The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: God

  • Saved by Grace, Through Faith

    “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10)

    Excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life, Year Three Quarter Three” Lesson 8:

    “Paul again reminded them of the life Jesus gave, comparing it to the life they had before Christ. “1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Ephesians 2:1-3). Remember that Paul was writing to the saints which means “the sanctified ones who were called out into the service of the Lord and were morally pure.”  But it was important to remember from whence they came. Why? How does the old saying go: “Those who do not remember their history are doomed to repeat it.”  Christians were, and still are, to remember the old life from which Jesus saved them, one of death and promised destruction. By remembering, one would never take for granted the life given by God, Himself. “4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” (Ephesians 2:4-5). In this verse, Quickened us together means “to make alive as being raised from death to life with Christ.” 

    And one must remember that salvation did not come from anything one could do, for it was a free gift. “8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10). Workmanship means “the result, what is produced, in contrast to the act of making – the doing itself and not that which is made.” Created means “renewal; regeneration; to create and form in a spiritual sense.” God did what man cannot do – produce a regenerated, spiritual, creature, created by God, Himself. After that, God provided a path that He expects these saints to walk in. In this verse, before ordained means “God’s foreordaining for good, as in good works.” 

    God has a plan for each and every Christian’s life.”

  • Lesson 4 (Lesson 43): Psalms 73-89: Book 3

    Key Verse

    “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?”    Psalm 77:13

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Ask your students if they like to go to church.  According to our memory verse, attending church is important to God.  That is how we know the way to live a life pleasing to God.  Help them understand the word sanctuary:  a sacred place dedicated to the things of God.  The church today is a place where we gather to focus upon the things of God and to learn of the things of God.  There is no one (or any thing) greater to place our focus and attention upon than God, our God.

    Summary Today we continue with the second of the Personal Books, Psalms.  Remember that the Psalms is broken up into 5 books.  We will look at book three of the Psalms (chapters 73-89) today, comparing them to the book of Leviticus.  If you remember, the main theme of Leviticus was the tabernacle.  That was the tent set up to hold the things of God and where man was to go to meet God.

    When the tabernacle was completed, God spoke to Moses from the tabernacle instead of Mount Sinai.  Once the people were free from the land of bondage, they needed to know how to live.  There was great emphasis placed on the importance of being a sanctified people – set apart from the world and the things of the world.  The people were to learn how to live as a people wholly given to God, in every aspect of their lives.  Leviticus showed the ability to have fellowship with God when man came to Him as a sanctified people.  (Because He is a Holy God and we are a sinful people.)

    The first eleven Psalms of the third book of the Psalms were written by Asaph (he was one of the Levites David appointed to minister before the Ark of the Covenant with songs in I Chronicles 16:4-5.)  We see him at one point as he struggled with jealousy over the prosperous wicked, until he went to the “sanctuary of God” – then he understood.

    We also reemphasize the importance of learning from history (again), and what happens to those who forsake God.  Through this book of the Psalms, we will learn the importance of God’s house, and the importance of serving Him.  It ends with a praise encouraging us to make God’s faithfulness known to “all generations.”

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  We are to learn the importance of not desiring the things of this world, but placing our focus (our heart’s desires) upon the things of God.  The one place we can go to achieve this purpose, is the church (the sanctuary – that place dedicated to the things of God).

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 43 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 43 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

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

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

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson I took a coloring of a church building.  I cut out the windows and doors.  The students were able to glue different colored pieces of small tissue paper to the back to make the windows look stained glass or just colorful.  They then took time to color the church building.  We are to encourage them to understand that the church building is a special place because it is the place God’s people go to meet together to place our attention on God and the things of God.

     

    Mural idea:

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

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

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

     

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

    Key Verse

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

     

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

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

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

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

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

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

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 40 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 40 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

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

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

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

     

    Mural idea:

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

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

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

  • Lesson 10 (Lesson 36): II Samuel 6-10: David the Conqueror

    Key Verse

    “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”  I Corinthians 2:9

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Children may have a hard time understanding today’s memory verse.  Ask them what David did for his father when he lived at home (he was a shepherd, tending his father’s sheep).  When God sent an evil spirit to trouble King Saul, who did he want to kill? (David)  Do you remember why? (Saul knew that David would be the next king.)  Do you think David was ever afraid? (yes.)  Do you think he ever wondered if he would ever become the king as God had told him? (probably.)  Last week, we saw that David was crowned as the king of Israel.  David probably never knew that he would be such a great king that the kings that followed him would be compared to him (II Kings 14:3; 18:3; II Chronicles 29:2, etc.)   Today, we see how great of a king David was.  Most importantly, we see that God was most important to David, and David became known as a man after God’s own heart.

    Summary: Today we continue in the life of David.  We see that God is important to David.  We then see that David is important to God.  When David kept God first in his life, we see that God established him as a conquering king.  He not only brought the enemies into subjection, but David was also revealed as a compassionate king.  He found a living relative of the former king, Saul, and brought him to his home and restored his land.

    Because of David’s faithfulness, God made him a promise:  II Samuel 7:12 & 16:  “12. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 16. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.”  We will learn today that this is a promise not only of his son, Solomon, who became the next king, but a promise that God’s son, Jesus, would one day be King of Kings.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  We see Matthew 6:33 lived out in David’s life, long before it was even written:  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  We must live a life seeking God first, just as David did, and then we can see God bless our lives.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 36 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 36 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 1

    Lesson 36 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 2

     

    Ideas for children:

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

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

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson I found a foam castle kit and modified it to fit today’s lesson.  In the doorway we glued the verses II Samuel 7:11b-12, 16.  In the crown sticker, we wrote the name Jesus to remind us that the promise extended past the immediate future into the very distant future when Jesus would finally be born.

    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 7 (Lesson 33): I Samuel 8-15: Saul

    Key Verse

    “For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.”  Jeremiah 16:17

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Help them understand that the verse tells that God’s eyes are upon everything.  Nothing happens that God does not know about; not even their iniquity (faults, mischief, and/or sin.)  There is no point in lying about something you may have done (or not done) because God knows it all and nothing is hidden from Him.

    Summary:  Today we will continue in the life of Samuel, but we will be introduced to the third main character in the book of I Samuel – Saul.  We learned last week, that when Samuel answered God’s call, God was able to use him to speak to the people for Him.  He was not only a priest, but he was a prophet of God.  Today we see that the people now verbally reject God as their king and want a man to rule over them.  God chose Saul.  He was, physically, everything a people could want in a king.  He was good looking, and he stood head and shoulders taller than anyone else.  Today we learn what kind of a man he really was, and why God removed the kingdom not only from him, but his family.

    Emphasis:  We must remember that God sees everything.  We must please God in everything we do, obeying His commands.  In order to know what God wants from us, we must seek Him – read our Bible and pray, faithfully.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 33 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 33 – 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 coloring book for each child.  Because Saul was the first king of Israel, there were many choices of coloring pages.  I chose some that told the story of Saul.  I had a book of construction paper cut and stapled together for them to glue the different pictures into in the correct order.  We colored some of the pictures in them with the time we had left.  They were then able to take their books home to color the rest of the pictures as they had time, helping them remember what we had learned in class that day.  We also colored the page that is today’s Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet and discussed what it meant.

     

    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 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