The Biblical Path of Life

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  • Lesson 7: Five Personal Books: Job – Song of Solomon

    Key Verse

    “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.” Job 42:5

    Has anyone ever “heard” of God?  Has anyone seen God?  (Moses saw the back of God as He passed by – that’s all we know of.)  What does it really mean when someone says they’ve “seen” God?  (Explain that the person has seen God move in their life through events.)

    In this lesson, we are going to begin looking at some men in the Bible who wanted to know God better.  These men wanted to communicate with God, and wanted to know Him better.  Their words collectively are the five Personal books, each book written as poems and some as songs.  The five Personal books are called such because they deal very personally with man.  Each book deals with different individual’s experiences with God:  Job, the men who wrote the Psalms (David, Moses, Asaph – who led the music, and others), King Solomon – as he recorded wise words in the Proverbs, when he wrote about the vanity of life apart from God in Ecclesiastes, and as he wrote of the beauty of a perfect love in marriage in Song of Solomon.  They mainly deal with the individual’s heart issues as they seek to know and understand God better.  We often set some these poems to music and sing them.  We will emphasize and mention all five books.

    In this lesson it is important to recognize that “seeing” God is when someone sees God move in their life through events.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 7 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 7 – 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.

    Review the 3×5 cards if you made them, practicing the divisions.  Focus on putting the Personal books in order for today’s lesson.

    Display the poster of the books of the Old Testament (may be downloaded from the Lesson 4 Blog). Review the five Personal Books (showing them on the poster).  You may have them write or draw a picture of their favorite event from the Personal books.

    It would be good to have a special time set aside each week for prayer. Encourage your students to discuss any prayer requests they may have.  Help them understand the importance of prayer.  If they do not know how to pray, help them learn and become comfortable praying aloud.  You may want to begin by learning The Lord’s Prayer together.  This is an example of prayer that Jesus gave to His disciples.  Not only will they learn the basics of praying, but they will become more comfortable speaking prayers aloud.

    “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.”            Matthew 6:9-13

    If you close with the Lord’s Prayer each session, it will implant it in their hearts for a lifetime!

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.  For this week, have them each add the picture, news article, poem they have written, picture they may have drawn, etc. of something they believe is relevant to the lessons we have been studying.  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.

    Today, ask them to open their Bibles to Proverbs.  Ask:  Have any of your parents sent you to your room to read Proverbs, or have they quoted you verses from the book of Proverbs?  Have them read their favorite verse from Proverbs.  If they don’t have one, assign one (or more) of the following (or another one of your favorites) for them to look up (choose your favorites before class):

    Proverbs 3:1-2       Proverbs 3:5-6       Proverbs 3:7          Proverbs 3:12        Proverbs 3:27        Proverbs 3:30        Proverbs 4:23   Proverbs 6:20       Proverbs 7:2          Proverbs 13:3        Proverbs 13:20      Proverbs 14:12       Proverbs 15:3        Proverbs 15:5        Proverbs 16:3        Proverbs 16:7       Proverbs 16:18        Proverbs 16:25      Proverbs 17:13      Proverbs 17:17      Proverbs 17:28      Proverbs 18:24      Proverbs 20:11      Proverbs 23:7a          Proverbs 23:17      Proverbs 26:22      Proverbs 30:5

    Have them decorate a piece (or pieces) of cardstock or construction paper with the verse.  (Only one verse per sheet.)  Then have the students add them to your mural.  Encourage them to “hide these words in their hearts” (Psalm 119:11.)

    Personal Books Picture

  • The Fruit of a Good Garden …

    After all of the hard work of tilling the soil, planting the seeds, and weeding the garden, the fruit begins to grow!  It is fun to watch as the blooms turn into tiny fruit and grow until they are ripe to pick.  Although the weeding is a continual process, the fruit is the reward of all of that hard work. Not only do you receive fresh food, but you have the opportunity to share some with others.

