The Bible Is About Working Together Bible Verse God has gone up with a joyous shout the Lord with the blast of the ram s horn. (Psalm 47:5) Session 7 October 13 Bible Story Joshua 6:1-16 FaithDirection We can serve God best when we work together. Before You Begin The story of the Israelites marching against Jericho is one of the more wellknown accounts within the larger narrative of the Israelites entry into the land of Canaan. Under the leadership of Joshua, the Israelites have crossed the Jordan River and have made battle preparations to begin a military campaign against the Canaanites. The Book of Joshua chronicles this and many other campaigns, serving as a bridge between the Exodus narrative and the accounts of Israelites settling into the land that are in the Book of Judges. Just prior to our Bible story, the Israelites set up camp in the land of Canaan and celebrated the Passover. The very next day, the manna that had sustained them for forty years stopped. This symbolizes the end of the time of the Exodus and the beginning of the settlement of the land promised by God. The Israelites proceed to surround Jericho, where the commander of God s heavenly army visits Joshua. This is where our story picks up, with Joshua receiving instructions from God s commander on how to take hold of Jericho. God s commander orders the Israelites to circle Jericho one time for six days in a row. On the seventh day, the Israelites are to circle the city seven times. Each time, seven priests are to blow seven rams horns, with soldiers in front of them, followed by the entire Israelite population, and the rear guard of soldiers. The Israelites follow these instructions, and the walls of Jericho collapse. Just as God s commander instructed, the Israelites are able to conquer the city and begin to take control of the land promised to them by God. NOTE: The reading stops at verse sixteen because what follows is a description of the destruction of Jericho by the Israelites. Reading further may result in questions about how or why God would allow this to happen. Biblical scholars and experts have interpreted these events differently, and no one interpretation allows us to make entire sense of the story. It is only advisable to read further if you feel comfortable addressing this and if you believe your tweens are thoughtful and mature enough for this discussion. Focus on how the Israelites are able to serve God and accomplish the task at hand when they work together. Highlight the ways your tweens can work together to serve God and to share God s love with others. Requires preparation. Fall 2013 Session 7 GrowProclaimServe.com 53
Choose from the following activities those that best suit your time and your group. Grow Together The Trumpet Blasts Introduce your tweens to the Bible story. Copy Challenge #8, one for each tween, from the CD-ROM. As tweens arrive, give each tween a copy of Challenge #8 and a pencil. Have them complete the puzzle. Review the answer together. o Challenge #8 (CD-ROM, Tween Challenges, Fall) o pencils Journal It Encourage your tweens to reflect prayerfully on how God is at work in their lives. Copy additional Prayer Journal pages from the CD-ROM as needed. Make the various designs of the Prayer Journal pages, pens, and markers available for your tweens. Encourage them to write or draw their prayer concerns and place them in their Prayer Journal binder. Invite your tweens to think about what they have written or drawn throughout the week. A Team Effort Introduce your tweens to the Bible story and theme. Make large sheets of paper and markers available for your tweens. Invite them to work together in pairs or groups in order to create a blueprint, map, or model drawing of their ideal city or town. When finished, bring your group together and invite the teams to put their creations on a wall and to share them with the rest of the group. o Prayer Journal pages (CD-ROM) o 3-ring binders o pens o markers o large sheets of paper o markers o adhesive (for wall) 54 October 13 On the GO Tween Leader s Guide
Bounceball Play this active game to introduce the Bible story. Gather the necessary supplies for the game. Place two wastebaskets in front of a wall or other barrier. Use masking tape to mark off a line some distance from the wastebaskets. Make a second line some distance behind the first line. Divide your tweens into two equal-size teams and make table tennis balls available to each team. Have your tweens line up behind their assigned baskets. Explain that the game is like basketball, except that they must shoot the ball into the basket with a bounce shot. Inform your tweens that they have the option of shooting the ball from the line that is closer to the basket or the one that is farther away. Baskets made from the closer line are worth one point. Baskets made from the farther line are worth two points. Encourage your tweens to consult with their teammates about strategy and where they should attempt their baskets. Instruct your tweens to offer encouragement to their teammates. Have your tweens take turns shooting the balls into their team s wastebasket goal. The team with the most points wins. COOL OPTION: Consider adding an impossible shot shooting location that is worth ten points if a basket is made from that location. Talk About It Help your tweens connect the activity and the game to the Bible story. SAY: You created a blueprint, map, or model drawing of your ideal city. Our Bible story is about the Israelite people working together to conquer the city of Jericho. It was a very advanced city in biblical times. ASK: How do you think an advanced city in ancient Bible times compares with an advanced city of today? What does an ideal city look like to you? What features and comforts would your ideal city have? SAY: Our game required that you work together as a team. Score was kept as a team rather than individually, and you were encouraged to consult one another about strategy. ASK: What was it like to be part of a team working toward the same goal? How did you help one another with strategy? What was it like to receive support and encouragement from your teammates? SAY: Our Bible story today is about the Israelite people working together toward a common goal. Everyone had a job to do, and the Israelites were able to take control of the city of Jericho. o masking tape o 2 wastebaskets o table tennis balls o none Fall 2013 Session 7 GrowProclaimServe.com 55
