Youth Lesson Plan: Joshua 1–8;23–24

THE OPENER (2–3 minutes)

Object lesson: Bring a roll of painter’s tape (or masking tape). On the floor, make a straight tape line and call it “the Jordan River.” Invite one youth to stand on one side and say, “Your job is to cross, but you can’t step on the tape.” Let them hop over it.

Then add a second tape line a few feet past it and call it “Jericho’s wall.” Say, “Now cross both.”

Ask: What changed when it went from one line to two? When life stacks challenges, what do you start telling yourself?

Transition: Joshua steps into leadership with a river in front of him, a fortified city ahead, and Moses gone. The Lord does not pretend that’s easy. He gives Joshua a promise.

SCRIPTURE DEEP DIVE (12–15 minutes)

Have everyone open to Joshua 1:1–9. Tell them you will read, but they are listening for repeated words or phrases. After reading, ask, “What do you notice?” Let them answer before you comment.

Now read Joshua 1:9 aloud together, and put it on the board.

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9)

Ask:

• Which part feels like a command, and which part feels like a reason?
• What does “with thee whithersoever thou goest” cover, school, home, group chats, practices, the hallway, the bus?

Next, go to Joshua 1:8. Have a youth read it slowly. Then ask the class to underline action words.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

Partner discussion (60 seconds): What is the difference between “read” and “meditate… day and night”? What might “not depart out of thy mouth” look like for a teenager?

Bring them back and ask: Why would scripture be part of courage? Why would it connect to “good success,” especially when Joshua’s problems are not academic, they are terrifying?

Now jump to Joshua 3:5 and read it as a class.

“And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5)

Ask:

• What does Joshua ask the people to do before the miracle?
• What do you think “sanctify yourselves” means in a real week, not a church poster?

Then read this detail from Joshua 3:13, 15 (you can summarize the setting, but read the key phrase exactly):

“And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord… shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off…” (Joshua 3:13) “And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water… that the waters… rose up upon an heap…” (Joshua 3:15)

Ask: The water parts after their feet touch. What kind of faith is that? What is a “toe-in-the-water” step you could take this week?

THE BIG IDEA (8–10 minutes)

Principle 1: Courage grows from God’s presence, not your personality. Read Joshua 1:9 again (briefly). Then ask: If the Lord is “with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9), what does that change about facing a hard teacher, a lonely lunch table, a parent’s divorce, or a temptation that keeps coming back?

Principle 2: The word of God shapes the kind of person who can handle hard things. Return to Joshua 1:8. Ask: How could “meditate… day and night” (Joshua 1:8) change what you do when anxiety spikes, when you feel offended, or when you feel pulled into something you know is wrong? Let them wrestle. If they say, “It reminds you what’s true,” let that stand. If they say, “It gives you language for prayer,” let that stand too.

Principle 3: God’s wonders often come after a faithful first step. Read Joshua 3:15 again, just the phrase about their feet being dipped. Ask: Why do you think the Lord often waits until someone moves? How does that protect our agency and grow our trust?

Keep it teen-real: Sometimes the “first step” is apologizing, deleting an app, asking for a blessing, or choosing to attend church when you feel numb.

MIX IT UP, ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITY (5–8 minutes)

Case study: Put this on the board and read it aloud.

“Alex has a big ‘Jordan River’ week. A friend group is turning mean, and Alex knows the right move is to step away, but that means eating lunch alone for a while. Alex also promised to read scriptures, but it keeps getting bumped by homework and scrolling. Alex prays, but still feels nervous.”

Ask the class:

• Where do you see Joshua 1:9 in Alex’s story? Quote a phrase.
• What would ‘meditate… day and night’ (Joshua 1:8) look like for Alex in a normal schedule?
• What is the ‘feet… dipped in the brim of the water’ step (Joshua 3:15) for Alex?

Let them offer options. If someone suggests a small step, highlight it. The Lord often works with small steps.

THE LANDING (3–4 minutes)

Have everyone look at Joshua 24:15. Invite a youth to read it with energy, like it’s a team captain talking before a game.

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Ask: Why do you think Joshua says “this day”? Why not “someday when life calms down”?

Invitation for the week: Choose one “this day” act of serving the Lord that takes under two minutes, and do it daily. Options can be: read one verse and think about it, pray on your knees, or write Joshua 1:9 somewhere you will see it.

I trust the Lord’s promise to Joshua. “The Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9) covers teenage life, not just Bible movie moments.