Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

JOKE

Three friends decided to go deer hunting together.

One was a lawyer, one a doctor, and the other a preacher.

As they were walking, along came a big buck.

The three of them shot simultaneously.

Immediately the buck dropped to the ground and all three rushed up to see how big it actually was.

Upon reaching it they found out that it was dead but had only one bullet hole.

Thus a debate followed concerning whose buck it was.

A few minutes later a game officer came by and asked what the problem was.

The doctor told him their reason for the debate.

The officer told them he would take a look and tell them who shot it.

Within a few seconds the game officer said with much confidence, "The pastor shot the buck!"

They all wondered how he knew that so quickly.

The officer said, "Easy.

The bullet went in one ear and out the other."

Key Question: How important is leadership in the church?

How did a godly community with godly leadership fail to raise up godly leaders?

During Joshua’s life, the people worshiped the Lord.

After Joshua dies, while the elders who served with him were alive, the people worshiped the Lord.

He does this so that we can know Him intimately.

God is King, and He wants to be known as King.

He does this by giving His image-bearers stewardship over things.

In fact, God doesn’t only give stewardship to Leaders, He gives stewardship to all people.

We can only know Him as King if we are accountable to Him for something.

After all of the elders died, a generation rose up who didn’t know the Lord.

You remember the parable of the stewards.

This is a great picture of how God has related to man from the beginning.

What happened?

Before we answer that, look at what happened.

God raised up Joshua as a leader to steward His word (His instructions, promises and prohibitions).

With this in mind, let’s look at what happened during Joshua’s lifetime and after his lifetime.

I want us to

Joshua

As God acts in human history, Scripture reveals cycles of God’s activity.

One such cycle:

God communicates by word.

His gives instructions, promises, and prohibitions.

God affirms His word by great signs and miracles.

People of faith enjoy the blessings of fulfilled promises, but God is silent.

God’s people fail to remain faithful in times of affluence.

Creation, God makes Eve, God is silent while Satan speaks with Eve.

God’s people backslide.

God speaks to Moses, God brings His people out of Egypt, God is silent for 400 years.

God’s people backslide.

God speaks to Joshua, God delivers the people to the Promised Land, God is silent after Joshua and the elders who served with him died.

God’s people backslide.

Why do communities backslide?

How important is leadership to a community?

How does a once godly community end up with no leadership?

A godly community always has godly leadership.

Key Question:

Judges

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6 Previously, when Joshua had sent the people away, the Israelites had gone to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance.

7 The people worshiped the LORD throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua.

They had seen all the LORD’s great works he had done for Israel.

8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110. 9 They buried him in the territory of his inheritance, in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 That whole generation was also gathered to their ancestors.

After them another generation rose up who did not know the LORD or the works he had done for Israel.

joshua 24 31

a godly community does not form by accident.

A godly community always has godly leadership.

Notice that during Joshua’s lifetime, the people worshiped the Lord.

But they also worshiped the Lord after Joshua was dead.

Joshua’s leadership was not the only reason the community was godly.

In our culture, if we are not careful, we can elevate the importance of a celebrity leader or a pastor.

If we are not careful, you can make me too important.

I w

When we say that a godly community always has godly leadership, we are not only talking about a godly pastor.

Notice that the godly community has a group of godly leaders…This group of leaders don’t have their names prominently listed in this passage, but they are just as important as Joshua.

When we pray for our church and evaluate our leadership, please pray for our staff…but pray that God will continue to raise up many godly leaders in our community.

Key Question: What is special about this group of leaders during this time in Israel’s history?

What is a godly leader?

When we think about our community, what kind of leaders are we attempting to raise up?

The word “know” is more accurately translated: “hear, notice, learn of”

A generation rose up who did not have anyone who was making sure that they heard God’s word

Godly Leaders have achieved something they want to pass on.

exodus 17 8-

As a leader, Joshua had two primary goals:

Lead the people to possess the Promised Land and defeat the nations living there.

Lead the people to commit to the covenant God had called them to—the Ten commandments and the Law.

Joshua was able to lead the Israelites into the battles of the Promised Land, because he had already seen the Lord fight for Israel.

I want you to focus on vs 11.

Imagine what is happening in Joshua’s heart as he watches the battle ebb and flow according to Moses’ staff being lifted or being dropped.

Godly Leaders have demonstrated integrity and authenticity.

Joshua made a choice of discipline early in his life.

He decided that being around God’s activity was the highest priority of his life.

There was nothing fake about Joshua’s commitment to the Lord.

When you look at this picture—that Joshua would not leave the tent of meeting—it is impossible to poke holes in his integrity.

He really does pursue intimacy with the Lord.

Godly Leaders have become the best followers.

13-15

Joshua understands that he is not the leader of Israel.

He understands that the Lord is leading.

When the Commander of the Armies of the Lord gives him instructions to march around Jericho, Joshua is committed to following these instructions even though they do not make sense.

A godly community always has godly leaders.

They are followers of Christ who:

- have achieved something worth passing on

- Have demonstrated integrity and authenticity

- Have become the best followers.

Godly leadership does not guarantee godly community.

I want you to notice what happens in the generations after Joshua and the group of leaders who served with him died.