A Case for the Bible: Week Four – The Bible’s Big Picture, Archeology for Jericho and Joshua Chapters 9-12

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This week’s presentation focuses on a twelve step method to share the Bible’s big picture (in 5-10 minutes). We will also discuss the archeology supporting the Biblical narrative of the fall of Jericho (with a recommended documentary). For the Bible study portion, we will read through Joshua chapters 9-12 and then discuss those chapters in our study groups. This website will post basic answers mid-week following the class for your review.

As Christians, it is more important than ever to know what we believe, and why we believe it, and then apply that to who we are on a consistent basis, and this can only be done effectively if we know what God’s Word teaches, especially the big picture that always points to Jesus!

All class sessions include a time for prayer and reflection, an “apologetics” presentation, and a Bible study section. You will find the presentation notes and the Bible study survey format below, with basic answers to the survey format posted during the week. These things can be used as a leader’s guide, or to review your own study each week.

Watch this week’s presentation:

2025 A Case for the Bible Presentation Notes

Week 4: The Bible’s Big Picture; and the archeology of Jericho

Class Review and Prayer

Prayer Cards: Do you have anyone that you are hoping to share what you are learning with? Write that person(s) name down on your prayer card along with any other prayer request you might have (exchange with your table group at the end of the evening).

Discuss:

  1. What are the 66 books of the Christian Bible, and their categories?
  2. What are the three main covenants we are focusing on for this class?
  3. Recite the Bible study theme verse from 2 Timothy:

    All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

    2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

Class Focus Questions and Overview

  1. What are the four important areas of Christian Growththat we should be focusing on in our Christian Walk (from our Ministry Statement)?
  2. What are the 66 books of the Christian Bible, their categories and description?
  3. How should we study the Bible? Hermeneutics
  4. What are the major Covenants in the Bible, and why are they important to know?
  5. What are the 12 parts to the Bible’s “Big Picture” that help you tell the story?

APOLOGETICS

  1. What is the history of the Bible? Authorship and Language
  2. How did we get our Bible today? Transmission
  3. How do we know the Bible has been transmitted correctly? Translation
  4. How do we know we got the right books? Canonization
  5. How can we trust that the Bible is the Word of God? Inspiration

(Note: The above will include evidence from archeology, prophecy fulfillment and science)

The 12 Parts of the Bible’s Big Picture
The Importance of Telling the Story

Old Testament
Big Picture

  1. God created us to be in relationship with Him (Genesis 1-2)
  2. Humans lose that relationship at the Fall when they disobeyed God’s only command (Genesis 3) and evil escalated up to the time of the Flood (and beyond)
  3. God immediately Promised a way of salvation and began to work that plan out in “Covenants” throughout the Old Testament—giving encouragement, warning and hope through the prophets (Genesis 3:15; Genesis 12:2-3; Genesis 15:5-19; Genesis 26:3-5; Genesis 28:10-15; Genesis 49:9-12; Exodus 12-15; 19-20; 2 Samuel 7:5-17; Jeremiah 31:31)
  4. Jesus is the Scarlet Thread of the Old Testament – Every book, story, and event contains a foreshadow, model, or prophecy of Jesus (concerning who He would be and what He would do)
  5. The Nation of Israel was chosen to be God’s people and role-model to the other nations (they failed all the time) showing the need for a Savior, and it would be through this Nation that Messiah would come
  6. The Intertestamental Period of 400 years, also known as the silent years (no prophetic word was heard) where God sets the stage for the coming of His Son Jesus

New Testament
Big Picture

  1. Jesus is born, the promised Messiah from the tribe of Judah and line of David at just the right time in history (Luke 3:23-37)
  2. Jesus is the Promised New Covenant in fulfillment of God’s Old Covenant and the hundreds of prophecies made about Him, as the coming Messiah, centuries before (Luke 22:20; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:7-13; 9:1-15)
  3. Jesus’ is God incarnate as evidenced through the multitude of miracles attesting to His power over the natural order, His sinless life, and in His love for all humanity (The Gospels)
  4. Jesus sacrificially dies as a substitute for all humanity, then resurrects from the grave in defeat of death and Satan, restoring that lost relationship with humankind and providing a path for eternal life (John 3:11-21; John 14:6; Acts 4:12)
  5. The first Church is formed as Jesus’ followers begin to spread this good news (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:7-8); and with the giving of the Holy Spirit to all believers they gathered in various places to pray, worship, and study Scripture (book of Acts and all of the Epistles)
  6. Jesus promises to come back bringing in the full Kingdom of God creating a New Earth and New Heaven with no more pain, suffering, or death (Revelation 21:1-7)

