Fusion: week of 8/1

FAMILY THEME: GOD HONORS OBEDIENCE

Joshua 6:1-27

God used an unusual battle strategy, to say the least. No one

could say the strength of the Israelites or their weapons of war

were responsible for the fall of Jericho. All the credit went to God.

✞   God's Ways Might Not Always Seem to Make Sense

      (Joshua 6:1-5)

      His instructions about walking silently around Jericho

      must have caused some puzzled responses.

✞   Doing Things God's Way Leads to Success

     (Joshua 6:6-21)

     The Israelites followed instructions exactly, an act of

     faith in God's direction and submission to their leader,

     Joshua.

✞   God Keeps His Word and So Should We

     (Joshua 6:22-27)

     After the city walls were destroyed, Rahab's household

     was rescued, Jericho was burned, and any rebuilding

     efforts for the city were cursed.

Fusion: week of 7/25

 FAMILY THEME: FAITH BRINGS DELIVERANCE

Joshua 2:1-24

Drama? Stress? Life change? Risk? Just ask Rahab! When the 
spies came to her fortressed city, she did not trust in its army or
defenses, but courageously sided with the people of God.

✞   Faith in God Led Rahab to Take Bold Action

      (Joshua 2:1-14)

      The two spies Joshua sent to gather intelligence about

      Jericho found refuge in the house of Rahab and promised

      her protection.

✞   Faith in God Led Rahab to Follow the Directions She

     Was Given

     (Joshua 2:15-24)

     The spies departed in secret, leaving Rahab with specific

     instructions to avoid being destroyed with the rest of

     Jericho. When the city miraculously fell, only Rahab's

     household was spared.

Fusion: week of 7/18

FAMILY THEME: FAITH CHOOSES GODLY CONDUCT

James 3:1 - 4:12

Godly conduct includes controlling our speech, living humbly and

wisely, and submitting to God's will.

✞   Living God's Way Includes Choosing Our Words Carefully

      (James 3:1-12)

      James emphasized the benefits of controlling the tongue

      as well as the destruction it can cause if not controlled.

✞   Living God's Way Includes Being Selfless and Humble

     (James 3:13 - 4:3)

     Godly wisdom involves treating others well, while worldly

     wisdom is characterized by selfishness.

✞   Living God's Way Includes Submitting to God and Rejecting

     Sinful Desires

     (James 4:4-12)

     God will be pleased with us when we make the hard

     choices to humbly submit to Him. We want to please 

     Him more than we want anything else.

Fusion: week of 7/11

 FAMILY THEME: FAITH RESULTS IN ACTION

James 1:22-27 ; 2:14-26

While works do not save us, genuine faith will result in good works.

✞   Genuine Faith Acts on God's Word

      (James 1:22-27)

      Simply hearing the Word of God is not enough. We must give

      evidence of our faith in the way we speak and in the way we

      treat others.

✞   Genuine Faith Produces Good Works

     (James 2:14-26)

     Serving God and others with our actions demonstrates our 

     faith. James pointed to the faithful deeds of Abraham and

     Rahab as examples of people acting on their faith.