Passing The Baton To The Next Leader

LEADERS EQUIPPING WORKERS Joshua 23: 1-14

(Note to reader, I developed these ideas in great detail during the actual sermon. I am leaving them to you, but outline should serve nicely)

Joshua gives Ministry Leader a model to follow when it’s time to prepare new leader to take over a work you’ve already started. Here’s the advice Joshua gave that you should also give:

ASSEMBLE YOUR FORCES

V23:1 After a long time had passed and the LORD had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then old and well advanced in years, 2 summoned all Israel--their elders, leaders, judges and officials—

ADMIT YOUR OWN WEAKNESSES

…and said to them: "I am old and well advanced in years.

RECOUNT GOD’S VICTORIES

V.3-5 & 9-11 You yourselves have seen everything the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the LORD your God who fought for you. 4 Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain--the nations I conquered--between the Jordan and the Great Sea in the west. 5 The LORD your God himself will drive them out of your way. He will push them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you. 9 "The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God. 6 "Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.

TELL THEM WHAT NEED TO DO

V6 & 8. "Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. 8 But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.

TELL THEM WHAT THEY SHOULD NOT DO

V7. Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them.

REMIND THEM OF THE CONSEQUENCES

V.12-13 "But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, 13 then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the LORD your God has given you.

EXPRESS YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THEIR SUCCESS

V. 14 "Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.