The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Lesson 3

  • Lesson 3: Stephen: Acts 6-7

    Key Verse

    And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

    —Acts 6:8

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse for this lesson.

    Understand this verse with the following definitions:

    • Full means “full or complete; abundant”
    • Faith means “appropriating what God in Christ has for man resulting in the transformation of man’s character and way of life; faith in Christ”
    • Wonders means “miracles of the Apostles and teachers”
    • Miracles means “signs and wonders, miracles wrought by Jesus and his Apostles in proof a furtherance of their divine mission; mighty works”

    In this lesson, we will learn that Stephen was called out to be a great worker in the early church.

    Emphasis: We are encouraged to understand that we are to be helpers in the church. When work needs to be done, we should be willing, just like Stephen, to not only do the work but to tell others about Jesus.

    Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we learned of the work of the Apostles as they preached God’s Word and taught new believers (even after having been put in prison and beaten). In this lesson, we find a new problem in the growing church. First, we look back at just what the church is and where it came from, and then we learn how the Apostles deal with daily needs of the church. One thing that helped in the early church was the choosing of seven men of good report. These men were chosen to help in the daily workings of the church. We will learn more about one of these men – Stephen.

    God used Stephen to do many “great wonders and miracles among the people.” However, when good was being done, the religious leaders rose up and opposed this work. Nevertheless, when they disputed with Stephen, they “were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.” Because of this, they sought for false witnesses to accuse Stephen. When they did this, Stephen preached Jesus from the Old Testament to them. He taught them of Jesus from Abraham until Solomon. This lesson may be a good time to review some of the things we learned in the Old Testament as we look at the sermon Stephen preached to the religious leaders. After preaching Jesus to these men, Stephen refuted the accusations the false witnesses had made against him. But the religious leaders rejected Stephen’s words and took him out and stoned him.

    In these closing verses, we will be introduced to another one of these religious men: a young man named Saul.

    Y3Q2 – Questions

    Y3Q2 – Children’s Worksheets

    If you are teaching this to children, the following is a craft that will help them remember Stephen.

    We took blue construction paper, folded it with a picture of Jesus standing to receive Stephen (on the inside), and added cotten balls on the outside for clouds.

    The Biblical Path of Life – Year Three, Quarter Two is now available to purchase through Amazon. It contains the full lesson.

  • Elijah and his Message for King Ahaziah

    “And as it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment:”

    Hebrews 9:27

    The following is an excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life” Year Two, Quarter One – Lesson 3:

    “Ahaziah, wicked King Ahab’s son, became king of Israel. As we begin 2 Kings, we learn that Ahaziah fell through a lattice in his chamber and was sick (injured). He sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron, to see whether he would recover.

    “… The angel of the Lord appeared to Elijah with a word for the king’s messenger to take back to the king. He said, “Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?” (2 Kings 1:3b). The message continued with the words that the king would not recover, but he would die — because he sought an answer from a false god instead of the Lord. The messenger returned to the king and delivered the message from Elijah. The king wanted to know who this man was. Read the description the Bible gives us of His prophet, Elijah. “And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins.  And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite” (2 Kings 1:8).

    The king sent a captain with 50 men to Elijah with a message of his own. “… Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down” (2 Kings 1:9b). Elijah’s response? “And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty” (2 Kings 1:10). The king sent another captain and his fifty with another message. “… O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly” (2 Kings 1:11b). Elijah’s response? “And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. response? “1b).he king sent another captain and his fifty with another message. “ng to see who answered by fire; ___ ood gushe” (2 Kings 1:12). We see that the king sends a captain with his fifty a third time. However, see the difference in this captain’s actions and the words he spoke to Elijah. “13b.… And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. 14. Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight” (2 Kings 1:13b-14). When the third captain came with these words and humble attitude, the angel of the Lord told Elijah to go with him and not to be afraid. 

