THE WHOLE BIBLE JOSHUA

Transcription

1 THE WHOLE BIBLE JOSHUA This Bible study, one of 66 studies covering the entire Bible, is made up of one-page lessons covering short sections of the book. The electronic format (student s and leader s guides) allows adaptation to individual needs. Benefits of one-page lessons: Hand out only what you need, relative to the length of the class session and how much content you wish to cover. Taken at a steady pace, a page can be covered in about 20 minutes. See at a glance all the material that pertains to the section being covered. Use the discussion questions as your basic outline and draw in material from the and sections as you wish. Suggestions for using these lessons: Teach an entire book, or teach just part of a book. Use a single lesson sheet for a 19 Minute style Bible study. Use a single lesson sheet as a meeting opener, either as a devotion or a short Bible study. Build your own Bible studies. The possibilities are endless. For example: Assemble all the lessons on the penitential psalms, psalms of praise, or David s early years. Assemble sections that deal with predestination, and teach the pertinent passages in their context. Study all references to mountains, cities, nations, etc., pointing out their importance in the lives of God s people. Note: The appropriate pages in The People s Bible commentary volumes are referenced. However, the authors were given the freedom to develop their own studies, so these lessons are not, in a strict sense, study guides to those volumes. We pray these lessons will help God s people grow in faith and in service to his kingdom. The following authors participated in writing for this project: John Beck, Allen Beyersdorf, Jeffrey Bonack, Matthew Crass, Charles Degner, Steven Degner, Michael Feuerstahler, William Fischer, Aaron Frey, Stephen Geiger, James Getka, Eric Hartzell, Robert Hochmuth, James Janke, Paul Janke, Armin Keibel, Brian Keller, John Kelly, Geoffrey Kieta, Thomas Kock, Robert Koester, David Kolander, Brian Kom, Arnold Kunde, James Langebartels, Lyle Luchterhand, Harry Marks, Peter Panitzke, James Pope, Joel Prange, David Reichel, John A. Schroeder, John P. Schroeder, Snowden Sims, Philip Spaude, Carl Voss, Robert Voss, Keith Wessel, Mark Wilde, James Witt, James Ziesemer. The material on this disk may be adapted, printed, and copied by the purchaser of this kit. However, the following notice must appear at the bottom of each page of the student lessons: Ownership of this material belongs to either a congregation or an individual, but not both. Purchase by a congregation: Purchase of this material by a congregation gives Bible study leaders of that congregation permission to adapt and copy this material for use in one or more groups within that congregation. (Dual parishes may purchase one copy for use in both congregations.)

2 Purchase by a pastor or other Bible study leader: Purchase of this material by an individual gives the buyer permission to adapt and copy this material for Bible classes he or she teaches or supervises. Buyer has permission to use this material only in the congregation he or she is currently serving or attending. Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society. Northwestern Publishing House 1250 N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI Northwestern Publishing House Published 2006 Printed in the United States of America ISBN:

3 Verse 3 Verse 8 1 The Lord strengthens for his role as Israel s leader (The People s Bible,, pages 13-31) Every place where you set your foot Israel s territory would extend from the Arabian Desert in the south to Lebanon in the north, from the Euphrates River in the northeast to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in the west. It was a good and spacious land (Exodus 3:8). Under, the Israelites did not conquer all this land. King David, however, extended Israel s boundaries to include the land up to the Euphrates. He was a type of Christ, who would extend God s kingdom to it farthest limits. Book of the Law the five books of Moses, which contained God s law and promises. 1. Why does the Lord remind of Moses death? was now to take over leadership of God s people. The fact that Moses was gone was surely on s mind. Yet he dare not look back. He should only look ahead to all that God would do through him. Moses death demonstrated that the Lord s kingdom does not rest on the shoulders of one mere man. 2. In verses 3-9 God piles on the encouragement. Find as many different encouragements as you can. Lead the class to see the powerful foundation on which could begin his work. God would give Israel every place where would plant his foot. This was God s promise already to Moses. (verse 3) The Lord commits himself to the specific boundaries of the land he would give to Israel. (verse 4) No one would stand against, for God would be with him. (verse 5) God encourages to be strong, for he would be God s agent to fulfill the promises he had given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (verse 6) The Lord again commands to be strong to keep God s laws, and he would be successful. (verse 7) Note the repetition in verse 8. If God is commanding, then has no reason to be terrified or discouraged. (verse 9) 3. What help did Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh give? They said they would fulfill their promise to help Israel conquer the Promised Land. They also promised to punish anyone who refused to help. Finally, they encouraged to be strong and courageous. 4. List specific life situations when believers need to be strong and courageous. Which promises of God have been especially helpful to you? Answers will vary. They may include illness, death, persecution, special difficult tasks, warding off temptations, and so on. God has promised to be with us, to cause all things to work out for our good, and to preserve us in the faith until our dying day. The Lord appointed as Israel s new leader and assured him that the Israelites would successfully conquer Canaan. s strength was based on God s promises and help.

