Sunday School 'Dealing With Disobedience"

Sunday School Lesson found and offered by the Universal Life Church Seminary

All About The Kingdom  Sunday School Lesson Dealing With Disobedience Lesson Text: Joshua 7:1, 10-12, 20-26 Background Scripture: Joshua 7, 8 Devotional Reading: Romans 6:15-23  LESSON BACKGROUND Time: 1405 B.C. Place: Jericho; Valley of Achor     Israel's determined obedience to God produced the successes that the previous generation forfeited because of disobedience. Some of the people experienced the full 40 years of punishment in the wilderness wandering. The evidence accumulated to show that the repeated disobediences and complaining by their ancestors was totally unacceptable behavior to God. The rebellious adults who left Egypt perished in the wilderness.     The farewell address of Moses in the book of Deuteronomy also had a strong effect. Moses' death took place a short time before the book of Joshua begins. In his speeches, Moses vividly contrasted the results for obedience and disobedience, not only for that generation, but also in the future (see Deuteronomy 27 and 28).  Over 200 times Moses used the imperatives hear, do, obey, keep.     The second generation-that is, the one that followed Joshua's leadership-did well in listening and learning. Many good things happened as a result. The people pledged to obey Joshua. They accepted the news from the two spies sent to Jericho that the inhabitants of Canaan were terrified. The conquest of Jericho was completely successful. Simple obedience to God's unusual battle plans produced a stunning victory. This was the first of three cities in Canaan that the book of Joshua says were burned. The others were Ai (Joshua 8:18, 19) and Hazor (11:11).    From all outward appearances, the conquest of Canaan was going extremely well. But during the assault on Jericho, a deliberate, disobedient, defiant sin entered Israel. What would be the consequences for the nation of Israel, and what could be done about it to make things right again?    CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEKS COMPLETE LESSON

Sunday School 'God Expects Obedience'

Sunday School Lessons found and shared by the Universal Life Church Seminary All About The Kingdom  Sunday School Lesson God Expects Obedience God's Expectations Lesson Text:  Joshua 1:7-16 Background Scripture:  Joshua 1:1-18 Devotional Reading:  1 John 5:3,4 Introduction    The phrase boot camp is associated with the first weeks of training in a branch of the military. One purpose of boot camp is to condition trainees to respond with immediate obedience to legal commands. It is absolutely essential that legal orders be obeyed without argument. A father is said to have asked his son what he learned in boot camp, and the son replied that he had learned what the word now means!    Being a follower of Jesus also has expectations of obedience. Jesus says that the person who loves Him will obey what He commands (John 14:15). In the latter part of the Great Commission, Jesus states that disciples are to be taught to obey everything that He commands (Matthew 28:20). Peter affirms that the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). Paul states that Jesus will punish those who do not obey Him (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Even "the apostle of love," John, writes that love is perfected by keeping or obeying the word of Christ (1 John 2:4,5).     Perhaps it would be a good idea to have a boot camp for new Christians-just to help them realize that there are important obligations in living for Christ. The training might even include the meaning of the word now! CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEKS COMPLETE LESSON

Sunday School 'God Provides Victory"

All About The Kingdom  Sunday School Lesson God Gives Victory "God Gives Victory"  Lesson Text: Lesson: Joshua 6:2-4, 12-20 Background Scripture: Joshua 5:13-6:27 Devotional Reading: Exodus 17:8-16; Numbers 13, 14. Joshua 6:2-4, 12-20 2 And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. 3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shall thou do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. ... Introduction Victory in "Complete Surrender"   Chariots of Fire is the title of a 1981 movie. The film is a tribute to Eric Liddell (1902-1945), the "Flying Scotsman," who won two medals in the 1924 Olympic games held in Paris: the gold medal in a 400-meter race and a bronze medal in a 200-meter race. The film vividly shows Liddell's commitment to his faith in that he would not participate in events on Sunday. He had learned about the timing for such events several months before, but the film portrays him as acquiring this information just as he was boarding the ship to go with the team to France. His prior knowledge gave him a chance to train for the 400-meter competition instead of his specialty, the 100-meter event. He was not expected to do well, but he set a world record with a time of 47.6 seconds. LESSON BACKGROUND The children of Israel were now west of the Jordan River and encamped at Gilgal in the land of Canaan. God had miraculously dried up the river so that the people could cross over into Canaan. Memorials had been set up, manna had ceased coming from heaven, circumcision had been performed, and everybody was waiting for the next phase of conquering the land. As Joshua waited for further instructions, he decided to go out and look over Jericho and make some observations about their first challenge. How were they going to take Jericho before moving on? God is always good to give us the directions we need when we are willing to patiently wait upon Him. It might be one of the hardest things we have to do as believers, simply biding our time until He indicates clearly what steps we are to take next. But experience has taught many of us that the only thing harder than waiting on the Lord is wishing we had!    CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEKS COMPLETE LESSON