Click below to download the Cornerstone Connections leader’s guide and student lesson. This week’s resources also include two lesson plans and a discussion starter video which offer different ways of looking at the topic. Each lesson plan includes opening activities, scripture passages, discussion questions, and real-life applications.
This reflex game goes back to junior high or even earlier. Have people line up (you could use a rope, string, or masking tape) single file, with the leader at the front facing the rest of the people in line.
The leader then jumps to the left and says, “In the river.” Everyone in the group must mimic what the leader says. Then the leader says, “On the bank,” and jumps back to the original position. If anyone in the line doesn’t follow through with what the leader says, that person is eliminated from the game and moves to the side. This can also happen if someone is too slow in responding (the leader is the judge).
At any time, the leader can do something different from what the leader says. For example, the leader might jump sideways from the bank into the river, but say, “On the bank.” If anyone jumps into the river like what the leader did, but contrary to what the leader said, that person is out.
Start again, saying, “In the river; on the bank; in the river; in the river” (but jump back on the bank). Speed up the cadence to make it more difficult. As people leave the line have people move forward to fill in the gaps. When you have just one person remaining, declare that person the winner, or stop when you think the game is peaking and declare all those remaining the winners.
This game is a form of acting out the theme for this week, “Line in the Sand.”
With today’s topic being “Line in The Sand,” use an opening activity called “Jumping the Line.” You can do this horizontally or vertically. Both are quite physical. That’s why we’ll provide an Option 2B as well.
For “Jumping the Line” horizontally, do a standing broad jump. (This is not the long jump or running long jump that requires a long runway and sand pit. A standing broad jump is simply jumping as far forward as you can from behind a line, such as a strip of masking tape on the floor, a line in the sand, or a rope or string.)
For “Jumping the Line” vertically, hold a string to knee height and see how many can jump over the line without touching it. Hold the string so it can be released when someone touches it—this will prevent tripping. Gradually raise it higher as people successfully complete the previous height. See who can jump over the string at the highest height.
This classic game of blipping a dime-size plastic piece into a small cup can be adapted for distance rather than accuracy. Have people blip or zing their tiddlywink from behind a line, and then mark its first point of contact. Draw another line and see who can send their tiddlywink over the “line in the sand.” See who can send it the farthest. Give multiple opportunities, especially for those who arrive early at Youth Sabbath School.
For a video on how to play tiddlywinks, check out https://vimeo.com/168229028
If you need to purchase some tiddlywinks, you can get them here: https://amzn.to/2m0jqcZ
Many people have used the phrase “line in the sand” when acting brave or to inspire, inviting others to join a cause. It has also been used to set boundaries by claiming harm will come to someone if they cross the arbitrary “line in the sand” you have drawn. People use this term in other contexts as well, such as when they wish to encourage others to make a decision. That’s exactly what Joshua did for the Israelites toward the end of his life. And it’s something we need to face multiple times in our lives, especially when it comes to our relationship with Jesus.
This is a short video and an idea to help you create your own video on this week’s topic, plus a few follow-up questions to spark discussion afterwards.
Create a video that illustrates drawing a line in the sand or people faced with a major choice to be on God’s side or choosing the opposite side, or possibly not choosing at all. Ask someone in advance to create follow-up questions based on this video.
Go to YouTube for a 3:39 video entitled “Do’s and Don’ts” from iBelieveBible.
QUESTIONS
These are more approaches to the same topic featured in the Teacher’s Guide, but just a different way of looking at it. Expect activities to illustrate the topic followed by some questions.
BIBLE STUDY OPTIONS
BASED ON JOSHUA 23-24
Joshua took his last stand. It wasn’t against Jericho, Ai, Achan, or the Gibeonites. Instead, Joshua’s final stand was in front of the Israelites. He called them together to recall their history, and this led to a choice. It was by no means a small or insignificant choice. It was a serious choice.
We make choices every day. Often, they are small. Will I eat oatmeal or sugar frosted flakes for breakfast? What will I wear today? Who will I text? Will I go to Youth Sabbath School today? Will I participate?
Let’s practice making some choices on the spur of the moment. I’ll list two options and you select one or the other. You may not necessarily like one and dislike the other, or even like one more than the other, but you must choose a side for the purpose of this game.
Have everyone stand in the middle of the room. Then, as you read out the options, have them move to one side for the first option, or the other side for the second option. If the youth say they have no preference or just can’t choose between options, insist that they decide—quickly! You are basically drawing a line in the sand and asking them to choose one side or the other. Have them return to the middle after each choice.
