
Brother John preached about the Almighty God—how He is both powerful and personal.
Brother Brent preached about the God of the impossible and how He wants to do amazing things in our lives.
Brother Kenny preached about the God who sees us in our storms and what to do when the rowing gets tough.
Every message pointed us to a God who can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves—a God who can perform the miraculous, provide, protect, and still be personal.
I needed the revival meeting. I needed the preaching. I needed the encouragement and fellowship.
But today I want to change course for just a little while.
I don't want to preach only to those who know God. I want to preach to those in the room who may not know God.
We're in a Baptist church on a hot summer Sunday. You could have been anywhere, but you chose to be in church today. I would imagine the majority of people here have a relationship with God. But there could be someone here who doesn't.
If that's you, I want to encourage you to meet the God we've been talking about all week. Get into a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.
So today I want to ask a simple question:
How Do We Come to God?
If you're already saved, take these truths and tuck them away. Learn them, study them, and use them to help someone else come to know Christ.

1. GOD TAKES THE INITIATIVE
When we begin a relationship with God, we often think we are the ones searching for Him.
But understand this:
Before you ever started searching for God, God was already searching for you.
Before you sought Him, He was already seeking you.
Before you understood the Bible, God was already working in your life.
Our text says that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
God wants you to come to repentance. God wants you to know Him.
Jesus said in John 6:44:
“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.”
God does the drawing.
I believe salvation is by invitation. And when Christ is drawing you, you ought to step out and step toward Him.
There is a story in the Bible about a king who prepared a great wedding and invited people to come. One after another, they made excuses.
“I can't come. I'm busy.”
“I've bought some land.”
“I've got work to do.”
They refused the invitation when it was given.
Can I tell you today, if God is inviting you and God is drawing you to Himself, you ought to accept the invitation.
God takes the initiative.
Before I came to God, He was already drawing me.
Before I sought Him, He was already seeking me.
Before I understood everything, God was already working in my life.
When I look back at my own salvation story, I realize it didn't begin on the day I got saved. It began much earlier.
Somebody reached somebody else.
Somebody prayed for somebody.
Somebody shared the Gospel with somebody.
And it all eventually trickled down to me coming to a saving knowledge of Christ.
It's God. It's always been God.
He's the seeker. He's the One who desires man—not the other way around.
Think about your Bible.
God sought Adam:
“Adam, where art thou?”
God called Abraham.
God called Moses.
God called Samuel.
God called the disciples.
And God calls you today.
“Come unto me, be ye saved.”
Don't think for one minute that you made the first move toward God.
He took the initiative.

2. GOD SPEAKS THROUGH HIS WORD
God is doing the drawing, the pulling, the inviting, and the initiating of the relationship with man.
But how do we know what to do?
God speaks through His Word.
The Word of God is absolutely essential when it comes to people coming to God.
Romans 10 gives us the progression:
“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Then:
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
I love that word whosoever.
That's how you and I got in!
I'm glad He didn't say the rich.
I'm glad He didn't say the poor.
I'm glad He didn't say one particular race, nationality, political party, or social class.
He said:
“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Then Paul asks:
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?”
And:
“How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?”
And:
“How shall they hear without a preacher?”
And finally:
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Do you see the progression?
They have to hear.
They have to believe.
They have to call.
That's why we send missionaries.
That's why we support Bible translation.
That's why we preach.
That's why we teach.
That's why you should tell your coworkers, your family, your friends, and your neighbors.
Somebody has to tell the Gospel story.
And that doesn't just mean a preacher standing behind a pulpit.
That's you at your job.
That's you at school.
That's you in your family.
That's you wherever God has placed you.
We need to be careful about downplaying the Word of God and thinking we just need to get people through the doors and somehow sway them into Christianity.
People need the Word of God.
It's the Word of God that changes hearts.
Paul said:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation.”
The Bible says the Word of God is:
“quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword.”
The Word of God does a surgical work in the heart of a sinner.
Hebrews 4:12 tells us that.
Isaiah 55:11 says God's Word will not return unto Him void.
So what a waste of time was that church service?
It wasn't.
What a waste of time was that Sunday School class?
It wasn't.
Teacher, maybe you walked out of your class thinking, “They weren't listening. They were running around. I don't think they heard one word I said.”
If the Word of God went out, it was time well spent.
Psalm 119:105 says:
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
What does the world need in this dark day?
Light.
And the Gospel gives that light.
Psalm 119:130 says:
“The entrance of thy words giveth light.”
John 17:17 says:
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
James 1:21 says:
“Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
How important is the Word of God?
The Word of God needs to be proclaimed.

3. GOD'S WORD REVEALS CHRIST
God isn't simply drawing people to become religious.
God isn't merely telling people to become better.
God is drawing people through His Word to Christ.
Jesus said in John 12:32:
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
Christ must be lifted up.
He was physically lifted up on the cross.
He was lifted up from the grave in bodily resurrection.
And He must be spiritually lifted up through our preaching and proclamation of the Gospel.
Every other religious leader has died.
But there's only One who rose again.
That's Jesus Christ.
The Gospel is not simply, “Believe in God.”
The whole world believes in some kind of God.
Jesus said:
“Ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
The Gospel is believing in Christ.
Believing who He is.
Believing that He bore our sins.
Believing that He was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Believing in His burial.
Believing in His resurrection.
That's the Gospel.
And what a story of hope and forgiveness and salvation it is!
Sometimes we look at the cross and think, “What a horrible story.”
It was bloody.
It was brutal.
It was a crucifixion.
But for the lost sinner, what a wonderful story of hope!

4. JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD
One of the most important statements Jesus ever made is found in John 14:6:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
But Jesus didn't stop there.
He said:
“No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Jesus didn't say He was one of the ways.
He didn't say you could come to God however you choose.
He said:
“No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
He is the way for the detoured man.
He is the truth for the deceived man.
He is the life for the dead man.
If you want a relationship with God the Father, you must have a relationship with His Son.
Greater than having a relationship with West End Baptist Church, you need a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Greater than having a relationship with a denomination, you need a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Greater than having a relationship with any organization, you need a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jesus isn't merely an important part of salvation.
Jesus is the only way to the Father.
Paul said in 1 Timothy 2:5:
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
There is one mediator.
The man Christ Jesus.

5. GOD HAS BEEN DRAWING YOU
God is drawing sinners all day, every day.
When I look back over my own life, I can see story after story of how God was working long before I ever came to Christ.
I was saved on March 24, 1991. It was a Sunday evening.
I was actually running sound in the service. We had a little sound booth with a window in the wall.
That morning, our youth pastor's wife came forward and said she had never truly trusted Christ and wanted to get it settled.
I thought, If Miss Lynn isn't saved, there ain't nobody saved.
She was a wonderful lady and a good woman.
But she got saved that morning.
And that whole afternoon, God troubled my heart.
I wasn't running from God.
I wasn't trying to avoid Him.
I just began thinking:
Have I ever truly done that?
Have I ever really said yes to God?
And I realized that I had not.
All day long, God was drawing me.
God was encouraging me.
Come.
Come to Me.
That night I went to church thinking, If I can just make it through this service, maybe this feeling will go away.
I was back in the sound booth.
The choir was singing, and I got a lump in my throat.
I was swallowing hard.
I thought, If we can just get out of this service, I'll be okay.
Normally, when the preacher began preaching, I would step out of the sound booth and sit on the back row.
That night I did.
And there was a friend of mine, Kevin Keith.
He hadn't been to church in weeks.
Of all nights for him to come, he came that night.
We sat beside each other.
We whispered back and forth a little, and I felt like the devil was trying to distract me.
I'd get distracted for a moment, then go back to listening.
And the Spirit of God would get on my heart again.
He was working on me.
Drawing me.
Pulling me.
Then the preacher got up and used the Word of God to confirm what the Spirit of God was already telling me.
He preached about the things Christ saw from the cross.
He talked about Jesus seeing His mother.
He talked about Jesus seeing His disciples.
And then, while he was preaching, he said something I'll never forget.
He said that Jesus, while He was on the cross, looked through time and saw me.
He didn't point over here.
He didn't point back there.
He pointed right at me.
The sound guy sitting on the back row.
He didn't know what I was dealing with.
But the Spirit of God had drawn me.
The Word of God had convicted me.
And God used that man of God to tell me, “You're the one who needs to come tonight.”
When the invitation began, I thought about going back to the sound room.
I thought about Kevin sitting beside me.
I wondered what he would think.
Surely he's saved.
Surely I'm saved.
He's going to think I'm crazy if I go down there.
But God said in my heart:
Today's the day.
I stepped out and went to the altar.
I told that preacher:
“I'm not saved.”
He said, “I could stand here and show you every verse in the Bible, and that would be okay. But you know what the Bible says. Get down here and just ask Christ to save you.”
And I did.
As a sixteen-year-old young man, it changed my life.
I'm not who I was before.
I didn't have a horrible past.
I hadn't been incarcerated.
I hadn't been in and out of rehab.
I didn't have great addictions.
But I'll tell you this:
Jesus Christ made a huge difference in my life.
He changed my history.
He changed my life.
He changed my destiny.
He changed my future.
What a wonderful change Christ made when He came into my life!

6. WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH CHRIST?
The Word of God gives us the Gospel.
God's will is that you do not perish, but that you come to repentance.
If you're here today and you've never trusted Christ, why not do it today?
I'm not talking about doing something emotional.
I'm not talking about coming forward and telling everybody your business.
I'm talking about bowing your knee and bowing your heart before God and saying:
“God, I want You in my life.”
Maybe when you look back over your life, you can see that God has been drawing you all along.
Maybe today is the day you say:
“God, I'm saying yes to You.”
He is not willing that you perish.
He wants you to come to repentance.
Will you come and receive Christ?
Will you receive what Christ did for you on the cross of Calvary?
7. IF YOU ARE FAR FROM GOD, COME HOME
Maybe you did that a long time ago.
Maybe you remember the day you got saved.
Maybe you remember when you were born again.
Maybe you remember when you committed your life to Christ.
But today you would have to admit:
I'm a long way from that day.
Maybe you're not where you used to be.
Maybe you feel like you've missed God.
Maybe you feel like He's not as close to you—or you're not as close to Him—as you once were.
You have burdens.
You have needs.
You have trouble.
And you're wondering:
“Preacher, how do I get back to where I once was?”
I want to suggest to you that the path is the same.
Realize that God has been drawing you.
He's standing there with open arms saying:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
He's waiting on you.
And then you have the Word of God.
The Bible gives us a clear path back to Him:
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”
Think about the prodigal son.
He finally came to himself and started walking toward the Father.
And when he came home, the Father received him.
If you're distant from God today, let me remind you:
He hasn't moved.
If God seems a long way from you, let me remind you:
He hasn't moved.
Take a step toward God.
Come to Him.
Say, “God, I'm broken. I'm desperate. I'm hungry for You.”
Do you know what He'll do?
He'll receive you with open arms.
You can come on the authority of Jesus Christ.
Maybe you wonder, “I want to pray, but I don't know if God will hear me.”
Let me tell you how you have access to the throne room of God:
Come in Jesus' name.
You come before the throne of God and say, “I'm here in Jesus' name.”
And the Father says, “Come on in. That's My Son. Come on in.”
If you know Him, you're welcome in the throne room.
Whatever you're going through today, bring it to God.

CONCLUSION
If you don't know Christ today, today could be your day.
It should be your day that you say yes to God.
Don't battle it.
Don't fight it.
Don't go to bed every night wishing you were a Christian.
Don't get up every morning and go through your workday wondering, I hope nothing happens to me. I hope I make it home. I hope I'm right with God.
You don't have to live that way.
You can know for sure today that your sins are washed away.
You can know that your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
You can know that you are in a relationship with God.
You can know it today.
The God who has been drawing you is still drawing you.
The Word of God has told you the truth.
Christ has been lifted up.
The invitation has been given.
Now the question is simple:
Will you say yes?

Don’t Stop Building
Bible Text: Haggai 2:1–9
“Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts.”
—Haggai 2:4
Today marks a great milestone in the history of West End Baptist Church. For 103 years, people have walked through these doors. Thousands of sermons have been preached, countless songs have been sung, children have been taught, missionaries have been supported, and many souls have been saved through the ministry of this church.
Today, we honor the people who built West End Baptist Church—not merely the building, but the people.
At one time, this building was the schoolhouse for the mill village. Children met here, and the church began meeting here in 1923. In 1961, this building was deeded to West End Baptist Church, and it has served as a church ever since.
We are thankful for this building, but today we are especially thankful for the people who have built this church through the years.
We honor their prayers. Every time we come into this church and lift our voices in prayer, we are honoring those who prayed before us.
We honor their labor. Every time someone cuts the grass, cleans the building, paints a wall, changes a light, cleans a baseboard, or does one of the countless jobs that keep this church going, we are honoring those who worked before us.
We honor their giving. Why should we give to the work of the church? Because people before us gave so that we could sit here today.
And we honor their service.
I believe we are foolish if we forget our past. Paul said we are to forget those things which are behind and press forward, but I don't believe Paul was talking about having spiritual amnesia. He wasn't telling us to forget God's faithfulness or forget what God has done.
West End Baptist Church has a wonderful history, and we should never forget it.
I don't believe we can fully enjoy the blessings of today without honoring those who came before us.
So today, let's give God thanks for them.
But while we honor the past, we also have a responsibility for the future.
We have a job to do.
We must continue building a local church for the glory of God.
This isn't a civic organization. This isn't an “us four and no more” club. This is a church built upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our mission is to encourage the saints, build up believers, train those who have been born again, and reach those who are lost by giving them a clear presentation of the Gospel as often as we can.
We must build—and we must build wisely.
So we have to ask the question: How would God have us build West End Baptist Church in this generation?
That brings us to Haggai 2.

1. Their Perception Was on Yesterday
The people of God had drifted away from God.
If you read the Old Testament, you will see this pattern repeated over and over again. They would serve God, then fall into idolatry and turn away from Him. God would judge them, they would return to God, and then eventually the cycle would begin again.
God sent prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, and others to warn His people.
Eventually, Babylon came. Jerusalem was destroyed. The great temple Solomon had built was destroyed, and many of God's people were taken captive.
For seventy years, they lived in captivity.
Then a king named Cyrus conquered Babylon and allowed God's people to return to Jerusalem.
When they returned, they didn't want to go back to their old ways. They had learned their lesson.
The first thing they did was build an altar. Then they began laying the foundation for a new temple.
Think about that.
The temple Solomon had built had stood for more than 400 years. It had enormous cedar timbers, gold, beautiful artwork, and incredible craftsmanship. It was one of the greatest structures of its day.
And now God's people were trying to rebuild it.
They laid the foundation. They started the work.
But something happened.
They lost their excitement.
The work stalled.
The construction stopped, and for sixteen years the temple sat unfinished.
Sixteen years!
For 86 years total, God's people were without the temple they had once known as the center of worship.
Then God sent a prophet named Haggai to stir them up again.
Haggai comes along and begins challenging them to get back to work.
He says in Haggai 2:3:
“Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?”
In other words:
“Who remembers the old temple? Who remembers what it looked like? And now look at what you're building. Doesn't this seem like nothing compared to what you remember?”
Some of the older generation had actually seen Solomon's temple. They remembered its greatness.
And now they looked at this new foundation and thought:
“Is this all we're going to build?”
Their perception was on yesterday.
They couldn't see what God could do today because they were focused on what God had done in the past.
And one of the greatest dangers for any church is to become so concentrated on the past that we fail to see what God wants to do today.
I love our past.
We honor our past.
We are thankful for those who came before us.
But if our worship stops in the past, our vision will stop there too.
Their eyes were on yesterday's temple instead of today's job.
The new temple seemed too small compared to the one they remembered, so they complained and quit working.
And that's still a danger for churches today.
The danger isn't remembering Solomon's temple.
The danger is trying to recreate Solomon's temple.
Some of us remember great services. We remember great revivals. We remember times when people were saved. We remember nights when the altars were full.
I remember a service where we baptized 26 or 27 people in one night.
Would you like to have another night like that? Absolutely!
I remember services where people were standing in the aisles, people were at the altar, and the Spirit of God seemed to fall on the place in a powerful way.
I remember hearing the Hegwoods sing and thinking the roof was going to come off the building.
I remember services where we said, “Sing it again!”
Those are wonderful memories.
But if we're not careful, we can build monuments to those moments.
We can say, “It was good then, but it isn't as good now.”
We can become so focused on what God did that we fail to see what God wants to do.
It's wonderful to remember the past.
But if your vision and allegiance are only to the past, you'll miss what God has for you today.
And that isn't just true in church.
It's true in life.
It's true in relationships.
It's true in every season of our lives.
Don't stop building because yesterday was different.

2. God's Presence Matters Most
Look at verses 4–5:
“Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:
According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.”
Three times God says:
“Be strong.”
And then He tells them why they can be strong:
“I am with you.”
God didn't promise them more money.
He didn't say, “I'll send you Solomon's resources.”
He didn't promise them more workers.
He didn't promise them cedar timbers like Solomon had.
He didn't promise them gold.
He promised them His presence.
And I just want to say today:
That's enough.
They didn't need Solomon's money if they had God's presence.
They didn't need Solomon's wisdom if they had God's presence.
They didn't need Solomon's connections if they had God's presence.
God said, “I am with you.”
And that is the same promise we have today.
In 103 years, a lot has changed at West End Baptist Church.
Pastors have come and gone.
Members have come and gone.
Music has changed.
The building has changed.
The community has changed.
Today we have livestreaming, social media, websites, apps, and technology that nobody could have imagined 103 years ago.
But one thing has not changed:
God is still with us.
It doesn't matter who's sitting in the pulpit.
It doesn't matter who's sitting in the pew.
It doesn't matter who used to sing that song.
It doesn't matter who used to teach that class.
What matters is God is with us.
Some people can't move forward for God because they're thinking about the resources they used to have.
“I can't do this anymore because I don't have that person.”
“I don't have my right-hand man.”
“I don't have that teacher.”
“I don't have that singer.”
“I don't have the people we used to have.”
Can I tell you something?
None of that limits God.
God is with us.
This group of people probably thought they couldn't move forward without Solomon's money, Solomon's wisdom, or Solomon's connections.
But God said:
“Be strong. I am with you.”
God was reminding them that He was the One who empowered Solomon in the first place.
Solomon didn't build that great temple because Solomon was so great.
God was with him.
And if God could use Solomon, God could use them.
And if God could use them, God can use us.
God wants to use every person in this room to build West End Baptist Church.
I'm not just talking about building a bigger building. I'd love to have a newer building and a bigger facility one day, and if God wants us to do that, we'll do it.
But we're not just building a building.
We're building people.
We're building classes.
We're building ministries.
We're building families.
We're building disciples.
We're building one another up.
And God will do that through us if we will lean on Him.
God's power isn't in a building.
I love this building.
I'm thankful for this building.
But what happens if we don't have this building?
What will the church do?
We'll have to rest on Him.
God's power isn't in a program.
It isn't in an event.
It isn't in a singer.
And I'll even say this:
It's not in a preacher or pastor.
Our hope is in God's power, God's resources, God's promises, and God's ability.
And God's ability isn't limited by time, space, location, or generation.
Our hope is in Him.
God is everlasting, and He will meet the needs of this church if we will be obedient and work for Him.