    Remember these words of warning?  “15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17).  These verses teach us to recognize we are not to love the things of the world, but at the same time we are to find the will of God for our lives.  After learning to love the Lord, choosing the things to allow into my heart and life that please Him, I move on to the most important thing for me to do – to find the will of God for my life.  This means that a choice, a definite decision, has to be made to do what God wants me to do with my life.  I must find the jobs (things) He has for me to do and do them will all of my might.  Moses wasn’t planning on leading the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt, but he obeyed God and did it to the best of his ability.  Esther did not set out to become queen in a foreign land and save her people, but when the task was before her she did what God had for her to do.  The Bible is full of people who had very difficult, life endangering, things God had for them to do (think Daniel and Paul).  Who am I to complain about the minor things that He requires of me?!  I just need to be faithful to do them with a right heart to the best of my ability!  I can’t help but think of one of my favorite Bible characters and some of his final words to his son.  David told his son, Solomon, the following before he made him king over God’s people:  “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

    And also remember what else King David said: “And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.” (1 Chronicles 28:20).  These are two great verses for anyone who wants to please the Lord.  They should hold these words fast to their heart!  I am blessed to not only have parents who love and serve the Lord, but they also taught me (and still remind me occasionally) the importance of doing the same.  I taught these things to my children (and I still remind them occasionally!).  I know that God has a plan for my life, and I am doing my best to do what He wants me to do.  Because God has a plan for your life, know that He will be with you and help you do it!

  • Lesson 6: Twelve Historical Books: Joshua – Esther

    Key Verse

    “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent…”  Revelation 3:3a

     Can you remember anything about what we have been studying so far?  The whole point of this study is to help us to remember the events in the Bible.  Remember is the key word.  If we don’t remember and hold fast to what we learn from God’s Word, we will never grow in Christ.  The more we learn about God’s Word, the more we want to be like Him.

    In this lesson we will generally overview the 12 Historical Books.  We have already discussed the importance of learning the history in the Bible.  By learning it, we begin to understand the significance of why things happened.  God had a plan.  It is hard to understand unless you learn the Old Testament history.  While it was happening, men didn’t fully understand what that plan was, but through faith they believed.  The more we learn about the Bible, the more pieces of the puzzle we can fit together.  Each piece helps us become better students of God’s Words, helping us become better Christians.

    This study ends the time frame of the Old Testament.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 6 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet

    Lesson 6 – 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 of History (showing them on the poster).

    Reemphasize the importance of remembering this history we are studying (have them recall a few events you discussed).  You may have them draw a picture of their favorite story from the History.  Obviously all of the history is too much to grasp all at once.  These first few lessons are only to whet one’s appetite to want to learn more about God’s Word.  For now, we want to focus on the basics of the order of the Bible and understanding how it fits together. Review the 3×5 cards if you made them, practicing the divisions.  Focus on putting the books of History in order for today’s lesson.

    Or, make a crown by adding peel and stick jewels to crown; staple to fit each child’s head (remind them that the people rejected God at this time and wanted a king like the nations around).  Also you could find a coloring sheet of one of the events you discussed.

    Mural Idea for today:

    Today, have them remember a specific time they disobeyed God’s commands.  Was there any punishment?  Did they recognize the break in fellowship with God?  Ask:  What happened when the Israelites disobeyed and turned from God?  (They were taken from their land.)

    Have them make a “Wanted” poster:  “Wanted, someone who will commit to obey God’s commands.”  Have them include some qualities desired, i.e.:  honesty, kindness, loving, forgiving, committed to God and His Word, faithful in attendance to church, read their Bible faithfully, pray faithfully, tell others about Jesus … Give them a couple of examples if they have trouble.  Encourage them to come up with some of their own.

    OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

  • Lesson 5: The Five Books of the Law: Genesis – Deuteronomy

    Key Verse

    “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2

    After reading this verse, think of some laws or rules we are expected to obey.  Should we break the law?  What happens if we do?  Think about why it is important to have laws.  Understand God has laws.  His laws are the most important, and we are to obey them.  Help them understand the memory verse.  Remind your students that obedience is very important to God as we see throughout His Word.  When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were disciplined and cast from the Garden of Eden.  Take a few minutes to think of some examples in the bible where people disobeyed God’s commands and were disciplined, or examples of people obeying God’s commands and Him blessing.

