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Joshua
I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9
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Preschool track
Overview of Joshua
Joshua tells the story of God's people crossing the Jordan River and entering the land God had led them to. This book is named for its main character, Joshua, who was brave and obeyed God.
Bible Readings
God Chooses Joshua (Joshua 1) Reading
Moses had led the people in the wilderness for over forty years. The people were finally ready to cross over into the land that God had promised. Moses stood before the people. He told them that a new leader had been chosen to take the people into the land.
"I have been your leader for many, many years," Moses said to the people. "But now it's time for a change. You need a new leader. So God picked Joshua to be your new leader."
"Be brave and strong," Moses said to Joshua. Then Moses helped Joshua understand how to be a good leader.
After Moses died, God spoke to Joshua. "Get ready to go into the new land," said God. "I will help you the same way I helped Moses."
"Be brave and strong," said God. "Obey all the things that Moses taught you. Don't be afraid. I will be with you wherever you go."
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
"I have been your leader for many, many years," Moses said to the people. "But now it's time for a change. You need a new leader. So God picked Joshua to be your new leader."
"Be brave and strong," Moses said to Joshua. Then Moses helped Joshua understand how to be a good leader.
After Moses died, God spoke to Joshua. "Get ready to go into the new land," said God. "I will help you the same way I helped Moses."
"Be brave and strong," said God. "Obey all the things that Moses taught you. Don't be afraid. I will be with you wherever you go."
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
Brave Rahab (Joshua 2) Reading
Joshua was going to lead the people into the land that would be their home. There was a city named Jericho in the new land. Joshua wanted to know more about the city, but Jericho was surrounded by a big wall.
Joshua called two men to a meeting. "Go into Jericho," said Joshua. "Spy on the people. Tell me what the city is like."
The two spies crept to the wall of Jericho. There was agate in the wall, but the gate was guarded by the king's men. The king's men would never let in two spies! So the spies climbed over the wall.
Once the two spies were in the city, they looked all around. They saw a house that was built right on the wall. The house belonged to a woman named Rahab.
The men went to Rahab's house. Rahab helped the spies. She told them all about Jericho.
When the king of Jericho heard that the spies had talked to Rahab, he sent guards to Rahab's house. Rahab had the spies lie down on her roof. Then she covered them up with stalks of grain. When the guards searched Rahab's house, they did not see men hiding under the grain.
After the guards went away, Rahab let the men climb down a rope out of her window. The window was in the wall that went around Jericho.
Before they left, Rahab asked the men to protect her and her family when they come back to Jericho.
"Tie a red rope in your window," said the spies. "Then we will know which house is yours. We will help you and your family because you have helped us."
The spies left Jericho and went safely back to Joshua.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
Joshua called two men to a meeting. "Go into Jericho," said Joshua. "Spy on the people. Tell me what the city is like."
The two spies crept to the wall of Jericho. There was agate in the wall, but the gate was guarded by the king's men. The king's men would never let in two spies! So the spies climbed over the wall.
Once the two spies were in the city, they looked all around. They saw a house that was built right on the wall. The house belonged to a woman named Rahab.
The men went to Rahab's house. Rahab helped the spies. She told them all about Jericho.
When the king of Jericho heard that the spies had talked to Rahab, he sent guards to Rahab's house. Rahab had the spies lie down on her roof. Then she covered them up with stalks of grain. When the guards searched Rahab's house, they did not see men hiding under the grain.
After the guards went away, Rahab let the men climb down a rope out of her window. The window was in the wall that went around Jericho.
Before they left, Rahab asked the men to protect her and her family when they come back to Jericho.
"Tie a red rope in your window," said the spies. "Then we will know which house is yours. We will help you and your family because you have helped us."
The spies left Jericho and went safely back to Joshua.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
Crossing Jordan (Joshua 3-4) Reading
Everyone was excited! The people were finally moving to the new land. The priests led the way, carrying the special chest that held God's rules, the Ten Commandments.
Everyone followed the priests until they came to the Jordan River. Then everyone stopped. The river was flooded. It was too deep for the people to cross. The people didn't know what to do.
"Trust God," Joshua said to the people. "I know God will do wonderful things for us."
The Joshua told the priests to step into the river. As soon as the priests' feet touched the water, a dry path appeared. All the people crossed through the river on dry land.
Joshua told twelve men to each pick up a stove as they crossed the river. Joshua used the stones to build a monument.
"The monument will help us remember how God helped us cross the river," said Joshua.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
Everyone followed the priests until they came to the Jordan River. Then everyone stopped. The river was flooded. It was too deep for the people to cross. The people didn't know what to do.
