Key Thought: Joshua, near the end of his life, glances back at the victories of Israel, but at the same time, the path of future success for the Israelites.
December 20, 2025

1. Have a volunteer read Joshua 23:1-5.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What are the major focal points of Joshua’s introduction?
3. Personal Application: With so many promises before us, why is it so easy to sin? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “If Israel conquered Canaan. Is it possible for Christians to conquer sin in their lives?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Joshua 23:6-8. 12-13.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why did Joshua take such a strong stand concerning Israel’s relations with the surrounding nations?
3. Personal Application: How can we find a balanced relationship with the society surrounding us? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Is it possible for a Christian to be true to God and still be friends with the world and comfortable with the society they live in? How can we live a holy life in an unholy and anti-Christian society?.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Joshua 23:15,16.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How should we interpret God’s wrath and justice in Joshua?
3. Personal Application: How do you respond when things don’t go the way you hoped for and prayed for when claimed promises are met with silence?. Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “How can you present the wrath of God as part of good news? Why aren’t we supposed to fear God because we aren’t living the way He wants us to? Doesn’t His wrath go against sin?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Joshua 23:11 and Deuteronomy 6:5.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Joshua tells Israel to love the Lord your God, and love can’t be forced. So in what sense can love be commanded?
3. Personal Application: How can you share God’s love with others? How can we show our love for God? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. ”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/12-god-is-faithful-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=12-god-is-faithful-teaching-plan

Daily Lesson for Monday 15th of December 2025

The glorious conclusion of the whole section (Joshua 21:43-45) carries within it the fulfilled condition of obedience. Success is never to be taken for granted; it is always linked to obedience to God’s Word. Thus, the allotment of the land, besides being the token of God’s faithfulness to Israel (Nehemiah 9:8), creates space for an open-ended future development based on Israel’s attitude. Will Israel be able to secure what has been achieved?

Image © Kevin Carden from GoodSalt.com

Joshua’s speech moves from the old and aged speaker (emphasized twice) to the audience who will have to carry on the mission entrusted to them by God. He describes how the conquest of the land was possible: the Lord fought for them. Even though, because of their unfaithfulness and disbelief, the Israelites had to be involved in warfare after the Exodus, it was not through their military power but through God’s intervention that they managed to possess the land.

God has given rest to Israel from its enemies, but there are some nations left that still have to be dispossessed. Victory is not an accomplished, unchangeable reality for Israel but an ever-present possibility by constant reliance in faithfulness on God’s available help.

The victories of the Israelites could not be attributed to their strength and strategy. Similarly, spiritual victory over sin and temptation have been secured through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but God’s people today must constantly rely on the spiritual supplies provided by the Holy Spirit in order to live a triumphant life.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25d-12-a-sign-of-concern/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=25d-12-a-sign-of-concern

Daily Lesson for Sunday 14th of December 2025

These verses constitute the climax of the book and its theological summary. They highlight one of the major themes of the whole book: the covenant faithfulness of Yahweh, who keeps His promises and fulfills His oaths. This short section also summarizes the entire content of the book so far. Joshua 21:43 speaks of the allocation and settlement of the land (Joshua 13:1-33; Joshua 14:1-15; Joshua 15:1-63; Joshua 16:1-10; Joshua 17:1-18; Joshua 18:1-28; Joshua 19:1-51; Joshua 20:1-9; Joshua 21:1-45), while Joshua 21:44 refers to victories won over the enemies and control gained over the land (Joshua 1:1-18; Joshua 2:1-24; Joshua 3:1-17; Joshua 4:1-24; Joshua 5:1-15; Joshua 6:1-27; Joshua 7:1-26; Joshua 8:1-35; Joshua 9:1-27; Joshua 10:1-43; Joshua 11:1-23; Joshua 12:1-24). All this retrospective is viewed through the prism of God’s faithfulness. The Israelites must always remember that they can never claim the victories over their enemies or the land as their inheritance—except through God’s loyalty to His given word.

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

He gave “all the land” (Joshua 21:43, NKJV, emphasis supplied), delivered “all their enemies into their hand” (Joshua 21:44, NKJV, emphasis supplied), and according to “all that He had sworn” (Joshua 21:44, NKJV, emphasis supplied), “all came to pass” (Joshua 21:45, NKJV, emphasis supplied). The repeated use of the word kol, “all,” six times in three verses (Joshua 21:43-45), emphasizes once again the truth that the land is the gift of Yahweh, and Israel can take no credit for receiving it. It was the Lord who swore to “give” the land and who “had given” their enemies into their hands.

All Israel’s success has to be attributed solely to God’s divine initiative and trustworthiness. This is equally true concerning our salvation: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV).

Indeed, emphasizing God’s faithfulness, Paul also wrote: “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:11-13, ESV).

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25d-12-all-came-to-pass/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=25d-12-all-came-to-pass

Daily Lesson for Sabbath 13th of December 2025

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study: Joshua 21:43-45; 2 Timothy 2:11-13; Joshua 23:1-16; Revelation 14:10,19; Deuteronomy 6:5.

Memory Text:“Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass” (Joshua 21:45, ESV).

When John F. Kennedy addressed the United States at his inauguration, on January 20, 1961, his speech was only 1,366 words, but it left an indelible mark on the American mind. As he encouraged his country to focus on their responsibilities instead of their privileges, he said: “With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”

As Joshua, the aging leader of the Israelites, sensed that he was nearing the end of his life, he decided to address the leaders of the nation and the Israelites (Joshua 23:1-16 and 24). Joshua 23:1-16 is focused more on the future and on how to worship God—exclusively. Joshua 24:1-33 reviews God’s faithful acts in the past, with the purpose to prompt a decision concerning who alone deserves to be worshiped: Yahweh.

This week, we will study together the first speech of Joshua, in which he glances back at the victories of Israel but at the same time traces the path of future success for Israel.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 20.

Sunday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25d-12-god-is-faithful/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=25d-12-god-is-faithful

Our Sabbath School program has always been linked to the support of the Seventh-day Adventist Mission program. This video provides a little insight into this important work.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/mission-spotlight-for-december-20/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mission-spotlight-for-december-20