Time to Talk in Teams
6–8 minutes (Team Leaders lead Teams in activities using Victory’s Won Elementary Leaflets.)
Ask Teams to open their Victory’s Won Elementary Leaflets
and complete the following activities. Review the
directions. Answers for “Talk It Over” and directions
for the activities are available to the Team Leaders on
the Team Leader Pages. Make sure the Team Leaders
have these pages available on the Leader CD.
Option: Use Coloring Pages for kindergartners and first
or second graders in addition to the Elementary Leaflets.
Give the younger students crayons or markers and the
Lesson 1 Coloring Page from the Leader CD. As the
children color, use the text below to identify the people
and the ark of the covenant and to talk about the story.
Talk It Over: Follow the Leader
Team Leaders help their Team open their Bible marked
at Joshua 6:1. Remind them to keep the marker in place
for the next group. Teams talk about the story, using the
Lesson 1 Victory’s Won Elementary Leaflets and their Bibles. As
Teams discuss, reset the props for the next rotation. Keep
an eye on the time. Offer help as needed.
What did God tell Joshua and the Israelites to do?
(Joshua 6:2–5: God told them to march around the
city with the ark of the covenant with trumpets blowing
for seven days, and seven times on the seventh day,
without talking. The people were to shout when Joshua
told them.)
What did God promise would happen? (Joshua 6:2: He
promised to give them victory and to deliver the city of
Jericho to them.)
What happened? (Joshua 6:20: Our mighty God kept
His promise.)
Put It on Paper: God Can Knock It Down!
Team Leaders lead their Teams in this activity using
the Team Leader Pages. From the Student Leaflet,
Team Leaders READ: The people of Jericho built a
big, strong wall around their city. Our God knocked
down that wall with His mighty power. He gave His
people the victory. Sometimes, there are things in our
lives that we can’t handle. Because of sin, we have
troubles and fears. We are tempted. We sin. Write
some of those things on the blocks in this picture.
You can also color them. (Team Leaders can help list
troubles, e.g., bullies, thunder storms, new situations,
being left out, not doing homework or chores, dis­
obeying, and fighting.)
Team Leaders give each child a wooden block and ask
them to share one thing they wrote. Have the child place
his or her block on the Bible in the middle of the circle,
building a tower as fears are named. Team Leaders
READ: Fear and worry are tools used by our enemy
Satan. God does not want us to live in fear! When
troubled by fear and worry, we go to God to repent of
our sin, trusting in Him above all things. We pray and
talk to God about things that bother us. We hear that
good news in the Bible, where God tells us He forgives
us our sin, encourages us, and helps us trust Him.
Our mighty God has the power to knock those fears
right out of our lives—the same way He knocked down
the wall of Jericho! Team Leaders knock over the block
towers. God does not promise to remove every one of
our troubles. But He promises to be with us, and He
conquers our greatest troubles: sin, death, and Satan.
In Jesus, the victory is won!
That day, our mighty God won a big victory for His
people. Our mighty God’s Son, Jesus, has won a big
victory for you too. What victory has Jesus won?
(Jesus knocked down our enemies of sin, death, and
the devil and won the victory for us. Jesus obeyed
God’s commands perfectly, died to pay for our sins,
and rose again to give us the victory of life, now and
forever with Him.)
Pray before They Go
God commanded the Israelites to march around a
city. What has our mighty God asked us to do as we
march through life? (Through His Word and in our
Baptism, God gives us faith in Him. In faith, we live
victoriously in His strength and love as we follow Him,
serve others, and tell others the good news that in
Jesus, the victory is won!)
Looking Ahead
Storytelling
617013 StorytellingGuide.indd 3
Lead the group in this closing prayer: Dear God, You
are mighty! Thank You for knocking down our enemies
with Your mighty power. Through Your mighty power
and love, help us march through life victoriously,
follow You, and share the good news that in Jesus, the
victory is won! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. After the
prayer, direct the Teams to their next site.
Lesson 1
God’s Might Tumbles Jericho’s Walls
Take-Home Point
Shout! God is mighty! The victory is won!
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
Backdrop); 7 Plastic Trumpet Props or paper megaphones;
an ark of the covenant (ark from Decorating Poster placed
on a box); 6 Position Markers (carpet squares with
tape labels)—labeled “Warriors in Front,” “Priests with
Trumpets,” “Priests with Ark,” “Warriors in Back,”
“People” and “God’s Might Kids” (Leader CD).
