The Biblical Path of Life

Author: mjross

  • Lesson 7 (Lesson 20): Leviticus 1-20: The Way to God

    Key Verse

     “And he (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  I John 2:2

    Read today’s memory verse with your class.  Propitiation is a word most children have never heard before.  Help them understand with the following:  Propitiation means an abbreviated definition is the means of putting away sin and establishing righteousness – not by man’s ability to appease God with any of his offerings (for man is unable to offer anything to placate God), . . . Jesus is presented as the righteous One; . . . reconciling us to God, allowing us to be acceptable for fellowship with God (see also Romans 3:25.)  The propitiation of Christ is very personal “the propitiation for our sins”.

    By Jesus’ death, He cleansed us from sin rather than covering it for a time – as in the Old Testament sacrificial system.  God provided his son, Jesus, as the righteous One (I John 2:1).  So, Jesus is the propitiation, made for the whole world (all who would believe), which supplies the method of deliverance from our sin, reconciling us to God, and making us acceptable for fellowship with God. Our students need to know that we are all sinners and God cannot look on sin.  Only Jesus can take that sin away (that propitiation).  Today’s lesson will help us somewhat understand the Old Testament sacrificial system.  Then we can better understand the sacrifice of Jesus.

    Summary:  Once the tabernacle was completed, God spoke to Moses from the tabernacle instead of Mount Sinai.  Now that they were free from the land of bondage, the people needed to know how to live as a sanctified people. God instituted the Offerings (ch. 1-7), the Priesthood (ch. 8-10, 12-22), and a Clean Lifestyle (ch. 11-20.)  They must understand the foundation of a relationship with God on the basis of the propitiation (appeasement from God’s wrath) from a blood sacrifice.  Leviticus shows the ability to have fellowship with God when we come to Him as a sanctified people.  (Because He is a Holy God and we are a sinful people.)  Through these many things, the people were to learn how to live as a people wholly given to God, in every aspect of their lives.

    In the book of Leviticus, “sweet savour” is mentioned 16 times in reference to the offerings God requires of them.  Compare this to what God says in Ephesians 5:2: “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”  Notice that Jesus’ death was a “sweetsmelling savour” to God – once and for all.

    Emphasis:  To understand that the book of Leviticus shows us the importance of the blood sacrifice needed before we could be reconciled to God, enabling us to have a relationship with him.  Leviticus helps us understand why in the New Testament; Jesus had to give His life as the one time only, perfect sacrifice.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 20 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 20 – 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). We took a small bag and filled it with potpourri.  We then tied the verse Ephesians 5:2 to the bag.  This was a “sweet smelling” bag to remind us of the “sweet-smelling savor” we learned about in class.  It is to help us remember the importance of living a life pleasing to God after the gift Jesus gave of His life for me.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural. Today, help them realize just how real sin is.  It is even real in their lives.  Have them think of an area they need to recognize as sin in their life that is not pleasing God (they do not have to share, just acknowledge to themselves).  Help them commit to work on living a clean life before God.  A lot of times, the sin on the inside shows up on the outside (how they dress, hairstyles, makeup, language, etc.).  Have each of them draw a cross on the shape of a heart that has their name on it.  Encourage them to remember that God knows their heart and it is their job to keep Jesus first there.

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

  • Lesson 6 (Lesson 19): Exodus 19-40: God Revealed

    Key Verse

    “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:”  Exodus 19:5

    Read today’s Key verse with your class.  Ask your students if they know what jewels are or what a treasure is.  Is it special?  Is it important?  In today’s memory verse, “peculiar treasure” are words used to refer to the people of Israel as God’s private possession because He chose them, delivered them from Egyptian bondage, and shaped them into what He wanted them to be (called jewels in Malachi 3:17).  Just as we feel treasures and jewels are special and important, God considers His people his special treasure or jewel.  Today we understand that Christians are a “peculiar treasure” to God (Titus 2:14 and 1 Peter 2:9). We are very special and important to Him.

    Summary:  God had delivered His people from bondage in Egypt.  He had chosen them to be a special people to Him.  He gave them laws so they could obey Him.  He sent an Angel (Jesus) to go before them and lead them.  God revealed Jesus through the tabernacle and its furnishings.  God even gave them someone talented to build it and the implements to be placed inside.  Even with all of this, they still forget God.  They worship an idol, and Moses prays for them.  God still left his Angel (Jesus) with them to lead them.  When they finish the tabernacle and set it up, God comes down in a cloud of glory and dwells among His people.

