Purpose: Use this children’s sermon about Joshua and the battle of Jericho to teach kids about listening to God’s instructions.
Scripture: Joshua 5:13-6:27
Needed: optional tower of blocks or cushions
Children’s Sermon
Summarize Joshua 5:13-6:27 with the following story and actions.
Say, today, we’re going to pretend to be the Israelites. After God used Moses to free the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt, the Israelites had to live in the desert for 40 years. Now, that time is over. They’re getting ready to march into the new country that God is giving them. Let’s march to our new country!
(Lead the children marching around the stage or the front of the sanctuary. If you’ve set up a tower of blocks or cushions, lead the children toward it.)
But there’s a problem. The city of Jericho was in the Israelites’ way. The people of Jericho wanted to fight the Israelites to keep them out of the country God had promised to give them.
What do you think the Israelites should do? (Pretend to act out any suggestions the kids give you. Then, give them the Biblical answer.)
Joshua was the leader of the Israelites when this happened because Moses had already died. When the Israelites came to Jericho, God gave Joshua some very strange instructions.
This is what He told the Israelites to do.
First, God said, take your whole army and march around the walls of the city. (Lead the children in a march around your “city.”)
Then, God said, march around the city one time like that for 5 more days. (Lead the children around the “city” 5 more days.)
Then, God said, on the last day, give the priests trumpets and walk around the city 7 times. (Lead the children marching 7 times.)
On the seventh time around, God said to have priests blow their trumpets. Everyone, make a noise like you’re blowing a trumpet!
After the priests blew the trumpet, God said for the whole army to shout. Everyone, give a yell at the wall!
And with that, the walls of Jericho fell down! (Topple the tower.)
Those were some strange instructions God gave the Israelites for conquering Jericho, weren’t they? I don’t think any other army in the whole world would try to conquer a city like that. But it worked because it’s what God said to do, and God is always right.
And God gives us some strange instructions too. He tells us to follow rules that no one else in the world follows. He tells us to be different than everyone else because we believe in Jesus. Other people think we’re strange for the things we believe and the things we do or don’t do. But the rules God gives us work because they’re from God, and God is always right.
So, even if something seems strange to you or to other people, remember to be like Joshua and the Israelites. Trust in God and do what He says, and it will work.
Closing Prayer
Father, You are the God who can do anything. You can even make shouting at a wall work to bring it down. Help us believe in You and follow Your instructions even when it seems weird to other people. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
You can also find this children’s sermon for Kindle or in print in my book, Children’s Sermons about the Exodus