The Biblical Path of Life

Author: mjross

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.

October 7, 2018
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.

September 30, 2018
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.

September 24, 2018
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

September 17, 2018
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.

September 10, 2018
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 11^th 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

September 3, 2018
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 3^rd 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.

August 27, 2018
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.

August 20, 2018
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.

August 12, 2018
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!

August 6, 2018