The Biblical Path of Life

Author: mjross

  • Lesson 2 (Lesson 28): Joshua 12-24: Possessing the Land

    Key Verse

    “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” Proverbs 4:26

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Help them understand the word “ponder” means “to think about.”  They should think about where they go and what they do.  We need to be sure we only go the places God would approve of.  When we walk with God, He will bless us.  That is why it is important to “ponder the path of thy feet.”  Today, we see instances when God’s people choose to allow God to establish their ways.

    Summary:  Joshua opens with a listing and remembering of the lands and kingdoms conquered.  God tells Joshua how the land is to be divided.  The land is distributed and the people finally occupy the land (13-24), making it the land of Israel.  The people set up the tabernacle in the city of Shiloh (18).

    We also see a great conflict today, one that could have caused a civil war among God’s people.  We have a great example of a potentially divisive matter being handled in a godly manner, an example we all should heed today.

    We close today with a mighty challenge from Joshua:  choose this day who you will serve.  Joshua constantly reminded the people about God and what God had done for them.  He encouraged them to make a commitment, just as God’s people need to do today.  We must decide, each individual person, who we will serve.  In Joshua, we see God’s people choose to serve God.

    Until Joshua and his leading of God’s people into Canaan, they were a nation without a land.  At the close of Joshua, they are now a nation with a land mass.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  We must choose for ourselves to obey and serve God.  We will then see God bless and establish us as His people.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 28 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 28 – 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 we took an oval foam sheet to make a hanging verse.  We put a foam sticker of a Bible times’ house, a cross and some heart stickers (you can choose different ones) and then we glued today’s key verse to it.  The idea is to remember that each house must choose to serve the Lord.

     

    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 27): Joshua 1-11: Conquering the Land

    Key Verse

    “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”  Psalms 27:1 

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Ask your students if they have ever been afraid of doing something.  Encourage them to share a time they may have been afraid (help them with some suggestions if they have trouble thinking of some-thing, i.e.:  going to a new place they have never been before, standing in front of a classroom alone, meeting someone new, telling someone about Jesus …).  Help them understand that when we do things God wants us to do, He is with us and will help us.  There is nothing to be afraid of.  Today we will see how God encouraged Joshua as he prepared to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land.

    Summary:  At the close of Deuteronomy, we saw the death of Moses.  God had appointed a new leader to lead the people into the land of Canaan.  Joshua was the man God chose to lead His people into the land of promise.  If you remember, Joshua had been born a slave in Egypt (where he witnessed God’s miracles), learned much from Moses, and endured the 40 years of wandering.  He was one of only two to live through the time of wandering (Caleb being the other man).  Joshua covers about 25 years of history.  Today we look at the first part and see where the Israelites (lead by Joshua) entered the land of Canaan   (Joshua 1-5), and conquered the land (Joshua 6-11).

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  When we walk with God in the ways the Bible teaches, God will be with us.  We should not be afraid of anything.  Joshua proved this in his life as he led the children of Israel to conquer the Promised Land.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 27 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 27 – 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 we made a banner with the verse Joshua 1:9 on it.  We took brown craft paper cut to size to fit 2 dowel rods 12” long.  After gluing the paper to the dowel rods, you could tie brown yarn to each end of the rods to allow the verse to be hung. Write as much of the verse as your class is able.  Remind them that God will be with them when they follow Him, just like God was with Joshua!

     

    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 26): Jesus in the Old Testament: Jesus Fulfilled the Law

    Key Verse

    “2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”  Romans 8:2-3

    Read the Key Verse with them.  Help them understand that Jesus set us free from the law that condemned us to death because of our sins.  We could never fulfill that law, but Jesus did and paid the penalty to save our life.

