Teach Them Jesus with Building Bricks
The Walls of Jericho: Patience
Joshua 6:1-20; Joshua 6:25; Psalm 27:14; Hebrews 11:30; Galatians 4:4 Old Testament PrinciplePatience
Jericho's walls were tall and its gates were shut tight. But before Israel took one step, God told Joshua, "I have delivered Jericho into your hand." Then God gave a strange plan – march around the city once a day for six days, without saying a word, then seven times on the seventh day. Day after day, they waited and walked in silence. On the seventh day, the priests blew the horns, the people shouted and the walls fell down. Patience means waiting God's way, trusting that He will keep His promise in His time.
Patience is waiting calmly and trusting God when things take longer than we want. We can be patient because God always keeps His promises, right on time.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!”
Psalm 27:14 BSB
Christ Connection · God’s character
Israel waited seven days for a victory God had already promised. God's people waited thousands of years for the Savior He had promised, and "when the time had fully come, God sent His Son" (Galatians 4:4). God is never late. Now we wait patiently for Jesus to come again, because "the Lord is not slow in keeping His promise" (2 Peter 3:9).
Galatians 4:4; 2 Peter 3:9; Hebrews 11:30
The Big Story · Redemption
God promised Abraham a land and a family that would bless the world. At Jericho, God kept His promise in His own time, and "when the time had fully come, God sent His Son" (Galatians 4:4).
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: The quiet march
- Theo’s Workshop (build challenge): Wall test
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Silent laps
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Preschool (ages 3–5)
I can wait for God.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Quiet march, Color the march
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Before Israel took one step, God told Joshua, "I have given you the city of Jericho." Then God told them to march around the city once a day for six days without saying a word. On the seventh day, they marched seven times, the priests blew the horns, the people shouted, and the walls fell down. We can wait patiently, because God always keeps His promises.
Memory verse
“Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous.”
Adapted from Psalm 27:14
Start here
Do "The quiet march" with the brick walls and minifigures. Ask, "Was it hard to wait and be quiet?" Say, "Israel had to do that for six whole days. Let's find out why they could."
Bible story 6 min
God's people had crossed the river into the land God promised them. The first city they came to was Jericho. Its walls were tall and strong, and its gates were shut tight.
But God said to Joshua, "Look! I have given Jericho to you." God had not even started yet, and He said it was already done!
Then God told Joshua His plan. "Have all the men march around the city one time each day for six days. Seven priests will carry horns and go in front of the ark. On day seven, march around seven times. Then the priests will blow the horns, and all the people will shout. And the wall will fall down."
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Build and march 10 min
You’ll need: A tub of building bricks, Baseplates, Minifigures or small brick people
- Pairs build a small walled city on a baseplate.
- March a minifigure around it, counting days on fingers – one lap a day for six days, then seven laps on day seven.
- On the last lap, shout together, "The LORD has given us the city!" and knock the walls down gently.
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3rd – 4th grade
Jericho was shut up tight with strong walls. But before Israel took a step, God told Joshua, "I have delivered Jericho into your hand." His plan took patience – march around once a day for six days without a word, then seven times on the seventh day. Israel waited and trusted, and when the horns blew and the people shouted, the walls collapsed. Patience is waiting God's way, trusting that His promises are already sure.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Waiting on God's promise, Wall test
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Facing a fortified, sealed city with no siege weapons, Israel heard God announce the outcome in advance – "I have delivered Jericho into your hand." His strategy demanded patience – six days of silent laps and seven on the seventh – before the horns, the shout and the collapse. Israel's waiting wasn't uncertainty; it was trust in a promise already settled. The God who kept His word at Jericho sent His Son "when the time had fully come," and we wait patiently for Christ's return, confident He is never late.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: God's timing, While I wait
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: online and on screens, with friends, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons from this story
Same Bible story, a different principle.
More lessons on Patience
The same principle in other Bible stories.
My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation: Simeon and AnnaLuke 2:21-38; Isaiah 49:6When baby Jesus was about six weeks old, Mary and Joseph brought Him to the temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. An old man named Simeon had waited his whole life to see the Savior God promised, and the Holy Spirit had told him he would see the Christ before he died. Simeon took baby Jesus in his arms and praised God – "My eyes have seen Your salvation," a light for all the nations. Then Anna, a very old woman who worshiped at the temple night and day, came and thanked God and told everyone who was waiting about the child. God keeps His promises, and waiting for Him is worth it.New TestamentPatience
Saul Couldn’t Wait: God Is Never Late1 Samuel 13:1-15; 1 Samuel 13:19-22King Saul's army faced a huge Philistine army, and his soldiers were hiding and running away. Samuel had told Saul to wait seven days at Gilgal until he came to offer a sacrifice. Saul waited, but when Samuel hadn't come by the seventh day, Saul got scared and offered the sacrifice himself. Just as he finished, Samuel arrived! Because Saul didn't obey God, his kingdom would not last. God is never late. Patience means trusting His timing and waiting for Him.Old TestamentPatience
Fruit of the SpiritFruit of the Spirit: PatienceGenesis 26:12-33; Proverbs 15:18; Ephesians 4:2Isaac's servants dug wells, and the herdsmen of Gerar fought over them again and again. Isaac didn't fight back. He moved on and kept digging until God made room for him, and in the end his enemies came asking for peace. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. God is patient with us, so His Spirit helps us stay calm and kind with others.Old TestamentPatience