3. God's Place Is Still Worth Building
The people had been focused on the past.
Then they realized that God's presence mattered most.
And finally, they understood that God's place was still worth building.
Let me put a plug in right here:
Working around West End Baptist Church is still something valuable to do.
If you're on the grass-cutting team, can I say thank you?
That is not wasted time.
If you cleaned the building this week, that's not wasted time.
If you've changed diapers in the nursery, that's not wasted time.
If you've taught boys and girls, that's not wasted time.
If you've stayed after church for choir practice, that's not wasted time.
If you've sat and listened to me preach week after week, that's not wasted time!
We are working together to build God's place.
The people in Haggai's day looked at this new temple and compared it to Solomon's temple.
They looked at the smaller foundation and thought it was inferior.
But eventually they realized something:
God wasn't in the cedar beams.
God wasn't in the gold.
God wasn't in the size.
God wasn't in the artwork.
God's presence was what mattered.
And once they understood that, they got back to work.
But the story doesn't end there.
In verses 6–9, God gives them a promise that is almost too big for them to understand:
“Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.”
God didn't say, “Go back and rebuild Solomon's temple.”
He said, in essence:
“Build what I have given you to build, and I will fill it with My glory.”
Then He says:
“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine.”
God was saying, “Get your eyes off the silver and gold. Get your eyes off the size. Get your eyes off the appearance.”
Then He makes this incredible statement:
“The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former.”
How could that be?
Solomon's temple was bigger.
It was more elaborate.
It had more gold.
It had more impressive architecture.
So how could this smaller temple have greater glory?
Because about 500 years later, something would happen in that temple that would make it greater than Solomon's temple ever was.
A young Jewish couple would walk into that temple carrying a baby.
They would bring Him to a man named Simeon.
And Simeon, led by the Spirit of God, would take that baby in his arms and say that he could now depart in peace because he had seen the salvation of the Lord.
That baby would be circumcised according to Jewish tradition.
That baby would be given the name that the angel had told His parents to give Him.
And that name was:
Jesus.
Jesus never walked into Solomon's temple as a baby.
But Jesus walked into this temple.
The little temple.
The temple that looked inferior.
The temple that people had compared to Solomon's and said, “This is nothing.”
That was the temple God chose to glorify.
And I believe there is a message for us in that today.
What you do for Christ doesn't have to be big to be valuable.
It isn't about bigger.
It isn't about smaller.
Greater isn't necessarily more.
Less isn't necessarily better.
The question is:
Are we doing what God wants us to do?
That's the most we can do for Him.
Don't Build Monuments to the Past
Let me close with this.
Be careful about building monuments to people, places, and things simply because they are great memories.
We say:
“I remember when…”
And there's nothing wrong with remembering.
But if we're not careful, those memories can discourage us from giving our best today.
I appreciate the music we have around here. Brother Brant and our people work hard to keep things fresh, and I appreciate that.
I like fresh music.
And if you're going to expect me to come in here week after week with a fresh message, you can hold the music department to the fire too!
Give us some new songs once in a while!
But I've seen something happen through the years.
Somebody sings a song at Christmas, and somebody says, “That was a good song.”
The next year, Thanksgiving rolls around, and somebody says, “Are you going to sing that song again?”
The next year, somebody says, “It just wouldn't be Christmas if you don't sing that song.”
And before long, we have built a monument around that person and that song.
There's nothing wrong with singing the old songs.
There's nothing wrong with the old hymns.
Bring them out!
Sing them!
Enjoy them!
But if all your soundtracks are still on tape, get a new song!
Get some new material.
Why?
Because sometimes we build monuments around what was and what we enjoy, and then we become unable to see what God wants us to do next.
We say:
“It isn't the same if she doesn't sing it.”
“It isn't the same if we don't do it that way.”
“It isn't the same if we don't have that person.”
And we've forgotten something:
God isn't in that song.
God isn't in that particular service.
God isn't in doing things the same old way simply because that's how we've always done them.
God's presence is powerful.
And God wants to do new and fresh things in our lives and in His church today.
So as we celebrate 103 years of West End Baptist Church, let's honor yesterday.
Let's thank God for the people who prayed, gave, served, sacrificed, taught, sang, preached, cleaned, worked, and built.
Let's thank God for every soul that has been saved.
Let's thank God for every life that has been changed.
Let's thank God for every sermon that has been preached and every prayer that has been prayed.
But let's not stop there.
Let's keep building.
Let's keep reaching.
Let's keep serving.
Let's keep giving.
Let's keep praying.
Let's keep preaching.
Let's keep teaching.
Let's keep singing.
Let's keep telling people about Jesus.
Because there is still a community around us that needs a church that is alive.
There is still a generation that needs to hear the Gospel.
There are still boys and girls who need to be taught the Word of God.
There are still families that need hope.
There are still sinners who need Jesus.
And there is still work to be done.
So, West End Baptist Church:
Honor the past.
Trust God's presence.
Keep building.
Don't stop building because yesterday was bigger.
Don't stop building because things have changed.
Don't stop building because you don't have the resources you once had.
Don't stop building because the work looks smaller than it used to.
Don't stop building.
God is still with us.
And if God is with us, we have everything we need to keep moving forward for His glory.

This small group Bible study has been developed from sermons preached from the pulpit of West End Baptist Church. It is designed to serve as a guide to help you study, discuss, and grow in your understanding of God’s Word.
This study is not a substitute for the Bible, nor should it ever take the place of reading and studying Scripture for yourself. The ultimate authority is always the Word of God. If questions arise during this study, we encourage you to search the Scriptures, seek God’s guidance, and trust the truth found in His Word above all else.

Small Group Bible Study #1
The Language of Salvation- Condemnation
Romans 3:19–20; Romans 8:1
Opening Thought
No one enjoys hearing the word condemnation.
The word sounds harsh, negative, and hopeless. Yet one of the greatest truths of the Gospel is this:
We cannot fully appreciate salvation until we first understand why we need it.
Before someone can rejoice in being forgiven, they must first recognize that they are guilty.
Before someone can celebrate being rescued, they must first realize they are lost.
That is why we begin our study, The Language of Salvation, with this important Bible word.
Over the next several weeks, we will examine some of the great words found throughout the book of Romans. These words are familiar to many believers, but often misunderstood.
Our goal is not simply to know Bible words. Our goal is to understand God's truth and allow it to transform our lives.
The first word we must understand is:
Condemnation.
Condemnation is the legal declaration that someone is guilty and deserving of punishment.
Spiritually speaking, condemnation is God's righteous verdict against sinful humanity.
Earthly courts can make mistakes, but God's judgment is always perfect. His verdict is always right because He judges according to truth.
The difficult reality is this:
Every person stands guilty before God.

1. The Cause of Our Condemnation Is Sin
Read: Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
The reason mankind stands condemned is simple:
Sin.
Sin entered the world through Adam and has affected every generation since.
It does not matter whether someone is:

• Religious or irreligious
• Wealthy or poor
• Young or old
• Moral or immoral

Every person has inherited a sinful nature and every person has personally sinned.
One of the greatest mistakes people make is comparing themselves to others.
"I am not as bad as that person."
"I have never done what they have done."
"I am a pretty good person."
But God has never measured us against one another.
He measures us against His perfect holiness.
And when we compare ourselves to God’s standard, every one of us falls short.

Read: Romans 3:19–20
"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."
The law of God was never given as a ladder for us to climb into heaven.
It was given to reveal our inability to save ourselves.
The law shows us our sin and points us toward our need for a Savior.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do people naturally compare themselves to others instead of comparing themselves to God?
2. Why is it important to understand our sin before we can understand salvation?
3. What purpose does God's law serve according to Romans 3?

2. The Reality of Our Condemnation Is Serious
Read: Romans 3:19
"That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."
Notice what Scripture says:
"All the world may become guilty before God."
Our guilt is not merely before society.
It is not simply before other people.
Our guilt is before Almighty God.
Every sin is ultimately an offense against the holiness of our Creator.
David understood this when he confessed after his sin:
Read: Psalm 51:4
"Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight..."
One day every excuse will disappear.
Paul says:
"Every mouth may be stopped."
Many people imagine they will stand before God and explain why they rejected Him, ignored His Word, or refused His Son.
But there will be no argument that can overturn God's verdict.
God's judgment will be completely righteous.

Read: John 3:18
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already..."
Condemnation is not simply something waiting in the future.
For those without Christ, condemnation is their present condition.
Every person apart from Jesus already stands under the sentence of sin.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to understand that our sin is ultimately against God?
2. Why do people often try to justify themselves before God?
3. What does Jesus mean when He says a person is "condemned already"?

3. The Cure for Condemnation Is Jesus Christ
Read: Romans 8:1
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus..."
After spending the first several chapters of Romans explaining mankind’s guilt, Paul gives us one of the greatest promises in Scripture.
"There is therefore now no condemnation..."
What wonderful words!
The believer's condemnation has been removed because Jesus took our place.

Illustration
Imagine someone carrying an impossible debt.
The amount is so great that there is no possible way to repay it.
Then someone steps forward and pays the entire debt.
The account is marked:
Paid in Full.
The burden is gone.
The debt is removed.
The person is free.
That is what Jesus Christ did for us.

Read: Isaiah 53:6
"The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
At the cross:

• Jesus took our guilt.
• Jesus took our punishment.
• Jesus took our condemnation.

The judgment we deserved was placed upon Him.
He became condemned so that we could be forgiven.

Discussion Questions

1. How does the cross change our standing before God?
2. Why can good works never remove our condemnation?
3. What does it mean that Jesus became our substitute?

4. Freedom From Condemnation Should Change How We Live
Being free from condemnation does not mean sin no longer matters.
Grace is not permission to continue living however we want.
Instead, grace gives us a desire to honor the One who saved us.
There is a difference between:
Conviction and Condemnation
The Holy Spirit convicts believers to restore fellowship with God.
Satan condemns believers to keep them discouraged and defeated.
Conviction says:
"Come back to God."
Condemnation says:
"You are a failure. Give up."
If you are in Christ, your case has already been settled.
The Judge has declared you forgiven because Jesus took your place.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the difference between conviction and condemnation?
2. Why do some believers continue carrying guilt after God has forgiven them?
3. How should freedom from condemnation affect the way we live each day?

Personal Reflection
Every person belongs to one of two groups.
You are either:
Still under condemnation because you have never trusted Christ,
or
Free from condemnation because you have placed your faith in Him.
The cure for condemnation is not:

• Religion
• Good works
• Self-improvement
• Trying harder

The cure is Jesus Christ.
He paid the debt we could never pay.
He took the judgment we deserved.
He gave us the forgiveness we could never earn.
Read One More Time:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus."
What a wonderful Savior we have!

Closing Prayer

Small Group Bible Study #2
The Language of Salvation-Justification
Romans 3:21–26; Romans 5:1
Opening Thought
One of the greatest needs of mankind is to understand our standing before a holy God.
The Bible tells us that every person has a sin problem. We are guilty before God, and we cannot fix our condition through our own efforts. Yet the amazing message of the Gospel is that God has provided a way for guilty sinners to be made right with Him.
The Bible calls this justification.
Justification means that God declares sinful people righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.
A simple phrase often used to explain justification is:
"Just as if I'd never sinned."
While that phrase does not fully explain everything about this great doctrine, it helps us understand the incredible truth that God no longer sees us through the record of our sin, but through the righteousness of His Son.

1. We Must Understand Our Condemnation Before We Appreciate Justification
Read: Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Before we can understand what it means to be justified, we must first understand why we need justification.
The Bible does not describe mankind as basically good people who simply need improvement. Scripture teaches that we are sinners who need salvation.
Every person has fallen short of God's perfect standard.
Many people struggle with this because they compare themselves to other people.
"I am not as bad as someone else."
"I try to do good."
"I have always been a moral person."
But God does not compare us to one another. He compares us to His own holiness.
When we see ourselves in light of God's perfection, we understand our need for grace.

Illustration
A person may look clean standing beside another person who is dirty. But when both stand beside a bright white wall, the difference becomes obvious.
God's holiness is that perfect standard.
When we compare ourselves to Him, we realize we all need a Savior.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do people often struggle to recognize their need for salvation?
2. What is the danger of comparing our goodness to other people?
3. Why must we understand our guilt before we can appreciate God's grace?

2. Justification Is Made Possible Through Jesus Christ
Read: Romans 3:24–25
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood..."
The question naturally follows:
How can a holy God declare guilty sinners righteous?
The answer is Jesus.
God did not ignore our sin.
He did not simply overlook our failures.
He dealt with our sin through the sacrifice of His Son.
The cross accomplished what we could never accomplish.
The Cross Shows God's Grace
Romans says we are:
"justified freely by his grace."
Grace means we receive what we do not deserve.
Salvation is free to us, but it was not free to God.
Our forgiveness was purchased through the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The Cross Purchased Our Redemption
Jesus did not simply teach us how to live. He came to save us.
Through His death, He purchased our freedom from sin.
We were slaves to sin, but Christ paid the price to set us free.
The Cross Satisfied God's Justice
This is where propitiation enters the picture.
God did not sweep sin away.
He judged sin completely through Jesus Christ.
The punishment we deserved was placed upon Him so that God's justice could be satisfied and His mercy could be extended.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to understand that salvation cost God something?
2. How does the cross demonstrate both God's grace and His justice?
3. What does it mean that Jesus purchased our redemption?

3. Justification Is Received Through Faith
Read: Romans 5:1
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Notice what Paul says:
"Being justified by faith..."
Justification is not earned.
It is received.
We cannot work our way into a right relationship with God.
Our good deeds cannot erase our sin.
Our religious activities cannot save us.
Only faith in Jesus Christ can justify us before God.
Faith is trusting completely in what Christ has already done.
It is saying:
"I cannot save myself, but Jesus can."

Discussion Questions

1. Why can good works never be the basis of our salvation?
2. What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and trusting Jesus?
3. How would you explain justification by faith to someone who believes they must earn God's acceptance?

4. Justification Gives Us Peace With God
Read: Romans 5:1
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
The result of justification is peace.
Notice Paul does not say we simply have the peace of God, although believers experience that as well.
He says we have peace with God.
Before Christ, we were separated from God because of sin.
We stood guilty before the Judge.
But because Jesus paid our debt, the relationship has been restored.
The war is over.
The believer is no longer an enemy of God but a child of God.

Forgiveness and Justification
Forgiveness says:
"You are guilty, but your debt has been canceled."
Justification says:
"You are declared righteous because of Christ."
God does not simply remove our record of sin. He gives us the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean to have peace with God?
2. How should knowing we are justified change the way we approach God?
3. How can this truth help someone struggling with guilt and shame?

Personal Reflection
Justification is one of the greatest truths in all of Scripture.
We are not accepted by God because of what we have done.
We are accepted because of what Jesus has done.
Our righteousness is not found in our efforts.
Our righteousness is found in Christ.
The question we must answer is:
Have you been justified?
Religion cannot justify you.
Good works cannot justify you.
Human effort cannot justify you.
Only faith in Jesus Christ can make a guilty sinner right with a holy God.
And for those who have trusted Christ, we can rejoice in this promise:
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Closing Prayer

Small Group Bible Study #3
The Language of Salvation-Propitiation
Romans 3:21–26
Opening Thought
Last week we studied the word justification—the amazing truth that God declares guilty sinners righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. But that truth brings up an important question:
How can a holy God forgive sinful people and still remain just?
If God simply ignored sin, He would no longer be a righteous Judge. Sin must be dealt with. Justice must be satisfied.
The answer is found in one of the most important words in Scripture:
Propitiation.
Romans 3:25 says:
"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God."
Propitiation means that Jesus Christ fully satisfied the righteous demands of God by taking our place and bearing the judgment our sins deserved.
Because of Christ, God did not ignore our sin—He dealt with it completely at the cross.

1. Sin Demands Judgment
Read: Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Before we can understand the beauty of propitiation, we must understand the seriousness of sin.
Our culture often views sin as a mistake, a weakness, or simply a poor decision. But Scripture teaches that sin is rebellion against a holy God.
God is perfectly righteous. Because He is holy, He cannot simply overlook sin.
A good judge does not ignore wrongdoing. A good judge must uphold justice.
In the same way, God’s holiness requires that sin be judged.
Read: Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Sin has a price.
The question is not whether sin deserves judgment. The question is:
Who will bear that judgment?
We cannot pay the price ourselves. We needed a substitute.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think people often struggle to see sin as serious before God?
2. What happens when we compare ourselves to other people instead of comparing ourselves to God’s holiness?
3. Why is understanding our sin necessary before we can truly appreciate salvation?

2. Jesus Became Our Substitute
Read: Isaiah 53:5
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities..."
The cross was not an accident. It was God's plan of redemption.
Jesus did not simply die as an example of love. He died as a sacrifice for sin.
At Calvary, Jesus took our place.
The judgment we deserved was placed upon Him.
The punishment we earned was received by Him.
The wrath that belonged to us was poured out upon Him.
This is the heart of propitiation.
Jesus satisfied what God's justice demanded so that sinners could receive what God's grace provided.

Illustration
Imagine standing in a courtroom guilty of a crime you committed. The judge has every right to pronounce judgment.
But before the sentence is carried out, someone steps forward and says, "I will take their punishment. I will pay their debt."
That is what Jesus did for us.
He did not say our sin did not matter.
He said, "I will pay for it."

Discussion Questions

1. What does the substitutionary death of Jesus teach us about the seriousness of sin?
2. What does it teach us about the depth of God's love?
3. Why is it important to understand that Jesus did not simply make salvation possible, but actually accomplished it?

3. The Cross Reveals God's Justice and Love
Read: Romans 3:26
"To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
This verse gives us a beautiful picture of the cross.
God is both:
Just — He does not ignore sin.
The Justifier — He declares sinners righteous through Christ.
The cross did not make God less holy.
The cross revealed how holy God truly is.
Sin was so serious that it required the sacrifice of His Son.
But the cross also revealed how great God's love is.
God provided the sacrifice Himself.
The Father gave the Son.
The Son willingly gave His life.
The Spirit applies that salvation to those who believe.
At the cross, justice and mercy met.

Discussion Questions

1. How does the cross demonstrate both God's holiness and God's love?
2. Why is it important that God did not simply "forget" our sins?
3. How should understanding propitiation change the way we worship God?

4. Propitiation Gives Us Confidence Before God
Read: Romans 8:1
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus..."
Because Jesus satisfied God's wrath, believers no longer have to live in fear of condemnation.
We do not stand before God based on our goodness.
We do not trust our church attendance, our morality, our accomplishments, or our efforts.
We stand accepted because of Jesus Christ.
The believer can say:
"My sin has been paid for."
"My debt has been canceled."
"My Savior has made me acceptable before God."
That truth should not make us careless about sin. It should make us more grateful for grace.
The more we understand what Christ saved us from, the more we desire to live for Him.

Discussion Questions

1. How does propitiation give believers confidence before God?
2. What is the difference between living under condemnation and living in gratitude?
3. How should Christ’s sacrifice affect the way we respond to temptation?

Personal Reflection
Propitiation reminds us that salvation is completely a work of Jesus Christ.
We could not satisfy God's justice.
We could not remove our guilt.
We could not pay our debt.
But Jesus could.
He became our substitute.
He bore our judgment.
He satisfied God's wrath.
He made peace between God and man.
Because of Jesus, we are not only forgiven—we are accepted.
Closing Prayer

Small Group Bible Study #4
The Language of Salvation-Reconciliation
Text: Romans 5:6–11
Theme
Salvation is more than forgiveness. Through Jesus Christ, God restores a broken relationship with sinful humanity and welcomes us into fellowship with Himself.

Opening Icebreaker
Think about a relationship in your life that was strained but eventually restored.

• What made reconciliation possible?
• Was simply forgiving enough, or did rebuilding the relationship take intentional effort?

Today we'll discover that God's goal in salvation wasn't merely to forgive us—it was to bring us back into fellowship with Himself.

Read Together
Romans 5:6–11
As you read, notice how Paul describes our condition before salvation and what God accomplished through Jesus Christ.


1. Why Did We Need Reconciliation?
Read verses 6, 8, and 10.
Paul describes humanity with four words:

• Without strength
• Ungodly
• Sinners
• Enemies

Discussion

1. What do these four descriptions reveal about mankind's spiritual condition?
2. Why is it important to recognize how serious our separation from God really was?
3. Why do you think many people are comfortable living apart from God today?

Key Truth
Sin didn't simply make us imperfect.
Sin made us enemies of God and separated us from a holy relationship with Him.