4 Verse 11 2 Rahab protects the spies (The People s Bible,, pages 31-44) Rahab s statement that the inhabitants of Jericho were terrified of Israel was helpful to the spies. They used this information to encourage and the Israelites. See verse 24: all the people are melting in fear. 1. Why might the spies have chosen to enter the house of Rahab the prostitute? Two young male travelers wouldn t attract attention by entering such a house. It would be a good place in town to get information on Jericho. Rahab s house on the city wall would be ideal for escape. Above all, the Lord led them to this house. 2. How did Rahab protect the spies? Rahab told the town officials that the spies had fled before the city gates were closed for the night. The implication was that they were returning across the Jordan to where Israel was encamped. As we will see, she sent the officials on a wild goose chase. 3. Describe Rahab s faith. Although Rahab was a prostitute, at some point she came to faith in the true God. No doubt she gave up her life of prostitution. Her faith was grounded on what she had heard about God s love and care for the Israelites and on what he had enabled the Israelites to accomplish. She, along with the rest of the people in Canaan, were living in fear. Yet her fear did not put her in a defensive posture. She knew Israel would take the land, and so, in a spirit of repentance, she asked the spies to save her. 4. What promise did Rahab extract from the spies? If she hid them, they promised that the Israelites would not harm her or her family when they conquered Jericho. The only stipulations were that she and her family had to be in her house and that she hang a red cord from the window on the wall. 5. Some say that Rahab was wrong in telling a lie to protect the spies. Evaluate that on the basis of Hebrews 11:31. Rahab acted in faith. It is hard to fault her for lying. She had a choice to make. Either let the spies be killed or protect them through a lie. She made the right choice. 6. How can Christians who have fallen into sin find encouragement from Rahab? They can see how great God s love and mercy are and that there is no one who can t be forgiven and receive divine forgiveness. Point out to the class that Rahab became an ancestress of the Savior. (See Ruth 4:19 and following; Matthew 1:4-6.) sent two spies to Jericho. The prostitute Rahab protected them from the king of Jericho. The spies promised to protect Rahab and her family when the Israelites conquered Jericho.

5 Verse 3 Verse 4 Verse 15 3 The Israelites cross the Jordan River (The People s Bible,, pages 44-61) When you see the ark of the covenant The ark of the covenant indicated God s presence and stood at the center of this event. With its atonement cover, the ark symbolized the Lord s salvation. The Ten Commandments inside it were a reminder of God s covenant at Mount Sinai. A thousand yards between you and the ark At this distance, everyone could see the ark and witness the miracle that was about to take place. Now the Jordan is at flood stage. The Jordan River is a small stream during the dry summer. But at flood stage, even small streams become powerful rivers. That s when the Lord chose to perform this miracle. 1. What served as Israel s cue to start moving across the Jordan? The movement of the ark, the symbol of God s presence. 2. The Lord said he would exalt in the eyes of the people. Compare the event the Lord used to exalt Moses in the eyes of the people with how God would exalt. The first miracle the Lord allowed Moses to perform was to part the Red Sea, which allowed Israel to escape from the Egyptians. It is no coincidence that the Lord would use a similar miracle to exalt. The Israelites would have gotten the point and transferred their allegiance from Moses to. 3. What did this miracle mean for Israel? for Israel s enemies? For Israel, it was a pledge of future victory; for Israel s enemies, it was a sign of the judgment soon to overtake them. 4. The ark of the covenant, the symbol of God s presence, led the Israelites. In what way can we follow the ark today? When we enter a new phase of life or are about to go into uncharted waters, we can look to Jesus and trust that he will guide us. He is God s presence among us, the atonement cover that covers over our sins with his blood. 5. The days at the east bank of the Jordan River were for spiritual preparation (verses 1-5). How do you spiritually prepare for a worship service? We want to cleanse ourselves when we come into contact with God s miracles in Christ. Arriving at church with a heart that anticipates hearing the gospel and coming to the Lord s Supper with a repentant heart are ways to prepare (consecrate) ourselves for the Lord. The Israelites proceeded from Shittim to the Jordan River. The Levites carried the ark of the covenant. The people followed as the Lord miraculously suspended the flow of the river, enabling them to cross on dry ground.