    In this lesson we begin to consider God’s Law, and the importance of obedience to God’s Word.  The word Pentateuch means “five books.”  The first 5 books of the Old Testament are also referred to as “the Law.”  Moses recorded these books.  Within these books, we find the first 2500 years of history.  God’s laws are important.  God demanded obedience from his people.  By knowing and understanding God’s commands to His people, we are better able to live as Christians.

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 5 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 5 – 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 of The Law (showing them on the poster).  You may have them draw a picture of their favorite story from the books of The Law.  Review the 3×5 cards if you made them, practicing the divisions.  Focus on putting the books of The Law in order for today’s lesson.
    • Review last week using their hands of the five divisions of the Old Testament if you made them.  Emphasize that the thumb was for the first division.  Today, for Genesis, begin with the thumb.  Hold up your thumb and say, “For Genesis, there are 4 Main Events to remember.”  As you say them, hold up a different finger for each one until all of your fingers are extended when you finish.  They are:  The Creation, The Fall, The Flood, and The Tower of Babel.  When you finish, repeat the process for the 4 Main People:  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
    1. For Exodus, use both hands to remember:  10 Plagues, and 10 Commandments.
    2. For Leviticus, remind them that God created them and wants them to be His special people.  In Leviticus, God teaches his people to live as special people belonging to God.
    3. For Numbers, God’s people are counted 2 times (hold up two fingers.)  Also, there were 12 spies sent into the Promised Land.  10 said no, 2 said yes (that they should obey God and could conquer the land.)
    4. For Deuteronomy, the last book in this division, Moses reminds the people they will be blessed if they obey God, and they will be cursed if they do not obey God.  Moses died at the end of this book and Joshua (one of the 2 spies that believed they could conquer the land) was appointed their new leader.
    • You could also find a coloring sheet of one of the events you discussed.

     

    Mural idea: 

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.  For this week, have them each add the picture, news article, poem they have written, picture they may have drawn, etc. of something they believe is relevant to the lessons we have been studying.  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.

    Today, have them decorate another puzzle piece (may be downloaded from Lesson 3 blog) with some of God’s “laws” they should obey.  Have them come up with them on their own so they are not all the same.  After they have finished, have them share what they wrote on their puzzle piece as they add it to your wall.

  • Garden Thoughts …

    I have planted a garden many times through the years.  I have learned so many things, and not just about plants and soil.  To begin a garden, one must prepare the soil.  Once the seeds are planted, you must wait.  And wait.  Sometimes the weather does not cooperate.  It stays too cool too long, or there is no rain.  But in the right timing, God sends the heat and rain.  It is always a joy to look and see the seeds popping up out of the dirt.  But it isn’t usually only the seeds you planted that begin to show themselves.  Often times the weeds make their appearance about the same time or shortly thereafter.  Then you must begin to really work.  This is where you must be careful.  Some weeds look an awful lot like the plants you planted.  You must be able to recognize your plants.  You definitely do not want to uproot one of your precious plants.  But on the other hand, you do not want to leave a weed that will steal nutrients and water from your plant!  Once the plants begin to grow, you must continually work to keep the area free of weeds.  Often times my children would help in the garden.  Yes, they complained often! But at the same time, they were learning the difference between a true plant and a weed.  I remember my parents teaching me the same thing!

    Why say all of that?  Working in the garden is a time to think.  Once we have Jesus in our hearts and lives, the work begins.  That seed has been planted and needs to grow.  Sometimes the process seems slow, but through the reading of the Bible and studying it, growth comes.  So often things of the world come in and take root, stealing precious nutrients and water that we, as Christians, need to grow.  But each and every day we are to read God’s Word to show us what a characteristic of a Christian is truly, and what is really just an attribute of the world.  Sometimes they look quite similar – much like the weeds that look an awful lot like the plant you planted in your garden.  You need the discernment found only in God’s Word to reveal to you which is which.  Once we know what God wants in our lives, we must eliminate the weeds (the things of the world that will steal precious nutrients from us).  Once you get the hang of that, it is really pretty simple.  But it must be a continual process – each and every day to keep those weeds away.  My parents not only taught me the difference between a plant and a weed, they helped me understand the things from the Bible that God was pleased with compared to the things of the world.  I have taught my children the same principles, from God’s Word.  What better time to share with them than in a quiet time of weeding in a garden?!

