The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Lesson 2

  • Lesson 2: Peter: Acts 3-5

    Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

    —Acts 4:12

    Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. Understand that salvation means “deliverance from sin and its spiritual consequences by the Messiah (Jesus).” It is important to know that the only way one can be saved is by Jesus. In this lesson, we will learn what happened to the disciples when they preached these words.

    Emphasis: It is important to understand that the only way for anyone to be saved is by Jesus, and it is each Christian’s job to tell others. We are to be honest in our service to God, and never lie to God.

    Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we learned that Jesus gave His followers’ power, the Holy Spirit, just as He had promised. With that power, they were enabled to be witnesses, and they saw three thousand saved. Those new Believers understood it was important to fellowship with other Believers. “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). As they learned more about Jesus, they also learned how to live this new life pleasing Him.

    Peter and John healed a lame man at the Temple gate called Beautiful, which led to an opportunity to preach Jesus. Peter preached that Jesus was the fulfillment of two important prophecies: remembering Moses who told of a Prophet, and Abraham who told of One who would bless all families of the earth. Although the religious leaders rejected this preaching and arrested Peter and John, over five thousand others were saved. Peter and John were ordered to not preach Jesus, but they refused to quit.

    Many Believers sold their possessions and brought the money to the Apostles to help those in need. But there was a couple, Ananias and Sapphira, who lied about the amount their land sold for, keeping a portion back for themselves. Because they lied to the Holy Spirit, they both died.

    As the Apostles continued to preach Jesus and many were healed, they were imprisoned again. Nevertheless, the angel of the Lord released them and told them to return and continue to preach. The religious leaders, once again, ordered them to not preach, but the Apostles proclaimed, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). We will learn how the religious leaders responded to these words, and how one religious leader’s words spared the Apostles lives.

    Y3Q2 – Lesson 2 Questions

    Y3Q2 – Lesson 2 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this to children, the following is an idea for a craft to help them remember.

    We had a picture of the Apostles (that they could color), made a jail, and tied a string to it to remove them from jail. They continued to preach, declaring that they ought to obey God rather than men.

    The Biblical Path of Life – Year Three, Quarter Two is now available through Amazon.

  • Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

    “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

    (Colossians 3:16)

    The following is an excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life – Year One Quarter Four”, Lesson 2:

    “Many of the Psalms were written when different men approached God in prayer because of circumstances surrounding them. You can see instances of great sorrow, admitted sin, repentance, hope and trust in God, faith, and a great love for God. Throughout Psalms, man’s prayers from the heart turn to singing in that prayer, ending with man praising God, revealing that the Psalms are not only prayers from the heart but songs as well. Some were written in praise and adoration of who God is versus who man is. So many of these hymns are rich in Israel’s history. If we know the history, we will better understand the circumstances surrounding many of these songs.

    “In the book of Psalms, we find God is infinite, sovereign. Yet despite man’s failings, God still communicates with man, and allows man to communicate with Him…

    “One of the most important things we can recognize from the first book of Psalms is the recognition of God and His dealings with mankind. Not only does God care about man, but He is in constant contact with him. We will look at Psalm 8 to help us understand just one recorded instance of God’s specific love and care for man. “3. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5. For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7. All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8. The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:3–9).

    “David began by reflecting again on God’s creation of the world. Such power; how could God even consider any dealings with man, let alone have a one-on-one relationship with man? (Visited here means “an action on the part of God which produced a profitable result for His people. The first time that word was used was in Genesis 21:1 when God ‘visited’ Sarah. She conceived the promised son, Isaac, when she was very old.”) God chose to reveal Himself to the people who became the nation Israel, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. He chose this family—Abraham and his wife, Sarah, who had no children—and gave them a child to show Himself mightily to them and to all of the world.

    “David then recognized that God made mankind just “a little lower than the angels.” Not only that, but He “crowned him with glory and honor.” God made man very special. He even gave mankind dominion over the creatures of the world (see Genesis 1:26; 9:2).

    “David ended this acknowledgement of God’s choosing to have a special relationship with man with these words: “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9).”

    Understanding these things, consider the following verse: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). The following definitions can help in the understanding of this verse.

    • word of Christ: “refers to the revelation that Jesus brought into the world, which is undiscoverable except by God and the Scriptures”.
    • wisdom: “practical wisdom; sound judgment; good sense”.
    • teaching: “to advise or put in mind, as a tutor would do”.
    • admonishing: “to caution or reprove gently; to warn”.
    • hymns: “a song sung in praise to God”.

