Sermon Central
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Messages From The Book Of Joshua
Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Feb 19, 2024 (message contributor)
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1. Joshua 1: The Times, They Were A-Changin’
Contributed on Feb 19, 2024
This is the first message in a series based on the Book of Joshua. In this first chapter, Joshua received some very encouraging news from the LORD which helped him lead Israel to the Promised Land.
Introduction: Change happens. There’s no doubt about that. Way back in 1964, Bob Dylan recorded a song called “The Times They Are A-Changing (which I’ve never heard)”, talking about various things. In the text, we see that in just 40 years, Israel had seen any number of changes. They had ...read more
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2. Joshua 2: The Spies Found More Than Just Info!
Contributed on Feb 29, 2024
Spies have the mission to find out selected, desired, information and report what they found. Two Hebrew spies were sent to find out what they could about Jericho, but they found something they didn't expect to see!
Introduction: This second chapter of Joshua has the record of two spies, sent by Joshua, to get as much information about Jericho as they could. This chapter also has the account of how Rahab, a Canaanitess and native of Jericho, had come to believe in the God of Israel. Rahab protected the two ...read more
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3. Joshua 3: "Canaan’s That-A-Way—let’s Go!”
Contributed on Mar 8, 2024
Israel had moved even and ever closer to Canaan, their Promised Land. They were still on the eastern side of the Jordan River, but now it was time to cross over. Imagine Joshua saying, "Canaan's that-a-way! Let's go!"
Introduction: Israel had endured 40 years of wandering here and there in the desert wilderness but now was just a few miles from the Promised Land. They had camped near the Jordan River at a place called Shittim, and while there the two spies had gone to Jericho and returned. One can almost feel ...read more
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4. Joshua 4: The Story In The Stones
Contributed on Mar 15, 2024
Joshua 4 has the story of how Israel crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land. The LORD told Joshua to make two memorials, from two different batches of stones. There's more in the chapter, too.
Introduction: Memorials are important. They serve to remind the people who were there of what happened, and why; and they’re also to remind the people, sometimes generations later, what their ancestors had endured. This was true for Israel as well: the people in this story lived through something ...read more
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5. Joshua 5: Time To Take Care Of Some Things
Contributed on Mar 21, 2024
Joshua chapter 5 reflects a couple of items Israel hadn't done in nearly 40 years. Israel had crossed the Jordan River, ready to claim their Promised Land, but they had to take care of a couple of items first.
Introduction: Israel had crossed over the Jordan River and now they were camping in Canaan, the Promised Land! God had kept every promise He had made to Israel. Israel, though, had not kept every promise they had made to God. One of those promises was to circumcise (definition omitted here but ...read more
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6. Joshua 6, Odd Strategy, Amazing Results!
Contributed on Apr 9, 2024
Joshua had just received his literal marching orders from the LORD. But the strategy and instructions were not like anything any army had ever done before. Israel obeyed, and the LORD gave victory!
Introduction: Israel, by now, had crossed the Jordan River and were staying at Gilgal for the moment. The men of Israel had undergone circumcision, following the Law, and had celebrated their first Passover in the Promised Land. But Israel was never intended to remain packed in one small area, ...read more
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7. Joshua 7: When Ai Spelled Defeat
Contributed on Apr 19, 2024
Israel was fresh from victory over Jericho. But they suffered their first and worst defeat in Canaan when they tried to conquer Ai. The LORD revealed the reason why this happened.
Introduction: With the LORD’s help. Israel had conquered Jericho and was now ready to claim more of the Promised Land. The next city was Ai, but Israel made a number of mistakes resulting in a defeat—that didn’t need to happen. The Prologue: A violation of God’s commands about Jericho Text, ...read more
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8. Joshua 8: Victory Promised, Victory Achieved!
Contributed on May 6, 2024
Israel had suffered defeat at the first battle of Ai (Joshua 7). Now, following God's strategy, they were victorious! Take a look at just how Israel achieved this victory.
