Josh. 24:15

[By Ron Halbrook]

• Introduction

1. Josh. 24:15 Leadership depends 1st on spiritual attitude, condition, & role

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15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

• Introduction

2. If we succeed in other areas but fail in spiritual leadership, we fail in our first responsibility.3. If we fall short in temporal goals but succeed in spiritual leadership, we succeed in God’s sight!

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• Introduction

4. God makes men into spiritual leaders if we are willing:

God made man responsible to lead the family Moral & spiritual leadership grows out of loving God & our fellow man How can we become moral & spiritual leaders in the home? 5

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I. God Made Man Responsible to Lead the Family A. Whom Did God Make Responsible from the Beginning?

Gen. 2:24 God created man to take initiative 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother,

and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

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I. God Made Man Responsible to Lead the Family A. Whom Did God Make Responsible from the Beginning?

Gen. 3:16 God taught Eve to submit to Adam

16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

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I. God Made Man Responsible to Lead the Family B. God Commends or Condemns Our Leadership

Gen. 18:19 God commended Abraham—& me?

19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

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I. God Made Man Responsible to Lead the Family C. God Appointed Men to Lead in Setting an Example of Loving God & Teaching His Word

Deut. 6:4-9 Are we setting this example?

Deut. 6:4-9 Are we setting this example? 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

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I. God Made Man Responsible to Lead the Family D. Joshua Was Determined to Lead His Family

Josh. 24:14-15 Do we have his determination?

Josh. 24:14-15 Do we have his determination?

14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Joshua’s

Challenge

EchoesTo EveryHusban

d& FatherToday!

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I. God Made Man Responsible to Lead the Family E. God Expects Fathers to Teach Not Hide His Word

Ps. 78:4-7 Do we teach or hide God’s Word?

Ps. 78:4-7 Do we teach or hide God’s Word? 4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. 5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

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I. God Made Man Responsible to Lead the Family F. Every Man Must Follow Christ’s Example

Eph. 5:22-6:4 Are we leading our homes as Christ leads the church?

Eph. 5:22-6:4 Are we leading our homes as Christ leads the church?

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Eph. 5:22-6:4 Are we leading our homes as Christ leads the church?

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Eph. 5:22-6:4 Are we leading our homes as Christ leads the church?

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Eph. 5:22-6:4 Are we leading our homes as Christ leads the church?

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Eph. 5:22-6:4 Are we leading our homes as Christ leads the church?

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

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II. Moral & Spiritual Leadership Grow Out of Loving God & Our Fellow Man A. Every Application of True Leadership Is Based on Love of God & Fellow Man

Matt. 22:34-40 All God teaches us is based on these two principles: apply to lead the home

Matt. 22:34-40 All God teaches us is based on these two principles: apply to lead the home

34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Matt. 22:34-40 All God teaches us is based on these two principles: apply to lead the home

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II. Moral & Spiritual Leadership Grow Out of Loving God & Our Fellow Man A. Every Application of True Leadership Is Based on Love of God & Fellow Man

Rom. 13:8-10 God teaches us true love for our neighbor: apply to lead the home

Rom. 13:8-10 God teaches us true love for our neighbor: apply to lead the home

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

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II. Moral & Spiritual Leadership Grow Out of Loving God & Our Fellow Man B. Leadership Based on Mere Tradition, Emotion, Human Philosophy, & Force Is Flawed

Effective leadership requires God’s guidance Scripture Prayer Wise counsel

Good examples God’s providence

II. Moral & Spiritual Leadership Grow Out of Loving God & Our Fellow Man C. We Develop Spiritual Leadership in Various Areas of Our Life & Character

Personal spiritual growth is foundational Growth in leading the wife is essential Growth in leading each child is necessary Growth in leading the family unit is the result

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• Invitation

1. Josh. 24:15 Leadership depends 1st on spiritual attitude, condition, & role

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15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

• Invitation

2. If we succeed in other areas but fail in spiritual leadership, we fail in our first responsibility.3. If we fall short in temporal goals but succeed in spiritual leadership, we succeed in God’s sight!

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• Invitation

4. God makes men into spiritual leaders if we are willing:

God made man responsible to lead the family Moral & spiritual leadership grows out of loving God & our fellow man How can we become moral & spiritual leaders in the home? 30

• Invitation

5. All of us can be faithful children in God’s family: Gal. 3:26-27 Enter by obedient faith

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26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

• Invitation

5. All of us can be faithful children in God’s family: Acts 8:22 Restored if repent, confess, & pray

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22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.