    This verse should help us understand the importance of reading and understanding the Psalms recorded so long ago for us. The Psalms are so much more than just songs sung as praises to God, by they are also to instill wisdom and good judgment in our hearts and minds to teach us how to live lives pleasing to God.

    Have you taken time to read and understand the Psalms, understanding that God wants to have a special relationship with you?

  • Wicked Kings of Israel

    “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.”

    Ephesians 4:18

    The following is an excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life” Year Two, Quarter One – Lesson 2:

    “We read about the first three kings of Israel in our last lesson. See they are described as kings whom: “…did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin” (1 Kings 15:26). Remember that King Jeroboam made two golden calves, one in Dan and the other in Bethel, for the people to worship so that they would not return to the Temple in Jerusalem. This was sin in God’s eyes. Notice that each king after Jeroboam was compared back to him. … We will meet five more kings of Israel from 1 Kings 16.

    “Elah: When Baasha died, his son Elah became king (see 1 Kings 16:8). Elah’s servant, Zimri, conspired against him. Zimri was captain of half his chariots. After conspiring against him, Zimri killed him, becoming king in his stead (see 1 Kings 16:9-10).

    “Zimri: As soon as Zimri became king, he killed the entire house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord (1 Kings 16:11-13). Why did he do this? “For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities” (1 Kings 16:13). Zimri was king for seven days. When the people heard that he killed Elah to become king, they made Omri their king. When the people did this, Omri went (and all of Israel with him) to besiege Tirzah. When Zimri saw the city was taken, he went into the palace of the king’s house and burned it — while he was still inside, killing himself (see 1 Kings 16:18). It was the Lord’s will that he die. Why? “For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin” (1 Kings 16:19). However, there was a division among the people.

    “Tibni: Half of the people followed Tibni to make him king, but the other half followed Omri. “But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned” (1 Kings 16:22).

    “Omri: The people made Omri king and he reigned for twelve years. He bought a hill in Samaria and built a city. “25. But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him. 26. For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities” (1 Kings 16:25-26). Omri died and his son, Ahab, reigned in his stead.

    “Ahab: Ahab, son of Omri, reigned over Israel for 22 years. “30. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. 31. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. 32. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him” (1 Kings 16:30-33). As we will find in our study, Ahab was a wicked king with a very wicked wife.

    “A Deeper Path: Notice that each generation seemed to be worse than the generation before them. When they rejected God and His commandments, the land filled with “darkness.”  See what Jesus said in John 3:19: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” 

    “Remember that Jesus came to set us free from that darkness to walk as His dear children in Him (the Light). “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).

    “A Christian cannot walk in “darkness” (sin).  “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (1 John 1:6).

    “As Christians (God’s people), we are to be different — not like the “nations” around us (as Israel’s kings chose to be). “17. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:17-18).”

    Are you like the wicked kings of Israel with their understanding darkened, because of the blindness of their heart?

    Or

    Are you light in the Lord, walking as children of light?

  • Lesson 2: Jesus’ Birth and Childhood: The Four Gospels

    Key Verse

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

    —Job 42:5

    Key Verse Thought: Read today’s Key Verse. Have you ever heard of something that you have not yet seen (i.e.: the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, etc.)? After reading this lesson’s Key Verse, understand that all through the Old Testament the people had heard God’s promise of One who would come. Nevertheless, they never saw Him with their own eyes, they had only heard of Him. In our lesson today, we will find that God kept His promise, and many people recognized just who it was they saw – Jesus, the Promised One.

    Emphasis: Christians are to recognize that God kept His promises: He sent the “messenger” and gave Jesus to the world as a baby. Jew and Gentile alike recognized the Savior had been born.  Moreover, Jesus grew: He waxed strong and increased in wisdom. Jesus had to strive to be what God expected Him to be – and we must, too!

    Lesson Summary: After four hundred years, the silence from God ended. Angels began appearing to different people: Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. Jesus, the Savior, was born. 

    In this lesson, we begin by remembering the birth of John the Baptist. The angel of the Lord told Zacharias just whom this child would grow up to be – the one who would “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (see Luke 1:17). He was to be the “messenger” in the spirit of Elijah that would come to prepare the way for Jesus (see Malachi 3:1 and 4:5).  

    We then remember what we call the “Christmas Story.” But instead of just retelling it as we have done so many times before, we want to hear it anew in relation to our study of the Bible as a whole. We need to understand that it is not just another “Bible Story,” it is the fulfillment of the promise God made immediately after man sinned in the Garden (see Genesis 3:15). It is the same promise God consistently reminded His people in the Old Testament to watch and wait for. 

