The Biblical Path of Life

Month: February 2019

  • Lesson 2 (Lesson 41): Psalms 1-41: Book 1

    Key Verse

    “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”  Colossians 3:16

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  After reading the verse with your students use the following definitions to help them understand it a little better.

    word of Christ:  refers to the revelation which Jesus brought into the world which is undiscoverable except by God and the Scriptures

    wisdom:  practical wisdom; sound judgment; good sense

    teaching:  to advise, or put in mind – as a tutor would do

    admonishing:  to caution or reprove gently; to warn

    hymns: a song sung in praise to God

    Use this discussion to prepare your students to understand the importance of the Psalms as we begin our study of them.  We see in our memory verse that the Psalms are songs sung as praises to God, but they are also to instill wisdom and good judgment in our hearts and minds to teach us how to live.

    Summary:  Today we continue with the second of the Personal books, Psalms. Psalms is known as the Israelites’ songbook.  David is often accredited to as its author.  Although he probably wrote almost half of them (about 73), there were other authors, known and unknown.  Many of the Psalms were written when different men approached God in prayer because of circumstances surrounding them.  You can see instances of great sorrow, admitted sin, repentance, hope and trust in God, faith, and a great love for God.  Throughout Psalms, man’s prayers from the heart turn to singing in that prayer – ending with man praising God, revealing that the Psalms are not only prayers from the heart, but songs as well.  Some were written in praise and adoration of who God is vs. who man is. So, many of these hymns are rich in Israel’s history.  If we know the history, we will better understand the circumstances surrounding many of these songs.

    In the book of Psalms, we find God is infinite – sovereign; yet despite man’s failings, God still communicates with man, and allows man to communicate with him.

    We will especially see how the Psalms, broken into five books, parallel to the first 5 books of the Bible (the Law).  Many believe the 5 books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy) are God’s words to His people, whereas the 5 books of the Psalms are God’s people’s words (prayers and songs) back to God.  Each of these five divisions ends with its own doxology (a hymn of praise to God).  We begin today with the first book of the Psalms (chapters 1-41) revealing man and God’s dealings with man as compared to the book of Genesis.  Remember in Genesis, we saw sin enter into the world, causing separation from God.  We also found God actively involved in men’s lives.  You may want to review that in Genesis there were 4 main events (the Creation, the Fall, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel) and 4 main people (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph).

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  All of God’s Word is important – converting the soul and making wise the simple (Psalm 19:7).

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 41 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 41 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 1

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson we took an outline of a sheep and filled it with cotton balls to make a fluffy sheep.  That was one way to remember that David (who we learned was a shepherd boy) wrote many of the Psalms.  You could choose to do a craft that reminds your students of one of the 4 Main Events in Genesis (Creation, Fall, Flood, and Tower of Babel) as we compare them to Book 1 of Psalms.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

  • Lesson 1 (Lesson 40): Job: The Test

    Key Verse

    “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”  I Peter 1:7

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Explain that gold is purified with fire.  When it is hot enough to become liquid, the impurities can be skimmed off.  When we have trials (a time of testing), it is to purify us – making us better Christians.  Even though we don’t like trying times, they are to help us become better Christians as we wait for Jesus’ return.

    Summary:  Today we begin studying the first of the five Personal Books, Job.  We will continue with Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon in the following weeks of this quarter.  They are all books written as poems.  They each deal with individuals’ very personal experiences with God.  We will see how they specifically deal with the individual’s heart issues as they seek to know and understand God better.

    The book of Job opens with a behind the scenes event that Job never knew about (a very important fact for us to consider!)  Satan presented himself before God’s throne after walking to and fro over the face of the earth.  God (knowing all) asked if he had set his heart upon God’s servant, Job.  God then gave Satan permission to afflict Job.  The rest of the book records the events that transpired.  Today in our lesson we will see both sides, heavenly and earthly, of the afflictions of this upright man Job.  A most important thing to note:  through the events that take place in this book, a man God described as a “perfect and upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth (turns away from) evil” (Job 1:8), Job still grew in his knowledge of God – Job 42:5-6:  “5. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

    Many believe the book of Job takes place about the same time as Abraham, but most all agree that this is the oldest book written.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  Even though we may have been in Sunday School or church for most of our lives, and think we know “enough”, we can still grow in our knowledge of God’s Word.  We should never lose that desire to learn more about God.  Job didn’t!

