God’s Covenant with Abraham Genesis 12; 15; 17
PreK-5th Grade Lesson
God’s Covenant with Abraham Genesis 12; 15; 17
Story Point: God made a covenant to bless all the world through Abraham. Big Picture Question: Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful and does everything for His glory and our good. Christ Connection: God promised to bless all the world through Abraham. God sent Jesus from His home in heaven to be born on earth into Abraham’s family. Through Jesus, all the nations of the earth are blessed because Jesus saves people from their sins. Key Passage: Galatians 3:29
Babies and Toddlers Lesson
God’s Covenant with Abraham Genesis 12; 15; 17
Key Passage: Galatians 3:29 Babies & Toddlers Christ Connection: God promised to bless the world by sending Jesus. Preschool Christ Connection: God promised to bless all the people in the world through Abraham. God sent Jesus to earth as part of Abraham’s family. God blesses all the people on earth through Jesus because Jesus saves people from their sins. Big Picture Question: Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful. Story Point for Babies & Toddlers: God made a promise. Story Point for Preschoolers: God promised to bless all the world through Abraham. Gospel Gems: • God made a promise to Abraham. • God always keeps His promises. • God promised to send Jesus into Abraham’s family.
Parents: 3 Easy Steps
Unit 2, Lesson 1: God’s Covenant with Abraham
1) Watch: Cindy teaching “God’s Covenant with Abraham” in the Sunday liturgy for 8/16
2) (Optional) Re-Read: This week’s Bible Story as a family or life group and ask the Big Picture Question to each other. (Notice there are two versions of the story based on age.)
3) Do: Easy optional activities the whole family or life group can do together.
Bible Stories By Age PreK-5th Grade
God’s Covenant with Abraham Genesis 12; 15; 17 Abram lived with his wife Sarai (SEHR igh). Abram was part of Noah’s family who had spread out on the earth after the great flood. God chose Abram and told him to move to a place he had never been. God promised Abram three things: a large family, land for his family, and blessing. This was a good promise. But Abram was sad because he didn’t have any children to inherit his blessing. Abram obeyed God. He went with his wife and nephew to the land of Canaan. God had a plan. He took Abram outside to remind him of His promise. “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you can,” God said. Abram couldn’t count the stars. There were too many! “Your family will be that numerous,” God promised. Abram believed God, and God was pleased.
God said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” Abram asked, “How can I be sure?” So God confirmed His covenant with Abram. God told Abram to bring five animals: a cow, a goat, a ram, a turtledove, and a pigeon. Abram obeyed God, and he brought all these to him, cut them in half, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half. Then, when the sun was setting, a deep sleep came over Abram. While Abram slept, God told him what would happen in the future. He said that Abram’s family would be slaves in another country for 400 years. Then God would judge the nation and bless Abram’s family. But first, Abram would live a long, peaceful life. When it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch representing God passed between the animals. This showed that God would be responsible for keeping His promise. Years passed, and Abram still did not have the promised son. God hadn’t forgotten, though. He promised that Abraham would become the father of many nations. God was so serious about His promise that He changed Abram’s name to Abraham, which means “Father of Many.” He changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. God said, “I will bless Sarah. She will have a son, and you will name him Isaac.” God promised to keep His covenant through Isaac and his future family. Christ Connection: God promised to bless all the world through Abraham. God sent Jesus from His home in heaven to be born on earth into Abraham’s family. Through Jesus, all the nations of the earth are blessed because Jesus saves people from their sins.
Babies and Toddlers
God’s Covenant with Abraham: Genesis 12; 15; 17 Long ago, God made a very special promise with a man named Abram. God told Abram to move to a place he had never been. There, Abram and his wife Sarai would have many children and grandchildren. Abram obeyed God, but he did not have any children yet. God showed Abram the sky. “Count the stars, if you can. That is how big your family will be someday,” God said. Abram believed God always says what is true. When Abram was 99 years old, God said, “Your name is Abraham now. You will be the father of many nations. Sarai’s name is now Sarah. I will give your children the land, and I will be their God. I will bless the whole earth through your family. My promises will last forever.”
Gospel Gems God made a promise to Abraham. God always keeps His promises. God promised to send Jesus into Abraham’s family.
Easy and Quick Activities
PreK-5th Grade Name meaning research Use your computer to help kids look up the meaning of their name. If there’s a story behind your child’s name, you can share it with them. Allow the kids to write their names on a large sheet of paper, along with their names’ meanings. Encourage them to draw pictures that represent what their name means. Say • Our names have meaning! God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, which means “father of many nations.” God made a covenant to bless the whole world through Abraham. God used Abraham’s new name as a way to reassure him that the promised family would come. In our lives, sometimes it can be hard to trust God when we don’t understand His plans. Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful and does everything for His glory and our good. Hunt stars Print and cut out star shapes from the “Stars” printable. “Hide” these stars around the room, making sure that kids will be able to find them without much trouble. Invite kids to work together to find the stars. Play again as time allows. Say • That was fun to find stars together! God promised that Abraham would have a family with as many people as there are stars in the sky, and He kept His promise. God always keeps His promises! Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful.