    Read the following important words of warning:  “15. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17.

  • Lesson 4: The 39 Old Testament Books: 5 Divisions

    Key Verse:

    “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein …” Joshua 1:8 

    Lesson Summary:  Understand that meditate in the verse means:  To dwell on any thing in thought; to contemplate; to study; to turn or revolve any subject in the mind.  For the next few lessons, we will “meditate” on how the Bible fits together.  Understand that by learning how God’s Word fits together, it will make it much easier for us to “observe to do according to all that is written therein”.

    In this lesson, we are going to begin learning how the Old Testament is divided into sections.  These divisions will help us understand how the Bible fits together.  It will make it easier for us to find our favorite Bible stories, verses, and help us grow to become better Christians.  Begin to understand how simply the Bible is laid out for us to understand how it fits together.  This cannot be learned in one lesson.  This is just an overview of what we will be learning in the lessons to come.  Become familiar with the basic divisions of the Bible by using your Bible.  It will help to begin to memorize the books of the Old Testament.

     

    Ideas for crafts or activities for children:

    Display the poster of the books of the Old Testament and One Page Old Testament Overview. Files may be downloaded:

    Old Testament Bookshelf

    One Page Old Testament Overview

    Optional worksheets that can be downloaded:

    Lesson 4 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 4 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

    One could also make a set of 3 x 5 cards – a different color for each division – with the names of each Old Testament book.  These could be used to practice putting the books in the correct order, or even help with memorization of the 39 Old Testament books.

    Younger children:  try teaching them the five divisions of the Old Testament by using their hands.  Have them trace their hand on a piece of paper.  Carefully write the 5 divisions of the Old Testament, one on each finger.  Use the thumb to begin with and end with the pinky finger.  After you finish, help them cut out their “hand” and glue it to a piece of construction paper.  Make one to keep in the room to hang on the wall by your Old Testament Bookshelf.

    As you teach the lesson, use your fingers (and encourage them to hold up their hands to reinforce it with them.)  Point to your thumb and mention “Law.”  As you do, point to the Old Testament Bookshelf to help them understand you are talking about these books in their Bibles.  You can help them remember each division by briefly telling them (or having them tell you) a particular story they will be familiar with that is within that division:  i.e.

    1. “Law” – tell them God created the world, Noah’s ark, and Moses and the 10 commandments are all found here.
    2. “History” – tell them David and Goliath happens here
    3. “Personal” – tell them many of the Jews songs were recorded here, tell of the 23rd Psalm, or about Job.
    4. “Major Prophets” – tell them of Daniel and/or his three friends: Shadrach Meshach, and Abednego.
    5. “Minor Prophets” – tell them of Jonah

    Mural suggestion for today: 

    For this lesson, have them decorate a large puzzle piece with some pertinent facts about themselves it would be important for others to know, i.e.:  their favorite color, how many siblings they have, who their parents are, their favorite book, when they were saved, anything that tells all about them. Or, have them share how they would divide their personal life into divisions (write them on their puzzle piece).   Just as the books of the Bible are pieces of the Bible that tells us who Jesus is, let these puzzle pieces tell others who they are.  Encourage everyone to participate.

    5 Division Hand Prints
    39 OT Books Cards

  • Lesson 3: Why is the History Important?

    Key Verse:

    “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”  1 Corinthians 10:11

    Lesson Summary:  After reading this verse, focus on the fact that God’s Word was written for us to show us a picture of His plan.  We are to learn from what is written in His Word.  Each Bible “story” we have learned through the years is just a piece of the “puzzle” to complete the picture of God’s Plan.  History may appear boring, but we are going to show how fascinating, and especially important, it is in our lives.

    Because the history is so important, we should desire to know the history – just like Peter, Stephen, and Paul knew it.  We are to understand that the history found in God’s Word is there to help us better understand and know Jesus.  As we look at this lesson, we begin to understand that God had a plan.  In the Old Testament, men didn’t fully understand what that plan was, but through faith they believed.  In the New Testament, God’s plan was revealed through His Son, Jesus.  Men still didn’t understand until Jesus died, resurrected and ascended into heaven.  But once they understood, they could not keep silent.  They shared what they learned with others so they could know of God’s wonderful plan as well.

