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Joshua sent two spies over the Jordan River and into the city of Jericho. Rahab, a woman in the city, let the spies stay at her house. When the city officials searched for them, she hid them on her rooftop under stalks of flax. She told the spies she would not turn them in as long as they promised to save her and her family when they returned to conquer Jericho. Before escaping to the nearby hills, they instructed her to tie a red cord in her window so that they would know where she was when they came back.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Joshua 1-2

Matthew 1:5

James 2:25

Hebrews 11:31

Outline:

1. God prepares Joshua to lead (Joshua 1:1-9)
2. Joshua prepares the people to take the land (Joshua 1:10-18)
3. Rahab protects the spies (Joshua 2:1-24)

Tips for teaching children:

• Use a paper heart to discuss how following God can change lives.
  • Prepare a paper heart by gluing two pieces of paper together. One paper should be black and the other white. Cut the paper into the shape of a heart. 
  • With the black side of the heart facing up, talk about how Rahab used to be a bad person doing bad things until she learned about God. 
  • Then, turn the heart over to the white side and discuss how Rahab began to follow God. She left her people and began to live with the Israelites.
  • Using the heart again, apply this concept to people today and ourselves. We can choose to live a good life or a bad life.
• Take the children on a walk to “find Rahab’s house”. Before the children arrive, find a window in your building and hang a red streamer or scarf from it.  After learning about Rahab, take the children on a walk outside so that they can spot “Rahab’s house”.
  
  

Tips for teaching adults:

• Begin the class by asking these questions: Have you experienced leadership change in your congregation?  What was it like?  What went well and didn’t go well?  What does it look like to step into a role after someone great has gone before you? How would you deal with fear or inadequacy in those moments?
• Rahab was of questionable character and an outsider, so "what does Rahab’s story teach us about who God might include in His redemptive purposes?" What does Matthew 1:5 add to this discussion? What does this tell you about God?
• Ask everyone in the class to write on a piece of paper an area of your life where you need courage or more courage.  Have the class members place the papers you have written on into a bowl, and then begin drawing them out of the bowl and read to the class.  Pray for each of these areas.

Full teaching instructions are free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  Rahab Helps the Spies

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

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