Prayer: Dear Abba, you have created us all children of God. As our loving parent, you give us your Word for instruction, your Son as our teacher, and your Spirit as a guiding force. May we choose the way you lay for us and answer your call. Amen.
Reading: Joshua 24:1-2, 14-18 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Have you ever been the boss of anything? When I was 25, I was hired by a national junior college program serving the military. I went from assistant to leader in a matter of months. In my new role as coordinator, I got to speak to groups of seamen fresh off a submarine, meet with military commanders, conference with students on career transitioning, and more. I loved my job, mostly because I believed fervently in education and the opportunities our program offered. But I never relished the role of leadership when it meant making difficult financial decisions, firing people, or dealing with student misconduct or accreditation deficiencies. I can’t imagine having to lead thousands of friends and family who questioned God, disobeyed His rules, worshiped other gods, and at every turn seemed to forget why they were out in the desert in the first place! But God picks leaders who can be respected, whose hearts are focused on Him. He equips His prophets with the wisdom and words to deliver to His people. And often, as with Joshua, He places them with a mentor to guide them along. For decades, Joshua assisted Moses. Joshua was with Moses on Mount Sinai when he spoke with God; he was present when the Ten Commandments were given to the people. He witnessed firsthand their sacrilege with the golden calf and Moses’s anger. How can we recognize leaders in our congregations? How do we develop leaders for ministry in the church? How do we treat our leaders; do we listen to them and to God? And how might you be called to lead others to the profound grace of God? The choice is yours. --Heather LeBlanc
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