Archive for the ‘Joshua’ tag
June 20, 2010: God Controls the Sun and the Moon
The text for this lesson is Joshua 10:1-15
Discussion Points
- What was the Amorite kings’ battle plan?
- What did the men of Gibeon do?
- Did Joshua think the Gibeonites deserved to be punished for tricking him and the Israelites?
- What do the words of encouragement for Joshua in verse 8 mean? How are they also words of encouragement for you?
- What is Joshua’s prayer to the Lord?
- Why do you think he petitioned God for the sun and moon to stand still?
- What is important to know about this miracle?
- How did God fight for Joshua and the Israelites?
- How did God make time stand still?
- What can we learn from Joshua in this story?
June 13, 2010: God Divides the Jordan River
The text for this lesson is Joshua 3:1-4:24
Discussion Points
- What did God point Joshua to that would help him to be a good leader?
- God commands Joshua, who then commands Israel, and they obey the command. God tells Joshua that when the people see the miracle they will know that the Lord is with Joshua just as He was with Moses. Why is that important?
- What is significant about the twelve men chosen to carry the memorial stones and the purpose for building this sign?
- Why did Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan in the place where the priests had stood?
- Why did God miraculously heap the Jordan River? Couldn’t He have told the people to build rafts or boats or engineer a bridge?
- What is the message of the twelve stones?
- How is the crossing of the Jordan similar to the crossing of the Red Sea?
- How does this miraculous passing through the Jordan River point us to the New Testament and into our time?
- On what did God constantly have the children of Israel focus? Why is that important?
- On what does God constantly have us focus for our salvation?
October 5, 2008: The Fall of Jericho
The text for this lesson is Joshua 6:1–27.
Key Points
- God saved the Israelites by causing the fortress walls of Jericho to tumble and fall and by guiding them through His servant Joshua. God saves us by causing the fortress of sin and death to tumble and fall through the redeeming work of Jesus so that we might become and remain His people.
- Law: Prideful, I place my trust in the false walls of self-security; my works and my accomplishments weakly crumble around me.
- Gospel: God delivers me from the ruin of my sin and provides me a mighty fortress in Christ.
- Bible Words: Psalm 46:10.
- Faith Words: exalt, Jesus, salvation, sin.
- Catechism: The First Commandment.
September 28, 2008: Entering the Promised Land
The text for this lesson is Joshua 3:1—5:12.
Key Points
- At the Jordan River, led by Joshua, Israel left the desert and entered the Promised Land of milk and honey; in the water of our Baptism, led by Christ, we leave behind the desert of sin, death, and Satan and enter into our heavenly promised land.
- Law: In sin, I am ever-complaining and unrepentant, wearily wandering in the desert of death, determined to go my own way.
- Gospel: In Baptism, Christ lifts me from the grave, joins me to His own baptism and His own body, the Church, and leads me and the Church into the land of rest.
- Bible Words: Titus 3:5.
- Faith Words: Ark of the Covenant, Jordan River, Promised Land, tribe.
- Catechism: Holy Baptism