Read from the following list, or feel free to substitute any of your own ideas to make it more specific for your Youth Sabbath School:
You made some quick choices for this activity. Now let’s read Joshua 23 to discover a more significant choice presented to the Israelites and its implications for us today. We’ll have volunteers read verses 6-11 and 12-16. As you listen to these passages, imagine that you were present at that time.
JOSHUA 23:6-11 (NIV)
6 “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.
9 “The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God.
JOSHUA 23:12-16 (NIV)
12 “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them,13 then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the LORD your God has given you.
14 “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. 15 But just as all the good things the LORD your God has promised you have come to you, so he will bring on you all the evil things he has threatened, until the LORD your God has destroyed you from this good land he has given you. 16 If you violate the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you.”
Joshua urged the Israelites to commit to following God. Joshua had witnessed the Exodus, Mt. Sinai, the crossing of the Red Sea, the fall of Jericho, and many other miracles, so he did not hesitate in his commitment. He and his family chose the Lord.
What about you? Despite all of the world’s distractions, will you also choose to follow the Lord?
When a line is drawn in the sand, people have to choose a side. At the end of Joshua’s life, he drew a line in the sand and challenged the Israelites to put God first. We face the same choice today.
APPLICATION
Choose a book of the Bible to read, pray over, and meditate upon each day this week. Select one that speaks to where you are right now. Below are short descriptions of 10 of the 66 books of the Bible which may helpful as you choose God this week. This list is also available as a handout.
Psalms—look for anguish and honesty
Proverbs—pick the wisdom that hits the mark for you right now
Ecclesiastes—zero in on truths here you have learned over time
Isaiah—note hope in these pages
Daniel—audacity, courage and faith on display
Mark—Jesus taking action on the spot
Acts—be amazed by the apostles boldness and bravery
Romans—repeat the encouragement and logic found here
Hebrews—chew on the metaphors and meaning in these verses
Revelation—visualize with amazement the hope in these Jesus symbols
BASED ON JOSHUA 27-28
It can be easy to forget where you came from—and who helped you get there. Your parents or guardians may remind you that they kept you alive for years before you even knew how to tie your shoelaces. Your teachers may tell you how proud they are of how hard you worked to master the butterfly stroke or the Pythagorean theorem. Similar to the Israelites forgetting God’s leading in the past, we may also forget those who helped us get where we are today.
ACTIVITY: BACK IN THE DAY
Imagine going back in time to the fifth grade. Take some time to fill this out individually, and then volunteers can share some of the responses.
In our passage today, Joshua challenged the Israelites to remember God’s leading in the past. They were living in peace, though Joshua knew they were likely to forget how they reached this point. The false gods and false religions that surrounded them became more intriguing.
Joshua knew that idolatry was a dead end. He urged them to commit, one way or the other. For Joshua, it was no contest. How obvious could it be after God led them, watched over them, protected them, and brought them into a prosperous new land?
Joshua 24 records Joshua’s final address to the children of Israel. That’s quite a bit shorter than what Moses shared—the entire book of Deuteronomy! We’ll focus on three elements in Joshua 24 as we read it. Those three elements are:
Assign a person or a group for each of these three elements. As someone reads the chapter aloud for the group, one paragraph at a time, have each leader or group identify items from that paragraph would include their element. If you have a large group (10+), do this in smaller groups.
For example, Shechem is significant for several reasons beyond the fact that Joshua called the Israelites to this particular location. According to Cornerstone Connections, “Shechem was where Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, and Joshua 24:32 (NIV) tells us that Joseph’s bones, brought from Egypt, were buried at Shechem ‘in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver.’ Meeting in Shechem reminded the Israelites that they had come full circle—from settling in Egypt, to enslavement by jealous rulers, to providential escape, to finally settling again in the land God had promised half a millennium before. Joseph’s life story was the Israelites’ 500-year history in miniature—from favored son to enslavement to exalted authority. Joshua reminded them that if they were as faithful to God as Joseph had been, things would only get better.” In John 4, Jesus met a woman at Jacob’s well outside the town of Sychar, also known as Shechem. Shechem has a lot of history and meaning.
Here is Joshua 24 (NIV) with color coding for Place, People, and Providence.
1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his family went down to Egypt.
5 “‘Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out. 6 When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. 7 But they cried to the Lord for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.
8 “‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. 9 When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. 10 But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.
11 “‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites,Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. 12 I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 13 So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’
14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”
19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.”
21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.”