    Emphasis:  We are to understand that Christians are to be a peculiar treasure to God.  I Corinthians 6:20:  “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 19 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 19 – 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 pictures below). One time we used Ten Commandment stickers and placed them inside of a half sheet of brown construction paper folded in half.  Another time, we cut apart the printed out copy of the Ten Commandments and glued them in the correct order inside of an outline of what we envision the Ten Commandments may have looked like.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural. Today, have them choose an implement of the tabernacle that we learned about today.  Have them write how that implement reminds us of Jesus.  They may want to draw a picture of one of the implements.  Remind them that we are the temple of God and Jesus lives in our hearts.  We need to live like we have Jesus there.

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

    Lesson 19 1
    Lesson 19-2

  • Lesson 5 (Lesson 18): Exodus 1-18: From Egypt Through the Wilderness

    Key Verse

    “And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God …” Exodus 6:7 

    After reading today’s key verse with your class, help them understand it, and the importance of recognizing God in our lives.  That He is to be our God and we are to be His people.

    Summary:  Between Genesis and Exodus, God’s people grew into a nation numbering around 2-3 million people.  At least 400 years had passed since they entered into Egypt.  We see the mighty deliverance of God’s people from a land of bondage (Egypt).  We see the power of God revealed through this time of exodus.  As they pass through the Red Sea, that eliminated their return to the land of bondage.  The old way of life was left behind forever.

    Emphasize the following:  But with all of these events, the most important thing to note is that God revealed Himself to His people.  He reminded them that He was their God, and that they were His people (see today’s memory verse.)  He showed them that he was their God through the 10 plagues and the mighty deliverance from bondage.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 18 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 18 – 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:  Make a burning bush with red, yellow, and orange tissue paper.  You could find a coloring sheet with Moses and a bush and add the tissue paper squares with glue, or just draw a picture of a bush and add the tissue paper to make it appear as if it were burning.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural. Today, have them consider God’s provision for His people.  Do they realize when we ask Jesus in our heart, we are no longer our own?  We belong to God because we have been bought with a price:  I Corinthians 6:19-20:  “19. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” We can no longer please ourselves.  Our job is to please God with every part of our lives.  Have them write (on a puzzle piece or construction paper) ways we can live a life pleasing to God.  Add these to your mural, as a reminder.

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

  • Lesson 4 (Lesson 17): Genesis 37 – 50: Joseph

    Key Verse

    “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

    As you read the verse Romans 6:23, help your students understand this key verse as they complete the opening worksheet.  Make sure your students understand the key verse and the importance of recognizing the greatest gift God ever gave – His Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sins.

    Summary:  In this lesson we will remember the familiar Bible events of Jacob and one of his sons, Joseph.

    Joseph was the 11th son born to Jacob.  He was a godly young man in spite of adverse circumstances in his life.  God used him to save his family from starvation during a time of famine throughout the lands.

    Today we will recognize God’s blessings upon Joseph’s life – for although he endured many problems (his brothers hated him; sold into slavery; falsely imprisoned; forgotten; etc.) he remained faithful to God.  And God blessed Joseph’s life.  Joseph was the last major person in the book of Genesis.

    In the Old Testament, Joseph is one of the people we compare to a picture of Christ.  In the past few weeks, we have seen where God promised to send One who would deliver a sinful people from their sins.  The first was when man sinned in the Garden (Gen. 3:15).  Then we saw where God promised Abraham that all people would be blessed through his descendants (Gen. 22:18).  We even saw a picture of what God would do – lay down the life of His Son.  This week, we see once again the promise of a mighty deliverer that would come (Gen. 28:14).  And better yet, we see a picture of a mighty deliverer in Jacob’s son, Joseph.  When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, they meant it for evil – Genesis 50:20:  “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”  God sent His Son, Jesus to save the world from their sin.  He was the greatest gift ever given.  But sinful man crucified him (evil against Him), and God took what man intended to be evil and delivered us from our sins by Jesus’ death.  Just as Joseph recognized when he was placed in a position to save the world from starvation, Jesus came to save the world from “the wages of sin … death” and instead give us the “gift of God … eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Notice the faithfulness of Joseph, and the blessings of God upon him.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 17 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 17 – 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). We made a foam book with pages inside that we wrote (or drew) ways to “Honor God” (much like Joseph did in his life). Another time we took a picture of Joseph’s coat and used foam stickers to “color” it, or tissue paper glued to make it many colors.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural. Today, have them think of the greatest gift they can remember.  Have them recognize that as great as that gift was, Jesus is the greatest gift of all.  Have them think of ways they can, and should, tell others about the greatest gift ever, Jesus.  Help them decorate a picture of a gift box telling that Jesus is God’s gift to us.  Remind them that just as Joseph saved from starvation, Jesus came to save mankind from their sin.

