Lesson 9.1- The First Judges

Lesson 9.1

The First Judges

Judges 3: 7-31

This week we begin studying the Old Testament judges. After Joshua died, the people were left without a leader and began to sin against God. God disciplined them and when the people cried out for deliverance, God sent a leader called a judge to rescue them. Later, when that judge died, the people sinned again and the pattern was repeated.

The judges saved the people from the consequences of their sin, but not the cause of it. God’s plan was to one day send a true Deliverer—Jesus, His own Son—to be the King of His people. Jesus saves people from sin forever.

Help your kids see that all of the judges were imperfect humans and they could not rescue God’s people from the cause of their sin, just the consequences. 

 *All materials are used and reprinted with permission from Lifeway.

FAMILY DISCUSSION POINTS

●     Babies and Toddlers

○     God’s plan is perfect.

○     God’s people did not always obey Him.

○     God sent leaders called judges to help God’s people.

○     God sent Jesus to be our Judge.

●     Preschool

○     Whom does God use in His plan? God uses people in His plan.  

○     The Israelites forgot about the one true God.

●     Kids

○     How does God accomplish His plan? God uses people for His glory and our good.

○     God’s people turned from Him to worship idols.

BIG IDEA

UNIT KEY PASSAGE

 

NEXT WEEK

●     “Deborah and Barak” (Judges 4–5)

Lesson 7.5: Joshua's Final Encouragement

Lesson 7.5
Joshua's Final Encouragement
Joshua 23:1-24:28

This week we will listen in as Joshua shares his final words of encouragement to Israel. Joshua is near the end of his life, and like Moses, he addresses the people to point them to God. They had a choice to make: choose to follow God or choose to follow the false gods. They couldn’t do both.

As Joshua prepared for his own death, he left a legacy of obedience to God. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He appeared to the disciples and left them with a legacy: to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Help your children see that they have the same choice to make today. They may not be tempted to worship little statues, but they can worship plenty of other things besides God.  

*All materials are used and reprinted with permission from Lifeway.

BIG IDEA
 

FAMILY DISCUSSION POINTS 

●     Babies and Toddlers

○     Joshua told the people to love God and obey Him.

                                        ○    The people promised to love and worship God.

                                        ○    We can trust God. God always keeps His promises.

                                        ○    God sent Jesus because He loves us.

●     Preschool

○     Whom can we trust? We can trust God.

○ Joshua told the people to worship God. ● Kids

○Whom can we trust? We can trust God to   take care of us. 

○ Joshua encouraged the people to worship God alone. 

UNIT KEY PASSAGE 

NEXT WEEK  

●   "The First Judges" Judges 3:7-31

Lesson 7.4: Achan's Sin and the Defeat of Ai

Lesson 7.4
Achan's Sin and the Defeat of Ai
Joshua 7-8

As we continue exploring the Old Testament this week, we will encounter Achan disobeying God and taking something from Jericho after its defeat. Because of this, when Israel attacked Ai next, they suffered defeat. God helped Joshua uncover Achan’s sin, and God punished Achan for his sin.  

The punishment for Achan’s sin was death. It seems harsh, but the Bible says that the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) Because we sin, we deserve to die too. Jesus came to die in our place. When we confess our sins and trust in Jesus, we are forgiven and saved from spiritual death. 

Help your children see that God takes sin seriously, but He also offers forgiveness and eternal life with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  

*All materials are used and reprinted with permission from Lifeway.

BIG IDEA
 

FAMILY DISCUSSION POINTS 

●     Babies and Toddlers

○     We can trust God. God always does what is right.

○ Achan’s wrong choice made trouble for God’s people.

○ God loves people, even when they make wrong choices.

○ God sent Jesus because He loves us.

●     Preschool

○     Whom can we trust? We can trust God.

○ God punished Achan for his sin.

●     Kids

○     Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us.

○ God punished Achan for his sin. Then God fought for His people at Ai. 

UNIT KEY PASSAGE 

NEXT WEEK  

●    "Joshua's Final Encouragement; Joshua 23:1-24:28

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Lesson 7.3 The Promised Land and Jericho

Lesson 7.3: The Promised Land and Jericho 

Joshua 2-4, 6

Our journey through the Old Testament continues this week with Israel crossing the Jordan River and entering into the promised land at last. Their first battle is against the city of Jericho. God fought for His people and gave the city to them. It was clear from the beginning that it was God’s power, not Israel’s strength, that would give them the land.  

Just as the Lord defeated Jericho for the Israelites, Jesus defeats His enemies and leads believers into the promised land of eternity. 

Help your kids connect how God defeated Israel’s enemies with how Jesus defeated our greatest enemy: sin.

*All materials are used and reprinted with permission from Lifeway.

BIG IDEA
 

FAMILY DISCUSSION POINTS 

●     Babies and Toddlers

○     We can trust God.

○ Joshua led the people into the promised land.

○ Joshua trusted God to be with His people.

○ Later, God sent Jesus to be with His people.

●     Preschool

○     Whom can we trust? We can trust God.

○ God led His people into the promised land. 

● Kids

○ Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us.

○ God fought for His people and led them into the promised land. 

UNIT KEY PASSAGE 

NEXT WEEK  

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