READ the Scripture: Joshua 2, 6

TALK about the Scripture: Have you ever seen or participated in a trust fall? This is when a person stands in a chair and falls backward into the arms of a few people waiting to catch them. It’s a pretty scary adventure for sure! One way to make the trust fall easier is to select people you know can be trusted to catch you—like your parents. Falling backward to them is easier because you know they love you and want to protect you.

To enter the land God had promised them, the Israelites had to first take over the city of Jericho. This would not be an ordinary battle. This battle was all about trust. God gave Joshua specific—and very different—instructions for how to conquer the city.

Joshua sent spies into Jericho to see what it was like. They were housed and protected by a woman named Rahab. In exchange for her kindness, Rahab asked the Israelites to keep her safe when they conquered the city, so the spies promised to keep her and her family safe.

Joshua and the Israelites followed God’s instructions by marching around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, the Israelite army marched around the city seven times and the priests blew their trumpets loudly. As the people shouted, the walls of Jericho fell to the ground. The whole city was destroyed, but Rahab and her family were saved.

It can be hard for us to trust, especially when we don’t understand what God is doing. Even in those moments, we can know that God is good and that He is in control. The Israelites and Rahab trusted that God would win the battle, and He delivered!

Christ Connection: By faith, Rahab believed God would win the battle. When the Israelites attacked Jericho, Rahab and her family received mercy and became part of God’s people. Jesus has won against sin and death. Everyone who trusts in Jesus receives mercy and becomes part of God’s family forever.

WATCH the Bible Story Video: God Defeated Jericho

LEARN the Scripture: “You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you.” - Deuteronomy 3:32

PRAY as a Family: Lord, help us to trust that You are good and always in control. We know that Your plans will never fail, and we thank you most of all for Your plan to send Jesus so that everyone who trusts in Him will be saved.

APPLY what you've learned: Learn the big picture question and answer and practice asking and answering randomly throughout the week together.

Q: What is a miracle?

A: A miracle is something God does that usually cannot be done so that we can know He is all-powerful.

READ the Scripture: Joshua 7-11

TALK about the Scripture: Derek Redmond was ready to run the 400-meter race at the 1992 Olympic Games. He was one of the favorites to win the race. Halfway through the race, Derek fell to the ground with an injured hamstring that made it impossible to run. He stood up and attempted to limp toward the finish line. Derek’s father, Jim, came from the crowd, lifted his son on his shoulder, and helped him finish the race. When he needed it the most, Derek’s father was there to help.

God had promised victory for the Israelite army. As Joshua and the Israelites fought the five kings’ armies, the Lord was with them. And when they needed it the most, God was there to help. When Joshua prayed, God made the sun stand still and allowed the Israelites to conquer the enemy armies. Like a father who comes to help his children, God fought for His people and gave them the land He had promised.

Christ Connection: Joshua’s name means “The LORD is salvation.” God fought for Joshua and the Israelites, saving them, and giving them victory over their enemies. Sinners can look to God for victory over sin and death. God brought us salvation by sending His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross and rise again.

WATCH the Bible Story Video: God Gave the People the Land

LEARN the Scripture: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12

PRAY as a Family: God, we know that You are a loving Father. You love Your children and always want to help them in their time of need. We praise You because You saw our greatest need was salvation, and You sent Jesus to be the Savior we needed.

APPLY what you've learned: Learn the big picture question and answer and practice asking and answering randomly throughout the week together.

Q: What is a miracle?

A: A miracle is something God does that usually cannot be done so that we can know He is all-powerful.

READ the Scripture: Joshua 23-24

TALK about the Scripture: Here’s a quick challenge: make a list of all the gifts your family has ever given you. Try to remember as many gifts as you can from birthdays, Christmas, or other special occasions. As you look over the list of gifts that show how much your family loves you, you likely find your love for them growing bigger and bigger.

Remembering the ways others have shown love to us naturally makes our love for them grow. When Joshua came to the end of his life, he took time to recall all the ways God had shown love to him and the Israelites. Joshua reminded the Israelites how God had rescued them out of Egypt, brought them across the Red Sea on dry land, and helped them to win so many battles. God had shown His faithful love to Israel over and over again.

As they remembered the ways God had shown His love, Joshua urged the people to give thanks by worshiping and obeying God. Their obedience would be a sign that they remembered everything God had done. It would be an act of worship to the God who had shown them such great love!

Christ Connection: As Joshua prepared for his own death, he left behind a legacy of obedience to God. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He appeared to the disciples and left them with a legacy: to obey Him by making disciples of all nations.

WATCH the Bible Story Video: Joshua Challenged the People

LEARN the Scripture: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12

PRAY as a Family: God, help us remember all the ways You have shown love to us. When we think of those things, help us respond by loving You with our trust and our obedience. Thank You for loving us through Jesus and helping us to find our hope in Him.

APPLY what you've learned: Learn the big picture question and answer and practice asking and answering randomly throughout the week together.

Q: What is a miracle?

A: A miracle is something God does that usually cannot be done so that we can know He is all-powerful.

READ the Scripture: Mark 16

TALK about the Scripture: In the 1980 Winter Olympics, the United States hockey team was up against the powerhouse Russian hockey team, who had won every gold medal for the previous 16 years! The Russian team seemed unbeatable, but the U.S. team was in the lead as the final minutes of the match ticked down. As the final buzzer sounded and the U.S. team claimed the unexpected victory, announcer Al Michaels shouted, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!”

While that was just a hockey game, the question does make us think of the greatest miracle of all time—the resurrection of Jesus! On the third day after Jesus’ death and burial, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb. Suddenly an angel of the Lord rolled back the stone. The angel spoke to the women, “Don’t be afraid! Jesus is not here. He has risen, just like He said He would.” At this announcement, the woman ran to share the good news with the other disciples.

The death and resurrection of Jesus are at the center of the gospel. We deserve to die because of our sin, but Jesus died in our place. Because Jesus is alive, we do not need to fear anything. Those who trust in Jesus have forgiveness and eternal life, and He helps them to joyfully obey Him. Now that’s a miracle worth believing!

Christ Connection: Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but He didn’t stay dead. God was pleased with Jesus’ sacrifice and miraculously raised Jesus from the dead to prove He is the Son of God and salvation is found in Him.

WATCH the Bible Story Video: God's Miracles Prove Who He is

LEARN the Scripture: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12

PRAY as a Family: Lord, thank You for the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection and the hope it gives to the world. Help us to believe in Him so that we can experience the miracle of salvation—when You bring us from death to life.

APPLY what you've learned: Learn the big picture question and answer and practice asking and answering randomly throughout the week together.

Q: What is a miracle?

A: A miracle is something God does that usually cannot be done so that we can know He is all-powerful.