Proclaim the Word Read the Bible Help your tweens become familiar with biblical content. Give each tween a Bible. Have the tweens look up Joshua 6:1-16. Invite your tweens to take turns reading. Reflection and Discussion Questions Encourage your tweens to apply the Bible to their everyday lives. Copy the October 13 Discussion Questions for each adult leader from the CD-ROM. Divide your tweens into groups of four to six, and assign each an adult discussion leader. Invite your leaders and tweens to spend time discussing the questions. TIP: If your tweens are regular in attendance, consider creating permanent small groups in order to nurture relationships. If your group is small, consider discussing the questions as one group. Meet the Captains Allow your tweens to become more familiar with scripture and biblical leaders. Copy Reproducible 7a, one for each tween. SAY: Joshua followed Moses as the leader of the Israelite people. Each of them played a role that is like a team captain in sports. A captain leads the team on the field but leaves the decision making up to the head coach. Moses and Joshua helped direct the Israelite people on their journey, but they acknowledged that the authority belonged to God. Give each tween a copy of Reproducible 7a, a pencil, and a Bible. Invite your tweens to work together to look up the scripture references provided and compare the events of Moses and Joshua s lives. When finished, bring everyone together and review the answers. Your tweens will have discovered the similarities between the lives of Moses and Joshua. (Every box for Moses and Joshua should include a check mark.) o Bibles (CEB) o October 13 Questions (CD- ROM, Discussion Questions, Fall) o Bibles (CEB) o Reproducible 7a (p. 73) o pencils 56 October 13 On the GO Tween Leader s Guide
Serve With Love Ramp Disciples: The Way Skatepark Help your tweens discover ways that others have worked together. Give each tween their copy of the On the Go Magazine. Invite them to read Ramp Disciples. ASK: What can we accomplish together as a group to help our church or our community? Build It Up (October Service Project) Continue the October service project. If you haven t already done so, invite your tweens to read the article on the October service project in the On the Go Magazine. Collect any offering money that your tweens brought in. Remind your tweens that you will be collecting money throughout the month of October to help build churches in Russia and Eurasia. Acrostic Action Allow your tweens to think about their own leadership abilities. Copy Reproducible 7b, one for each tween. SAY: The story of the Israelites marching against Jericho shows us what is possible when we work together to accomplish something. Everyone was given an assignment according to their gifts, talents, and leadership abilities. Give each tween a copy of Reproducible 7b and a pencil. Invite your tweens to complete the acrostic with words or phrases indicating the gifts and talents that they bring to a team. Allow your tweens plenty of time to complete the acrostic. If they get stuck, encourage them to make a list of their applicable abilities and interests. Bring everyone together and encourage your tweens to share their responses with the group. o On the Go Magazine pp. 12-13 o On the Go Magazine p. 17 o Reproducible 7b (p. 74) o pencils Fall 2013 Session 7 GrowProclaimServe.com 57
The Bible is about Poster Create an ongoing visual reminder of the importance of the Bible. Print the weekly Poster Word Card from the CD-ROM. Ask a tween to cut out the poster phrase WORKING TOGETHER and place it anywhere on the poster. TIP: Your tweens will repeat this for each of the session words and phrases throughout the year. Make sure you hang your poster in a location where it can remain safely through the end of summer. o The Bible is about poster o WORKING TOGETHER card (CD-ROM, Poster Words) o scissors o adhesive Worship Copy and cut apart the October 13 Weekly Worship Helps for your tween worship volunteers. Invite a tween in your group to light the candle. Invite a second tween to read Psalm 47:5. Invite a third tween to say the following prayer. PRAY: Loving God, thank you for showing us what we can accomplish when we work together. Help us discover the ways we can serve you together as a team. Amen. Extinguish the candle. o Bible (CEB) o October 13 Weekly Worship Helps (p. 46) o candle and butane lighter (or matches) Website Challenge Have your tweens go to GrowProclaimServe.com/onthego to take the challenge. Plan for Next Week Copy Challenges #9 and #10 (one set per tween) from the CD-ROM for Puzzle Double Dare (p. 60) Copy additional Prayer Journal pages from the CD-ROM for Journal It (p. 60). Copy the October 20 Discussion Questions (one per adult leader) from the CD-ROM for Reflection and Discussion Questions (p. 62). Print and copy the Fall drama (one per tween) from the CD-ROM. Copy Reproducibles 8a and 8b (one set per tween) for A Call for Me (p. 63). Print the weekly Poster Word Card from the CD-ROM for The Bible is about Poster (p. 64). Copy and cut apart the October 20 Weekly Worship Helps for your tween worship volunteers for Worship (p. 64). 58 October 13 On the GO Tween Leader s Guide
Reproducible 7a Meet the Captains Put a check mark beside each event that happened to Moses and/or to Joshua. Moses Joshua Experiences an appearance from God or God s messenger Exodus 3:1-12 and Joshua 5:13-15 Interprets God s words for the Israelite people Exodus 6:6-9 and Joshua 4:1-7 Leads the Israelites in celebrating the Passover Exodus 12:24-28 and Joshua 5:10-12 Leads the Israelites across a dry body of water Exodus 14:1-31 and Joshua 3:1-17 Viewed as great in the eyes of the people Exodus 14:31 and Joshua 4:14 Speaks with God Exodus 19:1-8 and Joshua 1:1-9 Referred to as the servant of God Numbers 12:7-8 and Joshua 24:29 Sends spies into the land of Canaan Numbers 13:1-3 and Joshua 2:1a Confronts Israelites who disobey God Exodus 32:30 and Joshua 7:16-21. Allocates land for the tribes of Israel Numbers 32:33 and Joshua 14:1 Gives a final speech to the Israelites before dying Deuteronomy 32:1 33:29 and Joshua 23:1-16 Fall 2013 GrowProclaimServe.com 73
Reproducible 7b Acrostic Action Use each of the letters to form a word that describe the gifts, talents, and leadership qualities that you bring to a team. The letter can be at the beginning, middle, or end of the word. T E A M W O R K 74 Fall 2013 On the GO Tween Leader s Guide