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 40 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 40 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson I had a list of some people in our church who were sick (or some of our shut-ins that no longer are able to physically attend church).  We made and colored cards to send to them.  It is important to minister to others when they are sick or afflicted.  We may not understand what is going on in their lives (much like Job’s friends had no idea what was really going on in his life), but it is a blessing to be kind to them.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

  • Lesson 13 (Lesson 39): Jesus in the Old Testament: Jesus our Ruler

    Key Verse

    “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Explain the memory verse using the following definitions:

    seek:  strive after, with earnestness

    first:  importance; first of all; chiefly

    kingdom:  the glorious reign of the Messiah; its basis from the prophecies of the OT where the coming of the Messiah and His triumphs are foretold

    righteousness:  conformity to all God commands; God’s uprightness to which man is expected to conform.

    Jesus taught us to strive, with earnestness and as most importantly, for the coming of the Messiah (Jesus) and his reign.  And seek to be able to conform to all of God’s commands.  When we can do these things, all of the things Jesus had been teaching them (heavenly treasures, provisions here on earth, etc.) would be added.

    Summary:  We have learned that God’s people rejected Him as their king.  They wanted a man.  So, God gave them a man, Saul, and he failed miserably as a godly king.  But God chose a man “after his own heart,” David.  He was a good king, and God made him a promise.  Because David wanted to do good for God to build God a house, God would build David a house, one that would last forever.  Today, we will see in whom that promise was fulfilled, Jesus.

    David believed God’s promise, and it was recorded in the Bible for us to read today.  All through the ages, men watched and waited for that “Promised One” to come.  Even the wise men of the Far East sought a new king that was born, and wanted to come and worship him.  We find John the Baptist proclaimed He had come, and He was God’s Son.  But even more than that, Jesus himself declared principles of His kingdom we must learn to adhere to.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  Our job, today, is to seek God as most important in our lives, obeying His commands, making him our King that we will serve.  When we do that, we have nothing to worry about because He will take care of us.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 39 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 39 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson I had a kit that made a shield (since we had been studying the kings of Israel) with a sicker for the middle that said “Christ is my Victory.”  It seemed to fit pretty well since we had been talking about the kings of Israel.  In today’s lesson we remembered the promise to King David that that Jesus was the promised King of Kings who would come.  We also learned a little of Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom that would come.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

  • Lesson 12 (Lesson 38): I Kings 1-11: David’s Death and Solomon King

    Key Verse

    “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”   Matthew 6:24

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Ask your students if they remember the first 3 of the Ten Commandments.  (Exodus 20:3-5:  “3. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image … 5. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them …”  Read today’s memory verse together with your class.  Help them understand this verse using the following definitions:

    serve:  obey; serve in bondage                                   hold:  to hold firmly, cleave to

    despise:  to neglect or not care for                           mammon: all kinds of possessions; the god of materialism

    Today we will look at the life of Solomon.  We see what happens when he turns from serving the one true God to allowing idol worship to come into his life.  He could not serve both.

    Summary:  I Kings begins with King David’s death and his son, Solomon, taking the throne.  David had encouraged his son to walk with God and obey His commands.  Solomon obeyed his father, David, and the kingdom was established.  God then came to Solomon himself, asking what he desired.  Solomon asked for wisdom and God gave it to him, along with riches and fame.  God, too, told Solomon to obey His commands and walk in God’s ways, and God would bless his kingdom as He had promised David.

    Solomon was allowed to build the temple that his father, David, had wanted to build.  But, Solomon allowed his heart to be turned from God to the gods (and idol worship) of his many “strange” wives.  When King Solomon turned his heart from God to idols, we see the nation decline from one of the greatest kingdoms ever to the promise of a divided kingdom; with David’s house only ruling two tribes (Judah and Benjamin:  see I Kings 11:30-35).

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  Just as King Solomon was blessed and established as long as he walked in God’s ways as his father, David, we must make a choice – obey God or our own desires in the flesh.  When King Solomon “loved” many women, he allowed his heart to be turned from God.  We cannot choose the things of the world over God.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 38 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 38 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 1

    Lesson 38 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 2

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson we traced footprints and wrote I Kings 2:3 on them.  We then glued them to a piece of construction paper.  The idea is to help them remember the importance of walking in God’s ways and keeping His commandments.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.