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May 18–24
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Week 21
Joshua 1–8;23–24

Come Follow Me 2026 · Week 21

Family Activities

May 18–24 - Joshua 1–8; 23–24

This week's one thing

The Lord gives courage when we stay close to His words and keep our covenants.

Opener: Yes or No: What Do We Need?

a small paper cupa spoona book (scriptures if handy)

Tell everyone you are thinking of one idea from Joshua 1, and they can only ask yes or no questions to guess it. If someone asks a question you cannot answer with yes or no, you get one spoon tap on the table as a "try again" signal and they rephrase. When they guess "courage" or "being strong," hold up the book and ask, "Does Joshua connect courage to something we do every day?"

Joshua links strength and courage to staying close to God’s words and promises (Joshua 1:6-9).

Scripture Story

Joshua stands by the Jordan River with a whole nation behind him and a whole new life ahead of him. The water is moving fast, and the people keep looking at him like, "So... what now?" The Lord speaks to Joshua: "Be strong and of a good courage" (Joshua 1:6). Priests step forward carrying the ark, and their feet touch the edge of the river. The water stops upstream, and the riverbed opens like a path. Families hurry across, clutching bundles and holding kids by the hand. On the other side, Joshua tells twelve men to pick up twelve stones from the riverbed and carry them out. They stack them into a pile so nobody forgets what the Lord did that day. What do you think Joshua was feeling when he stepped toward the river before it moved?

Discussion Questions

Little Kids (ages 4–7)

  • If you were crossing the river, who would you want to hold your hand?
  • What is something you do when you feel scared, like a prayer or a hug?

Big Kids (ages 8–11)

  • Joshua hears "be strong and of a good courage" more than once (Joshua 1:6, 9, 18). Why do you think the Lord repeats that to him?
  • Joshua is told to think about the scriptures "day and night" (Joshua 1:8). What is a small way to keep God’s words close without it feeling huge?

Teens

  • Joshua has a big calling and big pressure. What does courage look like when you cannot control the outcome, only your choices?

This Week's Challenge

Make a "courage stack" this week. Each time someone in the family reads even one verse from the scriptures, they add one small item to a stack in the kitchen (a block, a coin, or a dry bean). On Sunday, count the stack and read Joshua 1:8 together.

Song Suggestions

🎵 I Will Be Valiant🎼 Be Still, My Soul

Riverbed Roots Cup

Ages 3-10~10 min
a clear cup or jara paper towelwatera few dried beans or lentilstape (optional)
  1. 1

    Step 1: Stuff a paper towel around the inside of the cup so it makes a soft wall, leaving space in the middle.

  2. 2

    Step 2: Slide a few beans between the paper towel and the cup so you can see them, then add a little water to wet the paper towel.

  3. 3

    Step 3: Put the cup in a sunny spot and check it each day, adding a little water when the towel starts to dry.

Roots grow when they stay in contact with water, and our courage grows when we stay in contact with the Lord’s words (Joshua 1:8-9).

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