Sermon Outline Title: Be a Warrior – Not a Whiner
Text, Theme, Big Idea
Bible Text: Joshua 14:6-12
Theme: Faith to Climb and Courage to Conquer
Big Idea: Like Caleb, believers can overcome every mountain and giant through steadfast faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I. Caleb — A Man of Strong Character
a. Caleb followed God with his whole heart and never looked back.
b. He endured forty years of wilderness wandering without losing faith or complaining.
c. His strength didn’t come from muscle but from unwavering trust in God.
d. True strength is spiritual—“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
II. Faith That Waits Through the Wilderness
a. When the twelve spies returned, ten doubted, but Caleb and Joshua believed God’s promise.
b. Because of unbelief, Israel wandered forty years; Caleb’s faith cost him time but not hope.
c. He accepted delay without bitterness, trusting God’s timing instead of demanding his own.
d. Faith sometimes waits decades before the promise comes true—but God never forgets His word.
III. “Give Me This Mountain” — Faith That Still Fights ( Joshua 14:12 )
a. At eighty-five, Caleb asked for the hardest hill in Canaan—the mountain where the giants lived.
b. The Anakim had terrified Israel forty years earlier, but Caleb said, “With God’s help I can defeat them.”
c. He wanted the mountain no one else wanted because he believed God could make the impossible possible.
d. Faith doesn’t look for easy ground—it asks for mountains to conquer.
IV. Mountains and Giants We All Must Face
a. The Giant That is the Devil
The enemy is real and ruthless. He tries to steal, kill, and destroy. No man defeats him alone. You need the power and protection of Jesus Christ to win the battle.
Without the shield of faith, the devil will have his way with you. With Christ, you stand unshakable.
b. The Mountain of Doubt
Everything in this world tries to convince you that God isn’t real. Schools, media, and skeptics preach unbelief. But doubt is the devil’s favorite weapon.
If he can make you doubt God’s existence, he’s won your heart. Faith is seeing the unseen and believing the eternal.
c. The Mountain of Discouragement
Discouragement is Satan’s most worn-out tool. He uses it to make believers quit. When you’re tired, hurt, or ignored, he whispers, “What’s the use?”
God says, “Keep on keeping on.” The valley isn’t forever. Hold on and look up—your help comes from the Lord.
d. The Mountain of Distraction
The devil dangles shiny bait to draw our eyes off Jesus. Like a trap baited with grain, it leads souls step by step into captivity.
Be alert. Don’t chase the world’s bright lights and lose sight of the Light of the world.
V. Caleb’s Conquering Faith
a. Caleb didn’t focus on the size of the mountain but on the strength of his God.
b. He refused to let age, circumstance, or giants stop him from claiming what God promised.
c. He believed what God said more than what his eyes could see.
d. That kind of faith still moves mountains today.
VI. Lessons From Caleb’s Example
a. Faith waits — for forty-five years he believed without wavering.
b. Faith works — he fought giants when his body was old but his spirit was young.
c. Faith wins — he claimed his mountain and his inheritance because he trusted God completely.
Illustration / Example
A small child once looked up at a mountain and said, “Daddy, that sure is a big hill.” His father replied, “Yes son, but our God made it.”
Whatever you’re facing today, remember—the God who made the mountain can move it or carry you over it.
Alliterated Main Points
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Confidence – Caleb believed God’s promise.
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Courage – He faced giants without fear.
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Commitment – He followed God wholeheartedly.
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Conquest – He claimed his mountain by faith.
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Completion – God rewarded his faithfulness.
Conclusion / Invitation
Be like Caleb—a warrior, not a whiner. Life will send mountains and giants, but faith in Jesus will make you an overcomer.
Don’t sit and say, “Woe is me.” Rise up and say, “With God’s help I can do this.”
1 John 5:4 says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
Whatever mountain stands before you, tell it, “Move over—my God and I are coming through.”