"Trust God," Joshua said to the people. "I know God will do wonderful things for us."
The Joshua told the priests to step into the river. As soon as the priests' feet touched the water, a dry path appeared. All the people crossed through the river on dry land.
Joshua told twelve men to each pick up a stove as they crossed the river. Joshua used the stones to build a monument.
"The monument will help us remember how God helped us cross the river," said Joshua.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible Storybook
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank You for being with me. I know that You’re near.
And when things seem scary, I don’t need to fear.
Please help me to trust You with big and small things.
Please give me more courage for what today brings.
Please help me give fear a great big goodbye wave.
I know You made me, and I’m made to be brave.
Amen.
Thank You for being with me. I know that You’re near.
And when things seem scary, I don’t need to fear.
Please help me to trust You with big and small things.
Please give me more courage for what today brings.
Please help me give fear a great big goodbye wave.
I know You made me, and I’m made to be brave.
Amen.
I Wonder....
- what the city was like.
- why Joshua had to send spies into Jericho.
- how the king of Jericho felt when two spies got into the city.
- if Israelites fought about who was going to be the spies.
Discussion Questions
- Where is your favorite hiding place?
- What kind of leader will you be?
- How would you feel crossing a river that floods?
- Why do you think God wanted the Israelites to live where other people already live?
Videos
Crossroads Kid's Club
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God's People: Joshua
This video is 1:16 minutes long
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God's People: Rahab
This video is 1:31 minutes long
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Saddleback Kids
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Rahab and the Spies (Joshua 2)
This video is 3:21 minutes long
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The Israelites Cross the Jordan (Joshua 3-4)
This video is 2:32 minutes long
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The Walls of Jericho (Joshua 5)
This video is 3:27 minutes long
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Joshua Leads (Joshua 1)
This video is 2:37 minutes long
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Godly Play
This video is 10:25 minutes long
Art
Benjamin West
1800
Songs
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Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho by Kid's Praise Music
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The Brave Song byBaby Joy Joy
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This song is 2:05 minutes long
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This song is 2:05 minutes long
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I am Confident, I am Brave by Cocomelon
This song is 1:34 minutes long
Art Project
Bravery Badge
Materials:
Adult Preparation:
Instructions:
- Scissors
- Coloring Utensils
- Paper
- Bible
- Badge Template (Optional)
- See Below
Adult Preparation:
- Gather Materials
- Open to Joshua 1:9
Instructions:
- As you’re coloring, read your kids the verse Joshua 1:9 about being brave.
- Once you’ve designed your badges, go around and share at least one way you’re going to be brave this week
Tips for Adult
The Book of Joshua tells the stories of battles for the Promised Land. After many years of wandering in the wilderness. God's people were finally permitted to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land. Their story reminds us to always listen to God and how to be brave.
Elementary Track
Overview of Joshua
In the book of Genesis, Jacob's family traveled to Egypt to escape starvation. Hundreds of years later, that small family had grown into a large group of people known as the Israelites. Egypt's king, Pharaoh, was so afraid the Israelites would cause him trouble that he forced them to become slaves.
Pharaoh, was so afraid the Israelite slaves, but God saw their suffering. God heard their prayer for help. God sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to set the Israelites free. The word exodus means "the way out," and the miraculous escape know as "the exodus" is considered one of the Bible's most important events. At first God sent diseases and plagues to force Pharaoh to free the Israelite slaves. When Pharaoh didn't obey, God told the Israelites to paint the doorframes of their homes with the blood of a lamb. This saved God's people from a deadly plague. God finally led the slaves to freedom, pushing back the waters of the Reed Sea so they could walk across dry ground (Exod 1-15).
As the Israelites camped in the desert, God gave the Ten Commandments (Exod 20) and asked the people to obey God. They complained of thirst and hunger, but God gave them water and food. This exciting story explains how God saved a people and taught them to trust!
*Taken from Deep Blue Kids Bible
Pharaoh, was so afraid the Israelite slaves, but God saw their suffering. God heard their prayer for help. God sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to set the Israelites free. The word exodus means "the way out," and the miraculous escape know as "the exodus" is considered one of the Bible's most important events. At first God sent diseases and plagues to force Pharaoh to free the Israelite slaves. When Pharaoh didn't obey, God told the Israelites to paint the doorframes of their homes with the blood of a lamb. This saved God's people from a deadly plague. God finally led the slaves to freedom, pushing back the waters of the Reed Sea so they could walk across dry ground (Exod 1-15).
As the Israelites camped in the desert, God gave the Ten Commandments (Exod 20) and asked the people to obey God. They complained of thirst and hunger, but God gave them water and food. This exciting story explains how God saved a people and taught them to trust!