2. God’s Heart for Relationship
Read Genesis 3:8–9 and Romans 5:8.
Throughout Scripture, God has desired fellowship with His people.
Even after Adam sinned, God came looking for him.
Even while we were sinners, Christ died for us.
Discussion

1. Why do you think God desires a relationship with people?
2. How does Romans 5:8 demonstrate God's initiative in salvation?
3. What does this passage teach us about God's love?

Key Truth
God did not wait for us to seek Him.
He came seeking us.

3. The Work of Reconciliation
Read Romans 5:10.
Notice who performed the work.
"We were reconciled to God..."
Not by our efforts.
Not by religion.
Not by good works.
But by the death of His Son.
Discussion

1. Why couldn't mankind reconcile ourselves to God?
2. How is reconciliation different from simply being forgiven?
3. What role does Jesus alone play in restoring our relationship with God?

Key Truth
Forgiveness removes guilt.
Reconciliation restores fellowship.


4. The Means of Reconciliation
Read John 14:6 and 2 Corinthians 5:18–21.
Jesus is the only bridge between holy God and sinful man.
He bore God's wrath.
He carried our sin.
He gave us His righteousness.
Because of Christ, we are welcomed into God's family.
Discussion

1. Why is Jesus the only way to God?
2. What does it mean to be "reconciled" instead of merely forgiven?
3. How does understanding reconciliation deepen your appreciation for the cross?

Personal Reflection
Take a few moments to reflect.

• Have you personally been reconciled to God through faith in Jesus Christ?
• Is your fellowship with God as close as it should be?
• Is there unconfessed sin hindering your walk with Him?
• Is there a broken relationship in your own life where God is calling you to seek reconciliation?

Remember:
Our relationship with God is established at salvation.
Our fellowship with God must be maintained through obedience, confession, and daily walking with Him.

Digging Deeper
Read these passages during the week.

• Romans 5:1–11
• 2 Corinthians 5:17–21
• Colossians 1:19–22
• Ephesians 2:11–18
• John 14:6

As you read, underline every reference to peace, reconciliation, or being brought near to God.

Memory Verse
Romans 5:10 
"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."

Leader's Notes
Main Teaching Points

• Humanity was separated from God because of sin.
• God initiated reconciliation through His love.
• Jesus accomplished reconciliation through His death.
• Salvation restores our relationship with God.
• While our relationship is secure in Christ, our fellowship can be hindered by unconfessed sin.
• God's desire has always been relationship, not merely religious activity.

Closing Challenge
Ask each participant:
If someone asked you, "What does it mean to be reconciled to God?" how would you answer after today's study?
Encourage everyone to thank God that salvation is more than escaping judgment—it is being welcomed into His family and restored to fellowship with Him.

Closing Prayer

Small Group Bible Study #5
The language of Salvation-Glorification
The Final Step of God's Saving Work
Main Text: Romans 8:28–30
Key Verse
"Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."
Romans 8:30 (KJV)

Introduction
Throughout this series, we have traced God's wonderful plan of salvation.
We began with Condemnation, where we learned that every person stands guilty before a holy God.
We studied Propitiation, where Jesus satisfied God's wrath by taking our place on the cross.
We examined Justification, where God declared believing sinners righteous through faith in Christ.
We rejoiced in Reconciliation, where we were brought back into fellowship with God.
Now we arrive at the final word in the language of salvation—Glorification.
Salvation is far more than forgiveness. God is not simply interested in rescuing us from hell or improving our lives on earth. His ultimate purpose is to make His children like His Son, Jesus Christ. One day every believer will be completely free from sin, suffering, temptation, sickness, and death. We will be perfectly conformed to the image of Christ forever. That future reality is called glorification.

Footnote: Understanding God's Foreknowledge
Before we examine glorification, we need to understand the progression found in Romans 8:29–30.
Paul writes:
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son..."
These verses have been discussed for centuries, but one truth is abundantly clear throughout Scripture: God desires for every person to be saved.
Peter wrote:
"The Lord... is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
Paul declared that God "will have all men to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4).
Jesus Himself invited, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17).
God did not arbitrarily choose some people to be saved while excluding everyone else. Rather, because God is eternal, infinite, and all-knowing, He possesses perfect foreknowledge. Before the foundation of the world, God already knew who would respond in faith to the gospel.
Romans 8 does not say believers are predestined to become believers. It says those whom God foreknew were predestined "to be conformed to the image of His Son." The destination God determined for every believer is Christlikeness.
Notice the beautiful progression:

• God foreknew.
• God predestined believers to become like Christ.
• God called through the gospel.
• God justified those who believed.
• God will glorify every person He has justified.

John 1:12 beautifully summarizes man's response:
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."
From beginning to end, salvation is God's gracious work, yet He lovingly calls every person to place their faith in Jesus Christ.

Discussion Question
When you think about Heaven, what are you most looking forward to?

1. Glorification Is God's Final Work of Salvation
Read Romans 8:30
Paul presents salvation as a completed work.
Notice the progression:

• Called
• Justified
• Glorified

Although glorification is still future from our perspective, Paul speaks of it in the past tense because God's promises are absolutely certain. What He begins, He always finishes.
Every person God has justified will one day be glorified.
Discussion Questions

• Why do you think Paul used the past tense when speaking about glorification?
• How does this strengthen your assurance of salvation?
• What does this teach us about God's faithfulness?

Application
Our future is secure because our salvation rests in the faithfulness of God, not in our own strength.

2. Glorification Means Becoming Like Christ
Read Romans 8:29
Also Read 1 John 3:2
Everything God has allowed into our lives has one ultimate purpose—to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ.
Every answered prayer.
Every trial.
Every mountain.
Every valley.
Every disappointment.
Every blessing.
God is shaping us into the likeness of His Son.
Glorification will be the completion of that lifelong work.
On that day:

• Sin will be gone.
• Temptation will cease.
• Weakness will disappear.
• Corruption will end.
• Death will be defeated.

We will finally be like Jesus.
Discussion Questions

• How has God used difficult seasons to shape your character?
• Why is becoming like Christ God's ultimate goal for believers?
• Which promise about glorification encourages you the most?

Application
God never wastes our experiences. Every circumstance is preparing us for eternity.

3. Glorification Is the Longing of Every Believer
Read Romans 8:19–23
The curse of sin affected not only mankind but all of creation.
Creation groans under the weight of the curse while waiting for redemption.
The believer shares that same longing.
Deep within every child of God is a desire for home.
We long for:

• A place without sin.
• A body without pain.
• A home without sorrow.
• Reunion with loved ones.
• The day we finally see Jesus face to face.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:53–54
Our corruptible bodies will become incorruptible.
Our mortal bodies will become immortal.
Death itself will be swallowed up in victory.
Discussion Questions

• In what ways do you see the effects of the curse in today's world?
• Why do believers often feel that this world is not their home?
• How should the hope of Heaven shape our priorities?

Application
Our greatest hope is not found in this life but in the eternal life Christ has promised.

4. Glorification Makes Every Suffering Worthwhile
Read Romans 8:18
Paul endured imprisonment, beatings, persecution, shipwrecks, rejection, and loneliness.
Yet after comparing present suffering with future glory, he concluded:
"I reckon..."
In other words, after adding it all up, it will be worth it all.
No suffering experienced by God's children can compare with the glory that awaits us.
Discussion Questions

• Why do you think Paul could make such a confident statement?
• How does the promise of glorification help us endure hardship?
• How can we encourage one another with this hope?

Application
Today's suffering is temporary.
Tomorrow's glory is eternal.

5. Glorification Is Guaranteed for Every Believer
Read Romans 8:31–39
Paul closes this chapter with one of Scripture's greatest promises.
Nothing can separate God's children from His love.
Our salvation is secure because it depends on God's power—not ours.
Those whom He justified, He also glorified.
Glorification is not merely a possibility.
It is God's promise.
Discussion Questions

• Which verse in Romans 8:31–39 gives you the greatest assurance?
• How does this passage strengthen your confidence in God's promises?
• How should the certainty of glorification affect the way we live today?

Application
Because our future is secure, we can live courageously, serve faithfully, and endure patiently.

Personal Reflection
Take a few moments to consider these questions.

• Am I living more for this world or the next?
• Am I allowing God to use life's circumstances to make me more like Christ?
• Does the certainty of glorification change how I face today's struggles?

Memory Verse
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Romans 8:18 

Closing Challenge
What a journey we have taken together.
From Condemnation...
to Propitiation...
to Justification...
to Reconciliation...
and finally to Glorification.

The story of redemption does not end there. One day the Bride of Christ will stand before her heavenly Bridegroom. We will be glorified, crowned with His grace, and forever united with the King of kings and Lord of lords at our Coronation.
The story of mankind began in condemnation, but for every person who has trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, it ends in glory.
If you have never trusted Christ, don't begin by looking for forever—begin by looking for forgiveness. When you receive God's gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, the promise of forever becomes yours.
Closing Prayer

The Language of Salvation: Glorification
Text: Romans 8:28–30 

"Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." — Romans 8:30
As we come to the final message in our series, The Language of Salvation, we arrive at one of the most beautiful words in all of Scripture: glorification.
What a journey this has been.
We began with condemnation, where we discovered the terrible reality that every person stands guilty before a holy God. Then we saw the beautiful truth of propitiation, where God's righteous wrath that was reserved for us was poured out upon His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Through justification, God now sees the blood of Christ instead of our sin, declaring us righteous in His sight. Because of that, reconciliation has taken place—we have been brought back into fellowship with God, welcomed into His family, and embraced by His grace.
But God's work of salvation does not end there.
God is not simply trying to clean us up. He is not merely interested in making us better people while we live on this earth. His ultimate purpose is far greater. He is determined to make us like His Son forever.
That final step is called glorification.
The story of mankind began with condemnation, but for every child of God, it will end in glory.

I. Glorification Is God's Final Work of Salvation
Romans 8:30
Paul gives us an incredible progression:

• God called.
• God justified.
• God glorified.

Everyone whom God justifies, He will glorify.
What is especially interesting is that Paul speaks of glorification in the past tense, even though it is still future for us. Why? Because in God's eternal plan it is so certain that it is as good as already accomplished.
God finishes what He starts.
Our salvation is not incomplete or uncertain. The God who called us and justified us has already guaranteed the final outcome.

II. Glorification Means Becoming Like Christ
Romans 8:29
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son..."
See also 1 John 3:2
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God... we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
Everything God has allowed into our lives has been working toward one great purpose—making us more like Jesus Christ.
Every prayer.
Every lesson.
Every mountain.
Every valley.
Every hardship.
Every victory.
God has been shaping us into the image of His Son.
Glorification will simply be the graduation of that lifelong process.
On that day:

• Sin will be completely removed.
• Temptation will disappear.
• Weakness will be gone.
• Corruption will be no more.
• Death itself will be defeated.

Why?
Because we will finally be like Jesus.

III. Glorification Is the Longing of the Saved Soul
Romans 8:19–23
When sin entered this world, it affected far more than humanity.
Creation itself was cursed.
Thorns appeared.
Pain entered.
Storms began.
Decay took hold.
The oceans are not what they once were.
The animal kingdom bears the marks of the curse.
Even nature itself longs for redemption.
Paul says creation "groaneth."
Just as creation groans for the curse to be lifted, I believe every believer has that same longing deep within the soul.
There is something inside every child of God that says:
"I can't wait to be home."
"I can't wait to leave this broken world behind."
"I can't wait to see my loved ones again."
"I can't wait to see my Savior face to face."
Paul described that future in 1 Corinthians 15:53–54:
"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality... then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."
This is not an unhealthy longing to escape life.
It is a holy longing.
It is the anticipation of the day when faith becomes sight, hope becomes reality, and we exchange condemnation for glorification.

IV. Glorification Will Be Worth All the Suffering
Romans 8:18
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Paul says, "I reckon..."
In other words, after adding it all up, after comparing the suffering with the coming glory, the conclusion is clear:
It will be worth it all.
Remember who is saying this.
This is a man who endured imprisonment.
Beatings.
Persecution.
Shipwreck.
Loneliness.
Rejection.
Yet Paul declares that all the suffering of this present life cannot even be compared with the glory waiting for God's children.
I don't know what burdens you have carried.
I don't know what pain you've endured.
I don't know what valleys you've walked through.
But I do know this:
It will be worth it all when we see Christ.

V. Our Glorification Cannot Be Prevented
Romans 8:31–39
What assurance these verses give!
Our future is secure.
Our eternity is settled.
Our glorification is guaranteed.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Who is this promise for?
Romans 8:30 answers the question:
"Whom he justified, them he also glorified."
Glorification belongs only to those who have first been justified.
Only those who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb will experience the glory that is to come.

Conclusion
Don't begin by looking for forever.
Begin by looking for forgiveness.
When you find forgiveness through Jesus Christ, forever in Heaven becomes yours.
What a journey we have taken together.
From condemnation...
to propitiation...
to justification...
to reconciliation...
and finally to glorification.
But the story doesn't even end there.
For the Bride of Christ, there is also a CORONATION.
One glorious day we will stand before our heavenly Bridegroom. We will be united with Him forever, and we will reign with the King of kings and Lord of lords.
What a wonderful thing it is to belong to the King.
The story of mankind began in condemnation, but for every believer who has trusted Christ, it ends in glory.
And what a glorious ending it will be.

Footnote 
Before we understand glorification, it is helpful to understand two important words found in our main passage: foreknew and predestinated (Romans 8:29).
Throughout church history, sincere believers have held different views regarding these verses. As Baptists, we believe the Bible teaches that God desires for all people to be saved. Scripture tells us that He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, and the invitation of the gospel is extended to whosoever will believe.
God did not arbitrarily pick some people to be saved while refusing others the opportunity. Rather, because God is infinite, eternal, and all-knowing, He possesses perfect foreknowledge. Long before the foundation of the world, God knew every person who would respond by faith to His gracious invitation.
Romans 8 does not say that God predestined certain people to become believers. Instead, it says that those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. In other words, God's predestination in this passage concerns the destiny of believers, not the selection of believers.
The sequence is beautiful:

• God, in His foreknowledge, knew those who would trust Christ.
• Those believers were predestined to become like Jesus.
• In time, God called them through the gospel.
• They responded by faith and were justified.
• One day they will be glorified.

From beginning to end, salvation is God's gracious work, yet He never removes man's responsibility to respond to the gospel by faith. Everyone who comes to Christ is welcomed, forgiven, justified, and one day will be glorified.
As John 1:12 declares:
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."
What an encouragement to know that God not only saves us, but He already knows the glorious future He has prepared for every believer.

The Language of Salvation: Reconciliation
Romans 5:6–11
Over the past several weeks we've been studying what I've called The Language of Salvation—those great Bible words that are often used in church but not always understood. These are more than theological terms; they are God's explanation of what He has done for us through Jesus Christ.
We've already examined:

• Condemnation — Our guilty verdict before a holy God.
• Justification — God's declaration that the believer is righteous because of Christ.
• Propitiation — Christ satisfying the wrath of God by taking our place.

All of those wonderful truths naturally lead us to one final question:
Why would God do any of this?
Why would God make a way for condemned sinners to be justified? Why would He pour His wrath upon His own Son? Why would He go to such incredible lengths to save people who had rebelled against Him?
The answer is found in one beautiful word:
Reconciliation.
God did not simply want to forgive us. He wanted to restore a relationship with us.
Sermon Outline
The Language of Salvation: Reconciliation
Text: Romans 5:6–11

I. The Need for Reconciliation
Romans 5 describes mankind with four sobering words:

• Without strength
• Ungodly
• Sinners
• Enemies

Those descriptions paint a clear picture of humanity's condition apart from Christ. Sin had broken the relationship between God and man.
Every person today is in one of two places:

• In fellowship with God through Jesus Christ.
• Or separated from God because of sin.

The tragedy is that many people become comfortable living apart from God. They convince themselves they don't need Him.
But what may be acceptable to man has never been acceptable to God.
God was not content to leave us separated from Him.
He loved us too much.
From the very beginning, God's desire has always been relationship. In the Garden of Eden, God walked with Adam. He fellowshiped with him. Sin interrupted that fellowship, but it never changed God's desire.
Many human relationships experience forgiveness without reconciliation. Family members may simply "move on," yet never truly restore the relationship.
God refused to leave our relationship that way.
He wanted us restored.
Reconciliation is the act of restoring a broken relationship—turning enemies into friends and replacing estrangement with peace through Jesus Christ.

II. The Work of Reconciliation
Romans 5 reminds us that we did not reconcile ourselves to God.
God did the work.
Verse 8 says,
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Notice the direction of that love.
It wasn't mankind pursuing God.
It was God pursuing mankind.
Normally, guilty people seek mercy.
But in our case, the innocent One came searching for the guilty.
God could not bear the thought of eternity without us.
So He acted.
He made reconciliation possible through the cross.
Our salvation is never about what we accomplished.
It is always about what God accomplished through Jesus Christ.

III. The Means of Reconciliation
God could have chosen many different ways to deal with humanity.
He could have simply declared everyone forgiven.
He could have demanded mankind earn reconciliation.
He could have placed the entire responsibility upon human effort.
But none of those would satisfy His holiness.
Sin had to be judged.
Justice had to be satisfied.
Romans 5:10 tells us:
"...we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son."
Jesus became the only bridge between holy God and sinful man.
While we were still sinners...
Christ died for us.
While we were still ungodly...
Christ died for us.
While we were still enemies...
Christ died for us.
God dealt with our sin—not in us—but in His Son.
That is the only means of reconciliation.
An Illustration of Salvation
To help our church visualize these great Bible words, we used a simple illustration.
Imagine three people standing together.
One represents sinful humanity.
One represents God.
The third represents Jesus Christ.
Because of sin, mankind stands condemned and separated from God.
God, being perfectly holy, cannot ignore sin.
Then Jesus steps between the two.
He receives the wrath that mankind deserved.
That is propitiation.
Because Christ bore our punishment, God now sees the believer through the righteousness of Christ.
That is justification.
But God doesn't stop there.
He doesn't merely remove our guilt.
He restores the relationship.
Through Christ, the sinner is brought safely into the Father's embrace.
That is reconciliation.
The cross didn't simply make forgiveness possible.
The cross brought us home.

A Final Thought
Every person reading this stands somewhere.
Perhaps you've never trusted Christ.
You remain separated from God—not because He doesn't love you—but because sin still stands between you.
The good news is that Jesus has already done everything necessary to reconcile you to God.
If you've trusted Christ as Savior, then you have been reconciled forever.
However, while our relationship with God is secure, our fellowship with Him can still suffer.
Unconfessed sin, spiritual coldness, grieving the Holy Spirit, and neglecting our walk with God can rob us of the joy and closeness we once enjoyed.
The relationship remains.
The fellowship needs restoring.
Friend, there is nothing in this world like walking closely with God.
He didn't merely save you from hell.
He saved you for Himself.
What an incredible God we serve.
He loved us enough to bring us home.

The Language of Salvation: Propitiation
Romans 3:21–26

In this series we have considered some of the greatest words in Scripture like condemnation and also justification. We discovered that through faith in Jesus Christ, God declares guilty sinners righteous. We are not made righteous because of our own goodness, but because of the perfect righteousness of Christ placed upon us.
But this raises an important question: How can a holy God forgive sinful people? How can God declare us righteous without compromising His own justice? How can He remain a righteous Judge while showing mercy to those who deserve judgment?
The answer is found in one of the most powerful words in all of Scripture: propitiation.
Romans 3:25 tells us:
"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God."

Propitiation is not a word we commonly use today, but it is a word we desperately need to understand. It speaks of the complete satisfaction of God's holy justice through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It means that the wrath we deserved was fully satisfied through the offering of God's Son.
Because of propitiation, God does not ignore sin, excuse sin, or overlook sin. Instead, He dealt with sin completely at the cross.