Leader Costume: Dress as a bailiff, wearing a red jacket,
a belt with keys and a pouch hanging from it, blue
pants, leather boots, and a felt hat.
Site Decorations: Decorate your Storytelling area to
look like the courtyard of a fortress. Include Team
Spots (blankets), one for each Team; a large cross; a
bench for the Storyteller; and any props needed for the
lesson.
Bible Points to Emphasize
Law: Our enemies of sin, Satan, and death are stronger
than we are. In our sin, we don’t see or admit our
physical and spiritual weaknesses. When we try to knock
them down on our own, there is one sure thing: defeat.
Gospel: Our mighty God, our Mighty Fortress,
defeated sin, Satan, and death. This victory has been
accomplished once and for all in our Savior, Jesus
Christ. In Jesus, the victory is won!
What does this mean for us? Like Joshua and his
people, we put our faith in our mighty God. He directs
us in His Word and sustains us in His Sacraments. We
confess our sin, and He forgives us. Living victoriously
in His strength, power, and love, we serve our
neighbors and share the good news of His victory with
others.
Go to vbs.cph.org for Training and Decorating Videos.
Check out the Leader CD for additional resources.
Getting Ready
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Supply List
During your session, pick up props and straighten the
contents of the area to get ready for the next group.
Review your plan for tomorrow. Set up and practice.
Team Supplies: Bible for each Team, bookmarked at
Joshua 6 (use a Mighty Fortress Bookmark printed from
your Leader CD or a sticky note); pencils and crayons;
about 7 wooden blocks per Team. Place Team Supplies
in a Mighty Fortress Tote Bag or a galvanized metal bucket.
Find more photos for Storytelling ideas at Facebook​
.com/CPHVBS.
Materials for Storytelling Activity: Bible; 20 Stone
Blocks (boxes wrapped in pieces of Stone Wall
■
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Read Joshua 6:1–20 and the Leader Devotion (on
the Leader CD and available at vbs.cph.org).
Read your script and imagine yourself presenting it,
in character.
Gather needed materials.
Set Preparations: Place 20 Stone Blocks where the
Teams can march around them. Place the 6 Position
Markers in order with props by the appropriate
spots. Place the Team Spots (blankets for each
Team) in a place not in the marching path.
Place Team Supplies on the Team Spots (blankets)
inside the circle.
Decorate your site as described above (additional DIY
direction on the Leader CD), in the Director Guide, or
on vbs.cph.org. Dress as a Storytelling Bailiff.
Display the Lesson 1 Bible Story Poster.
Have a Majestic Music Passalong CD/DVD to play
theme music as the children arrive.
Storytelling
9/22/16 2:28 PM
God’s Might Tumbles Jericho’s Walls Joshua 6:1–20
Time: about 12–14 minutes
Welcome the Team. Play theme music as children
arrive. Indicate where Teams should sit with Leaders.
Give each Leader the Team Supplies.
SAY: Welcome to Stronghold Storytelling. I’m (your
name), the bailiff of this stronghold. As bailiff, I do
my lord’s bidding and make sure our fortress stays
secure and supplied. I’m glad to welcome you to
the safety within our strong walls. My lord, Lord
Robertson, is away from the castle doing battle. Oh,
he tells such tales of victory when he returns! I marvel
at the feats of bravery and strength of my lord and
his knights. But most important, they make sure you
are safe and secure with us behind these walls.
SAY: Here at Storytelling, you will hear stories of
battles, victories, kings, and kingdoms. Not Lord
Robertson’s stories, but the stories of our LORD GOD
from the Bible—God’s true Word. Hold up your Bible.
SAY: (Cup hands around mouth.) HEAR YE! HEAR
YE! SHOUT! GOD IS MIGHTY! TEAMS: (Point up.)
SHOUT! GOD IS MIGHTY! (Make V with fingers.)
THE VICTORY IS WON!
Becoming a Knight
Sit down on your wooden bench and SAY: Lord
Robertson didn’t start out as a knight, you know.
When he was about seven years old, he was a page.
He learned to shoot arrows and ride horses. He did
chores around his uncle’s castle. What are some
chores you do at your house? Allow a few kids to share.
