Lakewood Ranch Baptist Church

What can the story of Stephen teach us about facing persecution for our faith? Acts 7–8 introduces Saul as a fierce persecutor of Christians and recounts the brutal death of Stephen, whose suffering closely mirrors that of Jesus. Yet persecution does not stop the gospel. As believers scatter from Jerusalem, they continue preaching, and the very opposition intended to destroy the church becomes a means of spreading its message. Stephen’s example also shows how Christians can prepare for suffering: by depending on the Holy Spirit, saturating their lives with Scripture, and keeping their eyes fixed on the risen Jesus. Whatever following Christ may cost, His promised reward makes faithfulness worth it.

What does it really mean to choose Jesus? In Joshua 24, Joshua calls Israel to make a deliberate decision: “Choose this day whom you will serve.” Following God requires more than inherited religion or casual interest—it is a call to wholehearted allegiance, sincere worship, and daily surrender. Yet this choice comes in response to God’s remarkable goodness. Before calling Israel to choose Him, God reminds them of everything He has already done on their behalf. Joshua’s final challenge remains deeply personal: choose Jesus despite your past, despite competing loyalties, and regardless of what others decide. Like Joshua, may we say, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

What does it take to remain faithful to God over the long haul? As Israel settles into the Promised Land, Joshua 22–23 turns its attention toward perseverance—and especially the relationships that can strengthen or threaten our faith. A misunderstanding over an altar nearly leads to civil war, but honest conversation, careful listening, and a willingness to pursue truth bring reconciliation. Joshua also warns Israel against relationships that would draw them away from God, reminding believers to engage unbelievers without being corrupted by the surrounding culture. Finishing well requires both pursuing healthy relationships within the church and wisely navigating relationships with the world.

What can a long list of cities and boundary lines teach us about God’s faithfulness? Joshua 13–21 records Israel finally receiving the inheritance God had promised generations earlier. These chapters show that God’s inheritance includes faithful people like Joshua and Caleb, but also the unlucky, unnoticed, and unimpressive. Most importantly, the distribution of the land demonstrates that not one of God’s promises had failed. For Christians, Israel’s inheritance points toward an even greater promise: a permanent home with Christ in the new creation. What believers now anticipate by faith will one day become reality. God will keep His promise and bring His people safely home.

What can Joshua 10–12 teach us when life feels like a battle on multiple fronts? These chapters present a remarkable sequence of victories despite overwhelming opposition, demonstrating God’s power to act on behalf of His people. At the same time, Joshua models sustained obedience—following God through difficult circumstances, repeated challenges, and even after personal failure. Yet perhaps the most surprising theme is God’s mercy. The Gibeonites had deceived Israel and came with mixed motives, but God still fought for them and brought them into His people. Their story reminds us that imperfect beginnings, past failures, and repeated struggles do not put us beyond the reach of God’s mercy.

What can the Gibeonite deception teach us about spiritual discernment? In Joshua 9, Israel is tricked into making a covenant they should never have made, yet they honor their word once the promise is given. Their mistake exposes three surprising dangers: making promises carelessly, relying too heavily on common sense, and becoming overconfident after spiritual victories. Most importantly, Israel investigated the situation but failed to seek God’s counsel. This sermon challenges Christians to keep their commitments, seek the Lord in important decisions, and remain humble after seasons of success. Even on our best spiritual days, we still need Jesus—the Savior who perfectly keeps His promises and always does the Father’s will.

How can a good God command the destruction of Jericho and other Canaanite cities? Joshua 6–7 confronts one of the Bible’s most difficult questions, calling us to acknowledge its difficulty while approaching the text with humility. This sermon argues that the conquest should be understood as divine judgment against deeply rooted wickedness rather than ethnic hostility—and that Israel itself was not exempt from the same standard, as Achan’s judgment demonstrates. Ultimately, the theme of judgment points toward the cross, where Jesus willingly bears the consequences of sin. In Christ, God’s justice and mercy meet, offering rescue from the judgment sin deserves.

What does the fall of Jericho teach us about salvation and faith? Joshua 6 makes one truth unmistakable: Israel’s victory was not earned through military strength or human performance—it was given by God. In the same way, our relationship with God does not depend on having a good spiritual week or proving ourselves worthy. Salvation is God’s gift. But Jericho also teaches us to trust God’s promises before we can see their fulfillment. Israel shouted before the walls fell, believing the victory God had promised. Christian faith is not blind optimism; it is confidence in God’s future promises rooted in His proven character and His greatest act of victory—the resurrection of Jesus.

How does Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land connect to the Bible’s larger story of salvation? This sermon traces a remarkable pattern from Eden to Abraham to Joshua through five themes: blessing, offspring, land, food, and God’s presence. Israel’s journey across the Jordan was more than receiving territory—it pictured God reversing the curse and leading His people back toward the paradise humanity lost. That story ultimately points forward to Jesus and the promise of a restored creation, where God’s people will once again dwell with Him. The hope of the Promised Land becomes our hope: through faith in Christ, God will bring His people safely home.

Do you believe God can still do the miraculous? Joshua 3–4 recounts Israel’s impossible crossing of the flooded Jordan River, where God demonstrates His power by stopping the waters and bringing His people safely into the Promised Land. Yet God not only performs the miracle—He commands Israel to remember it, using twelve stones as a lasting testimony for future generations. This sermon encourages Christians to pray boldly for God to do what seems impossible while remembering an important distinction: God can perform miracles, but He does not always choose to do so. Mature faith trusts His supernatural power while also valuing His ordinary providence and faithfully remembering what He has already done.