    In this lesson, we will learn as Peter preached the Old Testament history, and the response he received.  Then we will remember Stephen as he preached the same history, and the very different response to his message.  Finally, we will see Saul (later called Paul) who was transformed (believed in Jesus) after Stephen’s preaching, and how he became a mighty preacher, and teacher, of the history revealing Jesus.

    Ideas for crafts or activities to do with children:

    For an activity to prepare to discuss the lesson, have children begin working on the puzzle (ideally of a Bible Story) you have prepared for them to put together.  (Preparation:  Have a puzzle with chunks of it put together, yet with many loose pieces.  Have reserved (in an envelope set aside) 7 important pieces – to leave the puzzle obviously incomplete.  Focus on the fact that God’s Word was written for us to show us a picture of His plan.  We are to learn from what is written in His Word.  Each Bible “story” we have learned through the years is just a piece of the “puzzle” to complete the picture of God’s Plan.  History may appear boring, but we are going to show how fascinating, and especially important, it is in our lives.  Wait until after the lesson is discussed to do the following:

    Have the students reconsider the puzzle they worked on at the beginning of your time.  Ask them if they enjoy doing a puzzle that doesn’t have all of the pieces.  Why not?  Take out the missing pieces – 7 of them.  As you do, tell them that the puzzle could not be completed without the pieces.  They could guess what the picture was, but wouldn’t completely know without the final pieces.  Throughout history, people could try to understand what God was showing them.  They trusted that He held all of the pieces, and would fit them in place, in His timing.  As you begin fitting in the final 7 pieces of the puzzle, explain that it wasn’t until:

    1. Jesus’ birth
    2. the life he lived pleasing to God
    3. His obedience
    4. death on the cross
    5. burial
    6. resurrection
    7. ascension into heaven

    Then the picture became clear.

    Mural suggestion for today: 

    Have them share something that happened that they may not have understood at the time, but later understood why it happened.  Have paper or a puzzle shape for them to write or draw their experience.

    Optional worksheets that can be downloaded:

    Lesson 3 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet

    Lesson 3 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

    Puzzle Shape to write or draw on for mural.

    Another idea is to make a collage on a bulletin board of many Old Testament pictures that are very familiar.

  • Lesson 2: God Made Me

    For this week, I have included a sample lesson.  Hopefully this will give you a glimpse into the simplicity of the beginning lessons.  By beginning with an overview of the Bible (in Lesson 1), we can better understand where The Biblical Path of Life study is going – completely through the Bible from beginning to end.  In Lesson 2, we acknowledge that God created all, but his greatest creation is man.  So few people in the world today truly understand their worth in God’s eyes.  By remembering the importance of each person, and the great love God has for them in the sending of His only Son, Jesus, to bring them back to Him, we can once again understand the importance on our part to receive the great gift God has made available to us.

    God created the world and everything in it.  In this lesson, we focus on the fact that the greatest thing God created was mankind.  We will emphasize that man is God’s greatest creation – for God created man in His image.  And God created man to have fellowship with Him. But the first man disobeyed God, which caused separation. This meant that man could no longer fellowship with God as before because of this separation.  But God promised One would come to bridge the gap between sinful man and God.

    God made each and every one of us.  One of the most important things that each person should understand is that God created me.  He made me a unique individual.  And God created me to have fellowship with Him. God has a plan for me.  But because of sin that separated man from God, each person must trust Jesus to reconcile us, restoring that relationship.

    Key Verse

    “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”   John 1:3

    The Biblical Path of Life Volume 1 sample chapter

    Ideas for crafts or activities for children:

    There is a memory verse fill in the blank worksheet you may want to download.

    Lesson 2 Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet

    • Have each child draw a picture of themselves. Emphasize their uniqueness, while also showing them their remarkable similarities, as they consider that God made them.
    • Younger children could have someone trace their outline on butcher paper.  Then each child could then color it to look like him/her.
    • Older children or youth:  Some of the classes designated a wall in their classroom to become a huge mural.  For this week, have them each bring a picture of themselves.  You may even take a group picture to put in the center of your mural.  Emphasize that they are each different, yet special in God’s eyes.  Each week hereafter, there will be ideas or suggestions as to what to add to the mural weekly.  They may bring a picture, a news article, a poem they have written, a picture they have drawn, etc. of something that is relevant to each of the following lessons.  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.  Encourage everyone to participate.  I have posted a few pictures of murals that different classes made.

