Decisions Today and Consequences Tomorrow

Decisions Today and Consequences Tomorrow | Dr. Jimmy Porter | 10:30 a.m.

Choose this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:14-21)

Joshua’s final challenge to Israel is not simply historical instruction — it’s a present-day summons. In Joshua 24:14-21 he calls the people to fear the Lord, put away foreign gods, and serve the Lord wholeheartedly. When the elders and leaders answer they will serve the Lord, Joshua warns them of the reality of fickle hearts and calls them to a decisive, covenantal commitment. Their reply — “We will serve the Lord” — echoes the choice every follower of Christ must make: a wholehearted, ongoing loyalty, not a momentary pledge.

This sermon will examine three practical truths from the passage:

• The call to exclusive worship: God alone deserves our fear, trust, and obedience. Any “other gods” — idols of comfort, success, approval, or self — must be removed from the heart.

• The reality of divided loyalty: Even sincere promises can be undermined by human weakness. A faithful walk requires regular repentance, accountability, and dependence on God’s grace.

• The urgency of decision: Faith is not passive. Joshua’s charge, “Choose this day,” presses us to act now — to align our lives publicly and privately with the covenant God.

Bring your questions and your willingness to make a renewed commitment. We will reflect on what it looks like to serve the Lord “in sincerity and in truth,” examine common modern “gods,” and offer practical next steps for living as a people wholly devoted to Christ.