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Joshua 5:9-12

Lent 4C

These four verses from Joshua 5 are rather innocuous looking.  There is a lot of high drama in Joshua—and not a little of that drama is the stuff of deeply troubling matters involving holy war and total war and violence perpetuated by God’s people.  But these verses appear to be mostly devoid of drama.  They…

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Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

Proper 27A

When preaching on this text, there is a huge temptation to focus on verse 15c alone.  “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”  That bold declaration of commitment and intention has been posted on many a front door, mine included back in the days of my young parenthood.  It’s a…

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Joshua 3:7-17

Proper 26A

It is not difficult to find the relevance of this first RCL reading for today, particularly in the United States.  My country is only two days away from Election Day when Americans cast their ballots and thus express their opinion on who ought to lead our country.  For Christians, that means trying to discern which…

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Joshua 5:9-12

Lent 4C

Why in the world would you preach on this text, when the Lectionary offers you the options of Jesus’ dramatic Parable of the Prodigal (Luke 15) and Paul’s magnificent doctrine of new creation in Christ (II Corinthians 5:15-21).  I mean, this text from Joshua seem so small and insignificant.  Plus, preaching on it will make…

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Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

Proper 27A

What’s the Church’s most important task?  Some people might answer, “Sharing the gospel’s good news with the whole world,” or “Teaching children to follow Jesus.”  Others answer, “Being God’s hands of justice and mercy in the world” or “Being a welcoming place.” Each of those is certainly among the church’s important tasks.  But were you…

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Joshua 3:7-17

Proper 26A

Joshua 3 always feels, at best, somewhat anti-climactic.  After all, you might argue the Bible’s first five chapters have all been pointing toward the Jordan crossing it describes.  Patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have given their lives to God’s promise to make this happen.  The people of Israel have been heading (but sometimes meandering)…

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Joshua 5:9-12

Lent 4C

Few of us like new beginnings any more than we enjoy the change that precedes them. A new neighborhood. A new school. A new job. Old circumstances often produce old headaches. Yet new circumstances also produce new headaches. Since Joshua 9’s Israelites have just crossed the Jordan River on dry land, their feet are neither…

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Joshua 4:1-24

Observations The people of God are called to remember.  To remember how good God is, how he maintains his purposes and how he keeps his promises.  The people of God have already been told to tie the word on their wrists and put it on their doorposts, that they might remember the Lord their God…

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Joshua 6

Comments and Observations I imagine if you were brought up in a faith tradition, at some point in your church education (Church School/Sunday School) you acted out this story from Joshua 6.  I have a very vivid memory of lining up with my classmates and quietly tip-toeing around a wall of cardboard boxes six times,…

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Joshua 1

Comments and Observations These notes focus on Joshua 1:1-9 Joshua was in need of strength and courage. The narrator of our passage doesn’t reveal Joshua’s feelings here…but we do hear the LORD tell him three times with increasing intensity: “Be strong and courageous” (v. 6), “Be strong and very courageous” (v. 7), and “Be strong…

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