Sin Requires Judgment
Before we can understand the beauty of propitiation, we must first understand the seriousness of sin.
Our world often minimizes sin. We call it a mistake, a weakness, a bad choice, or simply something everyone does. But Scripture presents sin much differently. Sin is an offense against a holy God.
God is not only loving; He is also righteous. He cannot simply look at rebellion and pretend it does not matter. A judge who ignores crime is not a good judge. In the same way, a holy God cannot ignore sin and still remain perfectly just.
Romans 6:23 reminds us:
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Sin has a penalty. Sin demands payment. God's justice requires that sin be judged.
The problem is that every person stands guilty. Every one of us has broken God's law and fallen short of His glory. We are not simply people who need improvement; we are sinners who need redemption.
The question is not whether sin deserves judgment. The question is: Who will bear that judgment?

Jesus Satisfied God's Wrath
This is where the cross becomes the greatest demonstration of God's love.
At Calvary, Jesus Christ willingly stepped into our place. He took upon Himself the judgment that belonged to us.
Isaiah 53:5 says:
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
The cross was not an accident. It was not simply the tragic end of a good man's life. It was God's eternal plan to redeem sinners.
Jesus did not merely suffer physically. He endured the full weight of God's judgment against sin. The wrath that should have fallen upon us was poured out upon Him.
Every sin we have committed, every failure we regret, every act of rebellion against God—all of it was placed upon Christ.
He took our punishment so we could receive His righteousness.
That is propitiation.
God's justice was satisfied, and God's mercy was extended.
The Cross Reveals Both God's Justice and God's Love
Romans 3:26 gives us one of the most amazing truths in Scripture:
"To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
Notice the balance Paul gives us. Through the cross, God remains just, and He becomes the justifier.
God did not become merciful by becoming less holy. He did not forgive us by lowering His standards. He forgave us because Jesus fully met those standards on our behalf.
The cross shows us that God takes sin seriously, but it also shows us that God loves sinners deeply.
At Calvary, justice and mercy met.
The holiness of God demanded payment.
The love of God provided the payment.
Jesus Christ became the sacrifice.
What a Savior!
Propitiation Gives Us Confidence Before God
Because Christ has satisfied God's wrath, believers no longer have to live in fear of condemnation.
Romans 8:1 declares:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus..."
The believer does not stand before God hoping that our good outweighs our bad. We do not stand before Him trusting in our efforts or our religion. We stand before Him trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
The same God who was once our Judge has become our Father.
The same holiness that once condemned us now welcomes us because we are covered by the righteousness of Christ.
This does not give us a license to sin. Instead, it gives us a reason to love and serve Him more. When we understand the price Jesus paid, our hearts should desire to honor the One who gave everything for us.
Have You Trusted the Sacrifice?
Propitiation reminds us that salvation is not something we can earn. It is something Christ accomplished.
Religion cannot satisfy God's justice.
Good works cannot remove our guilt.
Human effort cannot pay our debt.
Only Jesus could do that.
He became our substitute.
He bore our judgment.
He satisfied God's wrath.
He made peace between God and man.

The question we must answer is this:
Have you trusted in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ?
If you have never placed your faith in Him, today you can come to the One who paid the price you could never pay.
And if you are a believer, rejoice in this wonderful truth:
Because of propitiation, the wrath of God has been satisfied, the penalty of sin has been paid, and through Jesus Christ we can stand forgiven, justified, and accepted before a holy God.

The Language of Salvation: Condemnation
Romans 3:19–20; Romans 8:1

No one enjoys hearing the word condemnation. At first glance, it sounds harsh, negative, and hopeless. Yet one of the greatest truths of the gospel is that we cannot fully appreciate salvation until we first understand why we need it. Before a person can rejoice in being forgiven, they must first recognize that they are guilty. Before they can celebrate being rescued, they must realize they are lost.
That is why we begin our new series, The Language of Salvation, with this important Bible word. Throughout the next several weeks, we'll define and explore some of the great words found in the book of Romans—words that are familiar to many Christians but often misunderstood. My desire is that we not simply own a Bible, but understand it, obey it, and allow its truths to change our lives.
The first word is condemnation.
Condemnation is the legal declaration that someone is guilty and deserving of punishment. Spiritually speaking, it is God's righteous verdict against sinful humanity. While earthly courts sometimes convict innocent people, God's court never makes a mistake. His judgment is always according to truth, and His verdict is always just. The sobering reality is that every one of us stands guilty before Him.

The cause of our condemnation is not difficult to identify—it is sin.
Romans 3:23 reminds us, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Sin entered the world through Adam and has stained every generation since. It does not matter whether a person is religious or irreligious, moral or immoral, wealthy or poor, young or old. Every one of us has inherited a sinful nature and has personally chosen to sin.
One of the greatest mistakes people make is comparing themselves to others. They think, "I've never committed the sins that person has," or, "I'm a better person than most." But God has never measured us against one another. He measures us against His own holiness. Compared to a holy God, every person falls short.
James reminds us that if we offend in just one point of the law, we are guilty before God. The law was never given as a ladder to climb into heaven. It was given to reveal that we could never climb high enough on our own. It exposes our sin and points us to our need for a Savior.

The character of condemnation is equally serious.
Romans 3:19 tells us that "all the world may become guilty before God." Notice the wording carefully. Our guilt is not simply before society or before one another. It is before Almighty God. David understood this after his great failure when he confessed, "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned." Every sin is ultimately an offense against the holiness of God.
One day every excuse will disappear. Paul writes that "every mouth may be stopped." How often people imagine they will stand before God and explain why they neglected Him, ignored His Word, or refused His Son. But there will be no defense and no bargaining. God's judgment is according to truth and righteousness. His verdict will stand forever.
Jesus Himself declared, "He that believeth not is condemned already." Condemnation is not merely a future possibility for those without Christ—it is their present condition. Every person apart from Christ already stands under the sentence of sin.
Thankfully, the story does not end there.
After spending the first seven chapters of Romans proving mankind's guilt, Paul reaches one of the most glorious verses in all of Scripture:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus."
What wonderful words!
Imagine carrying an overwhelming financial debt that you could never repay. Then one day someone steps in, pays every penny, and your account is marked Paid in Full. The burden is lifted, the debt is gone, and you are free.
That is exactly what Jesus Christ did for every believer.
Isaiah tells us that "the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Paul declares that Christ was "made...to be sin for us." On the cross, Jesus took our guilt, our condemnation, our curse, and our judgment upon Himself. God's holiness was satisfied because His justice was fully poured out upon His Son.
The cure for condemnation is not self-improvement, religion, or good works.

The cure is salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
You cannot balance your good deeds against your bad ones and hope the scales tip in your favor. Heaven is not awarded to those who are "better" than someone else. Salvation comes only through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. He became condemned so that we could be declared forgiven.
That truth ought to change how we live.
Far too many believers continue living under the weight of guilt long after Christ has removed their condemnation. Yes, we should confess our sins when we fail. Yes, we should pursue holiness. But once our sins are under the blood of Christ, we must stop allowing the devil to keep us chained to our past.
There is a tremendous difference between conviction and condemnation. The Holy Spirit convicts us to bring us back to fellowship with God. Satan condemns us to keep us discouraged and defeated. If you are in Christ, the Judge has already declared your case settled because Jesus took your place.
Charles Spurgeon once said, "Either sin is upon you or it is upon Christ." That is the decision every person must make.

In the end, every individual belongs to one of two groups. You are either still under condemnation because you have never trusted Christ, or you are free from condemnation because you have placed your faith in Him.
If you have never received Christ as your Savior, don't remain under a sentence that Jesus has already paid. Come to Him in faith and receive the gift of salvation.
And if you are already a child of God, then live like someone who has been set free. Walk in the joy of forgiveness. Stand in the confidence of God's grace. Rejoice that your guilt has been removed forever.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." What a wonderful Savior we have!

The Language of Salvation: Justification
Romans 3:21–26; 5:1

Last week we considered the difficult word condemnation. This week we come to one of the most beautiful words in all of Scripture—justification. Throughout Romans, we read of being justified, the Justifier, and justification. The word simply means that God declares guilty sinners righteous because of Jesus Christ. We are not merely forgiven; through Christ we stand before God as though we had never sinned. While no simple phrase can fully define the doctrine, "just as if I'd never sinned" certainly helps us appreciate the wonder of what God has done.
To Be Justified, We Must First Be Condemned
Before anyone can be declared righteous, they must first recognize that they stand guilty before a holy God. There are only two possibilities: either we have lived a perfectly sinless life, or we have been condemned by our sin. Scripture leaves no doubt which category we belong to. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
Many people struggle with this truth because they compare themselves to others instead of comparing themselves to God's holiness. They see their good deeds, respectable family, or moral lifestyle and wonder how God could possibly declare them guilty. Yet our condemnation is not based merely on what we have done, but on who we are by nature. We are sinners.
Until we understand our condemnation, we will never appreciate our justification. It's difficult to value water until you've been thirsty, and it's difficult to rejoice in being found until you first realize you were lost. The wonderful news is that every condemned sinner is a candidate for God's amazing grace.
The Cross Makes Justification Possible
The question naturally follows: How can a holy God declare guilty sinners righteous and still remain holy?
The answer is found at the cross.
God did not simply overlook our sin or pretend it never happened. The cross demonstrates God's grace while satisfying His justice.
First, the cross reveals God's grace. Romans tells us we are "justified freely by His grace." Those two words belong together. Grace is free to us because someone else paid the price. Salvation cost us nothing, but it cost God everything.
Second, the cross purchased our redemption. Redemption was not accomplished through Christ's miracles or His teachings alone. Redemption was secured through His finished work on Calvary. There, Jesus became the mediator between God and man, purchasing our salvation with His own precious blood.
Third, the cross satisfied God's justice. This is where the great Bible word propitiation comes into view. God's holiness demanded that sin be judged. His wrath could not simply disappear. Instead, every ounce of divine judgment that should have fallen upon us was poured out upon His Son.
God did not sweep our sins under the rug. He judged them completely. The sins of Adam, David, Abraham, Peter, and every believer today all met at the cross. Christ bore the wrath we deserved so that God could remain perfectly just while also becoming the Justifier of those who believe in Jesus Christ.
What an amazing Savior! He willingly took our place so that we could stand in His.
Justification Produces Peace with God
Because Christ has accomplished everything necessary for our salvation, there is no room for boasting. Paul asks, "Where is boasting then?" The answer is simple—it is excluded.
No one will stand in heaven boasting about education, wealth, church membership, family heritage, or good works. Every crown will ultimately be laid at the feet of Jesus because our justification rests entirely upon Him.
Romans 5:1 gives us the glorious result:
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Notice the wording carefully. Paul doesn't simply say we have the peace of God, though every believer enjoys that during life's trials. He says we have peace with God.
Before salvation we were enemies. We stood condemned before the Judge of all the earth. But because Jesus satisfied God's justice, the war is over. We have been reconciled to God.
Forgiveness says, "It happened, but you're forgiven."
Justification says, "It is as though it never happened."
When God looks upon His children, He no longer sees the record of our sin. He sees the righteousness of His Son.
That truth should never encourage careless living. Grace is not permission to continue in sin. Instead, it is the greatest motivation to pursue holiness. Since Christ was willing to give everything for our salvation, we ought to desire to live lives that honor Him.
The question each of us must answer is simple:
Have you been justified?
Religion cannot justify you. Good works cannot justify you. Turning over a new leaf cannot justify you.
Only faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ can declare a guilty sinner righteous before a holy God.
If you have never trusted Christ, today is the day to place your faith in Him. And if you have been justified, rejoice in this wonderful truth: because of the cross, you now stand at peace with God—not because of what you have done, but because of what Jesus has already done.

Brothers and Sisters:

If you've spent any time in a Bible-believing church, you've likely heard people refer to one another as "Brother" or "Sister." To some, it may sound old-fashioned or simply like a church tradition. But the truth is, these titles have deep biblical roots and remind us of a wonderful spiritual reality.
When a person places their faith in Jesus Christ, they are not only forgiven of their sins—they are adopted into the family of God. Salvation doesn't just change our eternal destination; it changes our identity. We become children of God and members of His household.
Jesus Himself taught this truth. In Matthew 12:49–50 He said:
"And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."
Our relationship with Christ creates a spiritual family that is even greater than earthly relationships. Because we have the same Heavenly Father, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Apostle Paul reinforced this truth when he instructed Timothy:
1 Timothy 5:1–2
"Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity."
Notice how Paul describes the church—not as an organization or merely an institution—but as a family. We are to love, honor, encourage, and care for one another as members of the same household.
I've occasionally heard people say that churches should stop calling one another "Brother" and "Sister" because it might make visitors or those who are unfamiliar with church feel unwelcome. While I understand the concern, it's important to understand what those titles actually mean.
The word church refers to the called-out assembly of believers in Jesus Christ. It is not simply a gathering of people who attend the same place each week. The church is made up of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and adopted into the family of God. That shared relationship is what makes us brothers and sisters.
These titles are not intended to create an "us versus them" mentality or to make anyone feel like an outsider. They simply acknowledge the spiritual relationship that exists between those who have trusted Christ.
At the same time, the family of God is unique. Not everyone is automatically a part of it. Jesus said we must be "born again," and John reminds us:
John 1:12
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
In that sense, the family of God is exclusive—but not because God is unwilling to receive people. It is exclusive because there is only one way into the family: through faith in Jesus Christ. Yet the invitation is wonderfully inclusive because it is extended to every person. No one is excluded because of their past, their background, or their failures. Anyone who repents and believes the gospel is welcomed into God's family.
So when we call one another "Brother" and "Sister," we aren't building walls around the church. We're celebrating what Christ has done. At the same time, we're extending the same invitation Jesus gives to everyone. There is always room for another brother or sister in the family of God.
Throughout the New Testament, believers are repeatedly referred to as "brethren." This wasn't simply a title of respect; it was a reminder that Christ had made them one family through His sacrifice.
So when someone calls me "Brother Craig," I don't hear an outdated custom. I hear a reminder of the grace of God that brought sinners together into one family. It's a testimony that regardless of our backgrounds, occupations, or life experiences, we have one Father, one Savior, and one eternal home.
The next time you hear someone say "Brother" or "Sister," remember that it is more than church language. It is a biblical declaration that we belong to the family of God. And if you've never trusted Christ as your Savior, the invitation is still open today. Through faith in Jesus, you too can become part of God's forever family.

Be Strong – Small Group Study
This small group Bible study has been developed from sermons preached from the pulpit of West End Baptist Church. It is designed to serve as a guide to help you study, discuss, and grow in your understanding of God’s Word.
This study is not a substitute for the Bible, nor should it ever take the place of reading and studying Scripture for yourself. The ultimate authority is always the Word of God. If questions arise during this study, we encourage you to search the Scriptures, seek God’s guidance, and trust the truth found in His Word above all else.

Week 1: Be Strong in God's Presence
Scripture: Joshua 1–2
Icebreaker
Share about a time in your life when you had to step into something new or unfamiliar. What emotions did you experience? What helped you move forward?

Opening Thoughts
Joshua begins with one of the greatest leadership transitions in Scripture. Moses is gone, Israel has spent forty years wandering in the wilderness, and now Joshua is called to lead God's people into the Promised Land.
God didn't begin by giving Joshua military strategies or leadership advice. Instead, He repeatedly told him:
"Be strong and of a good courage."
God knew Joshua's greatest need wasn't more ability—it was confidence in God's presence.
The same is true for us.

Read Together
Joshua 1:1-9

Discussion 1 – Strength Comes from God's Presence
Key Verse:
"For the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9)
Discuss

1. Why do you think God repeated "Be strong and courageous" three different times?
2. What fears do you think Joshua may have been facing?
3. Where do people commonly look for strength today?
4. How is God's presence different from simply believing God exists?
5. What helps you personally become more aware of God's presence during difficult seasons?

Life Application
True strength isn't self-confidence.
It is God-confidence.
When we know God is with us, we can face situations we never could on our own.

Read Together
Joshua 1:8

Discussion 2 – Strength Grows Through God's Word
Joshua was instructed to meditate on God's Word continually.
Discuss

1. What does it mean to "meditate" on Scripture?
2. How does regular Bible reading strengthen our faith?
3. Why is it difficult to stay consistent in God's Word?
4. What practical habits help you spend time in Scripture each week?

Life Application
Strength doesn't appear overnight.
It grows as we consistently spend time with God and allow His Word to shape our thinking.

Read Together
Joshua 1:10-18

Discussion 3 – Strength Spreads Through Unity
The people immediately supported Joshua's leadership.
Discuss

1. Why was Israel's unity so important at this moment?
2. How can unity strengthen a family?
3. How can unity strengthen a church?
4. What attitudes usually destroy unity?
5. How can each of us help protect unity within our church?

Life Application
God accomplishes great things through believers who move forward together.
Unity encourages leaders, strengthens faith, and advances God's work.

Read Together
Joshua 2:1-21

Discussion 4 – Faith Produces Action
Rahab had heard about God.
She believed.
Then she acted.
Discuss

1. What impressed you most about Rahab's story?
2. What risks did Rahab take by hiding the spies?
3. Why wasn't belief alone enough?
4. How does Rahab demonstrate genuine faith?
5. What step of obedience might God be asking you to take right now?

Life Application
Faith is more than agreeing with truth.
Real faith moves us to obedience.

Digging Deeper – The Scarlet Cord
Read:

• Exodus 12:1-13
• Joshua 2:18-21
• Hebrews 11:31
• James 2:25

Discuss

1. What similarities do you see between the Passover blood and Rahab's scarlet cord?
2. How do both point us to Jesus Christ?
3. What does Rahab's story teach us about God's grace?
4. Why is it encouraging that Rahab became part of Jesus' family line?

Gospel Connection
The scarlet cord reminds us that salvation has always been by faith in God's provision.
Just as Rahab trusted the scarlet cord, we trust in the blood of Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice provides forgiveness and eternal life to everyone who believes.

Personal Reflection
Take a few quiet moments to think through these questions.

• Where do I need God's strength today?
• Am I relying more on myself or on God's presence?
• Am I spending consistent time in God's Word?
• Is there someone I need to encourage to strengthen unity?
• What act of faith is God calling me to take this week?

This Week's Challenge
This week:

• Spend time in Joshua 1 every day.
• Memorize Joshua 1:9.
• Pray each morning, asking God to help you rely on His strength rather than your own.
• Look for one opportunity to encourage someone else in your church or family.
• Take one specific step of obedience that you've been delaying.

Memory Verse
Joshua 1:9
"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Closing Prayer

Week 2: Be Strong in God's Direction
Scripture: Joshua 3–4
Key Verse: Joshua 3:5
"And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."

Icebreaker
Share about a time when you had to trust God without knowing exactly how things would turn out. Looking back now, how did you see His hand at work?

Opening Thoughts
Last week, we learned that our strength comes from God's presence. God told Joshua three times to "be strong and of a good courage" because He promised to be with him wherever he went.
This week, we see another lesson about strength.
Israel has arrived at the Jordan River. The Promised Land is within sight, but there is one more obstacle standing in the way. The river is overflowing its banks, making it impossible to cross on their own.
Before God performs a miracle, Joshua tells the people:
"Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."
God was preparing them—not just for a miracle, but for obedience.
Sometimes God's direction requires us to trust Him before we see how He is going to work.

Read Together
Joshua 3:1–5

Discussion 1 – Strength Remembered From Yesterday
Key Verse:
"Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you." (Joshua 3:5)
The Jordan River wasn't the first body of water Israel had faced. Forty years earlier, God had parted the Red Sea so their parents could escape Egypt.
Now God was about to do another miracle.
Discuss

1. Why do you think remembering God's past faithfulness gives us courage for today's challenges?
2. What similarities do you see between the Red Sea and the Jordan River?
3. Why do we often forget what God has already done for us?
4. Can you share a time when remembering God's faithfulness helped you trust Him again?
5. How can we intentionally remind ourselves of God's goodness during difficult seasons?

Life Application
Our present obstacles should remind us—not of our weakness—but of God's faithfulness.
The same God who helped us yesterday is still leading us today.

