| NASHVILLE (BP) -- This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curriculum and additional resources for all age groups. This week's Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum. Bible Passages: Joshua 1:1-9; Judges 2:11-19; Ruth 4:14-17 Discussion Questions: What are some of God's best earthly gifts to you? How are you tempted to find wrongful rest, peace and joy in them? How can you enjoy them rightly? How can you let them point you to Him? Food for Thought: Rest Hebrews 4:8-9 tells us: "For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God's people." Ah, finally the promised land. They'd arrived. They could sit down, kick off their sandals and put up their feet. Rest. How they needed it! After slave drivers in Egypt and scorpion stings in the wilderness, Joshua ushered the people of Israel into a land flowing with milk and honey. God had promised they would find safe harbor here from all their enemies. Bread baskets were supposed to bulge, as were the wombs of their merry young wives. All good gifts, no doubt. But you know what? This wasn't the end. The promised land wasn't their ultimate rest. It was just a shadow that pointed to something greater, like the paper-thin slice of shade attached at the heels of a real-live person standing in sunshine. Continued... |