First Hand Faith

Strengthening the Cause of Christ Through Your Family
“Raised in the Church”/No Longer Faithful
Did you grow up in a Christian home?
Are you now providing a Christian home?
Will your grandchildren have a Christian home?
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Is your faith and commitment your own?
How strong is your commitment at present?
How strong will your children be committed?
How strong will your grandchildren be?
A Downhill Slide is Apparent in Many Areas of Life
Once strong congregations dwindling and dying
Churches once known for sound doctrine/ now give sermons with very little scripture
Colleges established to preach gospel now centers of liberal propaganda
America established upon Biblical principles/ now in a constant cultural battle
Good News – The Trend is Reversible
In fact, the trend is reversing in many congregations
Many who grew up in non-Christian homes are now strong in faith and commitment
Young people in many congregations are zealous and preparing to be leaders in the church


The Three Chairs
The First Chair: the Life of Joshua
Joshua 24:14-15
14 "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Setting of Joshua

The First Chair: the Life of Joshua
Joshua 24:14-15
14 "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
The First Chair
The Second Chair: the Elders who outlived Joshua
Joshua’s descendants
Joshua 24:31 Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.
Judges 2:7 So the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.


The Second Chair
The Third Chair: Another Generation arose after Them
Children of Second Generation
Judges 2:10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel.
Judges 2:11-13 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals;12 and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had
The Third Chair
The Third Chair
The Three Chairs in America
The Three Chairs in America
The Three Chairs in Your Living Room
The Three Chairs in the Church
Which Chair Are You In?
Which Chair Are You In?
Joshua’s Challenge in Your Life
Joshua 24:14-15
14 "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."