Visit a place you’ve never been Surprise your kids with a fun adventure. Tell them you are taking them somewhere they’ve never been before. Look up a new park you’ve never visited and then plan a time to go and explore. Say • God asked Abraham to follow Him to a place he had never been, just like I asked you to follow me to a new place that you had never been! You trusted me to keep you safe and to lead you where you needed to go. Abraham trusted God to lead him, and we can trust God, too! Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful. He kept His promise to Abraham to bless the whole world by sending Jesus to save us from our sins. 3-5th Grade Discussion & Bible skills Distribute Bibles and guide kids to find Genesis 12. Ask kids if they remember what the word genesis means. (“beginning”) Challenge kids to identify what type of beginning is described in today’s Bible story. Choose a volunteer to read aloud Genesis 12:1-3. Say • Our Bible story is about the beginning of a nation—God’s chosen people—formed through God’s covenant with Abraham. Ask the following questions. Lead the group to discuss:
Why do you think Abraham was willing to leave his home and obey God? Lead kids to consider that Abraham believed God’s plan for his life was better than Abraham’s own plan for his life. (Option: Choose a volunteer to read Prov. 19:21.) Do you think it would be hard to obey God if He called you to do something you didn’t completely understand? Why or why not? Point out that our desire for comfort and control may tempt us to disobey God, but His way is always best. (Option: Choose a volunteer to read 1 John 5:3.) How do our actions affect our relationship with God? Can our sin cause God to stop loving us? Prompt boys and girls to acknowledge that God saves us through grace. Salvation is a free gift, not dependent on our own works. God will never stop loving us. (Option: Choose a volunteer to read Rom. 8:37-39.)
Babies and Toddlers Play out caring for babies Provide baby dolls and blankets for kids to hold as they play out caring for a baby. As babies play, talk about how God has a plan to bless them. Say: God made a promise to Abraham. God promised to give Abraham and Sarah a son when they were very old. God always keeps His promises.
Make star art Provide dark construction paper and decorate with star stickers or use white/yellow crayons or finger paint to make stars. Write the story point and the key passage on the paper in white crayon. Say: God made a promise to Abraham. God promised Abraham would have a very big family. The most important part of God’s promise is that God promised to send Jesus into Abraham’s family.
Hunt stars Print and cut out star shapes from the “Stars” printable. “Hide” these stars around the room, making sure that kids will be able to find them without much trouble. Invite kids to work together to find the stars. Play again as time allows. Say • That was fun to find stars together! God promised that Abraham would have a family with as many people as there are stars in the sky, and He kept His promise. God always keeps His promises! Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful.
God Formed a Nation Preschool Leader & Worship Guides • Unit 2, Session 1 Š 2018 LifeWay OK to Print
Stars
Instructions: Print in color. Cut out the cards. Hide ten stars around the room as directed in the leader guide. Set out all cards for preschoolers to sort as directed in the worship guide.
Hunt Stars Printable
STORY POINT: GOD MADE A COVENANT TO BLESS ALL THE WORLD THROUGH ABRAHAM.
God’s Covenant with Abraham Genesis 12; 15; 17
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INSTRUCTIONS:
Circle the baby that belongs to the parents in each row.
Find the Baby
3:29
LIFEWAY KIDS APP
DOWNLOAD the
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• Choose a clear night this week to stargaze. Use a telescope if one is available. Look for constellations. Talk about how God promised to give Abraham as many descendants as stars in the sky.
FAMILY ACTIVITY:
• Was Abraham special? Was that why God chose him out of all the people in the world with whom to make a covenant? • Why was it strange that God promised Abraham a big family? Did he and Sarah have children? • How does God bless us through Abraham’s family?
FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS:
• Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION:
KEY PASSAGE: Galatians
• God promised Abram a big family, land, and a great reward. • God changed Abram’s name to Abraham. • God promised to bless all the world through Abraham.
BIBLE STORY SUMMARY:
God’s Covenant with Abraham
Unit 2 • Session 1
Preschool Activity Pages
INSTRUCTIONS:
Use the code to fill in the correct vowels based on the shape of each star.
Starry Code
3:29
LIFEWAY KIDS APP
DOWNLOAD the
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• Take a trip to the countryside to star gaze. Find a star map online and use it to help your family find different constellations. Challenge your kids to count the stars and then discuss God’s covenant with Abraham.
FAMILY ACTIVITY:
• What makes it easier or more difficult to trust God? • How can we learn to trust God more? • How can we be called righteous like Abraham was?
FAMILY DISCUSSION STARTERS:
• Why can we trust God? We can trust God because He is faithful and does everything for His glory and our good.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION:
KEY PASSAGE: Galatians
• God called Abram to leave his home. • Abram had faith in God, so God considered him righteous. • God made a covenant to bless all the world through Abraham.
BIBLE STORY SUMMARY:
God’s Covenant with Abraham
Unit 2 • Session 1
Younger Kids Activity Pages
covenant
bless
world
B
land
told
made
A
C
Abraham
God
Abraham
another ________________________ in a specific ___________________ .
3
2
1
all the
C1
B1
C2
B3 .
to
through
B2
A3
Find the boxes on the grid to fill in the blanks.
way
serve
promise
person
people
God
bless
between
A Covenant Promise
One ________________________ promises to ________________________ or ________________________
or ________________________ a ________________________ and ________________________ .
A covenant is a ________________________ ________________________ two ________________________
Use the key to fill in the words and answer the question, what is a covenant?
What’s a Covenant?
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a