    When Elijah went to the king, he gave the king the same message as before: because the king had not inquired of the Lord, but of the false god, Baalzebub the god of Ekron, the king would not get up off his bed but would surely die. What happened? “So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken …” (2 Kings 1:17a)…

    “A Deeper Path: Aside from the fact that King Ahaziah inquired an answer from a false god, he asked the wrong question. He asked if he was going to die. He should have asked what he needed to do to be well. The question of which we need the answer is not if, or when, we will die — we know what the Bible teaches. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die …” (Hebrews 9:27a). Everyone will die sometime (unless of course Jesus returns first!). Nevertheless, see the important part of that same verse: “…but after this the judgment:” The part we should be concerned with is if we are “well” (the judgment) — whether we will live forever or spend eternity in hell. This is the question we should have answered in our hearts and lives: where will one spend eternity. To spend eternity in heaven is a gift — free; if only we will receive. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). 

    Notice that King Ahaziah was probably angry because the message Elijah sent reminded him of the God of Israel. Most people to whom you witness will not want to be reminded of God. When one is reminded of God, they become aware of the sin in their life apart from God (“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23). Does that make it harder for us to tell people about Jesus?

    Remember when the apostles were imprisoned by the religious leaders for preaching the gospel of Jesus in Acts 5? When the angel opened the prison doors and let them out of prison, he told them to “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life” (Acts 5:20). Peter and the apostles went right to the temple, preaching the gospel of Jesus to the people. When confronted by the religious leaders who had thrown them into prison, “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). That should always be our answer. We can see by Elijah’s response that he feared the God of Israel, not the king of Israel.”

    Do you know where you will spend eternity?

    Do you share the Gospel message with others, fearing God and not man?

    How one can be saved.

  • Lesson 3: John the Baptist Introduces Jesus: The Four Gospels

    Key Verse

    The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

    —Isaiah 40:3

    Key Verse Thought: After reading today’s Key Verse, remember the baby John that we learned of in our last lesson. In this lesson, we will learn that he was the one Isaiah wrote about hundreds of years earlier: the voice of one crying in the wilderness. We will begin to understand that he was sent by God to do a special job – to prepare the way for Jesus.

    Emphasis: God has a plan for each Christian’s life. We may not understand exactly why God has us do something (remember John baptizing), but we are to obey anyway – just as John did. Moreover, we have Jesus as our example of how to defeat temptations – by knowing God’s Word.

    Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we looked at the births of John and Jesus. God sent angels to tell about both of these special births. We also learned about Jesus’ childhood. In this lesson, we will find out more about John that was born. 

    John grew up in the wilderness, and at about thirty years of age, he came out of that wilderness preaching, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2).  His job was to prepare the way for the Promised One. Although John did not know who the Promised One was, God instructed him to baptize, and He would reveal that One to him. And John obeyed. He became known as “John the Baptist.”  God revealed the Promised One to him with the Spirit of God in the form of a dove which lighted upon Jesus as he came up out of the water after baptism. Jesus, too, was about thirty years of age.  

    Immediately, Jesus was driven into the wilderness where Satan tempted him with three specific temptations. Jesus defeated each of those temptations by quoting God’s Word. When Satan left Jesus, angels ministered to Him. When John the Baptist saw Jesus again, He introduced Him to all as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). At this point, John’s ministry started to decrease, and Jesus’ ministry began.

    Jesus went to Galilee where his fame was spread abroad. He then returned to his home town of Nazareth where He went to the synagogue. Once there, Jesus stood to read. He was given the book of Isaiah. He read the Scripture that was a prophecy of the Messiah who was to come. When Jesus finished reading, He declared that those words had been fulfilled in their ears – in other words, Jesus was that One promised. This angered the people, and they tried to kill Jesus. “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

    Y3Q1 – Lesson 3 Questions

    Y3Q1 – Lesson 3 Children’s Worskheets

    If you are teaching this to younger children, this is an idea of a craft to help them remember this lesson.