When Lord Robertson turned 14, my lord became a
squire. He learned to clean armor, take care of horses,
train falcons, and use swords. He was dubbed a knight
when he was 21. Knights must be courageous and
chivalrous. They fight to protect us, follow rules, and
keep their promises. Knights are trained to expect the
unexpected.
Bible Story Experience:
The Battle That Wasn’t a Battle
Option: If you choose not to have the students move around the
room acting out the story, read the skit script dramatically and
indicate the locations, people, and events on the Bible Story
Poster.
Use the following script, adapting as needed.
SAY: Something completely unexpected happened in
our story today! None of the soldiers expected it.
None of the people expected it. And you won’t expect
it, either! But . . . SAY: (Cup hands around mouth.)
HEAR YE! HEAR YE! SHOUT! GOD IS MIGHTY!
Storytelling
617013 StorytellingGuide.indd 4
TEAMS: (Point up.) SHOUT! GOD IS MIGHTY!
(Make V with fingers.) THE VICTORY IS WON!
the ram’s horns were to blow them the whole time
they were marching around the city of Jericho.
SAY: I’ll need help to tell this story from Joshua,
chapter six, verses one through twenty. First, we’ll set
the scene.
Set the Scene: Pick two Teams to be the Warriors in
Front and Warriors in Back—one Team walks before the
priests and the ark and one walks after it. Another Team
is the Priests with Trumpets. Four kids need be Priests
with Ark. The rest of the Teams and Leaders follow
behind the People. Place the Teams in order in a circle
around the “wall.” Put them in costumes and give them
their props, having them sit around the walls of Jericho.
SAY: The ark of the covenant was very holy. God said
that He was there with the ark. God’s command to
put His ark in the middle of the march showed that
God was present in the middle of His people and God
Himself was there as His people marched around the
city of Jericho.
Designate two kids to be “God’s Might.” After the six
days, place them by the “wall.” For now, they sit with
their Team.
Hold your Bible and point to Lesson 1 Bible Story Poster.
SAY: Jericho was a city with big strong walls. The
people of Jericho believed they were safe behind their
walls and protected by the false gods they worshiped.
Our one true God promised to give the land and city
of Jericho to the Israelites as the Promised Land.
READ Joshua 20:1 from your Bible. Then, SAY: The
people of Jericho knew that the people of Israel had
entered the land when God stopped the waters of
the Jordan River so they could walk across on dry
ground. The people of Jericho were afraid and took
refuge behind their big strong walls.
SAY: Joshua was the leader of the Israelites. He
faithfully obeyed and served God. READ Joshua 20:2.
SAY: Did you hear that? God promised to give Joshua
and the Israelites victory over Jericho with its strong
walls! What do you think Joshua thought of that?
Allow responses. Or have kids indicate with thumbs-up
or thumbs-down.
SAY: God then gave Joshua special and unexpected
instructions for what Joshua and the Israelites were
to do. How would you think an army would defeat a
walled city? Allow responses.
Point to your Bible and SAY: God told Joshua to
organize the Israelites and march around the city.
Identify the role of each group of kids as you tell the
story. They remain seated. First, there were some
armed men. Indicate that Team of Warriors and then
the Priests. SAY: Following behind them were seven
priests who were to blow ram’s horns and priests
who carried the ark of the covenant. The priests with
SAY: The priests were followed by another group of
soldiers. Indicate that Team.
SAY: Last came all the people of Israel. God had an
unexpected job for them: to be completely quiet!
They were to march behind the warriors and not
make a sound. In Joshua 6:10, the Bible says Joshua
ordered the people not to shout or make any sound
with their voice. There was no talking until the day,
the moment, when Joshua told them to shout.
Address the kids. So, warriors and people of Israel,
your job is to walk and be silent. The only noise is the
seven priests blowing their trumpets.
SAY: The first day, they marched around the walls one
time. Have the kids stand up and march around the
walls of Jericho one time.
SAY: After they marched around the city one time
with the ark of the covenant and the blowing
trumpets, they went back to camp and slept. Have
everyone stay standing but pretend to sleep. Then,
SAY: When they got up the next morning, Joshua
commanded them to do the same thing again! Here
we go! Remember, no talking. Only the trumpets
blowing. Lead the children around the city again. SAY:
At the end of the second day, they went back to camp
and went to sleep again. They were supposed to do
this for six days. Lead the kids in marching around the
wall four more times. So let’s keep marching. Shhh.
