Unit 7, Session 5 | January 11, 2026

Joshua’s Farewell (Joshua 23-24)

Dear families,

The book of Joshua ends with a farewell address to God’s people about 20 years after they first found rest in the Promised Land. Joshua took one last opportunity to challenge the people to continue following the Lord and remind them how they were called to live in view of what God had already accomplished on their behalf.

What did Joshua commission the Israelites to do in his farewell address? How does this parallel with how Christ followers should live today?

Joshua spent his last moments on earth reminding the Israelites of the grace God had shown them by giving them the land He promised to Abraham long ago. Joshua led them through the history of their people, through the patriarchs and battles that brought them to the land. He also impressed upon them the truth that God’s promise to bless them had been fulfilled, but the rest they were experiencing in the land was contingent upon their covenant loyalty to worship God alone.

The Israelites were commissioned to get rid of the foreign gods that were among them and turn their hearts to the Lord (Joshua 24:23). We, like the Israelites, are called to lead lives of obedient worship, turning away from idols in our midst. By the grace of God, we can have hearts that desire to follow His commands through faith-filled obedience as we live through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lead the boys and girls in your care to see the awe-inspiring deliverance God extends to the people He has sworn to provide for––those who place their faith in His Son. Help kids see that God’s greatest act of love is found in Jesus, whose sacrifice atoned for the sins of His people long ago and for us today. Ask the Lord to instill upon the children in your class a deep desire to know and worship Him in light of the promise of eternal life in Christ’s presence.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: Joshua told God’s people to love and obey God. After Jesus died on the cross and rose again, Jesus reminded His followers to obey God and tell others about Him.
• Younger Preschool: Joshua reminded God’s people to love God and obey Him. After Jesus died on the cross and rose again, Jesus reminded His followers to love and obey Him too.
• Older Preschool: Joshua reminded God’s people to worship and obey God. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and left them with a task: obey Him by telling others about Him.
• Kids: Joshua reminded the people that God saved them from Egypt and gave them the Promised Land. He told them to worship God alone. Jesus is worthy of all worship because He saves those who trust in Him from sin and gives them eternal life.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Younger Preschool: Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful.
• Older Preschool: Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He does what He says He will do.
• Kids: Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful and does everything for His glory and our good.

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: The LORD is strong and mighty. Psalm 24:8
• Younger Preschool: Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty. Psalm 24:8
• Older Preschool: Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty. Psalm 24:8
• Kids: Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle. Psalm 24:8

** Next week: The First Judges (Judges 3)

Unit 7, Session 4 | January 4, 2026

Taking the Land (Joshua 10-11)

Dear families,

The promises of God never fail. Indeed, as Joshua continued to lead the people, God’s promise to give them the land of Canaan came true. God’s intervention and faithful provision were unmistakable as He fought for the Israelites in every battle to take the Promised Land.

How do we see God’s omnipotence at work in today’s Bible passage? How do we see Joshua’s faith at work?

In Joshua 10, the Lord spoke directly to Joshua to instill comfort and confidence and to remind him that the Lord had already established victory for His people. God brought destruction on His enemies by throwing them into confusion, leading them to run away in panic, striking them down with hailstones, and causing the sun to stand still so His people could win the battle. Following this, even more armies rallied their forces against Israel. But God promised Joshua that all of Israel’s opponents would soon be killed (Joshua 11:6). God proved Himself all-powerful by intervening against the forces of both man and nature to grant His people victory in battle.

Joshua took God at His Word and faithfully fulfilled his role as Israel’s leader. Joshua moved in confident submission toward the things of the Lord and trusted in God’s promised deliverance. Scripture even tells us that on a day like no other, Joshua asked the Lord for the sun to be still, and God listened to His servant! Joshua trusted in God’s promise of victory and led the Israelites to do the same.

