Grow Guide | Oct 25, 2026
Text Study for Sunday, October 25, 2026
Series Theme: People and Promise
Reading: Joshua 24:1-7, 14-17
CONNECTING QUESTIONS
What is one thing you want to be remembered for? Why?
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Loving God, by covenant promise and enduring mercy you have joined us to yourself forever. By your Spirit may we join with all your faithful people in trust and hope, through Jesus Christ, our true King, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
CONTEXT
Our sermon series, People And Promise will focus on the ways God shows up!
Throughout history, God’s people have celebrated God’s goodness and trusted in God’s mercy. However, God’s people have also fallen short of what God desires, leaving behind suffering and pain. Scripture reminds us that God still loves and claims us! Just as God met people of the Old Testament where they were and worked through them to fulfill God's promise. A promise to be in relationship, to be life affirming, to defend, especially to remain with us even when we stray. God is with us today, in the joys and struggles, praise be to God!
From Dr Kathryn Shifferdecker at EntertheBible.org:
The Book of Joshua is the story of the Israelites’ entry into Canaan (the Promised Land) after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Led by Joshua, the successor to Moses, the Israelites conquer the Canaanites, the native inhabitants of this land and then redistribute the land to the twelve tribes of Israel. The book contains stories of events leading up to the conquest of Canaan, the collective war effort of the Israelites and of their military victory over Canaanite states with descriptions of total destruction of all the local inhabitants, suggesting that Israel had taken the land just as instructed by God in Deuteronomy 7. It also contains narratives describing the division and allotment of the land among the tribes. The book ends with a covenant renewal ceremony, in which both Joshua and the Israelites declare, “We will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:21). The book has three main sections: chapters 1-12 contain stories of Israel’s occupation of the land; chapters 13-21 describe the division and allotment of the land; and, finally, chapters 22-24 conclude the book addressing questions of loyalty to God.
LOOK AT THE BOOK
How is it with your spirit this week?
What was one take-away from listening to the Carry On Cast podcast that connects with this Grow Guide?
Open to Joshua 24. What do you know about Joshua?
This weekend, we celebrate Reformation Sunday in honor of over 500 years of Lutheran/Protestant understandings of the Christian faith. Rev Dr Rolf Jacobson of Luther Seminary will be our guest preacher. We also will be sharing a ribbon cutting for our new spiritual resource library. Do you know where it is located?
Joshua 24 is the end of the story. Joshua has gathered whom together?
He is making an announcement at Shechem. Grab your Bible map (or google one!) and track down where the Israelites are right now.
In verse two, what is God recounting? Who is included in the list?
Pause and find Luke 2:29-32. What is the story? As Joshua is saying goodbye, how might this compare to the story in Luke?
When Jesus says farewell before his death on a cross, what key summaries of his teaching would you highlight? What do you remember him saying? (see also, John 13).
In verses 6-7, what act of God is being recounted. Why are people being reminded of this?
Jump to verse 14. The tone shifts. What is happening here? What is God giving the people?
What two qualities is God looking for from the people in verse 14?
What is the challenge presented in verse 15? What is this still a challenge today for people of faith?
Where have you heard the second half of verse 15 before?
What does it mean to “serve the Lord?”
How does it look when the Easter community “serves the Lord” together?
How is Jesus good news for us this week?
What would you like to talk about that we have not yet?
TAKING IT HOME
Are you familiar with Easter’s new multimedia study, Together: The Spiritual Practice of Life in Community? Visit easter.org/together to check it out!
Sending Prayer
O God, you made us in your image and send us into the world you so love by your Spirit’s power. As you have called all people to you, make us one in your name. Through your grace, let us live in community to the glory of your Son, for we pray in Christ’s holy name. Amen.