*Taken from Deep Blue Kids Bible
This video is 8:47 minutes long.
Bible Readings
God Chooses Joshua (Joshua 1) Reading
What do you think happens when a great leader dies? Moses was a great leader of God's people. Moses, with God's help, led the people out of slavery in Egypt. But God told Moses he would die before reaching the Promised Land.
Moses grew old and died. Now who would lead the people into the Promised Land? God and Moses had already prepared Joshua to lead. And Joshua had everything he needed to do a good job.
First, Joshua had God. God talked to Joshua all the time. God told Joshua, "Moses is dead. Get ready to lead the people across the Jordan River."
God promised to give them the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Euphrates River. God promised!
God also said, "Be strong and brave! Do not be afraid. I am with you wherever you go." God repeated these words to Joshua many times.
Second. Joshua had instructions. God told Joshua, "Remember the instructions Moses wrote down for you. Think about them out loud. Be brave, and obey those instructions! If the people obey all of Moses' instructions, they will succeed."
Third, Joshua had helpers. Joshua told his helpers, "Walk around and tell the people to get ready. God promised us the land on the other side of the Jordan River. Three days from today, we will cross the Jordan to take this land!"
Joshua and his helpers talked to the people. They told them exactly what to do to go to their new land.
And the people agreed to follow and obey Joshua. They said to him, "We will obey you. We will go where you tell us to go."
Joshua was the new leader of the people of Israel.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible from Elizabeth Caldwell
Moses grew old and died. Now who would lead the people into the Promised Land? God and Moses had already prepared Joshua to lead. And Joshua had everything he needed to do a good job.
First, Joshua had God. God talked to Joshua all the time. God told Joshua, "Moses is dead. Get ready to lead the people across the Jordan River."
God promised to give them the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Euphrates River. God promised!
God also said, "Be strong and brave! Do not be afraid. I am with you wherever you go." God repeated these words to Joshua many times.
Second. Joshua had instructions. God told Joshua, "Remember the instructions Moses wrote down for you. Think about them out loud. Be brave, and obey those instructions! If the people obey all of Moses' instructions, they will succeed."
Third, Joshua had helpers. Joshua told his helpers, "Walk around and tell the people to get ready. God promised us the land on the other side of the Jordan River. Three days from today, we will cross the Jordan to take this land!"
Joshua and his helpers talked to the people. They told them exactly what to do to go to their new land.
And the people agreed to follow and obey Joshua. They said to him, "We will obey you. We will go where you tell us to go."
Joshua was the new leader of the people of Israel.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible from Elizabeth Caldwell
Brave Rahab (Joshua 2) Reading
Have you ever wondered if you could do something hard that you had never done before? This story is about a woman named Rahab who did a very brave thing.
Rahab was a Canaanite woman. She lived in a house in the city wall of Jericho. Rahab was both smart and very brave.
One day, Joshua, the leader of God's people the Israelites, sent two men to spy on Jericho. When the spies got to the city wall, they went into Rahab's house.
"Hide us," they said to Rahab. Rahab heard how God had helped the Israelites. She knew God was with them. She hid the spies under the reeds on her roof.
Meanwhile, the king of Jericho was told that two men from Israel were seen going into Rahab's house. The king sent this message to Rahab: "Send the men who have come to spy on us out so that I can capture them."
"They have already left the city. If you hurry, you can catch them," Rahab said. She sent the king's people away from the spies hiding in her house. Then Rahab went to the roof. She said to the men there, "Come out. I sent the king's people away. I have saved you because I know that your God is with you. Now promise me that you will make sure that my family and I will be safe."
The spies promised Rahab that if she didn't tell anyone about what they were going to do, she and her family would be safe. So Rahab tied a rope to her window so that the spies could climb down the outside of the wall. She told them, "Go towards the hills os that the king's people won't find you. Hide there for three days. Then you can leave."
The spies from Israel gave Rahab a red cord. They said, "Hang this red cord from your window. Bring all your family members to this house. When we return to fight the army of Jericho, we will not harm whoever is with you."
When the spies left, Rahab hung the red cord in the window. Because Rahab was brave and believed that God was with Israel, she saved her entire family. Joshua, the leader of God's people, let them live in the Israelite camp.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible from Elizabeth Caldwell
Rahab was a Canaanite woman. She lived in a house in the city wall of Jericho. Rahab was both smart and very brave.
One day, Joshua, the leader of God's people the Israelites, sent two men to spy on Jericho. When the spies got to the city wall, they went into Rahab's house.
