Sermon Outline  Jan 6, 2008 Evening  Service

Topic: Raised Voices, Flattened Walls 

Text:    Joshua 6:16 

Introduction

I.        The events leading up to the conquest of Jericho are familiar (Joshua 4-6).

A.       God was ready for Israel to take the Promised Land.

B.       The people seem to waver back and forth in their readiness.

C.      The events at Jericho did much to build their trust in God.

II.       A multitude of lessons can be learned here, but we’ll focus on two.

A.       The effects of praise.

B.       The success of small increments.

Text

I.        The Benefits Of Tradition.

A.       Remembering the river (Joshua 4:5-7).

1.       Recalling successful ventures reinforces future daring.

2.       Thanks for past success establishes a pattern of gratitude.

B.       Reestablishing the covenant (Joshua 5:5-7).

1.       Commitment to a purpose is beneficial.

2.       Before crossing the river they had to resurrect the covenant.

C.      It is worthwhile to stop occasionally and take stock of our heritage, to look again at the great underlying principles upon which we operate.

II.       Looking At A Problem From All Angles.

A.       The effect of fear (Joshua 6:1-2).

B.       Walk around the city (Joshua 6:3-4 & 10).

C.      Knowing something the enemy doesn’t (Joshua 6:5).

III.      The Shout Of Victory.

A.       The importance of increments (Joshua 6:11-14).

1.       The story of the fall of Jericho is a study in repetition, a progressive and compounded approach, and a final gigantic push at the end.

2.       Repetition of an act is a solid Biblical principle.

3.       Twelve times the city was circled with no visible changes.

B.       Falling walls (Joshua 6:20).

Conclusion

I.        The events at Jericho were all about praise.

A.       Israel praised God through their obedience to a plan that may have appeared illogical.

B.       “The answer of a good conscience toward God” (1 Peter 3:21) is all about accepting God’s plan without imposing human logic.

II.       How does praise bring down walls?

A.       At Jericho it was part of the miracle of God.

B.       For us, praise loosens the natural inhibitions that people have.

C.      Praise is not inward, but outward.

1.       Some like to say that they praise God in their own way.

2.       Praise to God is expressive in an outward manner.

III.      Let’s raise our voices and flatten some walls!

A.       Raise our voices in praise.

B.       Flatten walls of inhibition.

C.      All to gain the victory God promises His church.