Study Guide for Week of January 26, 2025
This Week's Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9
Crossroads Community Group Guide
A. Welcome: Welcome everyone, especially new people, and read aloud the purpose of your group.
B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.
C. Worship Time (Optional): Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use: I I Give You My Heart (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)
E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website
F. Review:
- How did you do with what you want to apply from last week?
- Who did you invite to the group for this week?
G. Opening Question (an icebreaker - a simple question to introduce the main theme):
- Why do people get discouraged?
H. Background Information for this study:
Joshua is a young man and he has been Moses' assistant for many years. He has relied on Moses leadership. Now Moses is dead and God is calling Joshua to take Moses' place of leadership. Joshua will lead God's people into the promised land. That means they have to cross the red sea and they face many enemies who are living in the land. There will be dangerous battles ahead.
Imagine how Joshua must feel. The Lord speaks to Joshua and prepares Joshua for what is ahead. Notice how the Lord talks about 2 major issues. Fear and discouragment. These are weapons that satan uses to keep us from taking the next step in our lives. Take what the Lord says to Joshua and make it practicle in your life.
First Section: Joshua 1:1-4. Here is Joshua's call to lead. Notice how the Lord emphasizes that Moses is dead. This reminds us that there are times in life when we must move on to a new chapter in our lives. We must take a new step, a new direction into a new future.
Second Section: Joshua 1:5-6. The Lord's promise to be with Joshua wherever he goes and whatever he faces. Discuss how this promise of God being with us impacts your life.
Third Section: Joshua 1:7-9. The Lord's call to be strong and courageous and not to be discouraged or fearful. Discuss how this impacts your life. Discuss why knowing God's word and reading it and memorizing it is important to be strong and courageous.
In this study be sure to make a practical application to each section. Make application to your life including what you will do to tell other people the message.
J. Word: Read the scriptures above by section. Read it in smaller portions aloud together several times. (The goal is for everyone to understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words; keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses.)
1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.3. What are the details?4. What jumps out at you and catches your attention?5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?
K. Discuss the following general questions together. (The goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. The leader should not speak for more than 30% of the time; let the group discover what God is saying to them.)
1. What catches your attention in these verses?2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?4. What do you learn about people from the story?5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?
L. Commitment - Obedience - Application
(This is the key - have everyone answer this question.)
- What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study?
- Pray for your group to multiply.
- Ask each other how you are doing spiritually.
- Pray for the needs of the members of your group
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