Conclusion to the Bible’s Big Picture

Our job, or purpose, until then is to share the good news with as many people as we can, living lives as God’s Ambassadors for the Kingdom, giving reasons for the hope that we have in Jesus, and preparing for eternity.

(2 Corinthians 5:20, 1 Peter 3:15)

Archeology: The Fall of Jericho

Below is the recommended YouTube documentary on the archeology for Jericho:

Jericho Unearthed: The Archeology of Jericho Explained,
by Joel Kramer and Expedition Bible

Also, Patterns of Evidence.com does a deep dive with a six part series on the Moses and the Exodus that would compliment a compete study of the Old Testament’s reliability and authorship up through the time of Joshua.

Bible Study

Each week we will have Bible study following the presentation. There will be questions presented here on the weekend, and basic answers will be posted mid-week for your review. This can also be used to make a leader’s guide for your own small group and future studies!

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

LET’S PRACTICE…

This week we will continue working on the content of the book, from our hermeneutical format…

***BEFORE STARTING THE REVIEW, DISCUSS ANYTHING FROM THE PRESENTATION YOU’D LIKE TO COVER, THEN…

From your homework this week, discuss with your groups what is in each chapter

Joshua chapters 9-12:

Content of the book: What is in each chapter?

Note: There are several ways to study a book of the Bible, you can choose the level you’re most comfortable with:

  1. Basic: Read the chapter, then write down a title for each chapter (you could include more than one depending on topics in that chapter or what your study Bible might have).
  2. Going Deeper: Take notes to summarize the chapter (no more than three to five sentences). However, you can add to your summaries if you glean something important from your study partners each week (leave some room).
  3. Advanced: Look for these things to put in your summary notes:
  • Is there anything in the chapter that relates to God’s Covenant Promises:
    • Abrahamic: (Nation, Land, or Blessing)
    • Mosaic: (Following the Law – protection vs. loss of protection due to disobedience)?
  • Where’s Jesus? Is there anything in this chapter that foreshadows/pictures Jesus?
  • Prophecy? Is there anything that is predicted and fulfilled later in the Old Testament; or predicted and fulfilled in Jesus (Messianic); or is apocalyptic in nature?
  • The Shelf: Note any questions or a-ha’s you have about the chapter.

LEADER QUESTIONS TO HELP GUIDE THE STUDY

Chapter Nine:

  1. Who were the Gibeonites and how did they deceive Israel?
  2. Extra: What happened to the Gibeonites later in Israel’s history? (You can use gotquestions.org)
  3. Going Deeper/Advanced: Are there any Covenants in view in this chapter? Is there a picture of Jesus in this chapter?

Chapter Ten:

  1. What happened in these battles and where did they occur (discuss some of the names and locations)?
  2. Discuss your thoughts on the “sun and moon standing still, or stopping.”
  3. Going Deeper/Advanced: Are there any Covenants in view in this chapter? Is there a picture of Jesus in this chapter?

Chapter Eleven:

  1. What happened in these battles and where did they occur (discuss some of the names and locations)?
  2. Discuss the importance of obedience to God and His Law in this conquest so far.
  3. Going Deeper/Advanced: Are there any Covenants in view in this chapter? Is there a picture of Jesus in this chapter?

Chapter Twelve:

  1. Summarize the conquest of the Land so far – use a Bible map of the area to compare and contrast with the modern-day middle east.
  2. Going Deeper/Advanced: Are there any Covenants in view in this chapter? Is there a picture of Jesus in this chapter?

HOMEWORK:

Continue reading the book of Joshua, chapter 13-16, then follow the format we used this week and be prepared to discuss what you learned next week!

Please join us next week as we continue our Case for the Bible and A Study in the Book of Joshua!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15

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