Day 3: third time around. Around again, Day 4. One
more time, Day 5! Now, Day 6!
SAY: I wonder if the people in Jericho were confused.
They probably expected a big battle, but the Israelites
just kept walking around the city. Place the kids who
are “God’s Might” by the wall. Tell them when they
hear you say “See God’s might!” to gently knock down
the blocks.
SAY: On the seventh day, Joshua told the people to
march around the city seven times. Ram’s horns
blowing, marching, no talking! Here we go! Lead the
kids around the city seven more times.
READ verses 16 and 17a: “And at the seventh time,
when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua
said to the people, ‘Shout, for the Lord has given you
the city. And the city and all that is within it shall be
devoted to the Lord for destruction!’”
Move near the people. SAY: So, people, shout!
Encourage the people to shout! SAY: See God’s might!
Cue kids to gently knock the blocks down. SAY: Look!
The walls of the city fell down!
Once the city has fallen, quiet the kids and have them
return to their Team Spots with their Leaders.
SAY: Whew! Well, that was unexpected! Seven days
of marching quietly with no battle. God’s might made
the walls fall down!
SAY: After that battle that really wasn’t much of
a battle, everyone knew about the mighty God of
the Israelites who worked for them in amazing and
unexpected ways.
SAY: Our God does the unexpected for us, just
like He did for the Israelites. Sometimes, we are in
situations that seem too big for us. We are afraid.
But God is with us. God helps us.
SAY: Do you know about the most important battle
God fought and won for us? We have some big
enemies: sin, Satan, and death. They are stronger
than we are on our own. But God, our Mighty
Fortress and Deliverer, has already fought the battle
against sin, Satan, and death! Point to the cross. He
sent His Son, Jesus, to live on earth, die on the cross,
and rise again. Jesus won the victory once and for all.
The victory is won!
SAY: (Cup hands around mouth.) HEAR YE! HEAR
YE! SHOUT! GOD IS MIGHTY! TEAMS: (Point up.)
SHOUT! GOD IS MIGHTY! (Make V with fingers.)
THE VICTORY IS WON!
Storytelling
9/22/16 2:28 PM
God’s Might Tumbles Jericho’s Walls Joshua 6:1–20
Time: about 12–14 minutes
Welcome the Team. Play theme music as children
arrive. Indicate where Teams should sit with Leaders.
Give each Leader the Team Supplies.
SAY: Welcome to Stronghold Storytelling. I’m (your
name), the bailiff of this stronghold. As bailiff, I do
my lord’s bidding and make sure our fortress stays
secure and supplied. I’m glad to welcome you to
the safety within our strong walls. My lord, Lord
Robertson, is away from the castle doing battle. Oh,
he tells such tales of victory when he returns! I marvel
at the feats of bravery and strength of my lord and
his knights. But most important, they make sure you
are safe and secure with us behind these walls.
SAY: Here at Storytelling, you will hear stories of
battles, victories, kings, and kingdoms. Not Lord
Robertson’s stories, but the stories of our LORD GOD
from the Bible—God’s true Word. Hold up your Bible.
SAY: (Cup hands around mouth.) HEAR YE! HEAR
YE! SHOUT! GOD IS MIGHTY! TEAMS: (Point up.)
SHOUT! GOD IS MIGHTY! (Make V with fingers.)
THE VICTORY IS WON!
Becoming a Knight
Sit down on your wooden bench and SAY: Lord
Robertson didn’t start out as a knight, you know.
When he was about seven years old, he was a page.
He learned to shoot arrows and ride horses. He did
chores around his uncle’s castle. What are some
chores you do at your house? Allow a few kids to share.
When Lord Robertson turned 14, my lord became a
squire. He learned to clean armor, take care of horses,
train falcons, and use swords. He was dubbed a knight
when he was 21. Knights must be courageous and
chivalrous. They fight to protect us, follow rules, and
keep their promises. Knights are trained to expect the
unexpected.
Bible Story Experience:
The Battle That Wasn’t a Battle
Option: If you choose not to have the students move around the
room acting out the story, read the skit script dramatically and
indicate the locations, people, and events on the Bible Story
Poster.
Use the following script, adapting as needed.
SAY: Something completely unexpected happened in
our story today! None of the soldiers expected it.