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

    Lesson 17

     

  • Lesson 3 (Lesson 16): Genesis 25 – 36: Jacob

    Key Verse

    “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” Revelation 21:7

    Help your children understand the key verse as you help them complete the opening worksheet.  Today we will learn the change that took place in Jacob’s life as he learned to trust God, inheriting the promise of Abraham.  Make sure they understand the key verse and the importance placing one’s trust in God.  God always keeps His promises.

    Summary:  In this lesson we look at the life of Jacob, the 3rd major person in the book of Genesis..  He and Esau were twins.  Jacob was the younger twin born to Isaac.  God knew before Jacob was even born what kind of a man he would become; for he chose to walk with God.  Because God had told Rebekah that Jacob would rule over Esau, she encouraged him to trick his father out of the family blessing, preempting God’s plan.  This caused contention, hatred, and grief from his brother for many years.  Jacob had to flee for his life to another land.  On the way, Jacob had a dream of angels ascending and descending a ladder into heaven.  God spoke to him and gave him the promise of Abraham.  Jacob obeyed his parents and chose a wife from his mother’s family.  But, Jacob was then tricked by Laban, his mother’s brother, who gave him the wrong daughter, Leah, in marriage.  Jacob had to work 14 years to gain the woman he loved, Rachel, Leah’s sister.

    When God told Jacob to return to his homeland, he obeyed.  On the way, he wrestled with an angel of the Lord all night.  It was the pre-incarnate Christ.  During that struggle, Jacob was renamed Israel (which means prince of God).   God blessed Jacob with 12 sons and 1 daughter.  These sons became the 12 tribes of the nation Israel.

    In the past two lessons, we saw where God promised to send One who would deliver a sinful people from their sins.  The first was when man sinned in the Garden (Genesis 3:15).  Last week, we learned that God had promised Abraham that all people would be blessed through his descendants (Genesis 22:18).  We even saw a picture (when Abraham offered Isaac) of what God would do – lay down the life of His Son, Jesus.  In this lesson, we see once again the promise of a mighty Deliverer that would come (Genesis 28:14).  Remember God’s promise was fulfilled when He sent His Son, Jesus, to save the world from their sin. Jesus was the greatest gift ever given.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 16 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 16 – 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!

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below). Take a piece of black construction paper, some wooden popsicle sticks, peel and stick stars, a sticker of a Bible times man, a sticker of a rock and some angels, some cotton balls and glue.  Glue the wooden popsicle sticks to the paper making a ladder.  Fluff the cotton balls and glue them around the top to make a sky.  Put the rock sticker on the bottom with the Bible time’s man (as if he is using the rock as a pillow). Stick the angels on the ladder (as if ascending and descending on the ladder).  Fill the night sky with the stickers of stars.  Glue a print out of Genesis 28:15 on it.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.  Encourage them to write a promise God made in His Word, the Bible.  Remind them that God always keeps His promises.    Add these to your mural, as a reminder that God always keeps His promises.

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

  • Lesson 2 (Lesson 15): Genesis 12 – 24: Abraham and Isaac

    Key Verse

    “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” James 2:23

    Read today’s key verse with your class.  Help them understand with the following:  imputed means counted; to put to his account, either in his favor or what he must be answerable.  Righteousness means that righteousness which has regard to God and the divine law; especially internally where the heart is right with God; piety toward God, and hence righteousness; i.e.:  to regard as evidence of piety, hence the righteousness which is in or through faith in Christ.

    Summary:  Abraham believed the promise God made in Genesis 3:15 (God would send one to deliver mankind from their sins).  It is proven in his faithfulness to obey God’s call upon his life.  He was faithful to leave his home and walk the land God promised would belong to his descendants (even though at this point he and Sarah were old and without any children).  Abraham believed God would give him a son, just like He promised.  Even when the promise was fulfilled and he had his son, Isaac, Abraham was faithful to obey God when God asked Abraham to give him back.  And because of his righteousness (faith that Jesus would come), he was called the Friend of God.

    This lesson helps us to understand that “righteousness” before God is when we have faith in Jesus:  see II Corinthians 5:21:  “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 15 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 15 – 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!

    For today’s lesson, we took a 5×7 foam sheet and put a sticker of a Bible looking man on the bottom.  The children then put a whole bunch of stickers of stars on the top. We placed the verse James 2:23 on the bottom to remind them that because Abraham believed God (and acted upon that belief), he was called the friend of God.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.  Today, have them consider Abraham.  Are they willing to change the course of their life to follow God, just like Abraham did?  Have them write (on a puzzle piece or construction paper) ways we can live a righteous life before God.  Add these to your mural, as a reminder to please God with our lives.