  • Iniquity Separates

    “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
    Isaiah 59:2

    Excerpt from Year Two Quarter Three, Lesson 3: Isaiah 40-66: Grace and Salvation

    “This section begins with a pointing out of the people’s sin. “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1). Especially notice what the people had been doing. “Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God” (Isaiah 58:2). They had been seeking God and His ways – daily. Moreover, they were going to the Temple when required and performing their duties. We can understand that outwardly it appeared they were doing everything right: they were seeking after God, wanting to know His ways, going to the Temple, and doing what they were supposed to do. However, from God’s perspective, they were sinners who needed their sin declared aloud. Knowing what sin is was not enough. Going through the motions of religion was not enough. There was a serious problem! God was not pleased. “4b. … ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?” (Isaiah 58:4b-5)…

    “God wanted to see a people humbled before Him, seeking forgiveness for their sins. This would change their whole outlook. “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward” (Isaiah 58:8). Then God would hear them and answer them (see Isaiah 58:9-14).

    “God’s people had not yet learned how to do it correctly. Nevertheless, that could not stop God from doing all he planned. “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1). It was God’s people in the error. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). They were a sinful people, and everything they tried to do to become a righteous people failed. God was warning them again that because of their sinfulness, the enemy would come in and take them away from their homeland. But one day, in the distant future, God gives hope again, of one who can take their sin from them. “And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 59:20). And this verse introduces us to what the rest of the book of Isaiah is all about.

    “Remember back for a minute. We read that God’s glory filled the Tabernacle when Moses completed it in the wilderness (see Exodus 40:34). God’s glory also filled the Temple that King Solomon built (see 2 Chronicles 5:14). We will read in Ezekiel how God’s glory departed before the coming invasion of the Babylonians to carry God’s people out of the land. Do you remember why the glory of the Lord departed? The people sought idols instead of watching for Jesus to come. Remember what we can read in John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Jesus came. He was God’s glory. Nevertheless, the world (as a whole) rejected Him. As we read Isaiah chapter sixty, we find a promise. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee” (Isaiah 60:1). One day, Jesus will come again. And at that time, God will turn His attention back to His people, the Israelites. However, before that day comes, see what will happen. “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee” (Isaiah 60:2). The world will become a very dark place before the Lord returns to rule and reign. At that time, God will make Jerusalem what He had always intended for it to be – and the whole world will want to come and see it! (“… And they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel” Isaiah 60:14b.)” 

    Remember why it was that Jesus sent Paul to proclaim the message of salvation to all: “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18).

    Have you turned from darkness to Light (Jesus), from the power of Satan unto God, receiving forgiveness of sin?

  • Lesson 3: Daniel 1-4 Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon

    Key Verse

    Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.    

    —Matthew 10:16

    Key Verse Thought: Read the Key Verse. What do you think would happen to a sheep that was sent into the midst of a bunch of wolves (i.e.:  chased, surrounded, killed, eaten, etc.). In this lesson, we will learn of four young men who were taken from their own people to live among an enemy nation who did not know God. We will learn how they were wise (as serpents – serpents means “the emblem of wisdom or cunning”) and harmless (harmless means “without any mixture of deceit or any defiling material”) as doves.

    Emphasis: In this lesson, we will learn to understand that we are a witness to this lost generation – just as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were a life changing witness to Nebuchadnezzar – for he was saved because of their lives.

    Lesson Summary: The book of Daniel contains some of the more familiar events in the Bible. Most people have probably heard these “stories” often. We will recognize that these are not just “stories” and, we will begin to understand them even better. First, we will consider their place in history. Daniel lived during the lives of the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Daniel and his three friends were most likely taken during the first siege of Nebuchadnezzar when many nobles and princes were taken captive (Daniel was of the kingly lineage of Judah). Remember that God allowed Babylon to come up against Jerusalem because of the condition of the Israelites – especially during the reign of their last four kings (for they had predominately forsaken God for idol worship).       

