Serving Him Just Because (Pentecost 12B Old Testament)

Download a PDF of the Word One Bible Study for Pentecost 12B Old Testament.

Text: Joshua 24: 1-2a, 14-18 for the Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost, Lectionary Series B

OBJECTIVES

By the power of the Holy Spirit participants will:

1. Gain greater understanding of what it means to have the ultimate allegiance in God.
2. Have insights into the different ways of serving the Lord.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Bibles, Papers, Pencils, Markers, Poster Board

GROUP GUIDELINES

The ideal size for this Bible study is ten or less people in a group. The person whose first name is closest to “Joshua” in alphabetical order will serve as the leader. Keeping the Bible study moving and encouraging each member of the group to participate are the primary responsibilities of the leader.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

1. Share with the group your name and the largest religious symbol you have ever seen (statue, picture, etc.)
2. Share briefly one thing that you have done to help someone recently. It does not have to be a life saving act.

LOOKING AT GOD’S WORD

1. List some of the ways or things in which non-Christians worship today. Have the person to the right of the leader read Joshua 24: 1-2a, 14-18.
2. The last sentence of the text says, ‘We will serve the Lord, because he is our God.” Complete the following statement and share your response with each other.
   In my life, serving God means ________________________.
3. List at least four verbs in verse 13 and explain briefly what each means in this context.
4. How does Joshua try to convince the people of Israel to trust, worship and serve God? (verse 15)
5. How has God loved His people? Verses 16-18

REINFORCING WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNED

1. In this Bible study, we have learned what God did for the people of Israel. List one way that God has blessed you and your family. (Have someone list them on the board or on large sheet of paper.)
2. List one thing that you can do to serve or help other people today. (Have someone list these on the board or on large sheets of paper.)
3. Draw five concentric circles. In the center, write the word For each of the other circles, label it with a word that describes what you think as most important in your life.

CLOSING

Close with a prayer, thanking God for sending His Son to serve us that we may have eternal life in Him and ask God to help us serve others so that the good news can be shared through what we do.

by Kou Seying

Originally published in Discovery Bible Studies 12, 1999.

Updated for youthESource in August 2015