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

     

  • Lesson 1 (Lesson 14): Genesis 1 – 11: 4 Main Events: Creation, Fall, Flood, Babel

    Key Verse

    “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

    After reading today’s Key Verse with your class, help them understand by explaining that because we are humans, we cannot understand the things of God.  We must learn to trust Him with all of our heart.

    The events in today’s lesson are mainly things we cannot really understand.  That is why we must rely upon God and not our own understanding (see today’s Key Verse.)  God created everything out of nothing.  That is amazing if you think about it.  Who can understand how that is possible?  God gave mankind everything they would ever need inside the garden.  He only asked one thing – don’t eat of the fruit of one particular tree in the garden (Genesis 2:15-17.)  But that is exactly what Adam and Eve did.  They disobeyed God and ate of that one fruit.  They didn’t trust God’s Word, but leaned on their own understanding.  When Eve saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and that it was a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit and ate it (Genesis 3:6.)   She tried to understand.  She didn’t trust God’s Words.  By the time you get to Genesis chapter 6 mankind had become exceedingly wicked.  So wicked, God wanted to destroy all of His creation.  “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:8.  God spared Noah and his family.  But by chapter 11 of Genesis, the people had once again decided to choose what they wanted over what God told them to do.  God had told the people to go and to fill the earth, but they came together and built a city and a tower to the heavens – to make a name for themselves.  Once again, God intervened in man’s affairs.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 14 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 14 – 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!

    For today’s lesson, we had stickers (and cut outs from magazines) of things God created and let the children stick (or glue) them on some construction paper.  We also had the verse Genesis 1:1 printed out for them to glue to the paper.  The idea is to have them understand that God created the world, animals, people, plants, flowers, etc.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.  Today, have them choose an area in their lives in which they have not yet trusted God.  Have them write at least one way they can begin to trust God in that area.  Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

     

  • Time Flies …

    Time seems to pass so quickly!  I have posted ideas of things to help teach this Bible study to children for the first thirteen lessons so far. I hope these ideas are helpful or at least get your own ideas churning as to how to help children desire to know God’s Word!

    The most important thing we can help children (or any student of God’s Word) to understand is just how important their Bible is.  They need to learn how to take care of them.  They should become familiar with them. They must understand the importance of reading them!  Even beginning readers should be encouraged to read God’s Word.  In the 6-8 year old class I taught, we read the Bible out loud every week (yes, even the young children!).  At first, the youngest readers were very hesitant to read.  But with a little encouragement and help, they became excited about reading their Bible.  Each week they would become a little more proficient at reading, and that fact encouraged them greatly.  No child is too young for us to begin to teach them to love the Word of God or to learn the principles found within God’s Word!

    In this study, we will take 3 years to go completely through the Bible.  We began with an overview of the 5 Old Testament Divisions (the first thirteen lessons).  The next thirteen lessons we will begin the first division of the Old Testament – The Law.  We will continue to study each section, remembering many familiar Bible events (and learning a few new ones along the way!).  The idea is to see the Bible in historical order, to alleviate some of the confusion.  And at the end of each quarter, we will take out time to see Jesus in the Old Testament.  Keep in mind that we are looking at each book as an overview.  The idea is to encourage each person to go home and dig into God’s Word and learn even more!

    This study was put together to make the Bible not only interesting, but applicable to everyday life.  The Bible means nothing to us if we do not apply the principles within to our lives to become more like Christ.  In order to understand how to live a Christian life pleasing to God in the world today, we must first know what His Word says.  I hope that you learn to love the Bible through these lessons!

  • Lesson 13: How Jesus Relates to the Old Testament

    Jesus in the Old Testament: 

    Key Verse

    “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17

    Understand the key verse with the following:  fulfill means to fill out; complete or made them perfect; to accomplish an end.  Jesus came to complete the promise God made to Adam and Eve (and all of mankind) in the garden after they sinned.  So, when Jesus came he did not take away the importance of the Old Testament law and prophets, instead he fulfilled the words spoken and preached for he accomplished what God required of Him. That allowed him to be the perfect sacrifice to appease the wrath of a just and righteous God.

    In this lesson we will look at verses from of the Old Testament that were prophecies of Jesus that He fulfilled.  We cannot cover all of the verses listed in the Old Testament in one lesson’s time.  We will only go over one verse for each of the 5 divisions we have been learning about this quarter.  We will eventually try to cover many of them.

