The KJV International Sunday School Lesson, Outline

December 9

Lesson 2 (KJV)

Love and Serve God

Devotional Reading: Psalm 81

Background Scripture: Exodus 20:1–11; Joshua 24

Joshua 24:1–3a, 13–15, 21–24

1 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.

3a And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed

13 And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.

14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

21 And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord.

22 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

23 Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel.

24 And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.

Key Verse

If it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.—Joshua 24:15

Our Love for God

Unit I: God Is Worthy of Our Love

Lessons 1–5

Lesson Aims

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Summarize the portion of today’s text regarding Joshua’s farewell challenge to the Israelites and their response.

2. Explain what rejecting false gods means in the twenty-first century.

3. Identify a cultural “god” and make a plan to resist its influence.

Lesson Outline

Introduction

A. A Veteran Speaks

B. Lesson Context

I. Looking at the Past (Joshua 24:1–3a, 13)

A. Public Assembly of Tribes (v. 1)

B. God’s Blessings to Abraham (vv. 2, 3a)

C. God’s Blessings to Israel (v. 13)

II. Living in the Present (Joshua 24:14, 15, 21–24)

A. Joshua’s Challenge (vv. 14, 15)

Idols of the Heart

B. Israel’s Choice (v. 21)

C. Choice Reaffirmed (vv. 22–24)

Picking and Choosing

Conclusion

A. Joshua and Jesus

B. Prayer

C. Thought to Remember

HOW TO SAY IT

Amalekites	Am-uh-leh-kites or Uh-mal-ih-kites.
Amorites	Am-uh-rites.
Baal	Bay-ul.
Balaam	Bay-lum.
Balak	Bay-lack.
Chaldees	Kal-deez.
Euphrates	You-fray-teez.
Moab	Mo-ab.
Nachor	Nay-kor.
Shechem	Shee-kem or Shek-em.
Sinai	Sigh-nye or Sigh-nay-eye.
syncretic	sin-kre-tik.
Terah	Tair-uh.
Ur	Er.

What Do You Think? What preparations can we make before we present ourselves before God in worship? Digging Deeper Which of those preparations, if any, should be the practice of all Christians? Why? What Do You Think? What are some ways our church can reflect on its roots in times of growth and change? Digging Deeper Why is it important to do so, considering Genesis 1:1–31; Psalm 78, 106; Acts 7:2–53; and 1 Corinthians 15:1–8? What Do You Think? How will life be different as we become more grateful for the Lord’s material provisions? Digging Deeper What Scriptures help you most to recall your dependence on God and His provisions? What Do You Think? How can we identify and eliminate the “gods” that distract us from serving the Lord fully? Digging Deeper In your experience, how can you tell when someone has not fully given up his or her idols? What Do You Think? Be still for a moment. What choice or decision is the Lord setting before you today? Digging Deeper How do Matthew 7:13, 14, 24–27; Romans 6:16–19; and 1 John 1:5–10 convict you of a choice you must make? Visual for Lesson 2. Start a discussion by pointing to this visual as you ask, “How do you turn this verse into an action that witnesses to others?” To print the reproducible activity page, simply click the highlighted text below to create a pdf file on your hard drive. Then open the pdf file in Acrobat Reader and print. Activity Page (December 9: Love and Serve God)  Nickelson, Ronald L. et al., eds. The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2018–2019. Vol. 66. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2018. Print.  Graves, David et al. “Love and Serve God.” The KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2018–2019. Ed. Ronald L. Nickelson et al. Vol. 66. Colorado Springs, CO: Standard Publishing, 2018. 135. Print.