By His Grace, For His Glory
Text: Joshua 24:1-28
Core Idea: As we celebrate four years, let’s remember that the God who brought us here by grace is the same God who calls us to renewed devotion and who will keep us faithful through Christ. May today be not just a time to look back at what God has done, but a moment to look ahead at what God will do in the years to come.
INTRODUCTION
Today is a very special day for our community as we celebrate our fourth anniversary. Someone recently asked me, “What has been your greatest joy in serving at Lighthouse?” Honestly, I could’ve mentioned many things – like the joy of growing as a pastor, doing life with all of you, or seeing God transform hearts and lives. But what came to my mind was something I said in one of my first sermons. I said, “This is the kind of church I’m praying for: that we wouldn’t just be friendly for an hour on Sundays but that we would bear the burdens of others; that we’d be willing to inconvenience ourselves – our time, our schedules, even our wallets, for the blessing of others; that our homes would become ministry centers where lives are shared; that there would be vulnerability yet complete acceptance, forgiveness, patience, and care for one another.” And by God’s grace, I believe that we’re beginning to see this happen here. Yes, we’re not perfect – but I see that we’re most definitely growing into this vision. I hear it from visitors all the time – that this church feels different, that they truly felt welcomed and embraced. In fact, some of you decided to stay and make this your home for that very reason. One person told me what stood out most was that no one seemed to be left out – that people really made intentional efforts to include others and invite them into their lives. Now, I don’t share this to pat ourselves on the back, but to say thank you because this has been my greatest joy: seeing the culture of this community being shaped by the gospel. Of course, all glory to God, for without Him, none of this would be possible. But I also see it as a reflection of your love for Christ and for one another. I know how much you love this church. So, again, thank you for journeying with us these past four years. And my prayer is that our hearts would once again be captivated by the beauty of our God and moved by His grace so that we would continue to shine the light of Christ wherever we are.
Now, please turn your Bibles to Joshua 24. The Book of Joshua tells the story of how the Israelites finally entered and took possession of the land God promised to Abraham about seven hundred years earlier. And in our passage today, you’ll see that Joshua is now 110 years old – and before his death, he gathers all of Israel for one final moment of reflection and renewal. Now, you’ll notice that he assembles them at Shechem – which is no coincidence. Shechem is the perfect place for a covenant renewal because it’s where God first promised Abraham the land in Genesis 12. Then, this was his way of saying, “Let’s return to the place where it all began – to remember the promise, renew our faith, and recommit our hearts to the Lord who has been faithful every step of the way.” Then, with that in mind, let me read this for us – Joshua 24:1-28.
1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. 2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his family went down to Egypt. 5 Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out. 6 When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. 7 But they cried to the LORD for help, and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians; He brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time. 8 I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. 9 When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. 10 But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand. 11 Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. 12 I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you – also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 13 So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’ 14 Now fear the LORD and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” 16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17 It was the LORD our God Himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because He is our God.” 19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after He has been good to you.” 21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the LORD.” 22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” “Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied. 23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey Him.” 25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD. 27 “See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.” 28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance.
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Let me share three things from this passage:
· REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE
· REAFFIRM WHO YOU WILL SERVE
· RELY ON THE ONE WHO MAKES FAITHFULNESS POSSIBLE
1) REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE
Notice how Joshua begins. He doesn’t start with a list of commands or warnings. Instead, he starts by reminding them of God’s faithfulness in their story, in that before he tells them what to do, he reminds them of what God has done for them. Now, I don’t have time to go through every detail of this sermon – but here’s the gist of his message. Joshua shares, “This is what the Lord says: Remember where you came from. Your ancestor Abraham was an idol worshiper – which means that there was nothing in him that earned My favor. I didn’t choose him because he was wiser, stronger, or more righteous than others – I chose him purely out of grace. But My grace didn’t stop there – it stretched across every part of your story as a nation. I took Abraham and led him through the land. I gave him Isaac. I gave Isaac Jacob. I brought Jacob and his family down to Egypt. I sent Moses and Aaron to deliver you. I struck Egypt and brought you out. When the Egyptians pursued you to the Red Sea, I made a path through the waters and destroyed them before your eyes. In the wilderness, I provided for you and sustained you. When Balak tried to curse you, I turned that curse into a blessing. I gave you victory over every king and every army that stood in your way. I fought for you. And I gave you the land, the cities, and the vineyards you did not build or plant. Every good thing you enjoy, every blessing you possess, came from Me.” In this short retelling of history, God used the personal pronoun “I” eighteen times as if to emphasize the point that every step of their journey was the result of His grace and faithfulness. There was nothing they earned, nothing they achieved, and nothing they could take credit for. He did it all.