Consider what an act of faith it was for God’s people to fight each battle, one city at a time, trusting God’s promises despite the opposition ahead. The belief that God is all-powerful not only aided the Israelites in their mission to conquer the land; it also serves to encourage us as we live by faith and not by sight. God trampled over the Israelites’ flesh-and-blood enemies. He has likewise vanquished the powers of sin and darkness by sending His Son. Lead the boys and girls in your care to see the power of God who fights on our behalf and the love of His Son who died on the cross in our place and rose again.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: God sent Jesus who fights for us and helps us win the battle over sin and death.
• Younger Preschool: God helped His people, and He helped us by sending Jesus. Jesus fought for us and gave us victory over sin and death.
• Older Preschool: God fought for His people by saving them and giving them victory over their enemies. God saved sinners by sending His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and rise again. Jesus gives us victory over sin and death.
• Kids: God fought for Israel, and all their enemies were defeated. Jesus lived a sinless life and defeated our enemies—sin and death—when He died on the cross. If we believe in Him, we receive His righteousness.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Younger Preschool: Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful.
• Older Preschool: Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He does what He says He will do.
• Kids: Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful and does everything for His glory and our good.

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: The LORD is strong and mighty. Psalm 24:8
• Younger Preschool: Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty. Psalm 24:8
• Older Preschool: Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty. Psalm 24:8
• Kids: Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle. Psalm 24:8

** Next week: Joshua’s Farewell (Joshua 23-24)

Unit 7, Session 3 | December 28, 2025

Achan’s Sin and the Defeat of Ai (Joshua 7-8)

Dear families,

Joshua’s account of Achan’s sin and Ai’s defeat serves as a “part two” of the Israelites’ time in Jericho. Immediately following Israel’s victory over Jericho, we read of disobedience and God’s declaration to no longer be with Israel unless they removed what was set apart for Him (Joshua 7:12). God demonstrated His holiness by punishing sin, and through this story, we see the reality of God’s judgment and our need for a Savior.

What does this passage teach us about God? How do we see God’s faithful deliverance in this story despite His people’s sin?

First, we witness God’s justice and holiness in this passage. Before entering Jericho, God gave His people these instructions: “But keep yourselves from the things set apart, or you will be set apart for destruction. If you take any of those things, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and make trouble for it” (Joshua 6:18). God had already spoken about the consequences of disobedience. Because He is holy and likewise calls His people to pursue holiness, the Israelites were to purge the sin from among them.

The Lord had promised victory to His people if they would walk in His ways. The Israelites, however, were unfaithful regarding God’s command to set Jericho’s spoils apart for destruction. Sadly, their disobedience led to punishment.

Lead the boys and girls in your care to see that this story does not end with dismal destruction; rather, we see the Lord faithfully keep His promise to deliver His people from their enemies. God set Achan apart for destruction, just as He said He would. Destruction, however, does not have to be our end. By placing faith in Jesus, the punishment we deserve has been placed on God’s Son instead. Remind your kids of God’s faithfulness in providing a sacrifice on our behalf and an eternal victory secured in His Son—a victory that transforms hearts and frees people from the destruction they deserve.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: We sin, and we deserve to be punished. If we trust in Jesus, God forgives us when we are sorry for our sin.
• Younger Preschool: Achan disobeyed God and was punished. Because we sin, we deserve to be punished. Jesus came to take the punishment for us. God forgives us when we are sorry for our sin and trust in Jesus.
• Older Preschool: Achan disobeyed God and was punished because of his sin. Because we sin, we deserve to be punished. But Jesus came to take our punishment for us. God forgives us when we confess our sin and trust in Jesus.
• Kids: Achan disobeyed the command of God, and his punishment was death. We also deserve the punishment of death for our sin. Jesus, God’s sinless Son, was punished in our place for our sin. Those who trust in Him are forever forgiven of their sin.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Younger Preschool: Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful.
• Older Preschool: Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He does what He says He will do.
• Kids: Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful and does everything for His glory and our good.

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: The LORD is strong and mighty. Psalm 24:8
• Younger Preschool: Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty. Psalm 24:8
• Older Preschool: Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty. Psalm 24:8
• Kids: Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle. Psalm 24:8

** Next week: Taking the Land (Joshua 10-11)