VOICES OF PINELAKE | JUNE 15, 2025

When You Leave God Out – Bryant May

Sermon Highlights

Key Passage: Joshua 9

In Joshua 9, the Israelites are fresh off major victories when they meet the Gibeonites, who pretend to be from a distant land. God had warned Israel not to make treaties with the people of Canaan, but the Gibeonites disguised themselves to look like outsiders seeking peace. Hoping to avoid more conflict and convinced by appearances, Israel agreed to a treaty without asking God. This situation shows the danger of leaving God out:

When you leave God out, you are more easily deceived. The Gibeonites fooled Israel because the leaders didn’t stop to seek God. We’re vulnerable to lies when we trust what we see instead of asking for His wisdom.

When you leave God out, you make poor decisions. Joshua 9:14 says they “did not inquire of the Lord.” That one mistake led to a decision outside of God’s design. Good intentions can still lead to wrong choices if we don’t pray first.

When you leave God out, you face long-term consequences. The treaty stood, and the Gibeonites remained among them. What feels small in the moment can lead to lasting impact when it’s rooted in disobedience.

Even in their failure, God remained faithful. Israel kept their word, and the Gibeonites were spared but placed in service to the community. Their mistake didn’t remove them from God’s purpose, but it did become a reminder of the cost of acting without Him. God invites us to return to Him, trust Him, and walk in His wisdom.

INTRO

Icebreaker Question: What’s something you ignored, like advice, a label, or a warning, that you immediately regretted?

Transition to Group Discussion: Sometimes, ignoring simple advice can lead to unexpected consequences. In Joshua 9, the Israelites do something similar. They make a decision without consulting God first. Let’s look at what happened and how it applies to us.

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Read Joshua 9 as a group.

Looking back at Joshua 9:6–7, what made the Gibeonites’ story believable? Have you ever been convinced by something that seemed right but wasn’t?

Joshua 9:14 says the Israelites “did not inquire of the Lord.” What do you think made them skip that step, especially after seeing God’s faithfulness in earlier battles?

In Joshua 9:15, Joshua makes a peace treaty without hearing from God. Have you ever made a decision with good intentions, only to realize later it wasn’t the right one? What helped you recognize the mistake, and what did you take away from it?

Joshua 9:18–21 shows that Israel honored their word, even though it came from a mistake. Have you ever had to deal with the consequences of a decision you couldn’t undo? What did you learn?

Considering the full story in Joshua 9, what stands out to you about God’s character in the middle of human failure?

Proverbs 3:5–6 challenges us to trust God instead of leaning on our own understanding. What does that look like practically in your life right now? Where are you tempted to rely on yourself?

James 1:5 reminds us that God gives wisdom when we ask. Why do you think many of us skip that step or struggle to wait for God’s direction?

Joshua 9:14 shows a failure to seek God, while Acts 2:42 describes a community deeply committed to spiritual rhythms. When you think about your own life, how would you describe your current practices when it comes to reading Scripture, praying consistently, and staying connected to community? Which of those feels most difficult right now, and why?

NEXT STEP

It’s easy to make decisions, form habits, or carry burdens without ever stopping to ask God in. As you think about what we’ve discussed, where in your life right now are you trying to move forward without God’s guidance, presence, or wisdom? Take a moment to write it down.

PRAYER

Let’s take a few minutes to respond to what we’ve talked about today—not just with our thoughts, but with prayer and encouragement.

Pair up with someone of the same gender and share the next step you wrote down. After each of you shares, take time to pray for one another by name. Ask God to give each other wisdom, clarity, and courage to trust Him fully.