Spiritual Practices – Wk 5
Joshua 4:19-24 (NIV)
19 On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”
Psalm 77:11-13 (NIV)
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
13 Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
Exodus 20:24b (ESV)
In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE:
1. It helps us to connect with all God has done.
Psalm 103:2 (NIV)
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
2. It allows us to experience what God is doing.
Luke 19:37-40 (NIV)
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
1 Peter 2:4-5 (NIV)
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
3. It gives us confidence in what God will do.
Psalm 16:8 (HCSB)
8 I keep the Lord in mind always.
Because He is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING OUTLINE
Where your faith intersects with real life!
Reconnect:
Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.
Explore:
Review the message notes.
Big Idea: Remembering what God has done will stand for a lifetime and for generations to come.
Consider:
Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.
▶ Read Joshua 4:19-24. What are some of the stones of remembrance of God’s faithfulness in your life?
▶ Read Psalms 77:11-13. What do you do to remember your past and current, big or small, miracles? (i.e. praise, celebrate, journal, share with others, or something else?)
▶ Which of the three points of why it’s important or valuable to remember what God has done resonates with you the most and why?
– It helps us to connect with all God has done.
– It allows us to experience what God is doing.
– It gives us confidence in what God will do.
Activate:
Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share your decision with the Group.
Ask God which stone of remembrance he wants you to keep close in this season. Take time and write it down and share it with someone this week and celebrate.
Prayer:
Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.
Read Luke 19:37-38: Praise and give thanks together for all God has done, is doing, and will do in your life, in your family, and in our church.