Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

Covenant Renewal

Bryan Schneider · August 6, 2022

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sharonrpc.org/sermons/covenant-renewal

Summary

Joshua gathers all Israel at Shechem for covenant renewal, confronting God's people with the exclusive loyalty they owe the Lord.
The covenant history in Joshua 24:1-13 repeatedly emphasizes God's action: he called Abraham, delivered Israel from Egypt, preserved them, defeated enemies, and gave land they had not earned.
Grace grounds the summons to fear the Lord, serve him in integrity and truth, put away idols, and choose whom they will serve.
Israel's confident vows are answered by a sober warning: the Lord is holy and jealous, and covenant profession must not be casual or self-reliant.
Joshua records the covenant in God's book and raises a stone as a witness, giving the people's verbal commitment a public and enduring sign.
The chapter exposes the need for Jesus, the better Joshua, who alone loves and obeys God perfectly and secures the covenant blessings his people cannot earn.
Covenant renewal calls Christians to examine lingering idols, renew sincere devotion, remember their vows, and depend on Christ rather than moral resolve.
The Lord's Supper is a new-covenant sign in which believers remember Christ's death, examine themselves, feed on him by faith, and proclaim his saving work until he comes.

Why does Joshua begin covenant renewal by recounting what God has done before calling Israel to serve?
What does the repeated divine I in Joshua 24:1-13 teach about grace, providence, and Israel's inheritance?
Which loyalties or desires can function as household gods even when they are not represented by carved images?
How should God's holiness and jealousy shape the seriousness with which Christians make and renew vows?
Why is Israel's confident promise insufficient to secure perfect covenant faithfulness?
How does Jesus the better Joshua fulfill the obedience God's people fail to render?
What roles do the written covenant record and memorial stone play as witnesses?
How does worthy participation in the Lord's Supper join remembrance of grace, self-examination, repentance, love, and renewed obedience?

Covenant renewal: A public reaffirmation of God's gracious relationship with his people and their pledged response of exclusive faith and obedience.
Covenant history: The recital of God's prior saving acts that supplies the gracious basis for present loyalty and service.
Idolatry: Giving any created person, power, possession, desire, or rival deity the trust, love, fear, or obedience due to God alone.
Holy jealousy: God's righteous insistence that his covenant people worship him exclusively and not share their devotion with idols.
Witness: A public testimony, such as Joshua's written record and memorial stone, that confirms the people's covenant commitment.
Better Joshua: Jesus, who perfectly obeys God, defeats the ultimate enemies of his people, and brings them into lasting inheritance.
Covenant of grace: God's free offer of life and salvation through Jesus Christ, with the Spirit enabling sinners to believe.
Lord's Supper: Christ's new-covenant sacrament of remembrance, proclamation, self-examination, and spiritual nourishment by faith.