Read Together
Joshua 3:6–17

Discussion 2 – Strength Required for Today
The priests were instructed to carry the Ark of the Covenant into the flooded Jordan River.
God didn't stop the water first.
He told them to step first.
Discuss

1. Why do you think God required the priests to step into the water before performing the miracle?
2. What fears do you think they may have experienced?
3. Why is obedience often harder than it sounds?
4. What are some ways God asks believers today to step out in faith?
5. Is there an area of your life where God is asking you to trust Him before you see the outcome?

Life Application
Faith is not believing after we see.
Faith is obeying before we see.
God often reveals His power after we take the first step of obedience.

Read Together
Joshua 4:1–9

Discussion 3 – Strength Reserved for Tomorrow
After Israel crossed the Jordan River, God instructed Joshua to build a memorial using twelve stones taken from the river.
The memorial wasn't for God.
It was for future generations.
Discuss

1. Why was it important for Israel to build a memorial?
2. What kinds of "memorials" help us remember God's faithfulness today?
3. How can our testimonies encourage younger believers?
4. Why is it important to pass our faith to the next generation?
5. What legacy of faith do you hope to leave for your children, grandchildren, or others who follow you?

Life Application
Our faith is never meant to stop with us.
God wants every generation to hear how faithful He has been.

Digging Deeper – Faith Before the Miracle
Read the following passages:

• Joshua 3:13
• Matthew 14:28–29
• John 5:8–9
• Luke 17:11–19

Discuss

1. What do these stories have in common?
2. Why does God often require obedience before revealing His power?
3. How does stepping out in faith strengthen our relationship with God?
4. What keeps believers from taking that first step?

Gospel Connection
Throughout Scripture, God calls people to trust Him before they fully understand His plan.
Our greatest example is salvation itself.
We trust Christ by faith, believing that His death and resurrection provide forgiveness and eternal life—not because we can see it with our eyes, but because God has promised it in His Word.

Personal Reflection
Take a few moments to quietly consider these questions.

• What "Jordan River" am I facing today?
• Am I remembering God's faithfulness from the past?
• Is there an area where God is asking me to step out in faith?
• What testimony of God's faithfulness can I share with someone this week?
• What kind of spiritual legacy am I leaving for those who come after me?

This Week's Challenge
This week:

• Read Joshua chapters 3 and 4.
• Memorize Joshua 3:5.
• Write down three times God has been faithful in your life.
• Share one of those testimonies with a family member, friend, or fellow believer.
• Ask God to give you the courage to take one step of obedience, even if you cannot yet see the outcome.

Memory Verse
Joshua 3:5
"And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."

Week 3: Be Strong in Our Obedience
Scripture: Joshua 6:1–20
Key Verse: Joshua 6:2
"And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour."

Icebreaker
Think of a time when you had to follow instructions that didn't make sense at first. What happened when you trusted the process?

Opening Thoughts
Over the past two weeks, we've learned that our strength comes from God's presence and from following God's direction.
This week, Joshua chapter 6 teaches us another important lesson—strength in obedience.
It's one thing to believe God is with us. It's another to trust His direction. But true strength is revealed when we choose to obey God even when His plan seems unusual, requires patience, or doesn't make sense from a human perspective.
The battle of Jericho reminds us that God doesn't ask us to understand everything before we obey. He simply asks us to trust Him.

Read Together
Joshua 6:1–5

Discussion 1 – Strong Obedience Trusts God's Plan
Key Verse:
"And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho..." (Joshua 6:2)
Before Israel ever marched around the city, God declared the victory.
His plan wasn't built around military strategy. It was built around faith and obedience.
Discuss

1. Why do you think God's battle plan for Jericho seemed so unusual?
2. Why is it often difficult to trust God's plan when it doesn't make sense?
3. Have you ever experienced a time when God's plan turned out to be better than your own?
4. What are some situations where believers today struggle to trust God's methods?
5. How does knowing God already sees the outcome help us trust Him?

Life Application
God's plans are always trustworthy—even when we don't fully understand them.
Our responsibility is obedience.
God is responsible for the outcome.

Read Together
Joshua 6:6–14

Discussion 2 – Strong Obedience Requires Complete Submission
Joshua instructed the people to march around the city in silence.
They weren't just told what to do.
They were also told what not to do.
Discuss

1. Why do you think God required the people to remain silent?
2. Why is submission sometimes harder than action?
3. What are some areas where believers struggle to surrender their own desires?
4. How can pride keep us from fully obeying God?
5. What does complete submission look like in everyday Christian living?

Life Application
Obedience isn't only doing what God says.
It also means refusing to do what He tells us not to do.
Strong believers submit both their actions and their attitudes to the Lord.

Read Together
Joshua 6:15–20

Discussion 3 – Strong Obedience Waits on God's Timing
For six days, nothing appeared to happen.
Day after day the people simply walked.
Then, on the seventh day, God gave the victory.
Discuss

1. Why is waiting one of the hardest parts of obedience?
2. What do you think the Israelites may have been feeling after several days with no visible results?
3. How has God used waiting seasons to strengthen your faith?
4. What is the danger of giving up too soon?
5. How can we remain faithful while waiting on God's timing?

Life Application
God is always working—even when we cannot yet see the results.
Faithful obedience means trusting God's timing as much as His promises.

Read Together
Joshua 6:17–19
(Optional: Read Joshua 7:1 to see what happened when God's instructions were ignored.)

Discussion 4 – Strong Obedience Honors God's Holiness
God instructed Israel not to take anything from Jericho except what had been dedicated to Him.
Sadly, Achan later disobeyed, and his sin affected the entire nation.
Discuss

1. Why was it important for Israel to obey every part of God's command?
2. What does Achan's story teach us about "small" acts of disobedience?
3. Why do people sometimes want God's blessings without following His commands?
4. How does obedience demonstrate our respect for God's holiness?
5. Are there areas where partial obedience has become acceptable in our culture?

Life Application
God desires more than occasional obedience.
He desires hearts that honor Him in every area of life.

Digging Deeper – Obedience Before Victory
Read the following passages:

• 1 Samuel 15:22
• John 14:15
• James 1:22–25
• Luke 11:28

Discuss

1. What do these passages teach about obedience?
2. Why is obedience an expression of love rather than merely following rules?
3. How does obedience strengthen our faith?
4. What blessings come from consistently walking in obedience?

Gospel Connection
No one has obeyed God perfectly except Jesus Christ.
Where we have failed, Christ succeeded.
Through His perfect obedience—even to death on the cross—we receive forgiveness and righteousness by faith.
Because we have been saved by grace, we now seek to obey Him out of love and gratitude, not to earn His favor.

Personal Reflection
Take a few quiet moments to consider these questions.

• Is there an area where God has clearly spoken, but I have delayed obedience?
• Am I trusting God's plan even when it doesn't make sense?
• Am I willing to submit both my actions and my attitudes to Him?
• Am I patiently waiting on God's timing?
• Is there anything in my life that is keeping me from wholehearted obedience?

This Week's Challenge
This week:

• Read Joshua chapters 6 and 7.
• Memorize Joshua 6:2.
• Ask God to reveal one area where He is calling you to greater obedience.
• Take one specific step of obedience, even if it requires faith and patience.
• Encourage someone else who may be waiting on God to remain faithful.

Memory Verse
Joshua 6:2
"And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour."

Closing Prayer

Week 4: Be Strong in Your Integrity
Scripture: Joshua 7
Key Verse: Joshua 7:11
"Israel hath sinned..."

Icebreaker
When you hear the word integrity, what comes to mind? Who is someone (past or present) whose integrity has made a lasting impression on you, and why?

Opening Thoughts
Over the past several weeks, we've learned that our strength comes from God's presence, God's direction, and our obedience.
This week, Joshua chapter 7 reminds us that strength also requires integrity.
After Israel experienced an incredible victory at Jericho, they expected the next battle to be easy. Instead, they suffered an unexpected defeat at the small city of Ai. The problem wasn't their military strategy or lack of ability—it was hidden sin within the camp.
One man, Achan, chose to disobey God's clear command, and his private sin affected the entire nation.
Joshua 7 reminds us that integrity isn't simply about what others see. It is about faithfully honoring God when no one else is watching.

Read Together
Joshua 7:1–5

Discussion 1 – Integrity Is Proven in Private Obedience
Key Verse:
"But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing..." (Joshua 7:1)
Achan appeared to be just like every other soldier.
He crossed the Jordan.
He marched around Jericho.
He shouted when the walls fell.
But while everyone saw obedience on the outside, God saw a heart that had wandered.
Discuss

1. Why is it often easier to maintain an outward appearance than an obedient heart?
2. How does temptation usually begin before it becomes outward sin?
3. Why is private integrity so important to God?
4. How can we guard our hearts against hidden sin?
5. What spiritual habits help us stay close to the Lord?

Life Application
Integrity isn't measured by public appearances.
It is measured by faithfulness when only God knows.

Read Together
Joshua 7:6–13

Discussion 2 – Integrity Is Never Just Personal
Israel expected an easy victory over Ai.
Instead, they suffered defeat because of one man's disobedience.
Discuss

1. Why do people often believe their private choices only affect themselves?
2. How did Achan's sin impact the entire nation?
3. In what ways do our choices affect our families, church, and testimony?
4. Why is character so important for Christian leadership and influence?
5. How can we encourage one another to walk faithfully?

Life Application
Our lives are connected.
Faithfulness strengthens those around us, while hidden sin often impacts more people than we realize.

Read Together
Joshua 7:14–21

Discussion 3 – Integrity Brings Sin Into the Light
God already knew who Achan was.
The process of identifying him wasn't for God's benefit—it was for the people and for Achan.
Joshua called him to confess his sin before the Lord.
Discuss

1. What does true confession mean?
2. Why do people often try to hide their sin instead of confessing it?
3. What is the difference between being sorry for consequences and genuinely repenting?
4. How does the Holy Spirit help believers recognize sin today?
5. Why is immediate confession better than delayed confession?

Life Application
God already knows our hearts.
Confession isn't informing God.
It is agreeing with Him and restoring fellowship.

Read Together
Joshua 7:22–26
(Optional: Read Joshua 8:1–2 to see God's promise after Israel dealt with sin.)

Discussion 4 – Integrity Restores Fellowship With God
After sin was dealt with, God immediately encouraged Joshua again.
"Fear not, neither be thou dismayed..." (Joshua 8:1)
God's desire wasn't simply judgment.
His desire was restored fellowship.
Discuss

1. What does Joshua 8:1 reveal about God's grace?
2. Why is restoration one of the greatest blessings of repentance?
3. How does 1 John 1:9 encourage believers today?
4. What is the difference between living under guilt and living in forgiveness?
5. How can we help restore fellow believers who have repented?

Life Application
God is holy, but He is also gracious.
When we honestly confess our sin, He restores our fellowship and invites us to continue walking with Him.

Digging Deeper – Walking in Integrity
Read the following passages:

• Proverbs 28:13
• Psalm 51:1–12
• 1 John 1:5–9
• Galatians 3:13

Discuss

1. What do these passages teach about confession and repentance?
2. Why is integrity more than simply avoiding obvious sins?
3. How does Jesus make restoration possible?
4. How can we develop lives marked by honesty, humility, and integrity?

Gospel Connection
Achan bore the judgment for his own sin.
Jesus Christ willingly bore the judgment for ours.
Through His death on the cross, Christ took the punishment we deserved so that everyone who trusts Him can receive forgiveness, cleansing, and eternal life.
Because we have been forgiven by grace, we are called to walk in integrity—not to earn God's acceptance, but because we already belong to Him.

Personal Reflection
Take a few quiet moments to consider these questions.

• Is there an area of my life where my public image is stronger than my private walk with God?
• Is there any hidden sin I need to confess?
• Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to search my heart daily?
• How are my choices affecting my family, church, and testimony?
• What step can I take this week to strengthen my integrity?

This Week's Challenge
This week:

• Read Joshua chapters 7 and 8.
• Memorize Proverbs 28:13 or Joshua 7:11.
• Ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal anything that needs to be confessed.
• Spend time in prayer thanking God for His forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
• Look for an opportunity to encourage someone else to remain faithful in their walk with the Lord.

Memory Verse
Proverbs 28:13
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

Closing Prayer

Week 5: Be Strong Until the End
Scripture: Joshua 23–24
Key Verse: Joshua 23:6
"Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses..."

Icebreaker
Who is someone whose faithfulness to Christ has inspired you? What is it about their life that has left such a lasting impression?

Opening Thoughts
As we conclude our "Be Strong" study through the book of Joshua, we've discovered that strength comes from God's presence, God's direction, our obedience, and our integrity.
Now we arrive at Joshua's final message.
Joshua is an old man. The battles have largely been fought, the land has been divided, and the people are settled in the Promised Land. Before his death, Joshua gathers the nation one last time—not to celebrate his accomplishments, but to remind them how to continue faithfully after he is gone.
Joshua began his leadership hearing God say, "Be strong and of a good courage." Now, near the end of his life, he passes that same challenge to the next generation.
His message reminds us that the Christian life isn't simply about starting well.
It is about finishing well.

Read Together
Joshua 23:1–6

Discussion 1 – Strong People Remember God's Faithfulness
Key Verse:
"And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done..." (Joshua 23:3)
Before Joshua looked toward Israel's future, he reminded them of God's faithfulness in the past.
They had crossed the Jordan.
They had watched the walls of Jericho fall.
They had seen God fight battles they could never have won on their own.
Discuss

1. Why is remembering God's faithfulness so important?
2. How does looking back strengthen our faith for today?
3. What are some ways we can intentionally remember what God has done?
4. Can you share a time when remembering God's faithfulness helped you during a difficult season?
5. How can we help the next generation remember God's work?

Life Application
God's past faithfulness gives us confidence for today's challenges.
When we remember what He has done, we are encouraged to trust Him for what lies ahead.

Read Together
Joshua 23:7–11

Discussion 2 – Strong People Remain Faithful
Joshua challenged the people:
"But cleave unto the LORD your God..." (Joshua 23:8)
The word cleave means to cling tightly, remain joined, and hold fast.
Joshua wasn't calling Israel to casual religion.
He was calling them to wholehearted devotion.
Discuss

1. What does it mean to "cleave" to the Lord?
2. Why is it easy for believers to gradually drift away from God?
3. What habits help us remain close to the Lord?
4. What are some warning signs that someone is beginning to drift spiritually?
5. How can our church encourage one another to remain faithful?

Life Application
Strong believers don't simply know about God.
They stay close to Him through a daily, growing relationship.

Read Together
Joshua 24:14–15

Discussion 3 – Strong People Make a Personal Decision
Joshua declared:
"Choose you this day whom ye will serve..." (Joshua 24:15)
Every generation must make its own decision to follow the Lord.
Faith cannot simply be inherited.
It must be personally embraced.
Discuss

1. Why is serving God ultimately a personal decision?
2. What choices helped shape your own spiritual journey?
3. How do our daily decisions reveal who or what we truly serve?
4. What does Joshua's statement, "As for me and my house," teach about spiritual leadership in the home?
5. What decisions can we make today that will strengthen our walk with God tomorrow?

Life Application
Strong faith isn't accidental.
It grows through daily decisions to trust, obey, and follow the Lord.

Read Together
Joshua 24:29–31

Discussion 4 – Strong People Finish Well
Joshua's life came to an end, but his influence continued.
He was remembered as "the servant of the LORD."
Even after his death, the people continued serving God because of the example he had set.
Discuss

1. What stands out most to you about the way Joshua finished his life?
2. Why is finishing well often harder than starting well?
3. What kind of spiritual legacy do you hope to leave?
4. Who has invested spiritually in your life?
5. How can you intentionally invest in someone else's faith?

Life Application
A life devoted to Christ leaves an influence that continues long after we're gone.
Strong believers don't simply grow personally.
They help others grow as well.

Digging Deeper – Finishing the Race
Read the following passages:

• 2 Timothy 4:6–8
• Hebrews 12:1–2
• Philippians 3:13–14
• Matthew 25:21

Discuss

1. What do these passages teach about finishing faithfully?
2. Why does endurance matter in the Christian life?
3. How does keeping our eyes on Christ help us remain faithful?
4. What does it mean to hear, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"?

Gospel Connection
Joshua faithfully led God's people into the Promised Land.
Jesus Christ leads His people into an even greater inheritance.
Because of Christ's perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection, everyone who places their faith in Him has the promise of eternal life.
Our strength to finish well does not come from ourselves—it comes from the One who has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.

Personal Reflection
Take a few quiet moments to consider these questions.

• Am I remembering God's faithfulness in my life?
• Am I clinging closely to the Lord, or have I begun to drift?
• What decisions am I making today that will shape my future?
• What kind of legacy am I leaving for my family and those around me?
• If my life ended today, what would I want people to remember most about my walk with Christ?

This Week's Challenge
This week:

• Read Joshua chapters 23 and 24.
• Memorize Joshua 24:15 (or Joshua 23:6).
• Write down five ways God has been faithful throughout your life.
• Encourage someone younger in the faith by sharing one of those testimonies.
• Ask God to help you remain faithful and finish well, no matter what lies ahead.

Memory Verse
Joshua 24:15
"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Closing Prayer

Be Strong Until the End
Text: Joshua 23–24
There is something admirable about a strong start, but there is something even more remarkable about a strong finish.
As we conclude our "Be Strong" series from the book of Joshua, we have spent the last several weeks discovering what it means to be strong in God's presence, strong in God's direction, strong in our obedience, and strong in our integrity. Each message has reminded us that God commanded Joshua to "be strong and of a good courage."

But God's desire was never for Joshua to simply begin well. He wanted him to finish well.
Joshua opens his ministry hearing God's voice say, "Be strong and of a good courage" (Joshua 1:6). Decades later, as he nears the end of his life, Joshua echoes those same words to the nation of Israel:
"Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses..." (Joshua 23:6).
The message has come full circle. God strengthened Joshua, and Joshua spent the rest of his life strengthening others. That is the mark of a life well lived.
Strength isn't just for the battles of today—it's for the finish line.

I. Strong People Remember God's Faithfulness
Joshua 23:3
The book of Joshua is filled with unforgettable moments. We read about Rahab's faith, the crossing of the Jordan River, the memorial stones, the walls of Jericho falling, and countless victories that only God could provide.
As Joshua prepares to leave this world, he intentionally directs Israel's attention backward before looking forward.
If we constantly stare at today's problems, we'll eventually collapse under their weight. Tomorrow often feels too heavy to carry. But when we stop and remember what God has already done, yesterday's victories become today's source of strength.
Our culture often encourages us to erase the past—to forget our history, our heritage, even our testimony. Yet God repeatedly tells His people to remember.
Think back.
Walk down memory lane.
Remember the prayers God answered, the doors He opened, the battles He fought, and the times He carried you when you couldn't carry yourself.
Looking back at God's faithfulness gives us confidence to face today's challenges.

II. Strong People Remain Faithful
Joshua 23:8
Joshua tells Israel,
"But cleave unto the LORD your God..."
The word "cleave" is the Hebrew word dabaq, meaning to stick to, cling to, hold fast, remain joined, pursue closely, and be firmly attached.
Interestingly, this is the very same word used in Genesis 2:24, where the Bible says that a husband shall "leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife."
Joshua wasn't simply telling Israel to believe in God or attend religious services. He was calling them into a relationship of complete devotion.
Just as a husband and wife are joined together in covenant, God's people were to remain inseparably attached to Him.
This is far more than casual religion.
It is a relationship so close that separation becomes unthinkable.
Sadly, after years in ministry, I've watched many people casually walk away from the Lord. I'm not talking about someone moving to another Bible-believing church—that's simply part of life. I'm talking about those who gradually loosen their grip on God until eventually they let go altogether.
Strong people don't merely know about God.
They hold tightly to Him.

