WBR 2025-26 - Session 2 - Ready to Grow

Tonight’s title is Ready to Grow, and it’s an important one. We’re continuing our time in the book of Joshua, building on what we began last night. This session is about what we’re calling “the more you know” — because the more you know about who God says you are, the more you’re able to grow into the life He’s calling you to live.

Growth doesn’t start with doing more. It starts with seeing more clearly — especially seeing yourself the way God sees you.

One of the reasons we’re spending so much time in Scripture this week is because God’s Word tells us who we are. And if we don’t know what God says about us, we’ll end up believing other voices instead. The enemy loves to distort identity. He loves to distract us from the truth about who God says we are.

So tonight, we’re going to look at five traits of a follower of God — traits we see clearly in the life of Joshua.

But before we get there, we need to talk about listening.

A follower of God is first and foremost a listener.
We hear this all the time: “Read the Word of God daily.” But listening means more than just hearing words. It means allowing what God says to shape how we think, how we act, and how we see ourselves.

Joshua understood this. Scripture tells us that whenever Moses went to the Tent of Meeting, Joshua went with him. And when Moses left, Joshua stayed behind. He couldn’t get enough of being near the presence of God.

That tells us something important: Joshua didn’t just want instructions — he wanted relationship.

Listening always begins with drawing close.

The Tent of Meeting was set outside the camp. Anyone who wanted to inquire of the Lord had to leave the noise behind and go there. That hasn’t changed. If we want to hear God clearly, we have to be willing to step away from distractions.

Listening also requires meditation. When Scripture says, “Meditate on it day and night,” it doesn’t mean reading something once and moving on. It means turning it over in your mind, letting it shape your thoughts throughout the day. It’s almost like you’re talking to yourself about what God has said.

And here’s the key: listening without acting is not obedience.

A true listener responds.

The second trait of a follower of God is this: you are treasured.

This is where a lot of us struggle. Many of us carry names, labels, and wounds from things people have said about us — sometimes years ago. Those words can shape how we see ourselves, but they don’t define us.

God does.

Scripture says we are His treasured possession. He knew you before you were formed. He engraved your name on the palms of His hands. Your value is not based on your performance, your past, your failures, or what others think of you.

When you start to see yourself the way God sees you, it changes everything.

Joshua’s name itself tells this story. He was born with the name Hoshea, which means “salvation.” Moses later changed his name to Joshua — “Yahweh is salvation.” His identity wasn’t rooted in where he came from, but in who God is.

The closer you get to God, the clearer your reflection becomes. When you draw close enough to look into His eyes, you begin to see yourself the way He sees you.

The third trait of a follower of God is this: a follower of God is a worshiper.

Worship is more than singing. It’s about posture — humility, submission, repentance, and obedience. True worship isn’t about what we like or what makes us feel good. It’s about honoring God with a heart that’s aligned with Him.

Scripture is very clear that there is worship that is not pleasing to the Lord. When worship becomes about us instead of Him, something is off.

Isaiah gives us a powerful picture of true worship. When he sees the Lord high and exalted, his response isn’t pride — it’s repentance. True worship produces a hatred for sin and a desire for holiness.

Worship should transform us.

The fourth trait of a follower of God is having a servant’s heart.

Joshua’s life was marked by service. He was a slave, then a soldier, then Moses’ aide for forty years. He learned by observing, supporting, and serving.

Jesus modeled this perfectly. On the night before His crucifixion — in His darkest hour — He tied a towel around His waist and washed His disciples’ feet. That job was reserved for the lowest servant in the house.

Leadership in God’s kingdom always starts with servanthood.

Sometimes serving looks big. Sometimes it looks incredibly small — holding a door, cleaning up, doing the unnoticed thing. But faithfulness in small things has a ripple effect that lasts generations.

And finally, the fifth trait: a follower of God is a leader.

Leadership doesn’t mean a title or a position. It means influence. If you are following God, people are watching you — whether you realize it or not.

God expects His followers to lead others to Him — by how we live, how we speak, how we serve, and how we love.

Joshua didn’t start as a leader of millions. He grew into it by listening, worshiping, serving, and trusting God step by step.

And the same is true for you.

Growth doesn’t happen all at once. It happens through daily obedience. Through listening and doing. Through drawing close and responding.

So the question tonight is simple:
Are you ready to grow?

Growth begins when we stop believing lies about ourselves and start trusting what God says instead.