"Hide us," they said to Rahab. Rahab heard how God had helped the Israelites. She knew God was with them. She hid the spies under the reeds on her roof.
Meanwhile, the king of Jericho was told that two men from Israel were seen going into Rahab's house. The king sent this message to Rahab: "Send the men who have come to spy on us out so that I can capture them."
"They have already left the city. If you hurry, you can catch them," Rahab said. She sent the king's people away from the spies hiding in her house. Then Rahab went to the roof. She said to the men there, "Come out. I sent the king's people away. I have saved you because I know that your God is with you. Now promise me that you will make sure that my family and I will be safe."
The spies promised Rahab that if she didn't tell anyone about what they were going to do, she and her family would be safe. So Rahab tied a rope to her window so that the spies could climb down the outside of the wall. She told them, "Go towards the hills os that the king's people won't find you. Hide there for three days. Then you can leave."
The spies from Israel gave Rahab a red cord. They said, "Hang this red cord from your window. Bring all your family members to this house. When we return to fight the army of Jericho, we will not harm whoever is with you."
When the spies left, Rahab hung the red cord in the window. Because Rahab was brave and believed that God was with Israel, she saved her entire family. Joshua, the leader of God's people, let them live in the Israelite camp.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible from Elizabeth Caldwell
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank You for being with me. I know that You’re near.
And when things seem scary, I don’t need to fear.
Please help me to trust You with big and small things.
Please give me more courage for what today brings.
Please help me give fear a great big goodbye wave.
I know You made me, and I’m made to be brave.
Amen.
Thank You for being with me. I know that You’re near.
And when things seem scary, I don’t need to fear.
Please help me to trust You with big and small things.
Please give me more courage for what today brings.
Please help me give fear a great big goodbye wave.
I know You made me, and I’m made to be brave.
Amen.
I Wonder...
- what the city was like.
- why Joshua had to send spies into Jericho.
- how the king of Jericho felt when two spies got into the city.
- if Israelites fought about who was going to be the spies.
Discussion Questions
- What words did Joshua hear that helped him believe he could lead the people? What words help you believe you can do good things?
- How do you think the people looked when they heard that Moses had died? Why? How do you think they looked by the end of the story? Why?
- Following Moses' instructions was an important part of the story. These instructions were from God. What instructions from God do you follow?
- What do you think it sounded like when Rahab hid the spies under her roof?
- If you could draw a picture of this story, what would you put in it?
- Rahab was very brave. Tell a story about a time when you were brave.
- How would you feel crossing a river that floods?
- Why do you think God wanted the Israelites to live where other people already live?
Videos
Crossroads Kid's Club
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God's Story: Joshua Becomes Leader
This video is 3:35 minutes long
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God's people: Rahab
This video is 7:13 minutes long
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Saddleback Kids
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Rahab and the Spies
This video is 3:21 minutes long
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Joshua Leads
This video is 2:37 minutes long
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Songs
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Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho by Kids Praise Music
This video is 2:05 minutes long
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I Will Not Be Afraid by Lifetree Kids
This song is 2:23 minutes long
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I Won't Be Afraid by Lifetree Kids
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Brave by Saddleback Kids
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This song is 2:48 minutes long
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This song is 3:34 minutes long
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Art Project
Courage Jar
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Materials:
Adult Preparation:
Instructions:
- Mason jar or similar
- Jumbo craft sticks
- Markers
- Happy planner stickers (these are optional, but make your jar look so cute, especially if you have terrible handwriting like me.).
Adult Preparation:
- Gather materials
- Order materials
- Optional
Instructions:
- First, choose what you would like your courage jar sticks to say.
- You will want to make two sets: the first includes words of encouragement that can help inspire your kids (or you) when you feel like you need some courage.
- I used these Happy Planner stickers to create my sayings, then decorated the rest of the stick with markers.
- You may need to cut the stickers to fit the stick. Or, you can simply write your encouraging words right on the craft stick. Be creative and make them unique for your family.
- Next, you'll want to make a set of sticks to help spark conversation about our fears and to celebrate the times that we conquer them. I made 4 of these simple prompt sticks (see above)
- Once all your sticks are finished, simply place them in your jar. Then set it in an area where everyone can easily access it on a daily basis: on the kitchen table, in your family command center, or in the living room.
Content for Adults
The Book of Joshua tells the stories of battles for the Promised Land. After many years of wandering in the wilderness. God's people were finally permitted to cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land. Their story reminds us to always listen to God and how to be brave.
Each book of the Bible page will have either one or two videos and the handouts taken from an Adult Faith Formation Class that talked about this particular chapter. The video might help you understand the chapter.
This video is 52:13 minutes long