Unit 7, Session 1: Joshua and Caleb Unit 7, Session 2: The Bronze Snake Unit 7, Session 3: The Promised Land and Jericho Unit 7, Session 4: Achan’s Sin and the Defeat of Ai Unit 7, Session 5: Joshua’s Final Encouragement **Note to leaders: Use the tweets, status updates, and emails included in this document to keep parents informed of the Bible learning that their children are experiencing in the Gospel Project for Kids. Choose a method that works best for your church.**
Unit 7, Session 1: Joshua and Caleb TWEETS Joshua was imperfect but trusted God. He reminds us of Jesus, who is perfect and trusted God to save people from sin. #thegospelprojectkids ( Christ Connection 139 Characters) Only Caleb and Joshua trusted God to give His people the promised land. None of that generation would enter but them. #thegospelprojectkids ( Content 139 Characters) STATUS UPDATE Caleb and Joshua trusted God. God planned for Joshua to lead the next generation of Israelites into the promised land. Joshua was not perfect, but His faithfulness reminds us of Jesus, who is perfect. Jesus obeyed the Father and trusted His plan to save people from their sins. EMAIL Unit 7, Session 1: Joshua and Caleb Dear Parents, As we continue our journey through Old Testament this week, the people of Israel have arrived at the promised land and they send spies into the land to scout it out. The spies return, reporting that the land is indeed good, but the people are too strong so they should not try to conquer it. Only Joshua and Caleb trust God’s plan. Because of their lack of trust, God sends the people into the wilderness for that generation to die off so that the next generation could enter the land. God planned for Joshua to lead the next generation of Israelites into the promised land. Joshua was not perfect, but His faithfulness reminds us of Jesus, who is perfect. Jesus obeyed the Father and trusted His plan to save people from their sins. Help your children to see how vital our total trust in God is, because that is an essential component of the gospel. FAMILY STARTING POINTS ● Babies and Toddlers ○ We can trust God. ○ Moses told 12 men to look at the promised land. ○ Joshua and Caleb trusted God to keep His promises. ○ God sent Jesus because He loves us ● Preschool ○ Whom can we trust? We can trust God. ○ Caleb and Joshua trusted God. ● Kids
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Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us. The Israelites did not trust God to give them the promised land.
UNIT KEY PASSAGE ● Joshua 1:9 NEXT WEEK ● “The Bronze Snake” (Numbers 20:120; 21:49) Check out the Gospel Project for Kids Family App or the Big Picture Cards for Families for more ways to interact with the Bible content each week.
Unit 7, Session 2: The Bronze Snake TWEETS Israel looked at the snake on the pole to live. Anyone who looks to Jesus on the cross and trusts in Him will live. #thegospelprojectkids ( Christ Connection 137 Characters) The people grumbled so God sent snakes to punish them. He also provided a way to be healed that points us to Jesus. #thegospelprojectkids ( Content 137 Characters) STATUS UPDATE The Israelites faced a huge problem because of their sin. God sent snakes to punish Israel, but anyone who was bitten could look at the snake on the pole and live. Because of our sin, we face a huge problem: we are separated from God. We deserve to die, but anyone who looks to Jesus on the cross and trusts in Him will live forever with God. EMAIL Unit 7, Session 2: The Bronze Snake Dear Parents, This week we will experience the people of Israel grumbling to God in the wilderness. God punished them for their sin by sending poisonous snakes to bite the people. However, God also provided a way to be healed. He told Moses to place a bronze snake on a pole and whenever someone looked at it, they would live. Because of our sin, we face a huge problem: we are separated from God. We deserve to die, but anyone who looks to Jesus on the cross and trusts in Him will live forever with God. Help your children see that God takes sin seriously, but He also graciously provided a solution for sin: Jesus. FAMILY STARTING POINTS ● Babies and Toddlers ○ We can trust God. ○ God did not leave His people when they grumbled. ○ God healed His people. ○ God sent Jesus because He loves us. ● Preschool ○ Whom can we trust? We can trust God. ○ God told His people to look at the bronze snake. ● Kids ○ Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us. ○ God told His people to look at the bronze snake to be healed.
UNIT KEY PASSAGE ● Joshua 1:9 NEXT WEEK ● “Jesus’ Triumphal Entry” (Matthew 21:117; Mark 11:111; Luke 19:2844; John 12:1219) [EASTER UNIT] Check out the Gospel Project for Kids Family App or the Big Picture Cards for Families for more ways to interact with the Bible content each week.
Unit 7, Session 3: The Promised Land and Jericho TWEETS God fought for His people and led them into the land. Jesus defeats His enemies and leads believers into eternity. #thegospelprojectkids ( Christ Connection 136 Characters) God fought for His people in the defeat of Jericho. It was clear from the start that God would conquer the land. #thegospelprojectkids ( Content 134 Characters) STATUS UPDATE God fought for His people and led them into the promised land. Just as the Lord defeated Jericho for the Israelites, Jesus defeats His enemies and leads believers into the promised land of eternity. EMAIL Unit 7, Session 3: The Promised Land and Jericho Dear Parents, 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. FAMILY STARTING 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
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Joshua 1:9
NEXT WEEK ● “Achan’s Sin and the Defeat of Ai” (Joshua 78) Check out the Gospel Project for Kids Family App or the Big Picture Cards for Families for more ways to interact with the Bible content each week.
Unit 7, Session 4: Achan’s Sin and the Defeat of Ai TWEETS Achan died for his sin. We deserve to die too. When we trust in Jesus, we are forgiven and saved from spiritual death. #thegospelprojectkids ( Christ Connection 140 Characters) Because of Achan’s sin, Israel was defeated at Ai. Once Achan’s sin was dealt with, God won the victory over Ai. #thegospelprojectkids ( Content 134 Characters) STATUS UPDATE 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. EMAIL Unit 7, Session 4: Achan’s Sin and the Defeat of Ai Dear Parents, 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. FAMILY STARTING 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.
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God punished Achan for his sin. Then God fought for His people at Ai.
UNIT KEY PASSAGE ● Joshua 1:9 NEXT WEEK ● “Joshua’s Final Encouragement” (Joshua 23:124:28) Check out the Gospel Project for Kids Family App or the Big Picture Cards for Families for more ways to interact with the Bible content each week.
Unit 7, Session 5: Joshua’s Final Encouragement TWEETS Joshua left a legacy of obedience to God. Jesus left a legacy too: to make disciples of all nations. #thegospelprojectkids ( Christ Connection 121 Characters) At the end of Joshua’s life, he called on the people of Israel to choose to love and obey God fully. #thegospelprojectkids ( Content 122 Characters) STATUS UPDATE 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 28:1920) EMAIL Unit 7, Session 5: Joshua’s Final Encouragement Dear Parents, 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 28:1920) 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. FAMILY STARTING 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
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Whom can we trust? We can trust God. Joshua told the people to worship God. Whom can we trust? We can trust God to take care of us. Joshua encouraged the people to worship God alone.
UNIT KEY PASSAGE ● Joshua 1:9 NEXT WEEK ● “The First Judges” (Judges 3:731) Check out the Gospel Project for Kids Family App or the Big Picture Cards for Families for more ways to interact with the Bible content each week.