Anchor My Faith

The Kingdom Established, the Grateful Healed, the Dwelling Desired, and the Righteous Preserved

Old Testament Reading

Joshua 11:1–12:24 — The Conquest Completed and Kings Defeated

Overview:
Joshua leads Israel in a final series of decisive victories over northern and southern coalitions of kings, including a major battle at the waters of Merom. The Lord delivers these enemies into Israel’s hand, fulfilling His promise to give them the land. Joshua faithfully carries out God’s commands, including the destruction of enemy strongholds and peoples. Chapter 12 summarizes the conquered kings, emphasizing the completeness of God’s victory and the fulfillment of His covenant promise to Abraham.

Theological Themes:
• God’s Faithfulness to His Promises
• Divine Sovereignty in Battle
• Obedience to God’s Commands

Key Verse:
Joshua 11:23 – “So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.”

Discussion Questions with Answers:

1. What does this passage reveal about God’s faithfulness?
   Answer: God fulfills every promise He made to Israel regarding the land. The complete defeat of the kings shows that what God spoke to Moses came to pass exactly as promised.
2. Why was Joshua’s obedience important in these victories?
   Answer: Joshua’s careful obedience demonstrated trust in God’s instructions. Victory was not due to military strength alone but to alignment with God’s will.
3. What does the “rest from war” signify?
   Answer: It represents a temporary fulfillment of God’s promise of rest in the land, pointing forward to the ultimate rest found in God through faith.

New Testament Reading

Luke 17:11–37 — Faith, Gratitude, and Readiness for the Kingdom

Overview:
As Jesus travels toward Jerusalem, He heals ten lepers, yet only one, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks, revealing the importance of faith and gratitude. Jesus then teaches about the coming of the kingdom of God, explaining that it is already present among them but will also come in a future, unmistakable way. He warns His followers to be ready, using examples from Noah and Lot to illustrate the suddenness of judgment and the need for spiritual vigilance.

Theological Themes:
• Faith and Gratitude
• The Already and Not Yet Kingdom
• Readiness for Christ’s Return

Key Verse:
Luke 17:19 – “And he said to him, ‘Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.’”

Discussion Questions with Answers:

1. Why is the Samaritan’s response significant?
   Answer: As an outsider, his gratitude highlights genuine faith. It shows that true response to God’s grace includes worship and thanksgiving, not just receiving blessings.
2. What does Jesus teach about the kingdom of God?
   Answer: The kingdom is both present (“in your midst”) and future. It is not merely observable outwardly but is revealed through Christ and will be fully realized at His return.
3. How should believers respond to the teaching about Christ’s return?
   Answer: Believers are called to live in constant readiness, not attached to worldly things, but alert and faithful, knowing that His return will be sudden.

Psalms Reading

Psalm 84:1–12 — The Blessedness of Dwelling with God

Overview:
The psalmist expresses a deep longing for the presence of God, describing the joy and strength found in dwelling in His house. Those who trust in the Lord are blessed, finding strength even in difficult journeys. The psalm emphasizes that a single day in God’s presence is better than a thousand elsewhere and concludes with a declaration of God’s goodness toward those who walk uprightly.

Theological Themes:
• Desire for God’s Presence
• Blessing of Trust in the Lord
• Strength in Pilgrimage

Key Verse:
Psalm 84:10 – “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

Discussion Questions with Answers:

1. What does the psalmist’s longing teach about worship?
   Answer: True worship flows from a deep desire for God Himself, not just His blessings. It reflects a heart that values God above all else.
2. How does God provide strength in life’s journey?
   Answer: God strengthens those who trust Him, even in difficult seasons (“Valley of Baca”), transforming hardship into a place of growth and blessing.
3. What does it mean that God withholds no good thing?
   Answer: God provides what is truly good for those who walk uprightly, according to His wisdom and timing, ensuring their ultimate well-being.

Proverbs Reading

Proverbs 13:5–6 — Righteousness Guards the Upright

Overview:
These proverbs contrast the character and outcomes of the righteous and the wicked. The righteous hate falsehood and are preserved by their integrity, while the wicked are brought to shame and ultimately overthrown by their sin. The passage emphasizes that righteousness acts as a safeguard, guiding and protecting those who walk in it.

Theological Themes:
• The Moral Contrast Between Righteous and Wicked
• Integrity as Protection
• The Consequences of Sin

Key Verse:
Proverbs 13:6 – “Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked.”

Discussion Questions with Answers:

1. Why does the righteous person hate falsehood?
   Answer: Because their character reflects God’s truth. Loving righteousness naturally leads to rejecting what is false and deceptive.
2. How does righteousness “guard” a person?
   Answer: It protects by guiding decisions, avoiding harmful paths, and aligning one’s life with God’s wisdom, leading to stability and security.
3. What is the ultimate outcome for the wicked?
   Answer: The wicked are ultimately overthrown by their own sin, which leads to shame, destruction, and separation from God.

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