    Summary:  We have been learning about the first five books in the Old Testament, the books we call The Law.  In those books we watched as God gradually, over time, revealed himself to mankind.  He allowed us to see that He is perfect and sinless, and also, we saw just how sinful man is.  God showed from the beginning that it took the shedding of blood to cover man’s sins.  He, at the same time, revealed that He would one day send the perfect once and for all sacrifice to take away man’s sin.  Today, we see in Hebrews 10, that that law was just a picture to help us understand just what it was that Jesus had to fulfill completely in order to take away our sins.  When we accept the gift God gave us in His Son, Jesus, he then writes His law on our hearts.  Then we have no excuse.  We know.  We are to live our lives pleasing God.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  In the books of the law, we saw the importance of recognizing sin and even the cost of sin – the shedding of blood.  It was just a picture for us to understand what Jesus one day did on the cross.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 26 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 26 – 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 this lesson I cut out a very large heart out of construction paper (as big as the whole sheet).  We then cut out some preprinted verses (that I had made) and glued them on the heart.  We then added stickers of different verses (purchased through Oriental Trading).  The idea is to remind them of the importance of hiding God’s Word in our hearts (memorizing Scripture verses).

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural. Today, have them draw a large heart and write some of God’s commands on it to remind them that we are to write God’s Word on our heart so that we won’t sin against Him. You may also want to let them make a Bible marker with Psalm 119:11 on it to keep in their Bibles to help them remember to hide God’s word in their hearts.

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

     

  • Lesson 12 (Lesson 25): Deuteronomy 12 – 34: Planning the Trip into the Promised Land

    Key Verse

    “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”  Deuteronomy 31:6

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Remind them that God’s people were preparing to go into the land of Promise to conquer it.  They had heard the stories of giants in the land, yet they were getting ready to enter.  God wanted to encourage them.  He would be with them.  They should not be afraid.  If God told them to enter the land, He would go with them, and He would not fail them.  (Optional idea:  Ask them if they have ever been afraid.  One time you never have to be afraid is when you do something that God has told you to do.  God told His people to go and possess the Promised Land.  They probably remember the stories of giants in the land.  Plus, these people were not soldiers trained for battle.  God wanted to reassure them.  Don’t be afraid.  God would be with them and He would not fail them, nor would he leave them.  God will do the same for us today, if we will walk with Him.)

    Summary:  In our last lesson we saw that Deuteronomy is a book looking back to what God had done for His people (Deuteronomy 1-11.)  In this lesson we see the rest of the book is looking forward (Deuteronomy 12-34).

    All of Israel gathered together.  Moses warned the people not to forget the words of God’s law.  Moses laid out before the people the blessings for following God’s law.  He then warned them of the curse of God if they failed to obey God’s law.  Deuteronomy is a reminding of the law, and the people are brought to the brink of the Promised Land, ready to continue.  The constant theme we have been noticing is the importance of obedience to God.  He wants obedience from His people – but He gave them the choice.

    Joshua was appointed the new leader (Deuteronomy 31), and Moses died (Deuteronomy 34).

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  God wanted His people to know that He would be with them wherever He led them.  The constant theme we have been noticing is the importance of obedience to God.  He wants obedience from His people – but He gave them the choice.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 25 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 25 – 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 we made a suitcase to travel.  We took a center file folder and glued pictures of things that you would pack into a suitcase cut from magazines.  Include things like clothes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, hairbrush, shoes, socks, etc.  But especially find a sticker (or a cut out picture) of a Bible.  They should understand the importance of reading their Bible everyday – even on a trip!  You could then decorate the outside like a suitcase.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural. Today, have them make two mountains – one for curses and one for blessings.  (You could do this individually or as a group.)  Help them write curses on the one and blessings on the other.  Encourage them to remember that when we walk with God, He has promised to bless us.  And remember the memory verse, He will not fail them or forsake them.

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

  • Lesson 11 (Lesson 24): Deuteronomy 1 – 11: Remembering the Past & Reviewing God’s Laws

    Key Verse

    “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”  Deuteronomy 6:5

    Go over the memory verse with them.  Encourage them understand we are to love God with all of our heart, soul and might.  Help them know the way we show God we love Him is to obey Him in every area of our life (see what Jesus said in John 14:15:  “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”).

