Tag Archive for: Youth Bible Lessons – Level 3

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

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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.”

 

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Author: Janth English

Read Together: God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. God said that Abraham’s descendants would be as many as the sand on the seashore!  Yet Abraham and Sarah were getting old with no heir. In spite of their old age, Abraham and Sarah believed God would fulfill His promises, and He did. Isaac was born when Sarah was 90 and Abraham was 100 years of age. Abraham had waited 25 years from the time God first made the promise that he’d have a son. Ishmael and his mother were sent away, but God promised to make his descendants grow into nations as well. Just as Isaac began to mature as a young man, God told Abraham to sacrifice him on Mt. Moriah. Abraham set out early the next morning to do what God said. No wonder Abraham is called the father of the faithful! Abraham began to carry out God’s instructions, and Isaac, in obedience to his father, allowed himself to be tied up. When Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, God stopped him and provided a ram for an offering instead. By Abraham’s act of faith, God knew that Abraham would always obey Him no matter what. Because of Abraham’s faith, God made His promises to Abraham unconditional. That means they would happen no matter what.

Read Together: Genesis 18:1–15; 21:1–21; 22:1–19; Romans 4:3; Hebrews 11:11–12, 17–19.

Discuss:

• Point out to your child that Ishmael is the forefather of Arab people today.
• Ask how long did it take for Abraham and Isaac to reach Mt. Moriah. What was Abraham thinking during that time? Did his faith waiver? Explain.
• Discuss with your child Isaac’s role in this story. What does his attitude say about him?
• Ask how Abraham became a friend of God. Discuss how we can become God’s friend (John 15:14), and what it means to be a friend of God.
• Faith works. Abraham believed God so he did what God said. Ask your child to think of an example in which faith was demonstrated by actions.

Review memorization:  

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.”

Printable PDF – L3.11

Includes the lessons:

• Lesson 9 “Abram”
• Lesson 10 “From Abram to Abraham: Promises of Blessings”
• Lesson 11 “The Promises Made Unconditional”
• Lesson 12 “Inheriting the Promises”

By Janth English

Read Together: Have you ever been to a wedding? Think back to the ceremony and the wedding vows. You may remember that the minister asks the groom if he is willing to be a faithful husband. That means, is he willing to provide for, protect, and cherish his soon-to-be wife. In the same ceremony, the bride is asked if she is willing to love, honor, and obey her soon-to-be husband. They both must answer “I do” or else they don’t get married! And when they say “I do,” they have entered a covenant, which is a solemn promise to do what they said they would do. When you read Exodus 19:3–8, you can see that God proposed to take care of Israel in response to her obedience. If Israel would obey, God promised prosperity, peace, and safety. When all Israel said, “I do,” they promised to obey God. But sadly, they did not keep that promise. However, that is not the end of the story! Today, the Church is the “Bride of Christ,” which is preparing to marry Jesus at the resurrection. That means that each person, when baptized, agrees to enter into a marriage covenant with Christ (meaning, to honor and obey Him). In return, Jesus Christ, as the Church’s Husband, promises to love and faithfully care for each member of His Church. The marriage between Jesus Christ and the Church will take place at the resurrection, just before the Millennium begins. As all brides do, we look forward to that glorious event!

Read Together: Exodus 19:5, 8; Leviticus 26:1–6; Jeremiah 3:14, 20; Ephesians 5:31–32; Revelation 19:7–9

Discuss:

• Discuss with your child the relationship between Jesus Christ, who was the God of the Old Testament (1 Corinthians 10:4), and ancient Israel. Did God perform His duties? How did ancient Israel respond?
• Discuss the relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church. Show how it is an intimate family relationship. Use this as an opportunity to discuss the roles of fathers, mothers, and children in the family.
• Explain that if your child is old enough to be baptized before Christ returns, he or she will have the opportunity to be part of the bride of Christ, too.

Review Memorization: Exodus 20:1–17, The Ten Commandments (long form)

Printable PDF – L3.14

 

By Janth English

Read Together: Israel was so afraid when they heard God speak the Ten Commandments that they asked for Moses to relay God’s words to them. God agreed. In addition to the Ten Commandments, God gave Moses “statutes.” Statutes are laws that apply to more specific situations. They help us understand how to apply the Ten Commandments in everyday life. God’s laws and statutes were designed to provide Israel a fair and just legal system that would protect people and property. When Jesus came to earth, He supported the laws of God, including the statutes, and taught His disciples about how to keep them in our heart and mind.

Read Together: Deuteronomy 4:1–10; Exodus 22:5, 14, 28; Exodus 23:1–17; Leviticus 23:1–3; Deuteronomy 4:1–10; 22:8.

 

Discuss:

• Explain to your student that the statutes are finer points to God’s Ten Commandments. For example, the Ten Commandments command us to keep the Sabbath, but the statutes explain there are “annual” Sabbaths as well (Leviticus 23:1–3).
• Read, with your child, Exodus 22:28. Ask your child if he or she ever hears people “cursing” or making fun of leaders today. How would this statute guide a child to behave toward his or her parent or teacher?
• Ask your child what the following statute means: “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil” (Exodus 23:2). Can he or she think of a time when they’ve had to resist following others to do something they knew was wrong?
• With your child, read the statute in Exodus 23:4. Ask him or her, “Why would God want a person to bring back the animal of their enemy? Would that kind act possibly help them to be friends again?”
• Ask your child what the statute in Deuteronomy 22:5 means. Ask if they can see how that could apply in our world today (when some are confused about gender).
• Ask your child why God would make the statute in Deuteronomy 22:8. Would it not protect people from accidents?

 

Review Memorization.

Exodus 20:1–17 – The Ten Commandments (long form)

Printable PDF – L3.16

Printable PDF – L3.13-L3.16