22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.” “Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied.
23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”
25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the Lord.
27 “See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.”
28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance.
29 After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 30 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
31 Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel.
32 And Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants.
33 And Eleazar son of Aaron died and was buried at Gibeah, which had been allotted to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.
It’s easy to forget. And it’s not only old people who forget; parents and peers of youth also forget. Even significant things are often forgotten over time. As Joshua came to the end of his life, he called all Israel to Shechem, one of the Cities of Refuge, but also a city rich in Israelite history, including God’s covenant with his people. He laid before them a charge similar to what Moses, his predecessor, had done. And it seemed to work, at least for another generation.
APPLICATION
By considering the place, people, and providence, we have reminders of God’s actions in the past—actions that can give us direction today. During Sabbath School we considered the place, people, and providence in Joshua 24. Take the “Place, People, Providence” handout home and fill it in with your own information. Do this also with your family so you include more than one generation. Ideally, include grandparents as well. You can also do this with other people in your church family.
BASED ON JOSHUA 24:14-27
Perhaps the two most quoted verses in Joshua come from the first and last chapters. In the first chapter, God told Joshua a number of times to be strong and courageous (see Joshua 1:6, 7, 9). But our focus in this lesson comes from the Joshua 24. Often people quote a portion of Joshua 14:15 (KJV): “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve. . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
The take-away are:
This is good. We hope you will indeed do this. But there are other factors to consider now that you’re a teen. Let’s begin by reading the entire verse. Here is all of Joshua 24:15 (NIV): “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Family dynamics vary in each household. In addition, family members are often pulled in different directions because of work and other obligations. As kids get older, they become involved in more activities at school, work, church, and in the community. In agrarian societies in the past, families often lived, worked, ate, worshiped, and played together.
In childhood, you might have made a variety of objects out of popsicle sticks. We’re going to make a house out of popsicle sticks today. It won’t be difficult for you to do. Take yourself back in time to consider how things have changed since your childhood.
There’s more than one way to construct a house out of popsicle sticks. Here’s a link that includes explanations and photos and even videos of how to build a house out of popsicle sticks: https://m.wikihow.com/Build-a-Popsicle-House
You can also just google “How to build a popsicle house” and you’ll get quite a few options.
Encourage individuals (or teams) to construct the house with things that symbolize the home in which they grew up or in which they now live. Have them paint the house symbolic colors or write with markers messages of their choosing. Remember that the youth in your Sabbath school come from a variety of home situations. Be supportive of conversations about all families and be prepared to guide the conversation and avoid putting anyone on the spot.
The other part of Joshua 24:15 covers other options. For Christians, the choice seems obvious, especially when considering the other options Joshua presented:
These don’t sound like contenders who might even be a temptation to us. Because of what the LORD had done for his people, all of these other entities were defeated by Israel’s God. Here’s how the people responded to Joshua’s challenge, as recorded in Joshua 24:16-18 (NIV):
16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”
Here’s a surprising add-on a few verses later (Joshua 24:23 NIV):
23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
This also explains why Joshua emphasized the need to keep choosing God. God wants his people commit to a life-long a relationship with him. That’s true today, tomorrow, and the next day.
The book of Joshua ends with a challenge to all the Israelites. It had to do with their commitment to the Lord, and it contrasted with the Cannanites’ commitments to their many gods. Joshua asked them to make a choice. This same principle is true for us today.
APPLICATION
At the end of Joshua’s life, he asked the people to commit or recommit to God in the presence of the other Israelites. This is consistent with Deuteronomy 19:15 which states that a minimum of two witnesses makes something binding or true. In addition, Joshua set up a large stone marker (see Joshua 24:22) and wrote this in the law (see Joshua 24:26).
Do the same with your commitment to God. Who will be your witnesses and what symbols will serve as a reminder? Here are some suggestions:
This is a bonus just for the youth leader—a quick tip and an illustration to enhance your youth leadership. You may already know this idea, have learned it through trial and error, or just need a quick reminder.
Don’t just dump things on them. Ask them to assist you. Then help them transition into being co-leaders. Keep developing them to the point of stretching them to lead with you being their assistant. The final step is for them to lead and you to follow. That’s right, you don’t just disappear; you follow their lead, which makes them a leader and makes you a good role model for others. Keep in mind that as the youth graduate onto the next Sabbath School that you’ll need to start over and give younger youth opportunities to lead. As a youth leader, you are a leader-maker!