None of the people expected it. And you won’t expect
it, either! But . . . SAY: (Cup hands around mouth.)
HEAR YE! HEAR YE! SHOUT! GOD IS MIGHTY!
Storytelling
617013 StorytellingGuide.indd 4
TEAMS: (Point up.) SHOUT! GOD IS MIGHTY!
(Make V with fingers.) THE VICTORY IS WON!
the ram’s horns were to blow them the whole time
they were marching around the city of Jericho.
SAY: I’ll need help to tell this story from Joshua,
chapter six, verses one through twenty. First, we’ll set
the scene.
Set the Scene: Pick two Teams to be the Warriors in
Front and Warriors in Back—one Team walks before the
priests and the ark and one walks after it. Another Team
is the Priests with Trumpets. Four kids need be Priests
with Ark. The rest of the Teams and Leaders follow
behind the People. Place the Teams in order in a circle
around the “wall.” Put them in costumes and give them
their props, having them sit around the walls of Jericho.
SAY: The ark of the covenant was very holy. God said
that He was there with the ark. God’s command to
put His ark in the middle of the march showed that
God was present in the middle of His people and God
Himself was there as His people marched around the
city of Jericho.
Designate two kids to be “God’s Might.” After the six
days, place them by the “wall.” For now, they sit with
their Team.
Hold your Bible and point to Lesson 1 Bible Story Poster.
SAY: Jericho was a city with big strong walls. The
people of Jericho believed they were safe behind their
walls and protected by the false gods they worshiped.
Our one true God promised to give the land and city
of Jericho to the Israelites as the Promised Land.
READ Joshua 20:1 from your Bible. Then, SAY: The
people of Jericho knew that the people of Israel had
entered the land when God stopped the waters of
the Jordan River so they could walk across on dry
ground. The people of Jericho were afraid and took
refuge behind their big strong walls.
SAY: Joshua was the leader of the Israelites. He
faithfully obeyed and served God. READ Joshua 20:2.
SAY: Did you hear that? God promised to give Joshua
and the Israelites victory over Jericho with its strong
walls! What do you think Joshua thought of that?
Allow responses. Or have kids indicate with thumbs-up
or thumbs-down.
SAY: God then gave Joshua special and unexpected
instructions for what Joshua and the Israelites were
to do. How would you think an army would defeat a
walled city? Allow responses.
Point to your Bible and SAY: God told Joshua to
organize the Israelites and march around the city.
Identify the role of each group of kids as you tell the
story. They remain seated. First, there were some
armed men. Indicate that Team of Warriors and then
the Priests. SAY: Following behind them were seven
priests who were to blow ram’s horns and priests
who carried the ark of the covenant. The priests with
SAY: The priests were followed by another group of
soldiers. Indicate that Team.
SAY: Last came all the people of Israel. God had an
unexpected job for them: to be completely quiet!
They were to march behind the warriors and not
make a sound. In Joshua 6:10, the Bible says Joshua
ordered the people not to shout or make any sound
with their voice. There was no talking until the day,
the moment, when Joshua told them to shout.
Address the kids. So, warriors and people of Israel,
your job is to walk and be silent. The only noise is the
seven priests blowing their trumpets.
SAY: The first day, they marched around the walls one
time. Have the kids stand up and march around the
walls of Jericho one time.
SAY: After they marched around the city one time
with the ark of the covenant and the blowing
trumpets, they went back to camp and slept. Have
everyone stay standing but pretend to sleep. Then,
SAY: When they got up the next morning, Joshua
commanded them to do the same thing again! Here
we go! Remember, no talking. Only the trumpets
blowing. Lead the children around the city again. SAY:
At the end of the second day, they went back to camp
and went to sleep again. They were supposed to do
this for six days. Lead the kids in marching around the
wall four more times. So let’s keep marching. Shhh.
Day 3: third time around. Around again, Day 4. One
more time, Day 5! Now, Day 6!
SAY: I wonder if the people in Jericho were confused.
They probably expected a big battle, but the Israelites
just kept walking around the city. Place the kids who
are “God’s Might” by the wall. Tell them when they
hear you say “See God’s might!” to gently knock down
the blocks.
SAY: On the seventh day, Joshua told the people to
march around the city seven times. Ram’s horns
blowing, marching, no talking! Here we go! Lead the
kids around the city seven more times.
