Faith That Marches To Victory Discussion Guide
Summary
Pastor Alun Davies delivers a powerful sermon about faith that doesn't give up, using Joshua's encounter with Jericho as the central example. He explains how Joshua faced a seemingly impossible situation - confronting a walled city without Moses' leadership, without the famous rod, and without Moses' prayer support. The sermon emphasizes that our problems are often blessings in disguise, and God has already given us victory through His Word. Pastor Alun outlines three key steps to breakthrough: accepting God's Word as true, seeing with spiritual eyes what God has promised, and taking action by walking in obedience even when nothing seems to be happening.
Intro Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we gather to discuss Your Word today, we thank You for speaking to us through the story of Joshua and Jericho. Open our hearts and minds to receive what You want to teach us about persistent faith. Help us to recognize the gifts You've already given us, especially through Your Word. May we be honest with ourselves about how we approach Your promises and may this discussion transform how we face our own walls. In Jesus' name, amen.
Ice Breaker
What's a book that you started reading but found difficult to finish, and why?
Key Verses
Joshua 6:2-3
Joshua 5:13-14
2 Peter 1:4
James 1:22-25
Psalm 68:11
Questions
Pastor Alun said, 'Sometimes your blessings don't look like blessings. Sometimes they look like problems.' Can you share an example from your own life where a problem eventually revealed itself to be a blessing?
How do you typically respond when you face a 'walled city' in your life - something that seems impossible to overcome?
The sermon emphasized that God has already 'given' us victory before we even start walking around our problems. How does this perspective change how you approach difficulties?
What does it mean to 'see' with spiritual eyes rather than just looking at our circumstances with natural eyes?
Pastor Alun made a strong point about the importance of reading God's Word versus just praying. How balanced is your spiritual life between talking to God and listening to Him through Scripture?
The Israelites had to walk around Jericho for seven days with no visible results until the final day. Where in your life are you in a 'keep walking' season with no visible breakthrough yet?
The sermon compared our treatment of the Bible to how Jewish people treat their Torah scrolls with reverence. How might your relationship with Scripture change if you approached it with more reverence?
What specific promise from God's Word do you need to start 'walking around' in faith right now?
Life Application
This week, commit to spending time daily with God's Word - not just reading it, but truly listening for God's voice through it. Choose one promise from Scripture that applies to a current challenge in your life. Write it down and carry it with you. Each day, take a specific action that demonstrates your faith in that promise, even if nothing seems to be changing. Like Joshua circling Jericho, keep 'walking' in faith around your situation, trusting that God has already given you the victory. At the end of the week, reflect on how this practice has affected your perspective, even if your circumstances haven't yet changed.
Key Takeaways
What looks like a problem is often a blessing wrapped in a challenge - if we persist in faith, we'll discover the gift inside.
God has already given us victory through His Word - we don't have to earn it or deserve it, but we must receive it by faith.
We must see with spiritual eyes what God has promised, looking beyond our natural circumstances to the reality of God's promises.
Faith requires action - we must keep 'walking around our Jericho' even when nothing seems to be happening.
The Word of God is not just a book but the breath of God that brings life - we must approach it with reverence and make it central to our daily lives.
Ending Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for reminding us that You've already given us victory over the walls in our lives. Forgive us for the times we've treated Your Word casually or neglected it altogether. Help us to treasure Your promises and to walk in faith even when we see no immediate results. Give us spiritual eyes to see beyond our circumstances to the reality of what You've declared. As we leave this discussion, empower us to keep walking around our own Jerichos, trusting that on Your perfect timing, the walls will fall. May we be people who don't just hear Your Word but put it into practice daily. In Your mighty name we pray, amen.