Notes
We are in a time of transition, preparing our hearts for God to move our local church body to our new location. This is more than a physical move; we are building a future, a legacy, for God’s power to be displayed.
In the book of Joshua, God moved His people. We aren’t the Israelites, but we can learn from the principles of the people of God making a move:
To prepare for a move of God, we need to do these three things:
1) Lay down some things
We are saved with a holy calling, and that means that some things should not follow us into our new lives with Jesus. Submit to God’s authority and get rid of anything holding you back from your God-given purpose.
2) Pick up some things
The people picked up stones to build a memorial so that future generations could learn about what God had done in the past. We can build physical structures as memorials to what God has done in our church, and we can also pick up praise along the way, praising God for what He has done, for what He is doing right now, and for what He is going to do in the future.
3) Set up some things
Set things up so that people will see and know God’s goodness. Everything we do is so that the nations of the world meet Him; the purpose of our salvation is not just for us to be forgiven and go to heaven, but so that we can help others come to Jesus, too.
God is moving us not only physically, but spiritually as well to be a city on a hill. Prepare your heart now so that you are ready for what He is going to do.
Group Questions
- How can we prepare ourselves spiritually for the physical move we are about to make?
- What in your life do you need to get rid of?
- Why is it important for future generations to know what God has done for those who came before them?
- What does it mean to “pick up some things”?
Prayer
As we get ready to move physically to our new location, prepare our hearts for what you want to do. Show us the things in our lives that we need to toss away, and replace those things with the Fruit of the Spirit. Use us to bring the Good News to every tribe, tongue, and nation.