Here’s a question a teen is asking, with a response from a youth pastor. This might be a question your teens are asking. Use the response to springboard into discussion with your Youth Sabbath School participants.
QUESTION: If God gives us free choice, why will He destroy people who don’t choose Him?
ANSWER: At first glance it might appear that God doesn’t give us free choice at all. If the options are choose God or die, that’s not much of a choice, is it?
Free choice seems to predate the creation of our world. It goes clear back to Lucifer in heaven. Revelation 12 provides several verses on this topic:
“Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels under his command fought the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle and was forced out of heaven. This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the Devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels” (Revelation 12:7-9, NLT).
Let me paraphrase and comment on these few verses. When you think of the word “war,” free choice probably doesn’t come to mind. It’s more like “force” and “might” to the point of either death or surrender. Sometimes people go to war for the cause of free choice, but during the war it’s about who can beat whom.
The war in heaven was about who would be God. The dragon (Lucifer, Satan, the Devil, the Serpent, etc.) lost. As a result, God forced him out of heaven. If I were God, I would have ended it all for Satan right then. But because God puts a premium on free choice, He kept Satan alive and free to make his case, so the rest of creation could have the choice to either follow God or Satan.
Besides being deceptive, notice what else Satan— this created being who was given free choice and continues to exist by God’s power—has been doing.
“The accuser has been thrown down to earth—the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night. . . . The Devil has come down to you in great anger, and he knows that he has little time” (Revelation 12:10, 12).
That sounds pretty serious to me. The concept of “free choice” doesn’t come to mind when I read about an “accuser” who works full-time. Mix that with some anger, no, “great anger,” and you have a recipe for coercion, destruction, attacks—anything but “free choice.”
When people hear the term “free choice,” they sometimes think of making choices without consequences. For example, if I have the freedom of choice to kill my sister when she makes me mad, does that mean there are no consequences for me? Or if I have the freedom to steal $1,000 from a bank, are there no consequences?
Let’s put this example into the life of a typical teen. If I have the freedom to talk behind the back of my friend, is there no consequence? If I have the freedom to surf the Internet and fill my mind with pornography, is there no consequence? If I have the freedom to move from pornography to having sex with someone, are there any consequences?
In the United States we have many freedoms to be able to choose all kinds of things that many people never get to choose. But that doesn’t mean we’re also free of consequences. I’ve seen broken hearts, broken lives, broken relationships, broken toys, broken schools, broken families, broken trust, broken churches, broken plans, broken hopes. When you have the freedom to choose, there are consequences that come with that privilege.
Because we’re born with a sinful nature, our natural selfishness keeps pushing us to make choices with bad consequences. We seem totally helpless to stop hurting ourselves in this way. It’s like we’ve been born on Satan’s side, and we can’t get away from him—we don’t seem to have any choice.
Does this sound like what Paul was talking about in Titus 3:3? “Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us.”
Does that sound like freedom of choice to you? It sounds like a rat race down the tubes to me. Paul continues in Titus 3:4-7: “But then God our Savior showed us his kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did. He declared us not guilty because of his great kindness. And now we know that we will inherit eternal life.”
You can find similar messages that Paul wrote in Colossians 3:1-10; Romans 6:4-14; and Romans 6:20-23. You can also read all of Galatians 5, which can be summarized in verse 13: “For you have been called to live in freedom—not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.”
Because God gave me a fresh start with the freedom to choose something besides just being selfish all the time, I chose Him. It was great. But I found that I continued to face many choices—would I stay with God, or would I slip back into total selfishness? Finally I just told God, “I’m choosing You for the next five years, and after that we’ll see whether or not I want to do that again.” But it didn’t work. Within a day I was again faced with whether or not I’d be choosing God in my life.
With Satan, it’s not like that at all. All you have to do is choose him once, and he’s willing to take away all your choices from that point. Some people actually prefer that (if you can believe it!). But with God, you will continue to choose, virtually every day of your life. Your power of choice is crucial to God.
It’s like this—we aren’t born with the freedom of choice. Out of God’s goodness and kindness He gave back to us the freedom of choice. So your freedom of choice is a gift from God, the Creator of life. What you choose to do with it will determine your consequences. You can choose life with God, or you can go back to your no-choice life of being dominated by Satan. There isn’t a middle ground of just being yourself. Either way, God will honor your choice.
Some say, “With the options we face, there really isn’t much of a choice—choose God and live, or don’t choose God and die.”
I agree that the choice seems obvious. But the truth is, Satan gives you no choice; God does. So what will you do with the choice God gives you?