III. Strong People Make a Personal Decision
Joshua 24:15
Joshua boldly declared,
"Choose you this day whom ye will serve..."
Throughout the book of Joshua, people were continually faced with choices.
Joshua chose to follow God.
The spies chose to trust Him.
Rahab chose to believe.
Israel chose to march around Jericho.
Again and again, victory followed decisions of faith.
Now, twenty-five to thirty years later, Joshua reminds the next generation that they must choose for themselves.
The same remains true today.
No one accidentally serves God.
People choose to attend church.
They choose to trust Christ.
They choose to surrender to His will.
They choose to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
They choose to stay faithful when life becomes difficult.
Unfortunately, people also choose to neglect church, reject Christ, refuse to serve, abandon their spiritual responsibilities, and quit the fight of faith.
Every decision has consequences.
Each person must choose.
As Joshua declared,
"But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

IV. Strong People Finish Well
Joshua 24:29–31
Joshua's life concludes with several beautiful observations that teach us what it means to finish strong.

His Family Was Remembered
Joshua is once again identified as "the son of Nun."
His family name remained connected to his legacy.
We all belong to someone.
We should desire to honor those who came before us and leave a testimony that blesses those who come behind us.
Parents ought to desire to leave their children a heritage of faith.
A good name is far more valuable than great riches.

He Was Called "The Servant of the LORD"
Joshua's greatest title wasn't military leader or national hero.
He was called "the servant of the LORD."
That is the very same title given to Moses in Joshua 1:1.
What greater description could be written over a person's life than simply:
"He was God's servant."
May that be said of us.

He Was Buried Within the Border of His Inheritance
Joshua was buried in the very land God had given him.
After spending his life leading God's people, fighting for the Promised Land, and faithfully serving where God had placed him, he was laid to rest within the borders of his inheritance.
There's a beautiful picture here.
Joshua finished where God had called him.
Moses faithfully served the Lord, yet because of his disobedience he did not enter the Promised Land or finish within his inheritance. Joshua, however, finished well.
He finished right.
He finished strong.
May every father desire to be in godly standing with his family when life is over.
May every mother desire the same.
A life well lived leaves behind a legacy worth following.

His Influence Continued After His Death
The Bible tells us that the elders who outlived Joshua continued serving the Lord.
That may be one of the greatest statements about Joshua's life.
His influence survived him.
If you want to outlive yourself, invest in others.
Some believers are content simply to grow personally. They read the Bible for themselves, pray for themselves, and pursue holiness for themselves.
While personal devotion is essential, God never intended our faith to stop with us.
Strong people strengthen others.
Joshua certainly did.

Final Thoughts
The book began with God telling Joshua,
"Be strong and of a good courage... for the LORD thy God is with thee."
The book ends with Joshua encouraging an entire nation to remain strong after he is gone.
That is a powerful legacy.
Strength is not just for battles.
Strength is not just for difficult seasons.
Strength is for a lifetime.
We need God's strength to walk in His presence.
We need God's strength to follow His direction.
We need God's strength to obey Him.
We need God's strength to live with integrity.
And when those qualities are faithfully practiced day after day, year after year, they produce something every believer should desire:
A life that finishes well.
May we all determine, by God's grace, to be strong until the end.

We Preach Christ
Scripture: Mark 16:15
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." — Mark 16:15

The Church Has One Message
Before our Lord ascended back to heaven, He left His church with one clear assignment: preach the gospel. He did not commission us to entertain the world, argue philosophy, or build an earthly kingdom. He commanded us to take the good news of Jesus Christ to every person.
The gospel is far more than a message about Christ—it is the message of Christ. It declares who He is, what He accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection, and what He freely offers to every sinner who will believe.
Churches may have many ministries and many opportunities to serve, but they have only one message that changes lives:
We preach Christ.

I. We Preach Christ to Reveal God's Grace
Acts 20:24
The Apostle Paul described his life's work as proclaiming "the gospel of the grace of God." There is no greater display of God's grace than the cross of Jesus Christ.
Grace is God's undeserved favor toward undeserving sinners.
We did not deserve Christ to leave heaven.
We did not deserve His sacrifice on Calvary.
We did not deserve forgiveness, mercy, or eternal life.
Yet God, because of His great love, provided salvation through His Son.
Every faithful sermon about Christ reveals:

• God's amazing love.
• God's abundant mercy.
• God's complete forgiveness.
• God's marvelous grace.

Many people recognize God's power through creation, but they only discover His saving grace through Jesus Christ. Without Christ there is no gospel, and without the gospel the world never truly understands the grace of God.

II. We Preach Christ to Expose Man's Sin
2 Corinthians 5:21
Calvary reveals two great truths simultaneously: the holiness of God and the sinfulness of mankind.
Consider how humanity treated the only perfect man who ever lived.
They rejected Him.
They falsely accused Him.
They mocked Him.
They scourged Him.
They crowned Him with thorns.
They nailed Him to a cross.
They sealed His tomb believing they had silenced Him forever.
Nothing exposes the darkness of the human heart more clearly than the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. If sinful men would crucify the spotless Son of God, then our greatest problem is not ignorance—it is sin.
Yet this same passage also reveals the beauty of redemption. Christ willingly took our sin upon Himself so that all who trust Him might receive His righteousness.
The cross is where God's justice and God's grace meet.
Before a sinner will truly appreciate the Savior, he must first understand his need for salvation.

III. We Preach Christ to Glorify God
John 4:24
The purpose of biblical preaching is not merely to educate people—it is to glorify God.
God is honored whenever His truth is faithfully proclaimed.
In our day there are countless voices claiming to speak for God. Sincerity alone, however, is not enough. A person may sincerely believe something and still be sincerely wrong.
Error may attract attention.
Error may fill buildings.
Error may stir emotions.
But only the truth of God's Word brings glory to God.
When Christ is preached according to the Scriptures, God's holiness, justice, mercy, wisdom, love, and power are displayed before a watching world.
Our responsibility is never to make God's message more appealing by changing it. Our responsibility is simply to proclaim it clearly and faithfully.

IV. We Preach Christ to Exalt Christ
John 3:30
John the Baptist summarized every faithful ministry with these simple words:
"He must increase, but I must decrease."
That is the heartbeat of biblical preaching.
The world continually exalts human achievement, human wisdom, personal success, and self-confidence.
The gospel exalts none of those things.
The gospel exalts one Person—the Lord Jesus Christ.
A faithful preacher is not building his own platform or reputation. His calling is to point people away from himself and toward the Savior.
Every sermon ought to leave people thinking more about Jesus than about the preacher.
When Christ increases, the church fulfills its purpose.

V. We Preach Christ to Declare the Only Way of Salvation
2 Corinthians 4:3–4
Romans 1:16
The greatest need in our world is not political reform, economic prosperity, or social improvement.
The world's greatest need is salvation.
Paul reminds us that Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the glory of Christ. That is precisely why the gospel must continue to be preached.
No philosophy can save.
No denomination can save.
No amount of morality can save.
No collection of good works can save.
Only the gospel of Jesus Christ is "the power of God unto salvation."
The church has been entrusted with the only message that can rescue souls from eternal judgment.
If we truly believe Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, then silence is not an option.
We preach Christ because eternity hangs in the balance.

Final Thoughts
The world has countless opinions, endless distractions, and temporary solutions, but its greatest need has never changed.
The world needs Christ.
That is why we preach Him.
We preach Christ because He reveals the grace of God.
We preach Christ because He exposes the reality of sin.
We preach Christ because His truth glorifies the Father.
We preach Christ because He alone deserves all honor and praise.
And we preach Christ because He alone has the power to save.
Paul captured the heartbeat of every Bible-believing church when he declared:
"But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness." — 1 Corinthians 1:23
May that always remain the mission of West End Baptist Church and of every faithful New Testament church until our Savior returns.
No substitute. No compromise. No other message.
We preach Christ.

Looking to God for Help
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:12
"O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee." — 2 Chronicles 20:12
When the Battle Is Bigger Than You
Over the past several weeks we've looked at what it means to be a nation blessed by God and the responsibility believers have to influence our country for Christ. As I prayed about this week's message, I didn't originally intend to continue with that theme, but as I watched the headlines and looked around at our world, I couldn't escape one simple truth—people are looking for hope.
Everywhere we turn we hear about crime, conflict, financial uncertainty, political division, and broken families. If we're not careful, we'll begin to believe that discouragement is normal. Yet God's people have never been called to live defeated lives. We have been called to keep our eyes on Him.
The situation we're facing today isn't new. God's people have faced impossible circumstances throughout history. One of the greatest examples is found in 2 Chronicles 20.
King Jehoshaphat was surrounded by enemy armies. Humanly speaking, defeat seemed certain. But instead of trusting military strength or political strategy, he turned to the Lord and prayed one of the most honest prayers found in Scripture:
"Neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee."
That is still one of the greatest prayers a believer can pray.

I. They Faced Problems Bigger Than They Could Handle
The armies of Moab, Ammon, and others united against Judah. Jehoshaphat looked at the situation and admitted something many of us struggle to admit:
"We have no might... neither know we what to do."
Sometimes our greatest act of faith is simply admitting we don't have the answers.
Whether it's sickness, financial struggles, broken relationships, family problems, or spiritual battles, every believer eventually reaches a place where they must confess, "Lord, I can't fix this."
Too often our prayers become instructions for God instead of surrender to God. We tell Him how we think He should solve the problem instead of asking Him what He wants to do.
God is waiting for hearts that admit their need for Him.

II. They Sought God in a Spiritual Way
Instead of panicking, Jehoshaphat proclaimed a national fast. The people gathered together—not to complain, but to seek the Lord.
Real spiritual victories are never won through empty religious routines.
It's easy to celebrate God on patriotic holidays or during special services, but the Lord desires a daily relationship with His people. If we truly want God to move in our homes, our churches, and our nation, we must seek Him sincerely.
God responds to hearts that earnestly pursue Him.

III. They Worshiped While God Fought
One of the most remarkable parts of this story is that God instructed the singers to go before the army.
As the people praised...
God fought.
They didn't win because of superior weapons.
They won because they trusted and obeyed the Lord.
The same principle is found throughout Scripture.
Paul and Silas sang in prison, and God opened the doors.
Peter sat in prison while believers prayed, and God sent an angel to deliver him.
Praise doesn't ignore the problem—it acknowledges that God is greater than the problem.
Our worship shifts our focus from the battle to the One who controls the battle.

IV. The Battle Belonged to the Lord
One of the greatest promises in this chapter is found in verse 15:
"...Be not afraid nor dismayed... for the battle is not yours, but God's."
What a wonderful reminder.
We spend so much of our lives trying to fight battles that belong to God.
We try to repair broken relationships.
We try to control uncertain futures.
We try to carry burdens we were never meant to carry.
The Lord simply says, "Bring them to Me."
Like the old hymn reminds us:
"Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer."
When we surrender the battle to Him, we discover He has been more than capable all along.

V. Their Victory Became Their Testimony
After the victory, the people returned to Jerusalem rejoicing.
No one could brag about military strength.
No one could boast about clever strategy.
Everyone knew exactly who had won the battle.
God received the glory.
That's how God works.
When He brings us through impossible situations, our testimony becomes an opportunity to point others to Him.

Final Thoughts
Perhaps you're facing something today that feels bigger than you.
Maybe it's your family.
Your finances.
Your health.
Your future.
Or maybe you're simply overwhelmed by everything happening in our world.
Take encouragement from Jehoshaphat's prayer.
When you don't know what to do...
Keep your eyes on God.
When the burden is too heavy...
Keep worshiping.
When the battle seems impossible...
Remember whose battle it really is.
God is still good.
God is still faithful.
God is still fighting for His people.
Challenge
This week, instead of focusing on everything that's wrong, choose to worship.
Instead of worrying, begin praising.
Instead of trying to fight every battle in your own strength, place your eyes upon the Lord.
You may discover what Judah learned long ago:
When God's people worship, God goes to work.

Be Strong in Your Integrity
Text: Joshua 7

Over the past several weeks in our Wednesday evening study through Joshua, we have been looking at what it means to Be Strong.
We have learned about being strong in God's presence, because He promised Joshua, "I will be with thee." We have learned about being strong in God's direction, trusting Him even when His instructions don't make sense to us. Last week we saw the importance of being strong in our obedience as the children of Israel marched around Jericho, trusting God to do what only He could do.
Each of these lessons has reminded us of one important truth: God's ways are not our ways. Many times His plan seems unusual, but His plan is always right. Throughout the book of Joshua, God continually says, "If you will obey Me, I will bless you." God has never failed His people, and He never will.
As we come to Joshua chapter 7, however, we find a different story. Jericho has fallen. The walls are down. The victory has been won. Yet before Israel can move forward, one man's hidden sin brings the entire nation to a halt.
This chapter teaches us another essential truth for the Christian life:
Be Strong in Your Integrity.

Integrity Is Proven in Private Obedience
Joshua 7 opens with a startling statement:
"But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing..." (Joshua 7:1)
God had given very specific instructions concerning Jericho. Everything was to be destroyed except the precious metals that were to be placed in the treasury of the Lord. No one was to take personal possessions from the city.
One man chose to ignore God's command.
Achan saw a beautiful Babylonian garment, silver, and gold. He coveted them, took them, and buried them beneath his tent.
Notice something important: Achan looked like everyone else on the outside.
He crossed the Jordan.
He marched around Jericho.
He shouted when the walls fell.
He appeared to be just another faithful soldier.
The problem was not his public actions. The problem was his private heart.
Integrity is not demonstrated by what we do when everyone is watching. Integrity is revealed by what we choose when no one else knows.
James reminds us that temptation begins within our own hearts. It grows from desire to sin, and sin eventually brings death (James 1:14-15).
Our hearts cannot be trusted apart from God's leadership. Jeremiah tells us that "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked."
Achan's downfall did not begin when he picked up the treasure. It began long before that in a heart that had drifted away from complete obedience.
A.W. Tozer wisely said:
"What we are before God is what we are—and nothing more."
That is true integrity.

Integrity Is Never Just Personal
One of Satan's greatest lies is convincing us that our sin only affects us.
Joshua sent only a few thousand soldiers to conquer the small city of Ai because it appeared to be an easy victory. Instead, Israel suffered a humiliating defeat, and thirty-six men lost their lives.
Joshua fell before the Lord, confused and heartbroken.
God's response was direct:
"Israel hath sinned..." (Joshua 7:11)
Notice that God did not simply say, "Achan has sinned."
The entire nation suffered because one man chose disobedience.
Our lives are more connected than we often realize.
A father's choices affect his family.
A mother's testimony influences her children.
A church member's testimony impacts the entire congregation.
A believer's witness affects how the lost view Christ.
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 5:6 that "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."
Sin never stays isolated.
Billy Graham once said,
"When wealth is lost, nothing is lost. When health is lost, something is lost. When character is lost, all is lost."
Integrity matters because people are always watching.

Integrity Brings Sin Into the Light
God instructed Joshua to gather the nation.
The tribes were examined.
Then the families.
Then the households.
Finally, the guilty man stood before everyone.
God already knew who Achan was.
This process was not for God's benefit.
It was for the people.
Joshua looked at Achan and said,
"Give... glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him..." (Joshua 7:19)
That may sound unusual, but Joshua was calling Achan to agree with God.
Real confession is simply agreeing with God about our sin.
Proverbs 28:13 reminds us:
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."
The tragedy is that Achan confessed only after he was caught.
How much better it would have been to confess immediately.
As New Testament believers, we enjoy an incredible blessing. The Holy Spirit lives within us, constantly convicting, correcting, warning, and guiding us.
When He speaks, we should listen.
When He convicts, we should confess.
When we ignore His voice, we grieve the very One who is trying to help us walk in fellowship with God.

Integrity Restores Fellowship With God
The consequences of Achan's sin were severe.
Sin always carries consequences.
Yet the beautiful ending of the chapter is not simply judgment.
It is restoration.
Once sin was removed from the camp, God immediately spoke again:
"Fear not, neither be thou dismayed... I have given into thy hand the king of Ai..." (Joshua 8:1)
What a picture of God's grace!
God is holy.
God is just.
But God is also merciful.
When His people deal honestly with sin, fellowship is restored.
The same God who promised His presence in Joshua chapter 1 renewed that promise after repentance.
Our God is not looking for reasons to reject His children.
He desires restored fellowship.
First John 1:9 reminds us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What an amazing Savior!

Final Thoughts
Integrity does not mean we never fail.
Every believer stumbles.
Every Christian battles temptation.
Integrity means that when we fail, we refuse to stay there.
We confess.
We repent.
We make things right.
Abraham failed, yet he returned to God.
David committed terrible sins, yet Psalm 51 records one of the greatest prayers of repentance in all of Scripture.
God used both men because they humbled themselves before Him.

One illustration has always stayed with me.
A father once told his son to hammer a nail into a fence every time he lost his temper. Later, he instructed him to remove a nail each time he gained victory over his anger.
Eventually, every nail was removed.
The father then pointed to the fence and said, "The nails are gone, but the holes remain."
God forgives completely.

Sometimes, however, the consequences of our choices require time to heal.
That is why integrity is so valuable.
It keeps us walking closely with the Lord before those holes are ever made.
As we close, remember that Achan had to bear the judgment for his own sin.
You and I do not.
Jesus Christ became a curse for us (Galatians 3:13). He bore the punishment that we deserved so that we could receive forgiveness, grace, and eternal life.
If there is hidden sin in your life today, don't bury it like Achan.
Bring it to the Lord.
Confess it.
Forsake it.
Walk in fellowship with Him once again.
May we all determine to be men and women who are strong in our integrity, living lives that honor Christ both publicly and privately.

Be Strong: Strong in Our Obedience
Bible Text: Joshua 6:1-20
We have been studying the book of Joshua in our sermon series “Be Strong.” Throughout this series, we have been reminded that God repeatedly told Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage.”
In the first message, we looked at being strong in God’s presence. The reason we can be strong is because God is with us. When God told Joshua to move forward, He reminded him that he would not be alone. The same is true for us today. If God is for us, who can be against us?
Last week, we looked at being strong in God’s direction. We learned through the crossing of the Jordan River that God’s way does not always make sense to us. If God’s plan always made sense from a human perspective, then it would simply be something we could have created ourselves.
But God’s ways are higher than our ways. His methods may not always make sense, but His way is always right.
Tonight, we turn our attention to Joshua chapter 6 and the subject of being strong in our obedience.
It is one thing to say, “I am strong in God’s presence.” It is another thing to say, “I am strong in following God’s direction.” But it is another thing entirely to say, “I will obey God even when His plan is difficult, unusual, or requires patience.”
I believe many of us here tonight desire to obey the Lord. This Wednesday night crowd could be doing many other things, but you chose to be here because you wanted to hear from God’s Word. Many of you serve faithfully in different areas of the church. Tonight is not meant to be a message of criticism, but a message of encouragement.
If you are trusting God, following God, and obeying God, then keep going.
Sometimes we look at situations in life and wonder if we have done something wrong. Maybe a child chooses another direction. Maybe someone we have witnessed to does not respond. Maybe things do not turn out the way we hoped.
But remember this truth:
If you are trusting God, following God, and obeying God, you are doing the right thing. Keep walking with Him.
Tonight, I want us to see four truths about strong obedience.

1. Strong Obedience Trusts God’s Plan
Joshua 6 begins with the city of Jericho standing before Israel.
“Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.”
Joshua 6:1
Jericho was prepared. The city was locked down. The people inside knew Israel was coming.
Then God gave Joshua His plan.
“And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.”
Joshua 6:2
Notice that God said, “I have given.”
God allowed Joshua to see the victory before the battle ever happened.
The plan God gave them probably did not make sense.
These were trained soldiers. They had swords, spears, and weapons of war. If they had gathered together to make their own battle plan, they probably would have talked about weapons, strategy, and strength.
But God said:
“Walk around the city.”
That was the plan.
Walk around once a day for six days. Then on the seventh day, walk around seven times, blow the trumpets, and shout.
Humanly speaking, that sounds weak.
But here is what we must understand:
It did not matter what method God chose because the victory was already His.
If God had told them to throw rocks at Jericho, Jericho would have fallen.
If God had told them to shout at the walls, Jericho would have fallen.
Why?
Because when God says something, His Word can be trusted.
The same is true in our lives.
God already has a plan for what you are facing. God already knows what tomorrow holds. God already knows the answer before we ever see the problem.
We must learn to trust God’s Word even when His methods are not what we would choose.