     

     

     

     

  • Lesson 1 of The Biblical Path of Life Volume 1

    For each lesson, I will post ideas or suggestions of activities we have tried to help in the teaching or reinforcing each lesson.  Each idea will begin with a summary of that lesson.

    In this first lesson, we will begin by understanding that that we were created by God for a purpose.  While God dealt with man in different ways through the ages, He created us to have a relationship with Him.  As we begin this study of the Bible from beginning to end, we will first take time to see how it is laid out in certain timeframes – dispensations.  Dispensation basically means God’s method of dealing with mankind in respect of sin and man’s responsibility. Each of the dispensations may be regarded as a new test of the natural man, and each ends in judgment, marking his utter failure in every dispensation.  It is with that thought that we will look at the scriptures as a whole.

    God created the world perfect, but man sinned, bringing the judgment of death into the world.  Throughout the ages, God gave man many opportunities to have a relationship with Him, but each time man failed.  Man had to understand that the only way that relationship could ever be restored would be by the atoning death of His Son, Jesus.  We will try to see how God dealt with man throughout the ages, and how God was working, revealing the way to bring man back to Himself – through Jesus.

    Key Verse

    “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”    Colossians 1:16

    Ideas for activities or crafts for children:

    There is a memory verse worksheet that can be downloaded.

    My very talented sister drew pictures of a timeline in five different coloring sheets for children to color, making their own timeline.  It includes a line that begins after man sinned in the garden and when God gave the promise of Jesus.  Our class colored this line red to follow the promise of Jesus to the fulfillment of that promise. We then glued them to a roll of brown paper cut down to fit so we could post them on our classroom wall.  I have posted these coloring sheets of that timeline. You may download them to make a timeline for each student.  A simple way would be to copy the coloring sheets (on legal sized paper) and have them color them throughout the first few lessons.  They could be glued to a roll of brown craft paper cut to size as they are completed.  Our classes made them and added to them weekly, leaving them hung on the wall for viewing as we learned some of the Bible lessons that were pictured on them.

    To open the links below, right click and choose “open link in new tab”.

    Lesson 1 Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet

  • Why Teach This to Children?

    This study was developed to teach children that the Bible is not just a bunch of random stories. The idea was to help them understand that the events in the Bible are interconnected, all with a purpose.  When man sinned in the garden and broke the relationship between God and man, God revealed a promise to restore that relationship.  He promised to send One, His Son, Jesus.  Through our lessons, we learn that God kept His promise and sent His Son, Jesus to die on the cross to take away mankind’s sin – for anyone who would believe.  This allowed for the relationship to be once again restored between God and man.

    I taught The Biblical Path of Life three year program to a 6-8 year old Sunday School class two times (although I am now teaching this Bible study to an adult class).  During this time, the children became more familiar with their Bibles.  They would read verses aloud in class.  Even the children who only knew a few words would read a verse with help, eventually being able to read verses on their own. We made timelines that we would refer to often, to help us see how the Bible events we were learning about related to each other.  I always tried to have some kind of coloring sheet or other type of worksheet to help them remember what was learned in class.  Bible coloring books can be a good place to find pictures to color. The internet can be a great place to find free coloring sheets. But because this study covers Bible events not usually learned in an average Bible study, there weren’t always reinforcement worksheets to help them remember.  I developed a few to help the children remember what they had learned in class.  In spite of my inadequacies, I will make them available in my future blogs for anyone who may want to use them.  You may choose to use them or find better ones that can be used.

    Because the children were learning so much, the parents wanted to learn the same lessons.  This allowed them to prepare for the lesson ahead of class together.  This also gave them the opportunity to discuss what they had learned in their separate classes.  Although the learning was on very different levels, the same Bible truths were taught.

    In the following blogs you will find a brief summary of each lesson along with some downloads to help if needed. My hope is that this Bible study, The Biblical Path of Life, will help people – even children – understand the Bible a little easier!