    In this lesson, we learn of four particular young men who were carried captive into the enemy king’s household: Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. We find that they chose to obey God rather than the king, and God blessed them for that choice. They became rulers in the enemy land. The familiar events we will learn about today:

    1. Daniel and his three friends refuse to eat the king’s meat, but they are found wiser than all of the wise men in Babylon.
    2. Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream that he could not remember. Although none of the wise men of Babylon could tell him the dream or the meaning, Daniel prayed with his friends and God revealed to Daniel the dream and the meaning of that dream.
    3. When King Nebuchadnezzar erected a ninety-foot statue, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow and were cast into the fiery furnace. When Jesus was in the fire with these three, Nebuchadnezzar again acknowledged God was real.
    4. Nebuchadnezzar had another dream, and Daniel warned him to repent of his sins. Instead, Nebuchadnezzar lived as a wild animal for seven years. Nevertheless, when he acknowledged God as the most High God, he was finally saved – all because of the witness of these four men.

    Y2Q4 – Lesson 3 Questions

    Y2Q4 – Lesson 3 Children’s Worksheets

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

    We used stickers to help us remember that God took care of them in the fiery furnace.

  • Lesson 3: Isaiah 40-66: Grace and Salvation

    Key Verse

    I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

    —Romans 11:11

    Key Verse Thought: Read the key verse for this lesson. We learned in our last lesson that God’s people, as a whole, failed miserably at keeping God’s Law. Because of that, there would be judgment. However, in this lesson, we will find that because they failed to be the people God intended for them to be (“they stumbled”), which allowed a time where God opened the gift of salvation to the Gentile people. Understand that this was to show the Israelite people what God had intended for them – so that they would become jealous of Christians today! We will learn in our lesson today just what it was that the Israelite people missed.

    Emphasis: We are to understand that even though Israel failed in being a light to the world, this became an opportunity for Gentiles to become Christians. Christians must be the light to the world to show them Jesus!

    Lesson Summary: Remember what we have learned so far: 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), and during the days of King Ahaz (a very bad king). He also strongly influenced King Hezekiah, a very good king.

    In our last lesson, we saw the reality of a world apart from God, all those who do not obey God’s Law. There were ten burdens of destruction upon the nations, and six woes upon Jerusalem and Judah. Nevertheless, even with the words of destruction, there was a hope of restoration for God’s people. 

    In this lesson, we understand that there is a hope of Grace and Salvation pictured in the book of Isaiah. We discovered that the first thirty-nine books deal mainly with the judgments of God and the history of His people (remember this is the theme of the Old Testament). In this lesson, we will look at the last twenty-seven chapters understanding they deal with the grace of God as it is extended through His Messiah, and the promise of restoration (much like the theme of the New Testament). Not only this, but we understand that because Israel would never fully commit to God, God set them aside for a period of time. However, during that period of time, God opened the door for the Gentile people (an extension of grace) to have an opportunity to believe in Jesus (Salvation) – if only they would believe. Isaiah chapters 40-66 can easily be divided into three sections. Interestingly enough, right in the middle of the second section is Isaiah chapter 53. This chapter deals with the Messiah, Jesus. It is a vivid description of Jesus’ atoning death on the cross.

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 3 Questions

    Y2Q3 – Lesson 3 Student Worksheets

    If you are teaching this to younger children, the following is a craft idea to go with this lesson.

    We made footprints and glued them to construction paper (you could also trace the child’s foot onto the paper) along with Isaiah 52:7.

  • Lesson 3: 1 Chronicles 11-20: David Becomes King

    Key Verse

    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

    Key Verse Thought: After learning of King Saul’s death last week, we must remember that God removed Saul from being king for his disobedience. We then read that God made David king. This verse helps us understand why God chose David – for David wanted to please God with all of his heart. In this lesson, we will see some ways David wanted to do things God’s way – pleasing Him.

    Emphasis: We are to learn that in order to please God we must learn to seek God first.  God demands obedience, and then He blesses. Just as David sought after God’s heart, so too should we!

    Lesson Summary: In our last lesson, we learned that God removed the kingdom from Saul and gave it to David. In this lesson, we begin to remember King David. Once the people came together making David their king, he then sets his eye upon Jerusalem – where the Jebusites lived. David’s first act as king was to take Jerusalem and make it the city of David.

