Archive for category: LivingEd – Youth

Featured Passages: John 1:1–3; Genesis 1:26–27; John 4:24; John 3:16; Psalm 90:2; Colossians 1:16–17; Isaiah 46:9–10; 1 John 4:8

It is very important to understand who and what God is. We can only know this if God chooses to reveal it to us, and He has, through the Bible. What was it like when nothing physical existed? In that pre-historic era, there were two eternal, powerful, spirit beings called God and the Word. Together, God and the Word planned and designed everything seen and unseen: the angelic hosts, the stars and planets, the plants and animals, and man. The Word, who became Jesus Christ, was the One who did the creating, and God created all things through Him. God is not some magical “force.” No, God is real! He has form and shape. We can know what God looks like because He made us to look like Him. God is all-wise, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving. By His Spirit, He can see what is going on everywhere! However, we cannot really know who God is without knowing His character. God is good, merciful, kind, and filled with compassion. Everything God does is motivated from love. God is love.

Discuss:

• Help your child understand that there are two beings in the God Family, God and the Word, whom we now call the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ.
• Explain that God wants every human being to be born into the Family of God.
• Explain that the Spirit of God is not a separate person, but rather the power by which God does things.
• Ask your child to describe what he or she thinks the relationship between God and the Word was like before the creation.
• Speculate with your child about what it would be like to be a God Being. What would you do? Where in the universe would you visit?

Review Memorization:

Help your child memorize the following verse:

Isaiah 46:9–10 “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’”

 Featured Passages: Genesis 1:9-19, Psalm 104:5-9

On day three of the re-creation week, God made the land appear by separating the seas into their places. He caused the plants to grow. All the fruit trees, shade trees, edible plants, and beautiful flowers came forth at His command. The sun, moon, and stars were ordained for signs, seasons, days, and years on the fourth day, so that humans could keep track of time. Knowing when the seasons occur helps us to plan for planting, harvesting, and especially for keeping God’s Holy Days.

Discuss:

• Ask your child why God made the land. What purposes does land serve for humans and animals?
• Ask why God made plants. Ask what purposes plants serve.
• Help your child to make a list of all the things people and animals do with plants.
• Discuss what the “greater and lesser lights” that God ordained on the fourth day are.
• Your child might be interested to know that before GPS systems, people navigated by the stars.
• Ask what he/she likes about the sun, the moon, and the stars. Talk about how the moon helps us know when to keep God’s Holy Days.

Memory Challenge:

The Days of Creation Week:

     Day 1 – Divided light from darkness

     Day 2 – Prepared sky and clouds

     Day 3 – Separated dry land from seas; created plants

     Day 4 – Appointed sun, moon, and stars for lights in the sky

     Day 5 – Created birds and fish

     Day 6 – Created land animals and man  

     Day 7 – Created the Sabbath by resting

Featured Passages: Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 91:11; 104:4; Colossians 1:15-16; Hebrews 1:13-14; Revelation 5:11

Before time began, before the earth, sun, planets and stars, before anything of the universe was created, God created the angels. Angels are created, brilliant, powerful spirit beings with personalities and the ability to make choices and decisions. God created millions, and perhaps billions of angels! They were created prior to the physical universe to help God govern and manage the universe. Angels were created on a lower level than God, but with power and intellect superior to human beings. The angelic realm is very real, even though it is not within our physical senses to perceive it. Their primary job at this time is to serve and help us, the future sons and daughters of God.

Discuss:

• Many people do not believe there is a spirit realm. Ask your child to identify things we know exist which cannot be seen, such as gravity. Remind him/her that God is Spirit, and He cannot be seen with the human eye. Angels are comprised of spirit, too.
• Discuss how angels were given the job to help take care of human beings. What are some ways that angels do that? Explain examples in your family when you were saved from a terrible car crash or other accident and how an angel might have been the one that helped your family be safe.
• Discuss how angels have long been witnesses of God’s power and His plan. Note that they have watched history from Adam to now.

Memory Challenge:

Hebrews 1:13-14

“But to which of the angels has He ever said: ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”

[1] Herbert W. Armstrong. Mystery of the Ages. (New York: Dodd, Mead, & Company, 1985) 61.

* Parents may wish to read Mystery of the Ages, “Mystery of Angels and Evil Spirits”, in preparation for discussion.

Featured Passages: Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3; Job 38:4-7; Hebrews 1:10, 13-14; Romans 8:19.

There was a time when there was only God—two Beings that included God and the Word. But God wanted to have more people in His family. He first created angels, which were designed to be helpers of human beings. Afterward, God began to create the physical universe.  All the planets, stars, comets, and everything on earth was created by God! The whole universe, everything that we can see and everything that we cannot see, was created in preparation for the future sons and daughters of God Almighty.

Discuss

• Talk about how God and Jesus Christ wanted a family and built a creation for them to enjoy. Originally, it was just the two of them—the Father and the Word—and they wanted a much bigger family.
• Help your child to understand that God is the Creator and that only God can create from nothing. When we make something, for example, we use materials that He made.
• Explain that God created the spirit world, including angels, before creating the physical universe.
• Show your child that while most of the time “sons of God” refers to people, some times in the Bible it can refer to angels (Job 38:4-7).
• Ask your child what things in God’s creation they enjoy the most. Help him or her understand, in a simple way, that God created all of these things for us!

Memory Challenge:

Isaiah 45:18  

“For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: ‘I am the LORD, and there is no other’”

Featured Passages: Genesis 2:18, 21–23; 3:20

God created a perfect paradise saying that it was very good (Genesis 1:31). Adam enjoyed watching the animals. He saw that each had a mate; however, there was no one for him. God waited until just the right time to create a mate for Adam, one that was comparable to him. The King James Version of the Bible states God would make a “help meet” for Adam (Genesis 2:18 KJV), in other words, a helper suitable for Adam. Adam was created from the dust of the ground, but his helper was created from Adam’s rib. Adam called the helper “woman,” which means “from man,” and named her Eve.  Both Adam and Eve, male and female, were created in God’s image, and both males and females have the potential to be a part of God’s family.

Discuss:

•    Ask your child how they think Adam felt being the only human being on the planet.
•    Ask how they think Adam felt when God presented him with a mate.
•    Explain to your child what the word “comparable” means.
•    Emphasize the fact that Adam was created first from the ground and Eve was created second from Adam.
•    Discuss with your child the type of life Adam and Eve must have had in the beautiful garden. Ask them their thoughts about this.

Memory Challenge:

Genesis 1:27  “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”