Andrew Grey introduces a new series on the book of Joshua. This was recorded in the adult Sunday School session on Sunday 7th Sept 2025.
Handout Notes
Introducing the book of Joshua
While waiting to begin
1. Share briefly anything you know about the book of Joshua:
favourite events… or characters…. or verses.
2. Look at Joshua 24:31. Does this feel to you like a positive or a
negative statement? Why?
1. Where does Joshua come in the Bible?
What’s happened before Joshua?
What happens after Joshua?
2. What is Joshua about?
See 1:1-3
= the Lord… Joshua… the people… the LAND (x87)
3. What happens in the book of Joshua?
= enter… conquer… inherit… obey
= the 4 sections of the book
4. Getting a flavour of Joshua: let’s read…
Part 1 ENTER: entering the land – chapters 1:1 - 5:12
1:1-18 Yahweh still faithful
2:1-24 The spies report: “Canaan defeated”
3:1-4:24 Crossing the Jordan
5:1-12 Ritual preparations
Part 2 CONQUER: taking the land – chapters 5:13 – 12:24
5:13-6:27 Battle of Jericho
7:1-8:29 Achan’s sin and the Battle of Ai
8:30-35 Covenant renewed at Mount Ebal
9:1-27 Treaty with Gibeon
10:1-43 Conquest of the south
11:1-15 Conquest of the north
11:16-23 The conquest summarised
12:1-24 List of defeated kings
Part 3 INHERIT: allotting the land – chapters 13:1 – 21:45
13:1-7 Land still to be taken
13:8-33 Distribution of land east of the Jordan
14:1-19:51 Distribution of land west of the Jordan
20:1-9 Cities of refuge
21:1-42 Levitical towns
21:43-45 *Summary of God’s amazing faithfulness
Part 4 OBEY: keeping the land – chapters 22:1-24:33
22:1-34 The eastern tribes’ altar of witness23:1-16 Joshua’s farewell address24:1-28 Covenant farewell at Shechem24:29-33 Three funerals… but buried in the land