2. Strong Obedience Requires Complete Submission
Joshua 6:6-14 shows Israel following God’s instructions.
The priests carried the Ark of the Covenant. The trumpets sounded. The soldiers marched. The people walked around the city.
But notice something important.
They were not only required to do something—they were required to refrain from doing something.
Joshua told them:
“Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth…”
Joshua 6:10
They had to be silent.
That is not easy.
Some people struggle to be quiet. Some people always have something to say.
But God required silence.
True obedience is not just doing what God tells us to do. Sometimes obedience is refusing to do what we want to do.
Submission is two-sided.
We often think submission means saying yes when God asks us to act.
But sometimes submission means saying no to our own desires.
I have been working on my health and exercising more. I do not have much trouble submitting to going to the gym.
My problem is submitting to the refrigerator and the snack cabinet!
But obedience requires both action and restraint.
The soldiers had to submit to a strange command. They had to submit to specific roles. Some carried the Ark. Some blew the trumpets. Some simply walked.
Even the soldiers who were trained for battle were not allowed to fight.
That is real submission.
Sometimes God asks us to trust Him instead of relying on what we think we are capable of doing.

3. Strong Obedience Waits on God’s Timing
Joshua 6:15-20 tells us about the victory.
For six days, they marched.
On the seventh day, they marched seven times.
Then Joshua gave the command.
The trumpets sounded.
The people shouted.
And the walls fell.
Can you imagine the patience it required?
Day one.
Day two.
Day three.
Day four.
Day five.
Day six.
Nothing happened.
But God was working.
Sometimes we want to pray a prayer and have God put the answer on the delivery truck immediately.
But many times God uses the waiting.
God uses the walking.
God uses the silence.
God uses those moments to grow our faith.
Israel had to walk around the city thirteen times before they saw the victory.
They could have quit after day one.
They could have said, “Joshua, this is not working.”
But they continued because God had spoken.
Do not quit before you give God a chance to honor His Word.
Sometimes we try to rush God’s timing. Sometimes we even do good things outside of God’s timing.
But understand this:
Doing the right thing at the wrong time can still be disobedience.
God is not looking for us to simply do more. He is looking for us to faithfully do what He has called us to do.
If God has called you to teach, teach faithfully.
If God has called you to serve, serve faithfully.
If God has called you to be faithful in your place, stay faithful.
Do not quit before God has finished what He is doing.

4. Strong Obedience Honors God’s Holiness
Joshua 6:17-19 gives specific instructions concerning Jericho.
The city was to be destroyed, except for Rahab and her family because of the promise made to her.
The gold, silver, brass, and iron were not to be taken for personal use. They belonged to the Lord.
God was teaching Israel that victory belongs to Him.
But sadly, we see in the next chapter that a man named Achan ignored God’s command.
He took what God said not to take, and it brought trouble to Israel.
The people wanted God’s blessing, but Achan wanted things his own way.
And sometimes that is where we struggle.
We want God’s blessings.
We want God’s timing.
We want God’s direction.
But we also want our own rules.
It reminds me of children.
Children love the house. They love the bed. They love the food. They love being taken places.
But then mom and dad give rules.
Clean your room.
Take out the trash.
Be home at a certain time.
Suddenly the rules become a problem.
Many people are the same way with God.
We love His blessings, but sometimes we struggle with His commands.
Strong obedience honors God’s holiness.

Conclusion
The story of Jericho is not just about the victory of Israel.
It is about our need for God.
Could Israel have defeated Jericho with swords and spears?
Maybe.
But God wanted them to learn something greater:
They needed Him.
A God who can bring down walls through obedience, faith, trumpets, and a shout is a God who can handle whatever we face.
The message of Joshua is simple:
Be strong.
Trust God.
Follow God.
Obey God.
West End Baptist Church, we have walked through valleys. We have crossed rivers. We have faced difficult seasons.
And there will be more challenges ahead.
But keep walking with God.
Keep trusting Him.
Keep obeying Him.
Because in His perfect timing, He will give the victory.

America's Hope: The People of God

In times of national uncertainty, economic turmoil, and social division, we often find ourselves asking the same questions: What's wrong with America? How can we fix our broken country? What's the answer to all our problems?
We look to Washington for solutions. We debate policies, taxes, immigration, and education reform. We scroll through social media, venting our frustrations about crime, injustice, and the moral decline we see all around us. Yet despite all our political activism and passionate opinions, the problems persist.
Perhaps we've been looking in the wrong direction.
The Real Answer Begins with Two Words
Second Chronicles 7:14 offers a profound truth that cuts through all the political noise: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Notice the verse doesn't say "if my government" or "if my schools" or "if my politicians." It says "if my people."
National revivals have never started in the halls of Congress. They haven't originated in school board meetings or corporate boardrooms. Throughout history, genuine transformation has always begun with God's people returning to God.
The real question isn't what America can do for us, but what we—as God's people—can do for America.
Who Are God's People?

Not everyone can claim to be God's people. While every human being was created by God, not everyone belongs to Him. The distinction matters.
Psalm 100:3 declares, "Know ye that the Lord, He is God. It is He that hath made us and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture." This description specifically refers to believers—those who have entered into relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
God's people are marked by several characteristics:
We belong to God. We're not our own; we've been bought with a price. Our lives are no longer driven by selfish ambition but by the purpose of our Creator.
We're called by His name. In a world obsessed with labels and identity politics, the greatest identity we carry is that we bear God's name. When the world looks at us, they should see representatives of the King of heaven.
We're a chosen generation. First Peter 2:9 reminds us that we are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." We've been chosen for this specific moment in history to shine the light of the gospel.
We're citizens of heaven. While we live in America or wherever we call home, our true citizenship is in heaven. Philippians 3:20 says, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." This eternal perspective should shape how we live in the temporary.
What Should God's People Do?
If we truly are God's people, called for such a time as this, what should we be doing?

We Must Be a Preserving People
Jesus said, "Ye are the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13). Salt serves multiple purposes—it preserves, creates thirst, and adds flavor.
As salt, Christians don't prevent decay entirely, but we slow it down. We add restraint to a world racing toward moral collapse. We stand as a blockade protecting our children from destructive ideologies. We push back against policies that contradict biblical truth.
Our very presence should make others thirsty for God. The way we live—with integrity, joy, and peace despite circumstances—should cause people to wonder what we have that they're missing.
But here's the sobering reality: salt that has lost its flavor is worthless. When Christians become indistinguishable from the world—when we gossip just as much, compromise just as easily, and complain just as loudly—we lose our preserving power. We become good for nothing but to be "cast out and trodden under foot of men."
The world hasn't become the doormat of Christianity; Christianity has become the doormat of the world. Why? Because we've lost our savor. We've stopped being who God called us to be.

We Must Be a Praying People
First Timothy 2:1-4 instructs us: "I exhort therefore that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. For kings and for all that are in authority, that we might lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
We live in a culture of criticism. Social media has given everyone a platform to blast politicians, mock leaders, and tear down anyone in authority. While we all have opinions, God hasn't called us primarily to be opinionated—He's called us to be intercessors.
We should pray for presidents, governors, mayors, sheriffs, school board members, teachers, coaches, and every person in authority over us and our families. Not because we agree with them, but because God commands it.
Why should we pray for leaders? Because "God our Savior...will have all men to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4). Every politician, every leader, every person will one day stand before God. Their soul will spend eternity somewhere. We should care about that.
The world can organize prayer events and read eloquent speeches, but they cannot access God's throne like believers can. We come boldly before the throne of grace in Jesus' name, calling God our Father, making our petitions known.

We Must Be a Preparing People
Preserving the world and praying for peace are important, but they're primarily for the here and now. There's an eternity waiting for everyone, and we must never forget our ultimate mission: preparing people to meet Jesus.
John the Baptist was called "the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord" (Isaiah 40:3). Luke 1:17 says we're "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Acts 1:8 reminds us we should be witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
The church has spent decades fighting against specific sins—abortion, sexual immorality, greed. While we must stand for truth, we've sometimes missed the forest for the trees. If we get people saved, if we bring them to the cross, if we introduce them to Jesus, He will change them from the inside out.
The hope of America isn't merely better politicians—it's better Christians. Our world doesn't just need a stronger economy; it needs a stronger church. We don't need more government; we need more gospel.
The Order Matters
Notice the progression in 2 Chronicles 7:14:
Humble ourselves. In a prideful world where everyone thinks they're right, we must start with humility, acknowledging our need for God.
Pray. Not just complain, not just post on social media, but actually talk to God about what burdens us.
Seek God's face. Before seeking approval from bosses, coaches, or anyone else, we should seek to be right with God.
Turn from wicked ways. Confess sin honestly, asking God to purify our hearts, eyes, and tongues.
Only then does God promise to hear, forgive, and heal.
The Time Is Now
As God's people, we're somebody. We carry the name of the King of kings. We have access to the throne room of heaven. We possess the only message that can truly transform hearts and heal nations.
The question isn't whether we can make a difference. The question is: will we?
Will we be the salt that preserves? Will we be the people who pray? Will we prepare others to meet the Lord?
America needs God. Our schools need God. Our families need God. And God has chosen to work through His people—through us—to bring His light into the darkness.
The hope of our nation rests not in the next election, but in the next generation of believers who will humble themselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from wickedness.
That's where healing begins.

Blessed Is the Nation
Scripture: Psalm 33:12 
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance." — Psalm 33:12
As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding, our hearts naturally turn toward gratitude for the many freedoms and blessings we enjoy as Americans. We live in a country with opportunities that many around the world can only dream about. We enjoy the freedom to worship, to own a Bible, to raise our families according to God's Word, and to openly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
These blessings are not accidental. They are gifts from the hand of God.
Psalm 33 reminds us of a timeless truth:
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD."
This verse was originally written concerning Israel, yet the principle remains true for every people and every generation. God blesses those who acknowledge Him, honor Him, and submit themselves to His authority.

Not All Nations Are Spiritually Equal
Our world often teaches that every nation, every religion, and every god are essentially the same. Scripture teaches otherwise.
The psalmist didn't write, "Blessed is every nation." He wrote, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD."
There is only one true and living God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the God revealed through Jesus Christ. While every person has the freedom to worship as they choose, the blessings promised in Scripture belong to those who acknowledge the Lord as God.
Throughout history, nations that rejected God eventually experienced decline, while those that honored Him enjoyed His favor and protection.
America has never been perfect, but our nation was undeniably influenced by biblical principles. Our founding documents acknowledge our Creator, our earliest leaders frequently called the nation to prayer, and generations before us understood that liberty was inseparable from our dependence upon God.

God Blesses Nations That Honor Him
The promise of Psalm 33 is simple:
God blesses nations that honor Him.
The blessings we enjoy are not merely the result of military strength, economic prosperity, or natural resources. They are ultimately the evidence of God's goodness.
Our Declaration of Independence reminds us that our rights come from our Creator, not from government. George Washington warned that no nation can expect the smile of Heaven while disregarding God's moral laws. Benjamin Franklin publicly acknowledged that God governs in the affairs of men.
Our nation's founders understood something we must never forget:
America's greatest strength has never been her wealth or her weapons. America's greatest strength has always been her dependence upon Almighty God.
As believers, we should desire God's blessing not only upon our nation, but also upon our churches, our homes, and our own lives. A church whose God is the Lord will experience His blessing. A family whose God is the Lord will know His guidance. A believer who walks with God will enjoy His peace.

God Can Remove His Blessing
While God's blessings are wonderful, Scripture also reminds us that they should never be taken for granted.
God sees every nation.
He observes every government.
He watches every individual.
Psalm 33 goes on to declare that "The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men."
God keeps account.
History is filled with powerful nations that once flourished but later fell because they forsook the Lord. No nation—including America—is exempt from that reality.
Our confidence should never rest in our economy, our military, or our political system. Those things are important, but they cannot replace the blessing and protection of God.
The greatest danger America faces is not from outside enemies—it is from within, when we drift away from the God who has so richly blessed us.
Our Responsibility
It is easy to point fingers toward Washington, our schools, or our culture.
But Scripture reminds us that revival begins with God's people.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray..."
The future of our nation will not be determined solely by politicians. It will be influenced by Christians who faithfully pray, faithfully vote according to biblical convictions, faithfully worship, faithfully raise godly families, and faithfully proclaim the Gospel.
We cannot control every decision made in our nation, but we can determine who will be Lord of our own lives.

A Final Thought
I am thankful to be an American.
But even more than that, I am thankful to be a Christian.
Nations rise and fall. Kingdoms come and go. Yet our hope has never rested in earthly governments. Our hope rests in Jesus Christ.
As we celebrate our nation's heritage, let us also renew our commitment to the One who has blessed us so richly.
May God continue to bless America—not because we deserve it, but because His people continue to seek Him, honor Him, and proclaim His truth.
May we never forget:
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD."

THE PRAYING FATHER
Scripture: Job 1:5
"And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually."
Father’s Day often brings thoughts of memories, traditions, and the influence that fathers have on their families. While many qualities define a godly father, perhaps none is more important than being a man of prayer. In Job 1:5, we are given a glimpse into the private life of one of the Bible’s greatest men. Before Job became known for his suffering, patience, and perseverance, he was known in heaven as a praying father.
Job understood something every parent needs to remember: the greatest need in our children’s lives is not success, popularity, wealth, or achievement. Their greatest need is a right relationship with God. Long before trouble ever came to his home, Job was already on his knees praying for his children. His prayer life prepared him for the storms that would eventually come.
As we look at Job’s example, we discover several characteristics of a praying father.
Sermon Outline
Title:
The Praying Father
Bible Text:
Job 1:5

1. A Praying Father Is Concerned About His Children’s Souls
Job’s greatest concern was not his children’s careers, accomplishments, or social standing. His concern was their spiritual condition. He offered sacrifices because he feared they might have sinned against God in their hearts.
Many parents spend countless hours praying for grades, scholarships, athletic success, and future opportunities. While none of those prayers are wrong, they should never take precedence over praying for our children’s souls. We ought to be more concerned about their walk with God than their worldly success.
A praying father asks:

• Are my children walking with God?
• Is there sin hindering their fellowship with Him?
• Have they trusted Christ as Savior?
• Are they living in God’s will?

The greatest gift a parent can give a child is consistent prayer for their spiritual well-being.

2. A Praying Father Intercedes for Each Child Individually
The Bible tells us that Job offered sacrifices “according to the number of them all.” Job had ten children, and he intentionally prayed for each one.
This reminds us that every child is different. Each child faces unique struggles, temptations, fears, and opportunities. Blanket prayers have their place, but effective parenting requires specific prayers.
Pray for each child by name.
Pray for their strengths and weaknesses.
Pray for their friendships.
Pray for their future spouse.
Pray for their spiritual growth.
Prayer requires labor. It takes time. It takes focus. It demands consistency. But our children are worth every minute spent on our knees before God.

3. A Praying Father Makes Prayer a Priority
Job “rose up early in the morning” to pray.
This detail is significant because Job was not an idle man. Scripture describes him as the greatest man in the East. He had enormous responsibilities, businesses to oversee, servants to manage, and wealth to maintain. Yet he made prayer a priority.
The truth is that nobody finds time to pray—we must make time to pray.
Prayer is not something we do when everything else is finished. Prayer is one of the most important things we do. As Oswald Chambers wisely said, “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.”
Our children deserve parents who will prioritize prayer over convenience, comfort, and busyness.

4. A Praying Father Is Faithful and Consistent
The final phrase of Job 1:5 may be the most powerful: “Thus did Job continually.”
Job did not pray occasionally.
He did not pray only during emergencies.
He did not pray only when his children were facing difficulties.
He prayed continually.
Every parent can pray once.
Every parent can pray during a crisis.
But a praying father develops a lifelong habit of faithfully bringing his children before the Lord.
Consistent prayer keeps a burden alive in our hearts. It reminds us that God is still working, even when we cannot see it. It keeps us engaged in the spiritual battle for our families.
Our children may forget many things we say, but they will never forget seeing a parent who prayed for them faithfully.

Final Thoughts
Just a few verses after our text, Job would experience unimaginable loss. His children would die. His wealth would disappear. His health would deteriorate. Yet through it all, Job remained a man of prayer.
The greatest legacy Job left behind was not his wealth, influence, or possessions. It was his example as a father who cared deeply enough about his children to pray for them continually.
One day our children may remember our hobbies, careers, accomplishments, and interests. But perhaps the most meaningful thing they can remember is this:
Dad prayed for me.
May God help us raise a generation of praying fathers, praying mothers, and praying families who understand that prayer still makes a difference.
A praying father is a powerful father.

Be Strong: Strong in God’s Direction
Bible Text: Joshua 3:5
“And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
Joshua 3:5
We are continuing our series through the book of Joshua called “Be Strong.”
Last week, we began this journey by looking at Joshua chapter 1. Three different times the Lord told Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage.”
The reason Joshua could be strong was not because he was naturally fearless. The reason he could be strong was because God gave him this promise:
“I am with thee.”
Joshua and the children of Israel could find strength because they knew they were not walking alone.
Last week, we also looked at the story of Rahab, the harlot, and how God used her in an incredible way. Two spies entered her home, she hid them, and God used her obedience and faithfulness as part of His plan.
Rahab reminds us of an important truth:
God can save anybody, and God can use anybody.
Regardless of our past, regardless of our failures, regardless of the things we wish we could hide, God is able to take the unlikely and use them for His glory.
Tonight, we continue our study of being strong, but we are going to focus on being strong in God’s direction.

1. Strength Remembered From Yesterday
Joshua 3:5 says:
“Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
Israel was moving toward Jericho, but there was still a great obstacle standing between where they were and where God was leading them.
They came to the Jordan River.
And the problem was that the Jordan River was not calm and easy to cross.
Joshua 3:15 tells us:
“For Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest.”
They wanted to move forward. They wanted to obey God. But they could go no further.
They were facing an obstacle.
And this was not the first time Israel had faced an obstacle involving water.
Forty years earlier, their parents and grandparents had stood at another body of water—the Red Sea.
They had escaped Egypt. Moses had led them out after Pharaoh finally allowed them to leave. But then Pharaoh changed his mind, and his army chased after them.
They reached the Red Sea, and there was nowhere to go.
In Exodus 14:13, Moses said:
“Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day…”
Notice the similarity.
Moses told them to stand and see what God would do.
Joshua told them:
“Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
The same God who parted the Red Sea was still the God leading them across the Jordan River.
Can you imagine what some of those people must have been thinking that night?
The older generation could remember.
Maybe someone was sitting around the fire thinking:
“Forty years ago, when I was just a child, I watched God open the Red Sea. I watched my family walk across on dry ground. I watched God make a way where there was no way.”
Now Joshua was saying:
“Get ready. Tomorrow you are going to see God do something great again.”
I believe many of them laid down that night wondering:
“What is God going to do tomorrow?”
“How is God going to make a way?”
But they had confidence because they remembered what God had already done.
Can I encourage you tonight?
When you face obstacles today, look back at God’s faithfulness yesterday.
Maybe you are facing something you never thought you would face.
Maybe you are walking through a hardship.
Maybe you feel like you cannot keep your head above water.
Look back.
Remember the times God provided.
Remember the times God carried you.
Remember the times God made a way.
Because if God was faithful yesterday, He will be faithful today and tomorrow.

