Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 10 “”From Abram to Abraham: Promises of Blessings”

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Featured Passage: Genesis 12:1–20; 14:1–24; 17:1–27; Galatians 3:29

Abram left Haran and headed for Canaan at 75 years of age. The life that God had called him to was filled with adventure. Sarai was Abram’s wife. Because of Sarai’s beauty, Abram found himself in trouble with the Pharaoh of Egypt and later with Abimelech king of Gerar. But God intervened to save them. When Abram’s nephew Lot was kidnapped in a war, Abram put together an army from his own servants and rescued Lot. Throughout life’s adventures, Abram never lost sight of what was important. He obeyed God and walked with Him. God promised that Abram’s children would be greatly blessed, but Abram asked God how the promises could be fulfilled when he had no heirs. At the age of 99, God again appeared to Abram and promised that he would be a father of many nations. God changed Abram’s name to Abraham to reflect His promise. He also changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. God let Abraham know that Ishmael, Abram’s son through Hagar, was not the promised heir and that he and Sarah would have a son whose name would be Isaac. Isaac would be the son of promise, because God promised that he would be born.

 

Discuss:

  • Talk with your child about some of Abraham’s adventures. God delivered him from them all. Remind them that nothing is too difficult for God!
  • Explain that God always keeps His promises, though sometimes we have to wait for a long time. He teaches us patience. Explain that Abraham and Sarah learned patience by waiting a long time to have their son, Isaac.
  • Explain to your child that true Christians, no matter what race they are, are considered by God to be Abraham’s spiritual children because they obey God just as he obeyed God.

 

Memory Challenge: 

Galatians 3:29

“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

L3.10 Abram to Abraham Promises of BlessingsDownload

Second Thoughts: Develop Your Personality

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By Thomas White, student

“Living Education is a character-building institution. … We demonstrate godly character through unique personality. Each of us is a unique creation of God. … You are unique, and you are a unique personality.” – Mr. Richard Ames

 

The first Assembly of the Living Education Program’s second-ever semester was given by Mr. Richard Ames, a veritable savant who has served God’s Church in capacities nigh-innumerable. Each member of the audience found their seat claimed by a multitude of helpful handouts, including a personality test. Mr. Ames used these handouts, along with the considerable knowledge he has amassed from his own research and life experiences, to present us with a memorable Assembly on how we can each come to reflect God’s unchanging character through our own distinctive personalities.

Mr. Ames addressed many of the immensely diverse types of personality that God has designed human beings to have, and firmly pointed out that character and personality are two very different things;  To have godly character is to have the qualities of God Himself, while personality is the unique way in which one person may demonstrate and reflect those qualities. The Apostles Paul and Peter, for example, were both gifted with God’s character and used mightily by Him, but their writings show beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were quite different from one another in personality. It has always been astounding to me that as Spirit Beings in the Family of God, we will all be perfect in character and unity, yet also completely unique, and Mr. Ames has helped me to appreciate that all the more.

 

“‘Who am I?’ This [question] is fundamental to character development, and fundamental to personality development.”

Mr. Ames instructed us to thoughtfully analyze ourselves individually, in order to determine which traits we have, which we need to develop in order to better reflect our Creator, and which we must overcome.  Developing one’s personality takes both knowledge and wisdom, and Mr. Ames stressed how important it is to ask questions of people more experienced than ourselves, imploring us to highlight Proverbs 20:5 in our Bibles: “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” The elderly, in particular, are incredible resources for understanding, and we miss a great opportunity if we fail to take advantage of their experience.

 

“Jesus never forgot who He was. …do you really know your purpose in life, your calling, and who you are? … You are the sons and daughters of the Almighty … You are the saints of God.”

