Great Decisions
Text: Joshua 24:15
Series: Restoration Sermons
Date:
Speaker: Ed Rangel
Location: Waupaca Church of Christ
Bible Version: NASB 1995
Sermon Type: Expository
Learning Objectives
By the close of this lesson the hearer should be able to:
- See that life turns on decisions, and every decision has two alternatives.
- Learn from both the great decisions and the fatal indecisions of Scripture.
- Accept that the decision for Christ is one only the individual can make.
Thesis
Life is shaped by its decisions; Scripture is full of those who chose well and those who failed to choose at all, and every soul must finally make the great decision for God personally — for no one, in heaven or on earth, can make it for him.
Burden
A decision is a turning point — a crossroads where two roads diverge and you must take one. You cannot stand at the fork forever; to refuse to choose is itself a choice, and usually the wrong one. Scripture is a gallery of decisions: some that saved a soul or a nation, others that damned them — and a sobering number of people who simply would not decide, and were lost by default. Joshua put the matter to Israel as plainly as it can be put: "Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15). The burden of this lesson is to bring every hearer to that same fork and refuse to let him pretend it isn't there — because the most dangerous answer to God is not "no" but "not yet."
Introduction
A decision is a turning point in life; it points the direction one intends to go. Decisions are crossroad situations, and there are always two alternatives — like dividing a number, the path splits in two. And decisions strengthen character; a soul that learns to choose rightly grows firm. The outline sets before us some great Bible decisions, some tragic Bible indecisions, and the inescapable truth that each man must decide for himself.
I. Some Bible Decisions (Joshua 24:15)
Consider those who chose, for good or ill:
- Lot chose the well-watered plain of Jordan — choosing by the eye, toward Sodom (Gen. 13:11).
- Jacob decided for God at Bethel, and was transformed at Peniel (Gen. 28:18; 32:28).
- Moses chose to suffer with God's people rather than enjoy Egypt's pleasures (Heb. 11:24-25).
- Joshua decided for himself and his house: "we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15).
- Ruth chose Naomi's God and people: "your God shall be my God" (Ruth 1:16).
- Orpah chose the other way — she kissed Naomi and went back to her people and her gods (Ruth 1:14-15).
- Elijah set the choice before Israel on Carmel: "How long will you hesitate between two opinions?" (1 Kings 18:21).
- The prodigal son decided, "I will get up and go to my father" (Luke 15:18).
Every one of these turned a life on a single choice.
II. Some Bible Indecisions (1 Kings 18:21)
Consider those who would not, or could not, decide:
- Lot's wife — half out of Sodom, her heart still in it; she looked back and was lost (Gen. 19:26; Luke 17:32).
- Israel at Carmel — they "did not answer him a word" when Elijah called for a choice (1 Kings 18:21).
- The rich young ruler — he wanted eternal life but would not let go of his wealth, and "went away grieving" (Luke 18:18-23).
- Pilate — knowing Jesus innocent, he would not stand on it, and delivered Him up to the crowd (Mark 15:8-15).
- Felix — "Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you" (Acts 24:24-27) — the convenient season that never came.
- Agrippa — "In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian" (Acts 26:28-29) — almost, and therefore lost.
The lesson is grim: not one of these decided against God outright. They simply failed to decide for Him — and that was enough to ruin them.
III. Each Man Must Decide for Himself (Joshua 24:15)
The great decision cannot be delegated:
- Man has the power of choice — God made him free.
- God will not decide for him — He commands, invites, warns, but will not override the will.
- Christ will not decide for him.
- The Holy Spirit will not decide for him.
- Angels will not decide for him.
- Loved ones cannot make the decision — no one can be saved on another's choice.
- Only you can make it.
- So the question stands, unavoidable: what is your decision now?
Application
You are standing at a fork whether you admit it or not, and the road will not wait. Learn from the gallery of Scripture: the ones who chose God — Moses, Ruth, Joshua, the prodigal — never regretted it, while the ones who hesitated — Lot's wife, the rich ruler, Felix, Agrippa — lost everything by waiting. And notice that the ones who were lost rarely said a defiant "no"; they said "later," "almost," "when it is convenient" — and convenient never came. So do not tell yourself you have not refused God simply because you have not yet decided for Him; indecision is a decision, and it goes the wrong way. No one can make this choice for you — not a parent, not a preacher, not the church. Only you. What is your decision now?
Conclusion
Life turns on its decisions, and the greatest is the decision for God. Scripture shows both those who chose well and those who would not choose at all — and the second group was lost as surely as if they had chosen against Him. The choice is yours alone, and it is before you today. "Choose this day whom you will serve."
Invitation
Joshua made his decision: "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15). Make yours now, while it is still "today." Believe that Jesus is the Christ, repent of your sins, confess Him before men, and be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38). Do not be an Agrippa, "almost" persuaded; do not be a Felix, waiting for a season that never comes. Decide for Christ today. Come while we sing.
Word Study
| English Term | Greek Term | Basic Meaning | Usage in This Sermon | Sermon Significance | Key Texts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choose | — | to select decisively after testing | Joshua does not ask Israel to drift but to decide, deliberately and now | Joshua does not ask Israel to drift but to decide, deliberately and now; the word forbids fence-sitting | Josh. 24:15, Hebrew bachar |
| Almost | en oligō | "in a little" | Agrippa's word for how near he came | Agrippa's word for how near he came; the saddest word in the chapter, because almost persuaded is still lost | Acts 26:28 |
Scripture Interlock Table
| Theme | Boles' Outline | Supporting Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| Choose whom you will serve | Text | Josh. 24:15 |
| Decisions: Lot, Jacob, Moses | I | Gen. 13:11; 28:18; 32:28; Heb. 11:24-25 |
| Decisions: Ruth, Orpah, Elijah, prodigal | I | Ruth 1:14-16; 1 Kings 18:21; Luke 15:18 |
| Indecision: Lot's wife | II | Gen. 19:26; Luke 17:32 |
| Indecision: Israel, rich ruler | II | 1 Kings 18:21; Luke 18:18-23 |
| Indecision: Pilate, Felix, Agrippa | II | Mark 15:8-15; Acts 24:24-27; 26:28-29 |
| The choice cannot be delegated | III | Josh. 24:15 |
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Converted from H. Leo Boles, Outline 45. Doctrinal audit: core-framework (man's free will and personal responsibility to decide for God; indecision as a fatal choice; the decision cannot be made by another); no correction. Style audit: OCR cleanup ("progidal"→prodigal, "Orpha"→Orpah, "chatacter"→character). All of Boles' citations verified and retained as given; Heb. 11:24 expanded to 11:24-25 and Ruth 1:14 to 1:14-15 for the full thought.
