Victory At Ai

Sermon Outline:  Sunday, April 26th, 2026
Speaker: Gary Campbell, Jr.

Introduction

Vision 2035 Update

Text

Joshua 8

I.  Spiritual victory follows our rightful treatment of our sin

Joshua 8:1-27

     A.  God brought the victory

     B.  Joshua and the people engaged good strategy

Apply — God expects our participation in His victory!

II.  God delights to brings victory in the place of defeat

     A.  Israel defeats Ai in the valley of Achor (Joshua 8:11, 13)

     B.  Joshua leads the people in God’s victory

      1. Joshua commanded the troops (Joshua 8:3)

      2. Joshua stayed with the troops (Joshua 8:10)

      3. Joshua went into the valley ahead of the troops (Joshua 8:13b)

      4. Joshua mediated God’s victory for the troops (Joshua 8:18, 26)

     C.  Jesus enters the valley of our defeat and brings victory for us!

      1. God’s wrath had to be satisfied due to Achan’s “trouble”- Joshua 7:24-25

      2. God promises to restore the valley of trouble- Hosea 2:14-15

      3. Jesus the true Israel enters the “wilderness”- Luke 4:1

      4. Jesus reconciles us from our guilt and God’s wrath- Colossians 1:22

Apply — Beware of small compromises!

III.  Covenant Renewal

Joshua 8:30-35 (Deuteronomy 27:1-13)

     A.  The shedding of blood-

      1. The shedding of the blood of animals

      2. The shedding of the blood of Christ (Hebrews 7:27; 9:12-14)

     B.  The Word of God written…

      1. …on stones (Deuteronomy 27:1-2)

      2. …on human hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Apply — It is time to renew!

Through Jesus, God delights to bring victory to the very places of our defeat—our “valley of trouble.”

Small Group Questions

Sunday, April 26th, 2026

Launch

What is your favorite board game and why?

(To make the connection for you to today’s passage, one of my faves is Stratego).

READ- Joshua 8:1-29

Observe

  1. What is God’s promise to Joshua in verse 1?

  2. What are the four things Joshua does in verses 4, 9, 13, and 18?

Process

  1. What do you think is the role that strategy played in fulfilling what God promised Joshua in verse 1?

  2. Where do we continue to see the theme of immediate obedience in this chapter?

Respond

  1. Where have you seen God bring victory in trial or even defeat in your life?

  2. Are there areas of defeat in your life now, or maybe in loved one, where you’re still waiting to see God’s victory? Is there “sin in the camp” that needs confession and repentance, or have you simply not seen God redeem formerly hard situations yet?

  3. How can we support and encourage one another in our battles and victories, just as Joshua led and fought alongside his army at Ai?

READ- Joshua 8:30-35

Personal Reflection

  1. Take a moment as a group to individually quietly consider perhaps one small compromise or sin you need to acknowledge and confess— allowing the blood of Jesus to cover this and bring about true victory in your life.
    GROUP LEADER: If you’re group is comfortable, share with one another and pray for one another. If not, give space for folks to write them down and pray over the group.

  2. How can we actively participate in God's victory in our lives by aligning our actions with His will and commands, just like Joshua and the Israelites did? How can you foster that in this group?

Closing Prayer: “Father, transform our valleys of defeat into places of hope and even victory. Open our eyes to see Your hand at work amidst our struggles. Amen.”