The prologue: the LORD’s promise Text, Joshua 8:1-2, KJV: 1 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: 2 And thou shalt ...read more
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9. Joshua 9: When Israel Was Fooled Twice!
Contributed on May 21, 2024
The leaders of Israel met some strangers, who had a very sad story to tell them. Little did Joshua and the others know, they were about to be fooled not once, but twice.
Introduction: Israel was on the move! Jericho had fallen to them, Ai was gone, and the peoples of central Canaan were probably wondering who would be next. There was a group of four cities which decided to make peace with Israel—even if they had to use trickery to do it! Text, Joshua 9:1-2, KJV: 1 ...read more
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10. Joshua 10: Joshua And The Very, Very Long Day
Contributed on May 27, 2024
Joshua and Israel needed extra time and daylight to finish defeating an enemy. The LORD heard Joshua's prayer and gave him a lot of extra light!
Introduction: Not everybody was pleased to hear about Israel’s victories at Jericho and Ai! The first two verses of Joshua 9 mention several kings of several groups decided they were going to fight against Israel. Of course, they must have hoped that delaying, if not destroying, Israel would make ...read more
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11. Joshua 11: The North, The Final Campaign
Contributed on Jun 7, 2024
Israel, under Joshua's leadership, had reclaimed southern Canaan from the various tribes who fought against them, Now Israel was facing a much larger enemy in much larger territory. The LORD, though, gave victory!
Introduction: The last several verses of Joshua 10 describe briefly how Israel, with God’s help, swept through southern Canaan. Once that was done, Joshua and all Israel returned to Gilgal (see Joshua 10:29-43). There was still a great deal for Israel to claim, however, and this chapter gives some ...read more
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12. Joshua 13: Well Begun, But Not All Done
Contributed on Jun 13, 2024
The initial campaigns to reclaim Canaan for Israel were over. Joshua, though, was old and there was still a lot of land unclaimed. Israel had begun well but had not yet finished all of the Lord's commands. What now?
Introduction: Israel, under Joshua’s leadership, had conquered a great deal of Canaan, the Promised Land. Several years had gone by, and Joshua was nearing the end of his earthly journey. Israel, though, was not nearly done with reclaiming the land so the LORD commanded Joshua to divide the land ...read more
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13. Joshua 14, Caleb's Birthday Request!
Contributed on Jun 17, 2024
Caleb and Joshua were the only two Israelites of those aged 20 and older to survive from Kadesh-Barnea to Canaan. Caleb, on his 85th birthday, asked for his inheritance--a mountain!
Introduction: Caleb. He’s truly one of the unsung heroes of the Bible. He and Joshua were the only two of the twelve spies who gave Israel a “we can take the land!” message when the other ten said, basically, “we’ll lose everything if we try to do it. (Numbers 13-14)”. As a result, every Israelite ...read more
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14. Joshua 17, Two Tribes With One Common Problem
Contributed on Jul 2, 2024
Two tribes of Israel approached Joshua about a common problem. How did Joshua respond?
Introduction: Joshua had begun to distribute the land of Canaan to the various tribes of Israel. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh had received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan River, and Judah had received the southern part of the land. Ephraim and the other portion ...read more
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15. Joshua 20: The Cities Of Refuge
Contributed on Jul 18, 2024
The LORD instructed Israel to designate six cities as "Cities of Refuge". This message explores the roles and functions of these cities.
Introduction: Accidents happen, and some of these accidents result in the death of another person. There was and is a difference between intentional murders—and there were numerous examples of this in the Bible—and accidental death, sometimes called manslaughter. To provide a safe place for the ...read more
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16. Joshua 24: 1-15, The Last Words Of Joshua
Contributed on Jul 24, 2024
This last message in this series looks at Joshua's final or farewell address to Israel. The challenge in verses 14 and 15 are just as real for us today as for Israel in those days.
Introduction: Joshua had been part of Israel’s past and present for many years. He had been faithful to Moses, Israel, and the LORD all of his life and had led Israel’s conquest of Canaan. Now he calls Israel together to give them one final message before his earthly journey was done. Full ...read more