Brothers and sisters, this is our story, too. We’re here today not because of our clever planning or human effort but because of His faithfulness. Every answered prayer, every transformed life, and every provision – all of it has been the work of His hand. He’s the One who planted this church when it was just a dream. He’s the One who drew people to this community and made us one. He’s the One who opened doors, softened hearts, and carried us through seasons of uncertainty and change. So, before we talk about where we’re going next, before we dream about what we want to accomplish, we need to pause, like Joshua did, and remember where we’ve come from, because if we forget, our hearts will be prone to drift toward pride or fear. Pride says, “We did this” – and fear says, “We’ll never make it.” But remembering will keep us anchored in truth – that the same God who brought us this far will carry us forward. Isn’t that why we celebrate anniversaries? Not to congratulate ourselves, but to proclaim His faithfulness. Then, let me ask you, “What are the stories of God’s faithfulness you could tell today? What has He done in your life or in this community that fills your heart with gratitude? Have you stopped to thank Him for that?” The truth is that it’s so easy to take God’s blessings for granted. But when we stop and remember, it’ll guard our minds and rekindle worship in our hearts. In fact, you can even do that right now. If you can think of even one moment when God’s hand was evident in your story, then you have reason to worship today. So, say to God, “Thank You, Lord, for all that You’ve done. You alone are worthy of our praise.”
2) REAFFIRM WHO YOU WILL SERVE
After reminding the people of God’s faithfulness, Joshua calls them to respond – verse 14, “Now fear the LORD and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped and serve the LORD.” He was basically saying, “If you see God’s faithfulness in your life, then respond with faithfulness. Throw away your idols and serve Him wholeheartedly, for this is the only logical conclusion to grace. If He’s the One who saved you, shaped you, protected you, and provided for you, why would you turn to anything else? Why would you run to things that will only fail you and disappoint you? Be devoted to Him. Stick with Him. Worship Him and Him alone.” Joshua knew how easily their hearts could wander. After all, their track record wasn’t great. When God rescued them from Egypt, it didn’t take generations for them to forget – it only took months. They saw the Red Sea split, the Egyptians defeated, manna from heaven – and yet within 3-4 months, they were bowing down to a golden calf. Joshua saw how quickly their worship turned into rebellion, how their gratitude turned into grumbling, and how their freedom turned into idolatry. So now, as they stand in the Promised Land, he wanted to warn them: “Don’t repeat the same mistake. Stay true to the Lord.” And then, he said in verse 15, “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Doesn’t that sound almost sarcastic? It’s as if Joshua was saying, “If you think there’s something better than the Lord, if you think idols can do more for you, go ahead – choose them. In fact, you have plenty of options. You can be traditional and go back to the old gods your ancestors worshiped – or you can be modern and choose the gods of the Amorites. Take your pick. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord because He alone is worthy of my worship.” In other words, this was his way of provoking them – to expose how foolish it would be to reject God.
Now, this isn’t just a decision for Israel – it’s a decision that every generation must face, including us. The same challenge that Joshua gave to God’s people still stands before us today: “Choose this day whom you will serve.” It’s as if God is asking, “If you think it’s too costly to follow Me, if you think it’s foolish to obey My Word, if you think you’ll find more joy or freedom somewhere else, then go ahead and chase those things.” The truth is, you’ll always have other options. You can go “old-school” and worship the same timeless idols that have ruled human hearts for centuries – the god of success, comfort, pleasure, control, or approval. Or you can choose the “modern” idols of our age – the gods that quietly take the place of God in our lives: career and performance, technology and progress, tolerance and ease, or wealth and security. You can take your pick. But know this: you cannot serve both. You can’t have the God of the Bible and the gods of our culture. You can’t call Him Lord while still keeping the throne of your heart for yourself. Then, let me ask you, “Who will you serve? Will you serve convenience or Christ? Will you serve popularity or the purposes of God? Will you serve yourself or the One who saved you?” J.C. Ryle said, “Half-hearted Christianity is the most miserable kind. You can’t enjoy the world enough to be happy, nor Christ enough to be holy.” My prayer is that each of us would joyfully say, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Even if it’s unpopular, inconvenient, or costly, we will serve Him, for He alone is worthy.” As we step into year five, imagine the kind of church we could become if this were our collective confession – to keep the gospel central, to love sacrificially, to pray humbly, to serve joyfully, to give generously, and to live missionally. Then, today, let’s renew our commitment to walk this way, for it will bring glory to God, joy to our hearts, and blessing to the world.
