Joshua (2025)

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

DW

June 04, 2025

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Joshua 5

  • Joshua 5:1 – Kings’ hearts melted
    • They were terrified of the Israelites!
  • Joshua 5:2-8 – Circumcision
    • It did not make military sense to do this at this time, but God put fear into their enemies and they did not attack.
    • Leviticus 12:3 – Circumcision was supposed to be an ongoing law, but it had not been followed.
    • Joshua trusted that God would protect them while the army healed.
  • Joshua 5:9 – Gilgal
    • God is calling this out as a new beginning.
  • Joshua 5:10 – Passover
    • See Exodus 12:6. It’s not clear that the Passover had been observed since they left Mt. Sinia. Going by Exodus 12:25, it’s possible that observance was not to begin until they entered Canaan.
  • Joshua 5:11-12 – Manna ceased
    • The manna continued from Exodus 16 to Joshua 5. If you multiply it out, God provided at least 50 billion meals!
    • Now they would eat the produce of the land.
  • Joshua 5:13-15 – Captain of the Lord’s host

Joshua 6 – Jericho

  • Joshua 6:1-5 – God gave them Jericho, but they had to meet His conditions.
  • Joshua 6:6-9 – Modern day Tell es-Sultan could be the site of ancient Jericho. It is one of the most excavated archaeological sites in the world.
  • Joshua 6:15-21 – The walls of Jericho fall and the Israelites take the city.
  • Joshua 6:22-27 – Rahab and her family are spared.
    • Joshua 6:27 – Joshua’s curse was fulfilled in I Kings 16:34 when Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt the city, losing his firstborn and youngest son in the process.

Applications

God can “give” something with conditions

Jericho Salvation
God gives it Joshua 6:2: “I have given Jericho into your hand” Ephesians 2:8: “it is the gift of God”
You didn’t earn it Deuteronomy 9:6: “it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land” Ephesians 2:8-9 – “not of yourselves … not as a result of works, so that no one may boast”
And yet there are conditions Joshua 6:2: “You shall march around the city …” Matthew 7:21: “he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter”

God rewards faith wherever it is found.

  • Matthew 21:31
  • Rahab was in the lineage of both David and Jesus.
  • Isaiah 42:3
  • God is willing to forgive and help us grow.

No stronghold can resist God.

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


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Introduction

This is the law!

Prove to be a neighbor.

  • Luke 10:25-37 – Jesus gives the parable of the good Samaritan to show how to be a good neighbor. I need to be a neighbor. I Need to take initiative and do the right thing.
  • Matthew 7:12 – Jesus calls us to a higher standard. We are to initiate kindness.
  • Matthew 5:38-45 – Love everyone, even your enemies.

Get in the habit of thinking about what would help others.

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


Faith (2025)

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

TK

June 01, 2025

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Faith establishes trust

Examples from scripture

  • Noah – Genesis 6:14-7:6-20
  • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego – Daniel 3:11-26, 17
    • They trusted in God’s plan. They also trusted that if God chose not to deliver them from the furnace, He will still deliver them.

Examples: evidence in our lives

  • Answered prayers
  • Maturity in our lives through the scriptures (virtue, knowledge, self-control) and the evidence that God is working in our lives (II Timothy 1:7)
  • Love for one another (add to godliness, brotherly kindness, love) – Matthew 22:37-40
  • Death (ultimate trust in God’s promises) – II Corinthians 5:7-10

Faith creates courage

  • Courage: mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty
  • Fear:
    • To have a reverential awe (God), to be afraid of
    • An unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


Joshua (2025)

Classes - Benchley church of Christ

DW

May 28, 2025

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Joshua 3

  • Joshua 3:3 – See Exodus 25:10, 22; 26:34. In Hebrews 9:2-5, 9 the previous tabernacle is compared with the greater tabernacle.
  • Joshua 3:17 – The Israelites crossed on dry ground – it wasn’t even wet ground even though the water was just stopped in v16. Compare Exodus 14 when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. This time, the Israelites were the aggressors.

Joshua 4

Joshua 4:1-24 – The twelve-stone memorial

  • Compare Exodus 12:23-27 when the Passover was instituted, as well as Exodus 13:13-14; Numbers 15:37-41; I Corinthians 11:23-24. God knows we need reminders!
  • Joshua 4:18 – As soon as the priests left the riverbed, the water went back to its normal flood stage for this time of year.
  • Joshua 4:19 – Compare Exodus 12:29-41. This was within five days of being exactly 40 years. One day we will reach our Gilgal in our Promised Land!
  • Joshua 4:22They were to teach the children about this memorial. God put the responsibility on the Israelites to teach their own children these things.

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


Benchley Sermons 2025

Sermons - Benchley church of Christ

DW

May 25, 2025

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Introduction

Stop looking for the perfect local church.

  • Revelation 2:4-5, 8-11, 12-17 – Messages to the churches. They all had problems and difficulties.
  • No local church will be perfect because it is composed of people and people have problems.
  • Acts 14:21-23 – These new churches needed to grow.
  • Every local church is a work in progress!
  • If you find a perfect local church, don’t join it because you will make it imperfect.

Start perfecting yourself.

  • Ephesians 4:1-6, 11-12, 15-16 – These are the things they needed to work on in Ephesus. The church is built up as each member grows.

What are some things I can do to make Benchley better?

  • Romans 12:10-13
  • “I wish the preaching were better.”
  • “I wish the elders were more active.”
  • “I wish people were more hospitable.”
  • “I wish people made better comments in class.”
  • Nehemiah 1:1; 2:17
  • Pray before I criticize.
  • Be active.
  • Sincerely and humbly commit to making Benchley better.

For further study, see also:

Questions or comments? Join our Discord server for further study.


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© 2025, Mark Watson

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