2. Strength Required for Today
The Israelites were not being chased this time.
At the Red Sea, the enemy was behind them.
At the Jordan River, the obstacle was in front of them.
There were no armies chasing them, but there were enemies waiting on the other side.
Joshua 3:6-13 gives us God’s instructions.
The priests were told to take up the Ark of the Covenant and go before the people.
The Lord told Joshua:
“This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.”
God was showing the people that Joshua was His chosen leader.
Then Joshua told the people:
“Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you…”
God was preparing them to see His power.
The instructions were simple, but they were not easy.
The priests were to carry the Ark of the Covenant into the Jordan River.
And God said:
“When their feet touch the water, I will stop the water.”
Can you imagine what those priests must have thought?
“Joshua, are you sure?”
“You want us to walk into a flooded river carrying the most holy object in Israel?”
The Ark was not something to be handled casually.
They knew the seriousness of touching the things of God.
These men had to step forward in faith.
And that is where many of us struggle.
We love hearing messages about faith.
We love hearing preaching about trusting God.
We sing:
“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way…”
And we say:
“Amen!”
Until it is our turn.
Until God asks us to step out.
Then suddenly faith becomes harder.
Years ago, I started trout fishing with Stephen and some others. If you have ever been around those North Georgia streams, you know those rocks can be extremely slippery.
You can feel steady one moment, and the next moment you are flat on your back.
I remember trying to cross those streams. Sometimes you would find shallow areas and walk across easily. Other times you would have to step out into deeper water, carefully finding each rock.
The truth is, it does not matter how strong you are or how good your shoes are—those rocks can get you.
I imagine those priests felt something similar.
They were stepping into rushing water carrying the Ark of God.
But God said:
“Step.”
And when they stepped, God moved.

3. Strength Reserved for Tomorrow
The priests stepped into the Jordan River.
And when their feet touched the water, God stopped the flow.
The Bible says:
“The waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap…”
The Israelites crossed over on dry ground.
God did exactly what He said He would do.
But notice something important:
God required obedience before He revealed the miracle.
They stepped first.
God moved second.
That pattern is found throughout Scripture.
The man with the withered hand was told:
“Stretch forth thine hand.”
The man could have said:
“Lord, that is why I am here. I cannot stretch my hand.”
But when he obeyed, God healed him.
The ten lepers were told:
“Go shew yourselves unto the priests.”
They had to start walking before they saw the healing.
The boy gave his lunch before Jesus multiplied the food.
The lame man was told:
“Take up thy bed, and walk.”
God often asks us to move in faith before we see the answer.
Obedience and faith have always been God’s way of working.
God does not need our strength.
God does not need our ability.
But He allows us to participate because we need growth.
God tests us because we need to grow.
When we avoid His tests, we miss the miracles.
As we move into Joshua chapter 4, we see another important lesson.
God wanted them to remember.
After crossing Jordan, Joshua commanded twelve men to take twelve stones from the river.
Joshua 4:6 says:
“That this may be a sign among you…”
These stones were a memorial.
They were placed there so that future generations would ask:
“What do these stones mean?”
And the answer would be:
“God stopped the Jordan River.”
God had done something worth remembering.
Church, we need to understand something:
Our faith is not just for us.
What God has done in our lives is meant to encourage those coming behind us.
There will be a generation that does not remember the Red Sea.
There will be a generation that does not remember Moses.
There will be a generation that only knows what they have been told.
Who will tell them?
Who will tell the next generation:
“God was faithful.”
“God provided.”
“God carried us through.”
“God preserved His church.”
For years, faithful people have served God.
They taught Sunday School.
They sang in choirs.
They gave offerings.
They cleaned buildings.
They served meals.
They worked with children.
They sacrificed.
And they did it because they believed God.
Now it is our responsibility to pass that faith forward.
Not just so people know the history.
Not just so people know who built the church.
But so they know the God who has sustained the church.

Conclusion
The message of Joshua chapter 3 is this:
Be strong in God’s direction.
Remember God’s faithfulness from yesterday.
Trust God’s strength for today.
Prepare to pass God’s faithfulness to tomorrow.
The Jordan River was not the end of the journey.
There were still battles ahead.
There were still walls to face.
There were still challenges coming.
But every step taught Israel the same lesson:
God can be trusted.
West End Baptist Church, we have seen God work.
We have crossed rivers.
We have faced challenges.
We have watched God provide.
And there will be more ahead.
But we must keep walking.
We must keep trusting.
We must keep obeying.
Because the same God who was faithful yesterday is the God who will lead us tomorrow.

Be Strong in God's Presence
Be Strong – A Study of Joshua (WEEK 1)
Scripture: Joshua 1-2

The book of Joshua begins during a season of great transition. Moses, the faithful leader who had guided Israel for decades, is gone. The wilderness journey is finally behind them, and the Promised Land lies ahead. Yet there is still one problem: the land has been promised, but it has not yet been possessed.
Between the promise and the fulfillment was a season of uncertainty.
That reality makes the book of Joshua incredibly relevant for us today.
Life is constantly changing. Some are entering retirement while others are just beginning their careers. Some are adjusting to life as empty nesters, while others are learning the challenges of raising young children. Some are navigating health concerns, financial decisions, or unexpected circumstances. As believers, we are all journeying toward our ultimate Promised Land—Heaven. Yet between God's promise of eternity and our arrival there, life often contains uncertainty.
Joshua faced that same challenge. He was called to lead a nation that had never known life without Moses. The task before him was enormous. Yet God's first words to Joshua were not instructions about military strategy or leadership techniques. Instead, God repeatedly gave him one simple command:
"Be strong and of a good courage."
What does it mean to be strong? More importantly, where does that strength come from?

God's Presence Is Our Foundation of Strength
In Joshua 1:1-9, God tells Joshua three times to be strong and courageous. Along with the command comes a promise:
"For the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9)
Notice what God did not say. He did not tell Joshua to be strong because he was talented. He did not tell him to be strong because he was experienced. He did not tell him to be strong because he could handle the situation on his own.
Joshua's strength was not found within himself. His strength was found in the presence of God.
The same is true for us.
Our confidence cannot be rooted in our abilities, our resources, or our circumstances. True strength comes from knowing that God is with us every step of the journey.
God also pointed Joshua toward another source of strength. In verse 8, He instructed him to meditate continually on God's Word. Joshua would lead successfully because he remained anchored in both God's presence and God's truth.
Many believers struggle with fear, discouragement, and uncertainty because they neglect one or both of these foundations. Strength grows when we spend time with God and fill our hearts with His Word.

Strength Spreads Through Unity
After receiving God's instruction, Joshua immediately began leading the people. The response was remarkable.
The people told Joshua, "All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go."
What a contrast from the previous generation that had often complained and resisted Moses' leadership. This generation was unified. They were ready to move forward together.
Imagine the encouragement that must have brought to Joshua. Imagine how that unity strengthened the entire nation.
There is strength in unity.
Whether in a family, a church, or a ministry, God's people accomplish far more when they move forward together. Unity strengthens faith, encourages leaders, and advances God's work.

Strength Produces Action
Real faith always leads to action.
Joshua believed God's promises, but he did not sit still. He sent two spies into Jericho to prepare for what God was about to do.
Those spies entered the house of Rahab, a woman whose life was far from godly. Yet something remarkable happened. Rahab had heard about the God of Israel and believed He was real.
Joshua 2:9-11 reveals that she recognized God's power and believed that He would give Israel victory.
Knowing judgment was coming to Jericho, Rahab responded in faith. She hid the spies and asked for mercy for herself and her family.
The spies agreed and instructed her to tie a scarlet cord in her window.
That scarlet cord would serve as a sign. When Israel entered the city, the soldiers would see the cord and spare everyone inside that house.
The Scarlet Cord and the Savior
The scarlet cord is one of the beautiful pictures of redemption found throughout Scripture.
It reminds us of the Passover in Exodus 12 when the Israelites placed the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. When the death angel saw the blood, judgment passed over that home.
Both stories point us to Jesus Christ.
Just as the blood on the doorposts brought deliverance, and just as the scarlet cord marked Rahab's house for salvation, the blood of Christ provides forgiveness and eternal life for all who place their faith in Him.
Rahab's story also reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace.
She was a harlot. She was a Canaanite. She lived in a city under judgment. Yet God saved her because she responded in faith.
In fact, Rahab's story did not end in Jericho. She is later mentioned among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. James commends her faith-filled actions, and Matthew includes her in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
What a testimony to the grace of God!

A Final Thought
What if Joshua had allowed fear to control him?
What if he had refused to be strong and courageous?
The nation might never have moved forward. The spies may never have entered Jericho. Rahab's story of redemption may never have been told.
God's command to Joshua remains God's challenge to us today.
Be strong.
Strength begins in God's presence. It grows through God's Word. It spreads through unity with God's people. It produces action when we choose to trust Him by faith.
Whatever transition or uncertainty you may be facing today, remember that your strength is not found in yourself. It is found in the God who has promised,
"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Stay close to Him, trust His Word, and be strong.

Watch this sermon at https://westendbaptistchurchga.subspla.sh/2hrcdq6

Beware of False Prophets
Bible Text: Jeremiah 29:8-13
Introduction
We live in a day when opinions are plentiful and truth is often questioned. Social media gives everyone a platform, and many voices claim to have a new revelation, a better way, or a fresh interpretation of what God has said. Sadly, much of what is being promoted today is not leading people closer to Christ but farther away from the clear truths of Scripture.
Jeremiah faced a similar situation. While God's prophet, Jeremiah, warned the people that they would remain in Babylon for seventy years, a false prophet named Hananiah promised a quick and easy deliverance. The people had a choice: believe God's Word or believe the voice that told them what they wanted to hear.
The same choice confronts us today.

I. God's Word Can Be Trusted
Jeremiah 29:10
"For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you..."
The people wanted immediate relief, but God promised deliverance in His timing. Hananiah offered a convenient message; Jeremiah delivered the truthful one.
Just as God fulfilled His promise to Israel exactly as He said, we can trust His Word today. The world continually asks, "Did God really say that?" Yet the believer must stand firmly on the authority of Scripture.
Key Truth: God's promises may not always come quickly, but they always come faithfully.

II. God Is Working on Your Behalf
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil..."
In uncertain times, God's people wondered if He had forgotten them. God reminded them that He was still working according to His plan.
This verse is often quoted at graduations and baby dedications, but its original audience was a discouraged people living in captivity. God wanted them to know that His plans had not changed.
Key Truth: God's delays are not God's denials. He is always working for our good and His glory.

III. God Hears Us When We Pray
Jeremiah 29:12
"Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you."
While they waited for God's promises to unfold, they were instructed to pray.
Prayer is not our last resort—it is our greatest resource. God promised that He would listen to His people and respond to their cries. Rather than searching for quick fixes or easy answers, we should take our burdens directly to the Lord.
Key Truth: God still hears the prayers of His people and works on their behalf.

IV. God Reveals Himself to Those Who Seek Him
Jeremiah 29:13
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
Many people desire God's blessings while giving Him only a portion of their hearts. Yet God promises to reveal Himself to those who sincerely seek Him.
This principle applies to salvation as well. True salvation is not found in merely repeating words or performing religious rituals. It is found when a sinner genuinely seeks Christ with a repentant and believing heart.
Key Truth: God reveals Himself to wholehearted seekers.

Conclusion
False prophets will always exist. Some openly deny God's truth, while others subtly distort it. Their message may sound appealing because it promises an easier path, but ultimately it leads people away from God's will.
The answer is not to chase every new teaching or trend. The answer is to remain grounded in God's Word, sensitive to His Spirit, faithful in prayer, and diligent in seeking Him.
In a world filled with competing voices, let us determine to trust what God has said rather than what others wish He had said.
Stay with the Book. Stay with the Spirit. Stay with the Truth.
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." — Jeremiah 29:13 

What Came Down When He Went Up
Text: Acts 1:9-11
"This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." — Acts 1:11
Most Christians can tell you a great deal about Bethlehem. We know the story of the manger, the shepherds, the wise men, and the miraculous birth of Christ.
Many can also tell you about Calvary. We remember the crown of thorns, the nails, the cross, and the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins.
But there is one major event in the life of Christ that often receives far less attention—the Ascension.
Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus gathered His disciples on the Mount of Olives. After teaching and preparing them for the days ahead, He ascended back to the Father. The disciples watched until He disappeared into the clouds.
Imagine standing there that day. Three years of ministry had come to an end. Their Teacher, Leader, and Friend was gone. Questions filled their minds. What would happen next? How could they continue without Him?
Yet the story of Christ did not end at Bethlehem, Calvary, the empty tomb, or even the Ascension. In many ways, it was just beginning.
Today I want to consider this thought:
What Came Down When He Went Up?
When Jesus ascended to the Father, Heaven responded by sending several wonderful gifts to believers.

1. When He Went Up, The Spirit Came Down
Acts 2:33 reminds us that after Jesus was exalted to the Father's right hand, He sent the promised Holy Spirit.
Prior to Pentecost, the disciples knew God primarily in an external way. They walked with Jesus. They heard His teaching. They witnessed His miracles.
But after the Ascension, something changed.
The Spirit of God came to dwell within believers.
No longer would God's presence be limited to a location or a building. The Spirit would live inside every child of God.
Jesus said it was expedient for Him to go away because if He went to the Father, He would send the Comforter.
Instead of one Jesus ministering in one place at one time, the Spirit would empower believers around the world.
What an incredible truth!
We are never alone. We have God's Word, God's church, and God's Spirit living within us to guide, comfort, and strengthen us each day.

2. When He Went Up, Power Came Down
Acts 1:8 says:
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."
The disciples were ordinary men. Fishermen. Tax collectors. Common laborers.
Throughout Christ's earthly ministry, they served under His power. They watched Him perform miracles. They followed His leadership.
But after the Ascension, they may have felt powerless.
How could they continue without Jesus physically beside them?
Then Pentecost came.
The Holy Spirit filled them with power.
Peter, who had once denied Christ, stood boldly and preached. Thousands were saved.
The early church grew despite fierce persecution. Believers stood firm in the face of imprisonment and death.
Why?
Because the power of God rested upon them.
The same power that transformed Peter is available to believers today.
You may feel insignificant. You may feel outnumbered at work, at school, or even in your own family.
But if you know Christ, the Spirit of God lives within you.
You have the power to witness, serve, teach, lead, and live for God's glory.

3. When He Went Up, Intercession Came Down
Romans 8:34 tells us that Christ now sits at the right hand of God making intercession for us.
Before Christ, people approached God through priests, sacrifices, and religious rituals.
But when Jesus completed His work on the cross and ascended to Heaven, everything changed.
The veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom.
Access was granted.
Jesus became our Great High Priest.
Today, we can come boldly before the throne of grace because Christ intercedes on our behalf.
What makes this even more comforting is that Jesus understands us completely.
He knows sorrow.
He knows hunger.
He knows temptation.
He knows grief.
He knows pressure.
Hebrews tells us that He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities because He experienced life as we do.
When we pray, we are not speaking to someone who is distant and detached.
We are speaking to One who has walked where we walk and understands exactly what we face.

4. When He Went Up, Hope Came Down
The angels told the disciples:
"This same Jesus... shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."
What a statement of hope!
Bethlehem gave us hope.
Calvary gave us hope.
The Resurrection gave us hope.
But the Ascension gave us a promise.
Jesus is coming again.
The disciples stood staring into the sky as Jesus disappeared into the clouds.
The angels essentially said, "Don't just stand here looking. He will come back. Now get to work."
That promise still encourages believers today.
One day Christ will return.
One day He will gather His children.
One day we will see our saved loved ones again.
One day faith will become sight.
One day sorrow, suffering, and death will be forever behind us.
The same Jesus who ascended from the Mount of Olives will return in power and glory.
What a hope we have!

Conclusion
When Jesus went up, He did not leave His followers empty-handed.
He sent His Spirit.
He gave His power.
He provides intercession.
He secured our hope.
Perhaps today you feel weak, discouraged, overwhelmed, or alone.
Remember that Jesus has not abandoned His people.
The Spirit of God lives within you.
The power of God is available to you.
The Son of God intercedes for you.
And the promise of God awaits you.
The countdown is getting lower every day.
One day the trumpet will sound.
One day the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven.
The question is simple:
Will you be ready when He comes?
This version is formatted like a typical Preacher's Pen devotional article—clear headings, readable flow, preserved illustrations, and a strong gospel-centered conclusion.

Paying Attention

Hebrews 2:1 says, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”
Tonight, I want to talk about paying attention.
That is something many of us struggle with.
In fact, that is something I struggle with. My mom would tell you that!
But tonight, I want us to see what God can do when we truly pay attention to Him.
The first thing I want us to notice is this:

Paying Attention Has Rewards
In 1 Samuel 3, Samuel is lying down in the temple when the Lord calls his name.
Three times Samuel mistakes God’s voice for Eli’s voice. Finally, Eli realizes what is happening and tells Samuel that if the voice calls again, he should answer:
“Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.”
Samuel listened.
Samuel paid attention.
And because he paid attention, God used him.
Before I continue, I want to make something clear. The things God was going to do would have happened one way or another.
The book of Esther reminds us of that truth.
Mordecai told Esther that if she refused to act, deliverance would still come from another place — but she had been placed where she was “for such a time as this.”
That is the reward Samuel received.
He got to be part of what God was doing.
God called Samuel to anoint Israel’s greatest king.
In 1 Samuel 16, God sends Samuel to the house of Jesse. One by one the sons pass before him until David is brought in — the shepherd boy, overlooked by everyone else.
And God says:
“Arise, anoint him: for this is he.”
Because Samuel paid attention and obeyed, he became part of God’s unfolding story.
And look what followed.
David brought the Ark of God back to Israel.
David’s son, Solomon, became known as the wisest king who ever lived.
And generations later, Jesus Christ came through David’s line.
Samuel’s obedience connected him to something far bigger than himself.
That is one of the rewards of paying attention to God.

Not Paying Attention Has Consequences
Most people know the story of Lot and Sodom.
Lot separated from Abraham and chose to live in Sodom.
When God determined to destroy the city, messengers came with a warning:
Get out.
Leave.
Do not stay.
Do not look back.
The messengers were clear.
But while they were escaping, Lot’s wife looked back.
And the Bible says she became a pillar of salt.
Now, I am not saying that if we fail to pay attention to God today He will immediately strike us down.
We live under grace.
But think about all the other consequences that come from ignoring God.
We may miss opportunities to witness to someone.
We may miss God’s direction.
We may miss blessings, ministry opportunities, or divine appointments.
There are consequences when we fail to pay attention to what God is saying.
Which leads me to my final point.

Paying Attention Isn’t Enough — We Must Also Obey
James 1:22 says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Samuel did not just hear God’s voice.
Samuel obeyed.
When God revealed His difficult message concerning Eli’s house, Samuel faithfully delivered it, even though he was afraid.
God used Samuel not simply because he listened — but because he obeyed.
Lot’s wife is another example.
Whether she heard the warning clearly or not, the important truth is that she did not obey.
And there are many more examples throughout Scripture.
Zacchaeus
In Luke 19, Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree because he wanted to see Jesus.
He paid attention.
But he did more than that.
When Jesus came to his house, Zacchaeus responded.
He repented.
He changed.
He committed to making things right.
And Jesus declared salvation had come to his house.
He did not just notice Jesus.
He obeyed Him.
Noah’s Neighbors
Everyone knows the story of Noah.
Jesus said in Matthew 24 that in Noah’s day people were eating, drinking, marrying, and living life as normal until the flood came.
I imagine Noah’s neighbors paid attention to what Noah was doing.
Surely they noticed the giant boat.
Surely they heard Noah’s warnings.
They probably joked about him.
Talked about how crazy he looked building that ark.
But paying attention was not enough.
They did not obey.
And the flood came.
Adam and Eve
Perhaps the most familiar example is Adam and Eve.
In Genesis 3, the serpent questioned God’s command.
Adam and Eve knew what God had said.
They heard the instruction.
They understood the warning.
But they did not obey.
And sin entered the world.
The consequences affected not just them — but all of humanity.
They paid attention to God’s command.
But they failed to obey it.
And that is the difference.
We must do more than hear God’s Word.
We must respond to it.
We must obey it.
That is why paying attention matters.
Because we never truly know whose life we are influencing — for good or for bad — until the impact unfolds.
Your obedience could point someone toward Christ.
Your disobedience could become a stumbling block.
So let us pay attention to what God is saying.
Let us listen carefully.
And let us do more than hear.
Let us obey.