Reminding us of our ultimate goal, Mr. Ames described godly character by breaking it down to four aspects: The ability to know what is right and wrong, the willingness to decide to do what is right, the strength to resist temptation to go the opposite way, and the practice of doing what is right until it becomes an immovable part of one’s inward identity. We were left with five objectives which, if achieved, will help to imbue us with God’s character traits: We must develop outgoing interest and warmth toward others, build zest and humor into our lives (“Five percent humor is better than no humor at all,” Mr. Ames jovially remarked), learn to be patient, compassionate, and modest, be strong, confident, and courageous, and cultivate enthusiasm, drive, and purpose.“…Develop the unique personality that you are,” Mr. Ames said as he concluded, “to reflect and to radiate God’s character in you.”

Books mentioned:

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

The Book Nobody Knows by Bruce B. Barton

The Man Nobody Knows by Bruce Barton

Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 10 “Noah and His Family are Delivered”

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Featured Passage: Genesis 7:1–16; Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:5, 9

Noah was a man who obeyed God and was faithful to Him. Noah had faith that God would do what He promised. God told Noah how to build a very large boat, called an “ark.”  Noah built it just like God told him to. Noah and his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, worked on building the ark for about one hundred years. While the people made fun of Noah for building an ark, Noah would tell people that God was not pleased with their disobedience to Him. He warned them to repent and obey God. But the people did not listen. God told Noah to bring seven male and female pairs of clean animals and birds into the ark. And He also said to bring one male and female of the unclean animals to repopulate the earth after the flood. The animals came to the ark two by two, and Noah saved them. When the rains came, only Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth and their wives—eight people—believed God and were saved.

 

Discuss:

  • Explain to your child that people lived longer before the flood than they do today; so, taking one hundred years to build an ark is not unrealistic. (See Genesis 5.)
  • Some Christian groups wrongly believe that dinosaurs were aboard the ark because they think the earth is only 6,000 years old. Help your child see that there is a large time gap between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. God created the earth in perfection, not in chaos (Isaiah 45:18). Satan’s rebellion caused devastation, and a restoration of the earth is described in Genesis 1.
  • Many people think that laws concerning clean and unclean foods were only part of the Old Covenant. Point out to your child that Genesis 7 shows that Noah knew that there were clean and unclean animals, which was a long time before the Old Covenant and the time of Moses.
  • Explain that Noah was a “preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5).  Righteousness just means obeying God and keeping His commandments (see Psalm 119:172). Ask, is the Living Church of God teaching people to be righteous today as well?

 

Memory Challenge:

2 Peter 2:5

“[God] did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly…”

L2.10 Noah and His Family Are DeliveredDownload

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 10 “Cain and Abel Offer Sacrifices to God”

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Featured Passage: Genesis 4:3–5, Hebrews 11:4

Cain and Abel were sons of Adam and Eve. As the brothers grew, God talked to them and taught them, just as He did to their parents. Cain and Abel were learning that they were supposed to obey God and love God. In this lesson, we will see how we must put God first in all we do. We must have a good attitude towards God and show it by doing what He tells us to do.

 

Discuss:

  • Help your child understand that Cain and Abel were coming before the Creator to offer gifts to Him and that only the very best is suitable to offer God.
  • Explain how Abel’s righteous attitude was reflected in his offering to God; Abel gave the best he had.
  • Explain that God loved Cain, but his offering was not pleasing to God.
  • Ask your child what Cain’s attitude was toward God and his brother when he was corrected.
  • Ask your child what might be an action that would come from a bad attitude.

 

Memory Challenge:

Genesis 4:4–5

“The LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.”

L1.10 Cain and Abel Offer Sacrifices to GodDownload

Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 9 “Abram”

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Featured Passage: Genesis 11:10–32; 12:1–4; Hebrews 11:8–10

After the flood, the earth began to be repopulated by Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Abram was born 292 years after the flood, the youngest son of Terah, who was of Shem’s lineage. An interesting fact is that Noah and Shem were still alive during Abram’s lifetime. Abram was born in the city of Ur. He married his half-sister Sarai. His father Terah left Ur for Canaan and took his family, including Abram, with him. They stopped in Haran where Terah died, and perhaps Abram would have remained there. However, God spoke to Abram and told him to leave his family and go to an undisclosed place. God promised to make Abram a great nation and his name great. He promised to bless those who blessed Abram and curse those who cursed him, and that all nations would be blessed through his seed. Abram believed God, and without hesitation, he left Haran.

