Sermon Outlines/Bible Study Lessons
on the book of
Joshua

Lesson One

"Leadership, More Than Just A Title" (1:1-9)

I. God's Choice (vv.1-2a).
1. Godly leaders are chosen by God and not men.
2. Godly leaders must be ready to step up when God calls.

II. God's Faithfulness To His Leaders (vv.2b-9).
1. He expects obedience from His leaders (vv.2b-4).
2. He empowers His leaders (vv.5-7).
3. He gives His Word to His leaders for guidance (v.8).
4. He gives encouragement to His leaders (v.9).
 

I. Allow Your Leaders To Lead (vv.10-15).
1. He must be allowed to give direction (v.10a).
2. He must be allowed to delegate (vv.10b-11).
3. He must be allowed to remind people of what God has spoken (vv.12-15).

II. Allow Yourself To Be A Good Follower (vv.16-18).
1. Seek to be obedient (vv.16-17).
2. Seek what is best for all and not just yourself (v.16).
3. Seek unity in purpose (v.18).
 
 

I. She Had A Working Faith (vv.1-7).
1. Spying out Jericho (vv.1-3).
2. Rahab's faith put into action (vv.4-7).

II. She Had A Believing Faith (vv.8-13).
1. Rahab's confession of faith (vv.8-11).
2. Rahab's request (vv.12-13).

III. She Had A Trusting Faith (vv.14-24).
1. A covenant given (vv.14-21).
2. The spies return (vv.22-24).
 

I. Preparation (vv.1-5).
1. Physical (vv.1-4).
2. Spiritual (v.5).

II. Cooperation (vv.6-13).
1. The priests submitted themselves to God's leader (v.6).
2. Joshua submitted himself to God's leadership (vv.7-13).

III. Participation (vv.14-17).
1. The priest did as God commanded (vv.14-17a).
2. The people also followed in obedience to God's Word (v.17b).
 
 

I. For Remembrance (vv.1-8, 10-24).
1. The command to the twelve (vv.1-5).
2. The reason for the memorial (vv.6-8).
3. The crossing of the Jordan completed (vv.10-20).
4. The further explanation for the memorial (vv.21-24).

II. For Faith (v.9).
1. Joshua sets up 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan.
2. This is an unseen memorial of faith.
 

I. Renew Your Commitment To The Lord (vv.1-9).
1. Be obedient to His Word (vv.1-8).
2. Recognize His willingness to restore fellowship (v.9).

II. Remember God's Goodness (vv.10-12).
1. Learn from the past (v.10).
2. Don't live in the past (vv.11-12).

III. Submit To The Lord's Leadership (vv.13-15).
1. Recognize the Lord's headship (vv.13-14a).
2. Humble yourself before the Lord (v.14b).
3. Seek the Lord's will in how you will serve Him (v.14c).
4. Give reverence to the Lord (v.15).
 
 

I. Preparation For Victory (vv.1-5).
1. The preparation for victory (v.1).
2. The promise of victory (v.2).
3. The instructions for victory (vv.3-5).

II. Participation For Victory (vv.6-25).
1. Instructions carried out (vv.6-21).
2. Promises kept (vv.22-25).

III. Proclamation Of Victory (vv.26-27).
1. The curse proclaimed (v.26).
2. The victory proclaimed (v.27).
 

I. Its Source (v.1a).
1. The violation.
2. The violator.

II. Its Effect (vv.1b-9).
1. It brings the Lord's anger (v.1b).
2. It brings defeat on the whole body of believers (vv.2-5).
3. It brings discouragement (vv.6-9).

III. Its Exposure (vv.10-12).
1. It is exposed by its disobedience to God's Word (vv.10-11).
2. It is exposed by its separation from God (v.12).

