Next Starts Now: By Faith, Not By Label (Week 2)
Preacher: Daniel Erasmus
Worship:
Song Suggestion:
- Who You Say I Am – Hillsong Worship
As you worship, pray:
“Jesus, silence every false label, speak Your truth over me, and build faith in my heart.”
Check-in:
Labels often shape how we see ourselves – and how we believe God sees us.
Share together: What is a label (old or recent) that you’ve struggled to shake off?
(This could be something someone said, something from your past, or even something you say about yourself.)
Synopsis of Message:
We continued our journey in Joshua 2, where Joshua sends two spies into Jericho – and they meet the most unlikely person: Rahab, a woman society labeled as a prostitute, an outsider, and someone who could have been disqualified. But God had a different plan.
Key Truth: By faith – not by a label – God writes new stories.
Labels are dangerous because we begin to believe them:
- “I’m not enough.”
- “I’m too broken.”
- “God can’t use me.”
But God does not relate to us through labels – He relates to us through love.
And in Scripture we see this principle clearly:
PRINCIPLE 1: God doesn’t just use unexpected people – He often prefers it.
Rahab is the last person we would cast for a role in God’s story – yet God chooses her.
She is overlooked, misunderstood, and marginalised, yet becomes central to God’s redemptive narrative. (1 Cor 1:27)
This is good news because all of us have a “Rahab part” to our story – a place where the label says disqualified… but God says chosen.
PRINCIPLE 2: When God calls, He asks for everything.
Rahab doesn’t just hide the spies; she risks her life. Her loyalty shifts from Jericho to the God she has only heard stories about. She goes all in, even before fully understanding God. Her step of faith cost her something, but faith often does.
PRINCIPLE 3: Your obedience becomes part of God’s bigger story.
Rahab ties a scarlet cord in her window – a “cord of hope.”
It mirrors:
- The Passover blood on doorposts in Exodus
- And ultimately, the scarlet blood of Jesus on the cross
Through that one act of obedience:
- Her family is saved
- Israel gains courage
- And generations later, Rahab appears in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt 1:5)
Your step of obedience today might become the miracle someone else stands on tomorrow.
Discussion Questions:
- Labels & Identity
What label have you believed that has made you feel disqualified in your faith? How has it shaped your choices or confidence? - Unexpected People
Rahab seemed like the least likely candidate – yet God chose her. Where in your life do you sense God choosing you despite how unqualified you feel? - “All In” Faith
Rahab risked everything because she believed what she heard about God. What step of faith might God be asking you to take that feels risky? - The Power of Story
Rahab’s faith was sparked by the stories she heard about God. What part of your story could strengthen someone else’s faith right now? - Scarlet Cord of Hope
Where do you need to hold onto Jesus as your “scarlet cord of hope”? (Is it fear, shame, addiction, insecurity, family, purpose, etc.?)
Prayer Focus:
Pray for:
- Freedom from old labels
- Boldness to take “all in” steps of faith
- Awareness of God’s redeeming love
- Courage to share your story with someone this week
- Fresh hope through the “scarlet cord” of Jesus
Pray together:
“Jesus, every label that has defined me – I lay it down. Write Your truth over my life. Give me courage to step in faith and join Your story.”
Check-out:
Complete this sentence:
“By faith – not hindered or obstructed by a label – I will take this next step…”
(One step of obedience, courage, or surrender.)
