Week 16 - The Old Testament
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Family Life - Small Group Warm Up Question:
If your house was on fire, what five things would you prioritize to get out of the house?
The Old Testament
Deuteronomy 31-34 ~ Joshua 1-11
1. Read Joshua 1:5-9. Although Moses has already said something similar to Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:7-8) this is directly from the Lord. What is the difference in reading something from a devotional or hearing it from a sermon versus hearing/seeing it directly yourself in the Word of God? Why is Bible reading so important? How is your year of Bible reading going so far? How do you want to improve and finish the year ahead?
2. Why Canaanites – sexual immorality, child sacrifice – like a genocide? Hyperbole “totally destroy”, “no survivors” – drive them out, do not intermarry, no business; God was open to those who turned to God – limited battles and region, Deut 20 – pursue peace otherwise – descriptive, not prescriptive – God’s wrath on evil and protection of His people
3. What do you think about the fact that a prostitute becomes the hero God uses to protect the lives of the Israelite spies in Joshua 2? What do you think the significance is that Rahab is part of the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:5)? How does that encourage you in regard to your own past? Hebrews 11:31 says, while listing the “heroes of the faith”, “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.” James 2:23, in explaining the evidential works of saving faith, says that “Rahab the prostitute justified by works.”
4. In Joshua 3, we see Israel cross the Jordan. In this miracle, the flood-stage river is backed up 20 miles in distance, with a wall of water 100’ tall and 2 miles long. Why do you think God has such a miraculous crossing both out of Egyptian slavery and into the Promised Land? (Joshua 3:10) Later in the Bible we see Elijah and Elisha miraculously cross the Jordan River (2 Kings 2) and Jesus is baptized (Matthew 3) in the same location as the crossing. What connections do you see between these events? Why do you think God uses baptism as an outward symbol of our inward repentance and faith?
5. In Joshua 4, God commands the Israelites to set up a memorial of 12 stones from the middle of the river crossing to memorialize what the Lord did for the sake of future generations. What are ways we can communicate, memorialize, and pass on the work of the Lord in our lives?
6. In a seemingly unusual timing, God commands the Israelite men to be circumcised while close to the powerful city of Jericho (Joshua 5:1-9). In Romans 2:29 Paul explains that faith is not an outward, physical, legalistic action (like circumcision) but rather an inward, spiritual “circumcision” of the heart. When and how did God “cut” your heart as you left your spiritual slavery and wandering? How did it hurt you? How did it heal you? How was your faith evidenced afterwards as you entered into the security of eternal life? Do you think God’s timing with the Passover connection is a coincidence?
7. In Joshua 5:13-15, Joshua meets an angel, the “commander of the army of the Lord.” Why is the most important question of life whether or not we are on God’s side of the spiritual battle?
8. What stands out to you about God from the battle of Jericho in Joshua 6?
9. What stands out to you about Israel from the battle of Ai in Joshua 7? How might we be tempted to the “sin of Achan”? What can we learn to resist similar temptations?
10. While the Gibeonites are deceptive in their approach to the Israelites (Joshua 9), they are the only Canaanites to seek peace with the God of Israel compared to the other Canaanite kings (Joshua 10-12). What external, surrounding pressures do non-believers face today in coming to Christ by approaching a faithful Christian, a biblical church, or a reading/study of the Bible?
11. What can we learn, and how can we process the miraculous stopping of the sun in Joshua 10? Why do people try to explain away the miracles of the Bible with naturalistic reasoning?
General Discussion Questions
• What was something new you noticed this week? What impacted you the most? Why?
• Application Questions: How do you need to respond to and apply these truths to your life? (Is there a sin to avoid? A command to obey? An example to follow? A prayer to offer? A truth to remember or memorize? An attitude to change? A teaching to share?)