    God gave David many mighty men who helped bring in David as the next king of Israel.  Not only will we learn things about those mighty men, but about the events that led David from being the king of two tribes to the king of the entire nation of Israel. We will then remember David’s failed attempt at bringing the Ark of the Lord (Ark of the Covenant) by a new cart into Jerusalem. The procession halted when Uzza was struck dead (for touching the Ark).  David recognized God’s anger, became fearful of God, and left the Ark of the Lord at the home of Obededom.

    Once the Philistines, enemies of Israel, heard that David was king, they came out against Israel. Before entering into battle, David sought God. He obeyed God, and God gave David victory over the enemy.

    David learned (by seeking God’s Word to find the answer) the proper way to bring the Ark of the Lord into Jerusalem, and he successfully brought it into the tent made specifically to house the Ark of the Lord. This time it was brought into Jerusalem with much rejoicing – in the order God demanded it be done. David organized the priests and Levites in their different ministries in the house of the Lord, and he even organized the music and the musicians that were to play before the Lord.

    David recognized that he lived in a beautiful house, but the Lord’s house was only a tent.  David wanted to build a house for the Lord. Instead, God promised to build David an everlasting house (descendants to remain upon the throne – ultimately leading to Jesus). We will see how God blessed David’s kingdom when David sought to please God first. God allowed David’s kingdom to be extended, and the enemies around defeated.

    When King Nahash died, David wanted to show kindness to his son, Hanun. We will read what happened when that kindness was rejected. David continued to extend his kingdom, conquering the enemies around.

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

    Y2Q2 – Lesson 3 Questions

    Y2Q2 – Lesson 3 Children’s Worksheets

    If you are doing these lessons with young children, the following is a craft idea to go with the lesson:

    We made a crown to remember God chose King David.

  • Lesson 3: 2 Kings 1-2: Elijah and Elisha

    Key Verse

    Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised) —Hebrews 10:23

    Key Verse Thought: After reading the verse, understand that the word faithful means “constant in the performance of duties or services — like a faithful servant.” In this verse, faithful also means “as God with his promises.”

    When we understand the faithfulness of God, it helps us as we “hold fast the profession of our faith.” That means we have and retain the faith we have of the Gospel message of Jesus (that He died to cleanse us from our sins). Moreover, that we do it without “wavering.” Wavering means “steady, without giving way.” In this lesson, we will continue looking at the life of Elijah, and we will begin to learn about Elisha. Both of these prophets of God held fast, knowing God would be faithful.

    Emphasis: Just as Elijah was faithful in doing what God asked of him (no matter how difficult we may think it might have been), we, too, are to remain faithful doing what God asks of us (no matter how hard it may seem!).  

    Lesson Summary: After the people of Israel professed, “The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God” (1 Kings 18:39), there continued to be idol worship in the land. We begin today with Ahab’s son, Ahaziah, as king of Israel, seeking the answer to his question from Baalzebub, the god of Ekron. When the king was injured (he fell through a lattice), instead of inquiring an answer from God, he inquired for a word from a false god. So God sent Elijah with a word for the king – words that the king did not receive (for he did not like the message). The king sent captains with their fifties to bring Elijah to the king. Two times Elijah called fire down from heaven that consumed them. On the third time, because of the captain’s words, he and his men lived. Elijah returned with a message for the king himself. The king would die from his injury — and he did. We will then look back to the call of Elisha as the servant of Elijah, soon to be the one to replace the prophet Elijah (I Kings 19:16). As we remember Elijah’s life, we find he knew he was about to leave the earth. Recall the familiar events of Elijah taken alive into heaven by a chariot of fire and horses of fire as Elisha stood as a witness. Don’t just recall the familiar events, read them again with the intention of learning more about just what really happened. Especially think about the faithfulness displayed, as Elisha never left Elijah’s side — even when Elijah told him to stay. Notice the reward Elijah, and even Elisha, received for their faithfulness. See what the 50 men of the sons of the prophets recognized about Elisha.

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 3 – Questions

    Year Two Quarter One – Lesson 3 – Children’s Worksheets

    You could cut out the shape of a coat from foam and let the children lace it. This could remind them of Elijah’s mantle that Elijah picked up and kept.