    God revealed the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world, to more than just the people directly involved. The shepherds were watching their sheep when the angel of the Lord appeared to them in the night. God had promised Simeon that he would not see death until he witnessed the salvation of the Lord. Anna, too, waited at the temple for the promise from God. The wise men witnessed a new star in the sky and followed it until they met the new king. Although each of these saw Jesus, King Herod and the chief priests and scribes who heard the new king had been born did not take the time to go see for themselves.

    Even today, there are many who hear that Jesus has come and is the only way for salvation, yet fail to go and see for themselves.

    Y3Q1 – Lesson 2 Questions

    Y3Q1 – Lesson 2 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this to younger children, the following are a couple of craft ideas to help them remember this lesson:

  • Lesson 2: Ezekiel 33-48 Judah’s Future

    Key Verse

    Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

    —1 Corinthians 15:58

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse. We are to understand what it means to be “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” That means: not changing or moving, but being more abundant or distinguished than somebody else in reference to doing something. We are to try to be the best Christian living for Jesus than anyone else around us – for we know that even though it may be very difficult (labour), we also know that our life will not be fruitless in God’s eyes.

    Emphasis: We are to remain true to the task God places before us, no matter how difficult it may seem – even if people ignore us and reject God’s Word (just as they did to Ezekiel), when we tell others about Jesus. 

    Lesson Summary: God called Ezekiel again, to be a watchman to Israel. He was to continue warning the people – especially the children of God’s people. The children would be the ones who would eventually return to Jerusalem. God warned Ezekiel that he would be accountable to God if he was not faithful to speak the Words God gave him to speak. 

    While Ezekiel was warning God’s people, a messenger came with the news that Jerusalem had been smitten (defeated; destroyed). Ezekiel proceeded to remind them why Jerusalem had been destroyed. Although the people listened to the message, they did not adhere to the teachings.

    Ezekiel had to remind the people why they lost their homeland and their beloved city, Jerusalem. It was because they forsook God and worshiped idols instead. Nevertheless, after this reminder, they were encouraged with the words that God would one day restore their homeland to them. After these words, God gave Ezekiel an unusual visual to help him understand what God would do for His people one day. God took Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones and told him to preach the Word of the Lord to them. When he did, the bones were rejoined and skin covered them again. After God breathed life into them, those dead bones lived. It was a picture of the dead, desolate nation Israel would be when God would one day restore them. 

    God would join the divided kingdom as one nation with one king, they would reject idolatry once and for all and God would be their God, and God then gave the promise of Jesus.  Jesus would be the king over God’s people, the one shepherd, and he would be their prince – forever.

    Y2Q4 – Lesson 2 Questions

    Y2Q4 – Lesson 2 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this lesson to younger children, the following is a craft idea to help them remember this lesson:

    We made a book with the pictures of the different stages of the events that took place when Ezekiel preached in the Valley of the Dry Bones.

  • Lesson 2: Isaiah 1-39: The Law and Judgment

    Key Verse

    But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

    —Isaiah 64:6

    Key Verse Thought: Read the key verse. From this verse, understand that we are a sinful people who could never stand before a Holy God. Because of that, there is no hope from within to become a righteous people who could stand before God. In this lesson, we will see what becomes of people, and even nations, who because of sin cannot live. All who rejected God “fade as a leaf” because mankind’s sin “like the wind, have taken us away.”

    Emphasis: God gave the Law to reveal sin. Without that Law, no one would know right from wrong. However, the Law cannot save anyone, for it only brings judgment. Nevertheless, God promised the hope of salvation.

    Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we remembered the call of Isaiah. We then looked at the book as a whole, trying to understand some of the interesting things about the book.

    In this lesson and the next one, we will look at something very interesting about the book of Isaiah. In the Bible, there are 66 books. Isaiah has 66 chapters. The 66 books of the Bible are divided into two main parts; the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament has 39 books. The New Testament has 27 books. The book of Isaiah can also be divided into two main parts. The first 39 chapters deal mainly with the judgments of God and the history of His people (think of the theme of the Old Testament). The last 27 chapters deal with the grace God will extend through His Messiah and the promise of restoration (think of the theme of the New Testament). 

    The Day of the Lord is dealt with many times in the book of Isaiah. We will learn how this day relates to God’s people. Isaiah saw ten burdens on the nations. He also wrote how the Day of the Lord would relate to the world. He then listed the six woes upon Jerusalem. But through all of this, we will learn that in spite of the rejection of God and His Law among His people, God continually delivered them and promised restoration one day. He also reminded them that he would send Jesus. We will once again remember the time God saved Hezekiah from the invasion of Sennacherib. 