READ verses 16 and 17a: “And at the seventh time,
when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua
said to the people, ‘Shout, for the Lord has given you
the city. And the city and all that is within it shall be
devoted to the Lord for destruction!’”
Move near the people. SAY: So, people, shout!
Encourage the people to shout! SAY: See God’s might!
Cue kids to gently knock the blocks down. SAY: Look!
The walls of the city fell down!
Once the city has fallen, quiet the kids and have them
return to their Team Spots with their Leaders.
SAY: Whew! Well, that was unexpected! Seven days
of marching quietly with no battle. God’s might made
the walls fall down!
SAY: After that battle that really wasn’t much of
a battle, everyone knew about the mighty God of
the Israelites who worked for them in amazing and
unexpected ways.
SAY: Our God does the unexpected for us, just
like He did for the Israelites. Sometimes, we are in
situations that seem too big for us. We are afraid.
But God is with us. God helps us.
SAY: Do you know about the most important battle
God fought and won for us? We have some big
enemies: sin, Satan, and death. They are stronger
than we are on our own. But God, our Mighty
Fortress and Deliverer, has already fought the battle
against sin, Satan, and death! Point to the cross. He
sent His Son, Jesus, to live on earth, die on the cross,
and rise again. Jesus won the victory once and for all.
The victory is won!
SAY: (Cup hands around mouth.) HEAR YE! HEAR
YE! SHOUT! GOD IS MIGHTY! TEAMS: (Point up.)
SHOUT! GOD IS MIGHTY! (Make V with fingers.)
THE VICTORY IS WON!
Storytelling
9/22/16 2:28 PM
Time to Talk in Teams
6–8 minutes (Team Leaders lead Teams in activities using Victory’s Won Elementary Leaflets.)
Ask Teams to open their Victory’s Won Elementary Leaflets
and complete the following activities. Review the
directions. Answers for “Talk It Over” and directions
for the activities are available to the Team Leaders on
the Team Leader Pages. Make sure the Team Leaders
have these pages available on the Leader CD.
Option: Use Coloring Pages for kindergartners and first
or second graders in addition to the Elementary Leaflets.
Give the younger students crayons or markers and the
Lesson 1 Coloring Page from the Leader CD. As the
children color, use the text below to identify the people
and the ark of the covenant and to talk about the story.
Talk It Over: Follow the Leader
Team Leaders help their Team open their Bible marked
at Joshua 6:1. Remind them to keep the marker in place
for the next group. Teams talk about the story, using the
Lesson 1 Victory’s Won Elementary Leaflets and their Bibles. As
Teams discuss, reset the props for the next rotation. Keep
an eye on the time. Offer help as needed.
What did God tell Joshua and the Israelites to do?
(Joshua 6:2–5: God told them to march around the
city with the ark of the covenant with trumpets blowing
for seven days, and seven times on the seventh day,
without talking. The people were to shout when Joshua
told them.)
What did God promise would happen? (Joshua 6:2: He
promised to give them victory and to deliver the city of
Jericho to them.)
What happened? (Joshua 6:20: Our mighty God kept
His promise.)
Put It on Paper: God Can Knock It Down!
Team Leaders lead their Teams in this activity using
the Team Leader Pages. From the Student Leaflet,
Team Leaders READ: The people of Jericho built a
big, strong wall around their city. Our God knocked
down that wall with His mighty power. He gave His
people the victory. Sometimes, there are things in our
lives that we can’t handle. Because of sin, we have
troubles and fears. We are tempted. We sin. Write
some of those things on the blocks in this picture.
You can also color them. (Team Leaders can help list
troubles, e.g., bullies, thunder storms, new situations,
being left out, not doing homework or chores, dis­
obeying, and fighting.)
Team Leaders give each child a wooden block and ask
them to share one thing they wrote. Have the child place
his or her block on the Bible in the middle of the circle,
building a tower as fears are named. Team Leaders
READ: Fear and worry are tools used by our enemy
Satan. God does not want us to live in fear! When
troubled by fear and worry, we go to God to repent of
our sin, trusting in Him above all things. We pray and
talk to God about things that bother us. We hear that
good news in the Bible, where God tells us He forgives
us our sin, encourages us, and helps us trust Him.