IV. Its Cure (vv.13-26).
1. Consecration (vv.13-15).
2. Confession (vv.16-23).
3. Correction (vv.24-26).
 

I. Return To God's Word (vv.1-2).
1. God's Word encourages (v.1a, 1c).
2. God's Word instructs (vv.1b-2).

II. Apply God's Word (vv.3-29).
1. The trap set (vv.3-9).
2. The attack carried out (vv.10-13).
3. The trap sprung (vv.14-23).
4. The victory won (vv.24-29).

III. Remain Faithful To God's Word (vv.30-35).
1. Through worship (vv.30-31).
2. Through obedience (v.32).
3. Through the reading of God's Word (vv.33-34).
 

I. By Using Only Human Discernment (vv.1-14a).
1. The Gebeonites' plan (vv.1-13).
2. The Israelites' response (v.14a).

II. By Purposefully Ignoring Spiritual Discernment (vv.14b-15).
1. Israel failed to seek God's counsel (v.14b).
2. Israel's fleshly covenant (v.15).

III. By Paying The Price For Poor Discernment (vv.16-27).
1. The truth revealed (vv.16-17).
2. The price to be paid (vv.18-27).

A. The cost of keeping your word (vv.18-19).
B. The cost of deception (vv.20-27).

I. Know That The Opposition Is United (10:1-5).
1. It is brought together by fear (vv.1-2).
2. It is motivated by hate (vv.3-5).

II. Realize Your Need For Help (10:6-15).
1. From Others (vv.6-7).
2. From the Lord (vv.8-15).

III. Winning The Victory (10:16-21:45). (just summerize this section)
1. Completing The Conquest (10:16-12:24).

A. The Southern campaign completed (10:16-43).

1) Kings and cities destroyed (vv.16-39).
2) Southern campaign recounted (vv.40-43).

B. The Northern campaign completed (11:1-15).

1) Kings unite in opposition to Israel (vv.1-5).
2) Israel conquers the armies and cities of the North (vv.6-15).

C. The summation of all of Israel's campaigns (11:16-12:24).

1) The land conquered (11:16-23).
2) The enemy overcome (12:1-24).

A. The division of land among the 12 tribes (13:1-19:51).
B. The cities of refuge appointed (20:1-9).
C. The 48 Levitical cities given (21:1-45).

I. Change In Life Often Leads To Misunderstanding (vv.1-10).
1. Words of encouragement for a new beginning (vv.1-8).
2. Zealous actions of the Eastern Tribes (vv.9-10).

II. Tearing Down The Altars Of Misunderstanding (vv.11-34).
1. Go to those involved and get the facts (vv.11-20).
2. Listen to the other side of the story (vv.21-29).
3. Make sure the issue is settled and put to rest (vv.30-34).
 

I. Trust In God Because He Is Faithful (vv.1-5, 9-10).
1. God has and will continue to fight the battles for His own (vv.1-5).
2. God is sovereign over men and nations (vv.9-10).

II. Put God First (vv.6-8, 11).
1. By obeying Him (v.6).
2. By not living like the world (v.7).
3. By being faithful to Him (vv.8, 11).

III. Understand The Consequences Of Unfaithfulness To God (vv.12-16).
1. God's blessings will cease (vv.12-13).
2. God's judgment will come (vv.14-16).
 
 

I. Reflect Upon God's Past Goodness (vv.1-13).
1. What God did for Abraham and his family (vv.1-4).
2. What God did for Moses and the Israelites (vv.5-10).
3. What God did for Joshua and the Israelites (vv.11-13).

II. Make Up Your Mind Whom You Will Serve (vv.14-15).
1. Make a choice in whom you will serve (vv.14-15a).
2. Be willing to stand alone in your choice (v.15b).

III. Reaffirm Your Faith Before The Lord (vv.16-28).
1. Verbalize it before others (vv.16-21).
2. Be accountable to other believers (vv.22-25).
3. Mark it down as a future reminder (vv.26-28).

IV. Look At The Examples Of Others For Encouragement (vv.29-33).
1. The death and burial of Joshua (vv.29-31).
2. The burial of Joseph's bones (v.32).
3. The death and burial of Eleazar (v.33).