    Isaiah examined the sins of Judah, speaking to the kings in their courts. He spoke during the days of Uzziah (Azariah, a good king), Jotham (a good king), King Ahaz (a very bad king), and King Hezekiah (a very good king).

    This is our second of three lessons looking at the book of Isaiah.

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 2 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 2 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this to younger children, here is a craft idea to help them remember the lesson:

    We made a nativity scene with stickers to remember that Isaiah prophesied Jesus would be born. We included the verses Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 9:6-7.

  • Lesson 2: 1 Chronicles 3-10: The Beginning of the Kings – Saul

    Key Verse

    Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance.

    —2 Peter 1:13

    Key Verse Thought: Read today’s key verse. Realize that tabernacle means “the body as a frail tenement of the soul” and stir you up means “of the mind; to excite.” A good Bible teacher’s job, as teachers (in our frailty), is to stir up students (excite them) by putting them in remembrance (to help them remember the heroes of our faith). We should be excited about learning of these great men and women in the Bible. In this lesson, we will continue with our remembrance of some of the people in the Old Testament – even learning of a few new people along the way.

    Anyone who learns something exciting from God’s Word can share it with someone else!

    Emphasis: It is important to remember (with excitement) the people and events of the Old Testament. Recognize God’s blessings upon those who called out to Him, and especially those who sought God with the whole heart.

    Lesson Summary: In this lesson, we continue our study of the genealogies listed in the book of First Chronicles. While reading the descendants of David, recognize the listing of the kings of Judah. As we read through more of the genealogies, notice the interesting pieces of information sandwiched into them – events that many overlook as they skip over the seemingly boring, non-eventful, genealogies (as we discover how exciting they can be!). We will also see where the rest of the sons of Judah are listed. After that, time will be spent remembering the kings and their lives in greater detail.

    The first king of Israel was Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin. Remember again, why God removed the kingdom from his family and gave it to another – one who sought after God’s own heart. “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22). 

    Remember: The Chronicles do not dwell upon the wrongdoings of the kings, but what good they accomplished for Judah.

    Y2Q2 – Lesson 2 Questions

    Y2Q2 – Lesson 2 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this to young children, the following is a craft idea to help them remember the lesson:

    We made musical instruments to help us remember King David.

  • Lesson 2: 1 Kings 16:29 – 22:53: Ahab and Elijah

    Key Verse

    And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. —Romans 8:28

    Key Verse Thought: Have you ever had something bad happen to you? According to this verse, if we are Christians (have Jesus in our heart), and are living according to God’s Word doing what God wants us to do with our lives, everything will work out for good — even if it seems like something bad at the time. In this lesson, we will see this lived out in Elijah’s life. Even when the king and queen wanted Elijah dead, God provided for him and took care of him.

    Emphasis: If we will obey God, God will provide for us and take care of us — no matter what.     

    Lesson Summary: Now that we have seen the nation of Israel divide into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, we will begin by studying the nation Israel. We will continue with Judah afterward. In our last lesson, we began by learning about the first three kings of Israel — Jeroboam, Nadab, and Baasha. Israel never had a good, or godly, king. In this lesson, we will continue with the next six kings — including one of the worst kings and his wicked queen.

    After seeing four more wicked kings (Elah, Zimri, Tibni, and Omri), we come to the worst king yet — King Ahab. After he became king, God sent His prophet, Elijah, to speak to wicked King Ahab. Elijah told the king that there would be no rain in the land; and there was a drought for over three years. God provided for Elijah during the drought and sent him back to King Ahab after three years with a great challenge. Elijah had all of Israel to meet on top of Mount Carmel to call for a decision from the people. Choose who the true God is. After Elijah’s mighty victory, he ran for his life. We see God had not forgotten him, but He showed himself to Elijah in a still small voice. He then gave Elijah a helper, Elisha. We will learn more about him in our next lesson.

    We will continue with King Ahab’s wicked reign as Benhadad, king of Syria, besieged Israel. God mightily delivered — twice. However, because King Ahab spared the enemy king’s life, God would require King Ahab’s life.

    We see more of Queen Jezebel’s wickedness as she kills to acquire Naboth’s vineyard for her husband, King Ahab. When Elijah told King Ahab of God’s displeasure about this event, we will see the compassion God had upon King Ahab when he was sorry for sin. When King Ahab joined with the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, to enter into battle with Syria, a prophet of God told King Ahab that he would die in battle — and he did. King Ahab’s son, Ahaziah, became the next king of Israel. He, too, was a wicked king.

    Year Two Quarter One Questions

    Year Two Quarter One Student Worksheets

    You could have your students make their own coloring book about Elijah.

  • 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.