The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Jesus

  • Lesson 13 (Lesson 26): Jesus in the Old Testament: Jesus Fulfilled the Law

    Key Verse

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

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

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

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

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

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 26 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 26 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

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

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

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

    Mural idea:

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

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

     

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

    Key Verse

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 20 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 20 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

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

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

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

     

    Mural idea:

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

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

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

    Key Verse

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 17 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 17 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

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

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

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

     

    Mural idea:

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

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

    Lesson 17

     

  • Lesson 13: How Jesus Relates to the Old Testament

    Jesus in the Old Testament: 

    Key Verse

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

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

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

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

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

    Do you?

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

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 13 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 13 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

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

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

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

     

    Mural idea: 

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

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

    Old Testament Bookshelf

  • Lesson 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 another Bible Study?

    After attending a children’s Sunday School Leaders conference with my pastor (who is also my dad) many years ago, we were both very disappointed and discouraged by the substance of the materials that would be available to teach our children in Sunday school. We saw that the importance was no longer on learning the Bible but playing games and having fun activities.  The most important thing about Sunday School should be to learn the basics of the Bible and what it should mean to our lives.  Because of this, we decided it would be better to write our own Sunday School literature for our children.

    A Sunday School program needed to be more than a compilation of stories, but a simple study revealing that each of these events all fit together as part of a bigger picture – much like pieces of a puzzle. Not only do the stories interlock, but they have a purpose: to reveal Jesus and why He came.  Although it began as a study for children, it quickly became a viable study for adults as well. This study was incorporated in my local church as a Bible Study program for Sunday School.  We used it in our children’s Sunday School time, but soon the adults requested the study in their classes.  It not only provided the opportunity for them to know what their children were learning, but they could discuss the same Bible lesson that they had learned in their individual classes. Most were encouraged by the understanding of the history. Some marveled at the Lord who fulfills His Word with complete precision and who knows our future and works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are the called to His purpose.

    Because of the encouragement of many who have been through this Bible study more than once, it is now available through Lighthouse Gospel Beacon making it available to any who could use this Bible study to understand the simplicity of the Gospel message. Lighthouse Gospel Beacon has done a fantastic job of making it not only easy to use with the spiral binding, but have added beautiful pictures and graphics. The first two quarters are available now. The next two quarters are at the printers now, and they will be available soon.