    Summary:  What God wanted most from his people was for them to love Him with all of their heart, soul and might.  If they would have done that, they would not have had to be constantly reminded to obey God and His laws.  They would have shown their love for him by their remembrance and their obedience.  We see in the book of Deuteronomy that God reminds this new generation who He is.  He reminds them of the promises and the deliverance he had shown their fathers.  He continues by reminding them what he expects from them.  And most importantly; they are to teach these things to their children.

    Throughout the entire book, it shows the faithfulness of God and reveals that God loves his people.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  To show God we love Him with all of our heart, soul and might by our obedience to Him and to our parents.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 24 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet

    Lesson 24 – 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).  Because this is a second giving of The Law to a new generation, we did another Ten Commandments craft.  The second Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet has a Ten Commandments picture you could have your class cut out and glue the commandments into the correct order.  You could always choose another commandment craft.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.  Today, have them make their own set of The Ten Commandments to add to your mural.  Encourage them to keep each of these commandments.  Remember, we show God we love Him by our obedience to Him.  And, we are to love Him with all of our heart, soul and might (see today’s Key Verse).

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

  • Lesson 10 (Lesson 23): Numbers 20 – 36: The Next Generation

    Key Verse

    “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”  Ecclesiastes 12:13

     

    Ask your students if they can name any of God’s commands.  Help them understand that fearing God is not being afraid of Him.  It is knowing what he expects of us and then doing it.  Help them complete the memory verse worksheet.

    Today we see what happened to God’s people when they did not keep God’s commandments.  They did not understand what we should today:  our whole duty is to fear God and keep His commands.

    Summary:  The name numbers comes from two numberings of God’s people in the wilderness.  These were two different groups of people.  We have been looking at the old generation and continue on to the new generation.  Today, we continue with the wandering of the people in the wilderness.  We look at the life of Balaam, and we also see what happens to a disobedient people.  Moses is told he will die and Joshua will be appointed the new leader.  Finally we see the new generation numbered and being prepared to enter the Promised Land.  But that promise to enter comes with a warning.

    In Numbers, we see God guiding, providing for, protecting, and even disciplining His people until they reach the Promised Land.  As they prepare to enter, Joshua is introduced as the successor to Moses (Numbers 27:15-23).

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  The most important thing we can do as Christians is obey God and keep His commandments.  That is the fear of God.  It is our duty.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 23 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet

    Lesson 23 – Volume 1 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 5×7 foam sheet and glued the Key Verse (Ecclesiastes 12:13) onto it.  We then put a few stickers to remind us of Balaam (and the fact that he should have obeyed God).  We had a Bible time’s man, an angel, a donkey and a couple of trees.  You could use your imagination to come up with better ones!

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural. Today, help them brainstorm:  think of different ways we can stop spiritual adultery we see each day (short of taking a javelin and thrusting someone through!).  At the very least, help them recognize instances of spiritual adultery (i.e.:  putting events more important than church attendance, putting things or people as more important than God, failing to have a quiet time of prayer and reading God’s word, etc.).

    Have your class make a list to add to your mural to help you remember.  Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

  • Lesson 9 (Lesson 22): Numbers 1-19: Wandering in the Wilderness

    Key Verse

    “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”  Hebrews 3:12

    Read today’s key verse with your class, helping them to understand it.  Take heed means to beware, or pay attention to.  Christians need to be careful to not have an evil heart (means any form of evil) that would cause them to quit believing in God or His ways.  Today we see where the people “depart” from the living God.  Anytime a Christian chooses his will over God’s, he has departed from God.  This verse was a warning.

    Summary:  The name Numbers comes from a numbering of the people at the beginning of the book and then again at the end.  These were two different groups of people.  Today we look at the old generation, and the many troubles they caused Moses.  When the 12 spies were sent into the land (the land promised to Abraham), only Joshua and Caleb brought back a good report claiming God would allow them to conquer the land.  When the Israelites disobeyed God’s command to cross over into the Promised Land, they were disciplined.  The old generation would wander in the wilderness and die, not entering into the Promised Land — all because they refused to obey God’s command.   Joshua and Caleb were the only ones allowed to survive and enter the Promised Land.