3) RELY ON THE ONE WHO MAKES FAITHFULNESS POSSIBLE
The people responded with passion in verse 16: “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! We too will serve the LORD, because He is our God.” Now, you’d expect Joshua to say, “Praise the Lord! That’s wonderful! Let’s go serve Him together!” But instead, he said something startling – verse 19, “You are not able to serve the LORD.” Why? Why is he so negative? Was he just trying to fire them up? “You don’t have what it takes to do this.” “Yes, we do!” “No, you can’t do it.” “Yes, we can!” “Alright. Then, say it like you mean it! Now, let’s go and make God happy.” Is this what he was doing? Probably not. I say this because of what he says next in verse 19, “He is a holy God; He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after He has been good to you.” Here, he reminds them that serving a holy God is not a light thing. He was basically saying, “Friends, I know you mean well – but you don’t understand what you’re promising. You can’t serve God in your own strength because you are far more sinful and weaker than you realize. You will fail. You will stumble. You will turn to other gods. And because He’s a holy and jealous God, He will justly condemn you for your sins. So, don’t promise things you won’t be able to keep. Don’t say things that could be used against you.” But the Israelites insisted – verse 21, “No! We will serve the LORD.” So, Joshua said in verse 22, “You are witnesses against yourselves.” He was basically saying, “You’ve just publicly pledged your allegiance to the Lord. So, your own words now stand as testimony to that promise. Now, if you’re really committing to this, throw away your idols and surrender your hearts to the Lord today.” And the Israelites said, “We will do that right now.” So, Joshua made a covenant for the people, reaffirmed the law, and set up a large stone to mark their commitment. And for a while, it seemed like everything was good. Joshua 24:31 says, “Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel.” It seemed like the perfect ending – as if Joshua’s concerns had been unnecessary. But when we turn the page to the Book of Judges, we find that their obedience didn’t last very long. Judges 2:8-12, “Joshua, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what He had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. They forsook the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them.” They forgot. They fell. They turned to other gods. Everything Joshua warned them about came true. What Joshua longed for was not louder commitment, but humble dependence. Not “We’ll do better,” but “Lord, help us.” They should’ve said, “Yes, we will serve the Lord – but only by His grace. We know our hearts are prone to wander – so we need His mercy to forgive us, His Spirit to empower us, and His strength to sustain us.”
Brothers and sisters, my prayer is that each of us would renew our devotion to God today and boldly declare, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!” But let’s not stop there – let’s also add these words: “Yet not I but through Christ in me.” All of us should say, “Lord, we will love when it’s hard to love – yet not I, but through Christ in me. We will forgive when it’s painful to forgive – yet not I, but through Christ in me. We will serve when we feel weary – yet not I, but through Christ in me. We will seek holiness in a world of compromise – yet not I, but through Christ in me. We will love our church and build up the body – yet not I, but through Christ in me. We will persevere until the end – yet not I, but through Christ in me.” Now, we can say this because we have the better Joshua – Jesus Christ. Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land, but Jesus leads us into eternal life. Joshua made a covenant sealed with a stone, but Jesus made a covenant sealed with His blood. Joshua said, “You can’t serve Him,” but Jesus says, “I’ve come to serve and save you.” Jesus lived the life we could never live, died the death we deserved to die, and rose again to give us His Spirit – to empower us to walk faithfully. Friends, on our own, we cannot serve the Lord, but by His grace, we can do the impossible things, for our God is stronger, kinder, and more faithful than we could ever imagine. And when we’re discouraged, we can look to the cross, for it reminds us that even when we are faithless, He remains faithful. It’s not our performance that keeps us – but His promise. It’s not our strength that sustains us – but His steadfast love. Grace has carried us through every trial, held us when we were weak, and restored us when we fell short. And the same grace that has brought us this far will surely carry us forward.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, as we celebrate four years together, let’s remember that the same God who brought us here by His grace is the One who calls us to renewed devotion and will keep us faithful through Christ. Then, may this anniversary not just be a time to look back with gratitude for all He has done, but also a moment to look ahead in faith – dreaming of all He will do through us in the years to come.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) How have you seen God’s faithfulness at work in our church over the years? What stories come to mind that deserve to be remembered and celebrated?
2) What “gods” or idols most compete for your heart’s attention and trust – things you’re tempted to serve or depend on instead of the Lord? What would it look like for you to declare, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”? What practices or boundaries should you consider?
3) Joshua told the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord.” Why do you think he said that? How do his words expose the danger of self-reliance? Have you ever made spiritual commitments that were sincere but short-lived? What caused you to drift, and what did you learn through that experience? How could the simple phrase, “Yet not I but through Christ in me,” reshape your attitude toward service, forgiveness, or perseverance?
4) How can we, as a church family, help one another rely on grace rather than performance so that we can guard one another from spiritual burnout or pride? Take time to pray for one another, asking God to make us a community that depends on His grace in everything we do.