Our mighty God has the power to knock those fears
right out of our lives—the same way He knocked down
the wall of Jericho! Team Leaders knock over the block
towers. God does not promise to remove every one of
our troubles. But He promises to be with us, and He
conquers our greatest troubles: sin, death, and Satan.
In Jesus, the victory is won!
That day, our mighty God won a big victory for His
people. Our mighty God’s Son, Jesus, has won a big
victory for you too. What victory has Jesus won?
(Jesus knocked down our enemies of sin, death, and
the devil and won the victory for us. Jesus obeyed
God’s commands perfectly, died to pay for our sins,
and rose again to give us the victory of life, now and
forever with Him.)
Pray before They Go
God commanded the Israelites to march around a
city. What has our mighty God asked us to do as we
march through life? (Through His Word and in our
Baptism, God gives us faith in Him. In faith, we live
victoriously in His strength and love as we follow Him,
serve others, and tell others the good news that in
Jesus, the victory is won!)
Looking Ahead
Storytelling
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Lead the group in this closing prayer: Dear God, You
are mighty! Thank You for knocking down our enemies
with Your mighty power. Through Your mighty power
and love, help us march through life victoriously,
follow You, and share the good news that in Jesus, the
victory is won! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. After the
prayer, direct the Teams to their next site.
Lesson 1
God’s Might Tumbles Jericho’s Walls
Take-Home Point
Shout! God is mighty! The victory is won!
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
Backdrop); 7 Plastic Trumpet Props or paper megaphones;
an ark of the covenant (ark from Decorating Poster placed
on a box); 6 Position Markers (carpet squares with
tape labels)—labeled “Warriors in Front,” “Priests with
Trumpets,” “Priests with Ark,” “Warriors in Back,”
“People” and “God’s Might Kids” (Leader CD).
Leader Costume: Dress as a bailiff, wearing a red jacket,
a belt with keys and a pouch hanging from it, blue
pants, leather boots, and a felt hat.
Site Decorations: Decorate your Storytelling area to
look like the courtyard of a fortress. Include Team
Spots (blankets), one for each Team; a large cross; a
bench for the Storyteller; and any props needed for the
lesson.
Bible Points to Emphasize
Law: Our enemies of sin, Satan, and death are stronger
than we are. In our sin, we don’t see or admit our
physical and spiritual weaknesses. When we try to knock
them down on our own, there is one sure thing: defeat.
Gospel: Our mighty God, our Mighty Fortress,
defeated sin, Satan, and death. This victory has been
accomplished once and for all in our Savior, Jesus
Christ. In Jesus, the victory is won!
What does this mean for us? Like Joshua and his
people, we put our faith in our mighty God. He directs
us in His Word and sustains us in His Sacraments. We
confess our sin, and He forgives us. Living victoriously
in His strength, power, and love, we serve our
neighbors and share the good news of His victory with
others.
Go to vbs.cph.org for Training and Decorating Videos.
Check out the Leader CD for additional resources.
Getting Ready
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Supply List
During your session, pick up props and straighten the
contents of the area to get ready for the next group.
Review your plan for tomorrow. Set up and practice.
Team Supplies: Bible for each Team, bookmarked at
Joshua 6 (use a Mighty Fortress Bookmark printed from
your Leader CD or a sticky note); pencils and crayons;
about 7 wooden blocks per Team. Place Team Supplies
in a Mighty Fortress Tote Bag or a galvanized metal bucket.
Find more photos for Storytelling ideas at Facebook​
.com/CPHVBS.
Materials for Storytelling Activity: Bible; 20 Stone
Blocks (boxes wrapped in pieces of Stone Wall
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Read Joshua 6:1–20 and the Leader Devotion (on
the Leader CD and available at vbs.cph.org).
Read your script and imagine yourself presenting it,
in character.
Gather needed materials.
Set Preparations: Place 20 Stone Blocks where the
Teams can march around them. Place the 6 Position
Markers in order with props by the appropriate
spots. Place the Team Spots (blankets for each
Team) in a place not in the marching path.
Place Team Supplies on the Team Spots (blankets)
inside the circle.
Decorate your site as described above (additional DIY
direction on the Leader CD), in the Director Guide, or
on vbs.cph.org. Dress as a Storytelling Bailiff.
Display the Lesson 1 Bible Story Poster.
Have a Majestic Music Passalong CD/DVD to play
theme music as the children arrive.
Storytelling
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