    Within we also find more murmurings of the people and their discipline.  Less than 40 years elapsed during the book of Numbers.  Throughout Numbers, we will see God guiding, providing for, and protecting His people in spite of their constant heart of unbelief.  God stayed with them even when they departed from Him and His Words.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  Today we will see the children of Israel have a heart of unbelief and depart from the plans the living God had for them.  We must believe God’s Word, or we will spend our lives wandering – just like the children of Israel did in the wilderness.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 22 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet

    Lesson 22 – Volume 1 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).  I printed copies of the verse (Hebrews 3:12, today’s Key Verse) that would fit in the frame for today.  We took the foam frame and glued the verse into it.  Since it was a heart frame and the verse spoke of the heart, we covered the frame with lots of small heart stickers.  Use your imagination!  Sometimes I would stick a small magnet on the back so they could be put on their refrigerator at home.  Other times I would just glue a small loop of a ribbon so they could hang it up somewhere.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.  Today, help them recognize the importance of following God’s will.  The people could have entered the land if they had only trusted God and obeyed Him.  Have them write out the verse Hebrews 13:17.  Encourage them to remember to apply this verse to their lives – always submitting themselves to their authority (i.e.: especially emphasize God, parents, pastor, teachers, policemen, etc.).

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

  • Lesson 8 (Lesson 21): Leviticus 21 – 27: The Worship of God

    Key Verse

    “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

    Go over the key verse with your class helping them understand it with the following:  “I am crucified with Christ [spiritually by mortifying (putting to death) our worldly and fleshly lusts by the cross of Christ]…”  Now that we have Jesus in our heart, we can no longer live like we once did (like we want).  We live for Jesus because we are given life by faith in “the Son of God” (Jesus) “who loved me, and gave himself for me.”  Notice the “me” makes it a very personal thing.

    Especially help them to learn to put their “wants” in check.  We are not supposed to live our lives doing what we want if we belong to Jesus.  We are supposed to do what He wants us to do!

    Summary:  Once your students understand the foundation of fellowship with God (the last lesson), they need to understand the condition they must be in to be in a relationship with God to fellowship with Him.  God starts with the condition of the priests, then moves on to the condition of their offerings.  We find out today (in the New Testament) that when we belong to Jesus, we are “kings and priests” to Him.  Knowing this, we need to look at what God required of His priests.  They must live a life “set apart”.  They were to be “holy” before God.  Help your students understand that this is required of us.  We must do as our memory verse today tells us.  Put our worldly lusts to death and live a life pleasing to God.

    The book of Leviticus ends with the blessings of obedience, the penalties for disobedience, and with the importance of keeping vows to God.  A warning is given to always keep our promises to God.  (Only about a month’s time passes during the book of Leviticus.)

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  To worship God properly, we need to understand that we cannot do what we want to do.  We must do what God wants.  We are “kings and priests” to God.  We have to live our lives “set apart” and pleasing to God so we can offer our lives as a “living sacrifice” (living implies continual – never ending).

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 21 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet

    Lesson 21 – 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 crown.  You can buy precut out crowns (from someplace like Oriental Trading Company), or you can cut them out of gold or silver poster board.  Allow them to decorate them with peel and stick jewels (or for someone who is brave, you could use glue and glitter!).  Fit the to the child’s head size and staple them to hold them together.  Remind them that when we are saved (have asked Jesus into our hearts) we are kings and priests to God.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural. Today, have them think of ways they can be a “living sacrifice”.  Have them draw a crown (or cut one out of paper) to remind them that they are “kings and priests” to God (if they belong to Him).  We should live our lives pleasing to God knowing that He gave His Son (Jesus), for that honor and privilege.  Have them write down at least one area in their life they will make a concerted effort to improve upon.

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

  • 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