    We will also look at a great plot against Paul to kill him because he lived as a Christian, preaching Jesus to the lost.  Paul, the apostle, used this in his defense before Festus:  Acts 24:14:  “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:”

    He believed all things which are written in the law and the prophets.

    Do you?

    Our goal in this study is to let the Old Testament become much more to us than a bunch of “stories” abut people who lived a long time ago.  We will search and find out why these people wanted to obey God and how they knew He would one day send Jesus.  These “stories” will be an encouragement to us that God is with us and takes care of His people.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 13 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 13 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    In any lesson, you may want to work on your coloring timeline – especially when it relates to the lesson.

    Display the poster of the books of the Old Testament (may be downloaded from lesson 4 blog).  Remind your students that the Old Testament is all to remind the people to look forward to the coming of Jesus.  You may find a coloring picture that fits today’s lesson.  There are many free coloring sheets online.  Just type in a favorite and search away!

    Give each of them a small blank book (or make foam journal, or staple blank pages inside a construction paper cover) and let them add stickers to remind them of Jesus. Have them draw Bible stories from the Old Testament inside as you have time.  Remind them that the Old Testament is all to remind the people of Jesus. Also have a coloring sheet.

     

    Mural idea: 

    On wall in your classroom that is a mural:  Have your students write (on a large puzzle piece) an Old Testament prophecy we looked at today with the New Testament fulfillment.  Use 2 different colors of markers (or crayons) to distinguish between the two.

    Continue having them bring a picture, a news article, a poem they have written, a picture they may have drawn, etc. of something that is relevant to each of the following week’s lessons.  Encourage everyone to participate.  Watch as it grows weekly, as they express what God is revealing to them through our study of how the Bible fits into His plan to help us become more like Him.

    Old Testament Bookshelf

  • Lesson 12: Review: Old Testament Divisions

    Key Verse

    “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” Ezra 7:10

    Understanding the Key Verse:  Before beginning today’s lesson, consider today’s key verse.  Christians should adhere to this verse.  We must prepare our hearts to seek the law of the Lord (God’s Word).  We must live it out in our lives, and then proceed to tell others.  Then we will be able to teach others – first by the way we live our lives, then by being a verbal witness to others.  It must happen in this order.  Just as we see it in Ezra 7:10.  It is important to know God’s Word.  That is why we are studying it in detail.

    Since this is a review, encourage your students to do most of the “telling” this week.  Encourage them to “unload” all the knowledge they have of the Old Testament on you.  This will also help you, the teacher, know where your classes’ deficiencies in Old Testament knowledge stand.  Then you can focus more on you classes’ needs.

    Always use your Bible.  Become very familiar with it.  To help in the understanding of the Old Testament, first –find Esther 10 in your Bible and hold Genesis through Esther 10 in your left hand.  Next, hold the rest of the Old Testament (Job – Malachi) in your right hand.  Understand that everything in your right hand takes place in the time-frame your left hand is holding.

    Review and be prepared to share about the following looking back to Lesson 4 for additional information.

     

    Ideas for review:

    • Make it a game for your students to tell you which book is found in which division
    • Have them tell you what each book is about.
    • Let them tell you an event from each book. (Be prepared to tell one if no one has one!)
    • Have Old Testament Bible Drills
    • Use any (or all) of the resource reviews you have made this quarter.

    Above all, encourage your students to want to know the Bible!

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 12 Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet

    Lesson 12 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    In any lesson, you may want to work on your coloring timeline – especially when it relates to the lesson.

    Display the poster of the books of the Old Testament (may be downloaded from lesson 4 blog). Review the books and the five divisions (showing them on the poster).  Review the 3×5 cards if you made them, practicing the divisions.  Focus on putting the books in order for today’s lesson.  Be encouraged to memorize them!

    If you drew pictures of different events from each division, you could compile them into folders – one for each division (see picture below).

    There are many free coloring sheets online.  Just type in a favorite for review and search away! You could always trace the child’s hand and write the five divisions on each finger – much like in lesson 4.

    One class wrote the name of each book on a clothespin and hung them in order on a hanger.

     

    Mural idea: 

    Continue adding to your wall in your classroom that is a huge mural.  For this week, have them each choose their favorite Old Testament book and write a riddle about it for someone else to try and figure out which book it is.

    Continue to have them bring a picture, a news article, a poem they have written, a picture they may have drawn, etc. of something that is relevant to each of the following week’s lessons.  Encourage everyone to participate.  Watch as it grows weekly, as they express what God is revealing to them through our study of how the Bible fits into His plan to help us become more like Him.