 

Discuss:

  • Explain to your child that marriage between relatives was common in the earlier years after the flood. Remember, everyone was closely related initially. However, God forbade such relationships later (Leviticus 18:6–18).
  • Point out that God’s promises to Abram were conditional. He first had to obey God.  Remind them that obedience must always come first.
  • Abram was already quite wealthy; he had servants and animals. He was comfortable where he was. Ask your child if they could see themselves leaving the comfort of home to embrace the unknown? Point out that Abram had a very difficult choice to make, but he did it without hesitation.
  • Explain that the promise to bless all nations through his seed is stating that the Messiah would come from Abram’s lineage. Clearly God taught Abram the gospel of the Kingdom of God.

 

Memory Challenge:

Genesis 18:19

“For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

 

L3.9 AbramDownload

Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 9 “Cain the Farmer and Abel the Shepherd”

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Featured Passage: Genesis 4:1–2

In the process of time, Adam and Eve started their family. Their firstborn son was named Cain, and their second son was named Abel. The two brothers had different occupations—Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd. They also had very different personalities. God has designed mankind so that people are individuals with different personalities, talents and abilities. God doesn’t want everyone to be the same; He loves variety!  Both farmers and shepherds are necessary and noble occupations. God wanted Cain and Abel to use their talents to serve Him and their family, and He wants us to do the same today. In this lesson, we will discuss the first two brothers, Cain and Abel.

 

Discuss:

  • Ask your child the names of Adam’s and Eve’s first and second sons.
  • Talk about the agrarian lifestyle with beautiful pastures, animals grazing, and fields of wheat. Paint a word picture that your child can visualize.
  • Ask your child what they think it would be like to be a farmer or a shepherd.
  • Discuss the fact that Cain and Abel were brothers who grew up together. Ask your child what it is (would be) like to have a brother.
  • Remind your child that God has given people different talents and abilities and that everyone is needed. God loves everyone.

 

Memory Challenge: 

Luke 10:27

“So he answered and said, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”

L1.9 Cain the Farmer and Abel the ShepherdDownload

Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 9 “Noah Finds Grace”

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Featured Passage: Genesis 5-6; 7:1; Proverbs 3:34; Hebrews 11:6–7

Adam chose the way of the knowledge of good and evil, and all his progeny followed the same path. The world became totally corrupt; life was filled with violence and all manner of evil continually. Things were so bad that God regretted He had made mankind. Because of their wickedness, God decided to send a flood over the earth to destroy all humanity along with all the animals. Yet in all this darkness, there was one man who alone continued to serve the Eternal God; his name was Noah. Noah walked with God just as his ancestor Enoch had done, and God gave grace to Noah. He told Noah of His plan and instructed him to build an ark so that he and his family would be saved. Noah immediately began to do as God had said. God spared him because Noah put God first in his life. God always rewards those who diligently seek Him.

 

Discuss:

  • Help your child imagine what it would be like to live during Noah’s generation. He was the only person in the entire world trying to live God’s way.  
  • Ask your child if they have been in a situation where they were the only person in the group who practiced God’s way of life. How did they feel?
  • Explain to your child what the phrase “perfect in his generations” means. No human being has lived a perfect life except Jesus Christ. The Hebrew word for perfect can also be translated blameless which is how the word is rendered in many Bible translations. Talk about what it means to be blameless (pleasing God and keeping His laws as a way of life, but also being willing to repent in humility when we sin).
  • Discuss what it means to walk with God. Use Amos 3:3 as a starting point for the discussion.
  • Ask your child to look up the word grace in the dictionary. How does the definition apply to God and Noah? Why did God select Noah to receive His grace? If God gives grace to the humble, what does that say about Noah? Ask what it means to be humble. Can they give an example of acts of humility within their family interactions?

 

Memory Challenge:

Genesis 6:9

“This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.”

L2.9 NoahDownload