LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Joshua 24:1-28, near the end of his life, Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel at Shechem to stand before God. He recounted the entire sweep of God’s faithfulness to His people, beginning with Abraham’s calling out of a land of idol worship, through the miraculous deliverance from Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, decades of protection in the wilderness, and the remarkable victories God granted them as they settled in the Promised Land. Joshua made it unmistakably clear that every good thing the people had received came from God’s hand alone, not from their own cleverness, strength, or military power. God had driven out their enemies, protected them from nations greater than themselves, and fulfilled every promise He had made to their ancestors.
With this record of faithfulness fresh before them, Joshua issued a bold and personal challenge: the people must now make a deliberate choice about whom they would serve. He famously declared his own commitment: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). The people responded with a wholehearted pledge to serve God alone, and Joshua sealed this covenant renewal by setting up a large stone beneath an oak tree as a standing witness to the promise made that day. This passage teaches children that choosing to serve God flows from remembering His faithfulness, and that our positive thoughts and actions are rooted in faith and trust in Him.
OPENING ACTIVITY 10:15–10:30 | My Promise Rock
Items Needed:
- Smooth flat rocks (1 per child)
- Paint
- Paintbrushes
- Paint palettes
- Smocks
- Paper Plates
- Paper for table covering
Children should paint their rock with cheerful colors and simple designs. Explain that in today’s Bible story, Joshua used a very special rock to help people remember a promise they made to God. Rocks dry throughout the lesson and go home at the end as a reminder to serve God.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 10:30–10:40 | Echo Clap Verse
Memory Verse: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” Joshua 24:15
Teacher says one phrase, kids echo it back with a fun clap pattern:
- “But as for me” 👏👏
- “and my house” 👏👏👏
- “we will serve” 👏👏👏
- “the Lord” 👏
Repeat faster each round!
SONG 10:40–10:50
BIBLE STORY 10:50–11:00 a.m.
Friends, today we have a very special story, and this rock right here is going to help us tell it! Before we start, can you say the name of our hero today? His name is JOSHUA!
Joshua was one of God’s very best helpers. He loved God with his whole heart. Can you put your hands on your heart like this?
[Place both hands over your heart and wait for children to copy you]
Joshua had watched God do so many incredible things, and today we get to hear about them!
One time, God’s people were in big trouble. There was a huge, deep sea right in front of them.
[Stretch arms wide to show how big]
And scary soldiers were coming after them from behind!
But God did something amazing. He pushed that water, WOOOOSH, right to both sides! Can you do that with your arms? WOOOOSH!
[Sweep both arms out to the sides and wait for children to copy]
And God’s people walked right through the middle on dry ground! God is so powerful, isn’t He?
[Wait for kids to respond]
Another time, a whole army of soldiers came after God’s people. But you know what God did? He sent hornets! BZZZZZZZ! Can you make a hornet with your finger and fly it around?
[Hold up one finger and buzz it through the air, wait for children to do the same]
Those soldiers were so afraid of getting stung that they ran away as fast as they could! God protected His people with bugs!
God kept His people safe over and over and over again. Can you count with me on your fingers? One time God helped. Two times God helped. Three times God helped. God ALWAYS came through!
[Count on fingers together and wait for children]
Now Joshua was getting older, and he had something very, very important to say. Can you sit up tall and straight like Joshua getting ready to speak?
[Model sitting up very straight and tall, wait for children to copy]
Joshua gathered all of God’s people together, every single person, and he said, “”God has done so many wonderful things for us! He took care of us! He protected us! He loves us so much!”
[Hold up fingers to count each thing]
And then Joshua said something very serious. He said, “Now you have to make a choice.”‘
Can you hold out one hand on one side and one hand on the other side?”
[Model holding both hands out like a scale, wait for children to copy]
Joshua said, ”’You can choose to serve things, OR you can choose to serve God.” Which one do YOU think they should pick?”
[Wait for kids to respond, “GOD!”]
And Joshua said, let’s all say this together.
[Speak slowly and clearly, pointing to kids to join in]
“AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!”
[Wait for children to repeat it]
Let’s say it one more time, even louder!
[Repeat together, raising voices with excitement]
And guess what? All the people said YES! We will serve God too! Can you say, “‘”We will serve God!”
[Wait for response and then clap together]
Joshua was so happy. And he wanted them to remember this special day forever. So do you know what he did?
He found a big rock, and he placed it under a big oak tree.
And Joshua said, “‘Every time you see this rock, remember the promise you made today to serve God.” This rock was a reminder. And the little rocks we painted today can be your reminder too! Every time you see your rock at home, what will you remember?”
[Wait for kids to respond]
“That is right! As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD! Can you whisper it with me this time?”
[Whisper together slowly]
“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
[Pause and smile warmly at the children]
“God is so good, and He always keeps His promises, just like He did for Joshua and all of His people.
Theological Questions:
- “Who took care of Joshua and God’s people every single time they needed help?” (God did! God always took care of them!)
- “Joshua said, ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the ___.’ Can you fill in the blank?” (The LORD!)
Life Application Questions:
- “What is one way YOU can serve God this week at home?” (Help Mommy, share with a brother or sister, say thank you, be kind)
- “When something is hard or scary, who can you remember to trust — just like Joshua did?” (God! I can trust God!)
Prayer:
“Dear God, thank You for always taking care of us, just like You took care of Joshua. Help us choose to serve You every single day with our whole hearts. Amen!”
BIBLE CRAFT 11:00–11:15 a.m. | “As for Me and My House” Door Hanger
Items Needed:
- Pre-cut cardstock door hangers (1 per child)
- Crayons
- Heart Stickers
Children decorate their door hanger with colors, heart stickers, and drawings of their family. The verse strip is glued on before decorating. Kids take the hanger home to put on their bedroom door as a daily reminder of Joshua’s commitment and their own family’s choice to serve God.
BIBLE MOVIE AND SNACK
Give kids a snack and let them eat the snack while they watch the Bible video.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Joshua 24:14-15 (ESV)
“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway:
Choose to Serve
What I Learned Today:
Today we learned that Joshua reminded God’s people of all the amazing things God had done for them. Then Joshua made a bold choice and said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” We learned that we can make that same choice every single day.
Questions to Ask Me:
Theological Questions:
- Who is the story of Joshua found in? (The Bible — the book of Joshua, in the Old Testament!)
- What did Joshua ask the people to choose? (Whether they would serve God or other things)
- What did Joshua say about his own family? (“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”)
- How did God protect the people when soldiers chased them? (He parted the Red Sea so they could walk through safely, and another time He sent hornets to scare the soldiers away!)
- What did Philippians 2:13 teach us about God? (God works inside of us to help us want to do good things and actually do them!)
Life Application Questions:
- What is one way you can serve God at home this week? (Helping, sharing, being kind, praying, telling the truth)
- When something feels scary or hard, who should you trust? (God. He always takes care of us!)
- What you paint in class today to remember your promise to serve God? (A rock. Just like Joshua’s big stone under the oak tree!)
- Joshua made a promise to serve God. Can you make that promise too? What would you say? (Let child respond in their own words)
- God does amazing things for us! Can you think of something good God has done for your family? (Encourage personal reflection and sharing)
Memory Verse: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” — Joshua 24:15 (ESV)