Posts

Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 7 “The Creation of Mankind”

Featured Passage: Genesis 2:4–20


God restored the earth creating the perfect environment for mankind. God always starts things out small, so He created one man, Adam, as the beginning of His family. God made Adam from the dust of the earth to look like Him and breathed life into him. God placed Adam in Eden, a beautiful garden created just for him, and told him to maintain the garden. Every beautiful tree and seed-bearing plant was in Eden. It was a beautiful beginning for mankind. Contrary to what evolutionists teach, God created a literal Adam and Eve who were placed in a physical garden, and from these two human beings came all the people who have ever lived.

 

Discuss:

  • Help your child understand that Adam was the beginning of God’s plan to have a family.
  • Ask your child what job God gave to Adam.
  • Talk about the beautiful garden and the animals.
  • Ask your child what kind of animal they would like for a pet if it were possible. (Use this as an opportunity to talk about the wonderful world tomorrow.)
  • Talk about the close bond and loving relationship that Adam had with God.

 

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.”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 6 “The Re-Creation: Days 1-7”

Featured Passages: Genesis 1:1–2:3; Psalm 104:5–9, 30; Isaiah 45:18


Genesis 1:1 describes God creating everything in the visible universe. He created everything in a harmonious and beautiful state. But Genesis 1:2 describes the earth as a very hostile and uninhabitable place. So, what happened between verses 1 and 2? This is a period of time, possibly millions of years. During this time Lucifer rebelled against God, and his name was changed to Satan. The destruction on the earth was a result of Satan’s war with God. The seven days of re-creation was God “cleaning up” the mess! Thankfully, God rehabilitated the earth, making it suitable for human life again. He restored the earth’s beautiful atmosphere, He made the land appear, He caused the plants to grow, created the birds and fish, and finally, land animals and the first humans. Then, God created the Sabbath on the seventh day of creation by resting in it, setting mankind an example to do the same.

 

Discuss:

  • Explain that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” in Genesis 1:1 is referring to God creating the physical universe in a state of beauty and harmony.
  • Explain that “create” in Genesis 1:1 literally means “create” (out of nothing).
  • Help your child grasp that a lot of time could have transpired between verses 1 and 2 of Genesis.
  • Explain that when Genesis 1:2 says the heavens and the earth were in a state of destruction and chaos, it means they “became” that way because of Satan’s rebellion.
  • The word “was” in Genesis 1:2 comes from the Hebrew word meaning “to become, to come to pass.”
  • The words “without form and void” in Genesis 1:2 come from Hebrew words meaning in a state of confusion or emptiness.
  • Isaiah 45:18 says God “did not create (the earth) in vain” (in a state of confusion or emptiness) so it had to become that way.
  • Explain that after Satan’s rebellion damaged the surface of the earth, God “renewed it” (Psalm 104:30) in the “re-creation week” to make it habitable for human beings.
  • Ask your child why God re-created the surface of the earth. Remind him/her of the importance of the human family to God.

Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 5 “Satan’s Rebellion”

Featured Passages: Isaiah 14:12–14; Ezekiel 28:15–17; Luke 10:18; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12:7–9; 20:1–3,10


Lucifer was created by God as a powerful archangel with great responsibilities. However, he allowed pride and vanity to pervert his thoughts and actions. Lucifer began to believe that he knew better than God and that his way of competition and get was better than God’s way of cooperation and love. He devised a plan to try to overthrow God. He convinced about one-third of the angels to rebel with him to take over God’s throne. Lucifer wanted God’s job! Of course, the created being was not more powerful than his Creator. God threw Lucifer and his angels back to the earth. God names things what they are, so when he rebelled, God changed Lucifer’s name to Satan, which means adversary or enemy, and Satan’s angels He called demons.

 

Discuss:

  • Help your child to prove that the law existed before Moses. Have them read 1 John 3:4 KJV and 2 Peter 2:4 and guide them in their conclusions.
  • Explain that we have nothing to fear from Satan because God is in charge and Satan can do nothing to us without God’s permission.
  • Explain that everyone will be given a chance to be in God’s family and that only those who willfully reject God will be burned up in the lake of fire (Mal. 4:1, 3).  No human being will spend eternity burning in hell fire.

 

Memory Challenge: 

Hebrews 1:1314  “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 to those who will inherit salvation?”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 4 “God Creates the Universe”

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. God purposed to expand His family. He first created other spirit beings, including angels. Afterwards, God began to create the physical universe; at the instant the universe came into existence, time began. God’s creative ability is truly amazing! The whole universe, everything seen and unseen, was created in preparation for the future sons and daughters of God Almighty.

 

Discuss:

  • Make these verses “come alive” by asking your child questions about what it must have been like before God and Jesus Christ (the Word) created anything.
  • Explain that Jesus had a different name to begin with (the “Word”) and that He later was born as God’s Son and was given a new name, Jesus.
  • Talk about how God and the Word 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 understand that God is the creator and that only God can create, i.e., make something from nothing.
  • Explain that God created the angels before creating the physical universe.
  • Ask your child what things in God’s creation they enjoy the most. Help him/her understand, in a simple way, 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.’”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 3 “God Creates Angels”

Featured Passages: Job 38:4–7; Psalm 91:11; 104:4; Colossians 1:15–16; Hebrews 1:13–14; 2 Peter 2:11; Revelation 4:1–11; 5:11 [2]


God is the Creator of all things, spirit and material. Before He made the sun, planets and stars, God created the angelic host. Angels are individually created, brilliant, powerful spirit beings with purposes and free will to exercise their intent. God made millions, and perhaps billions, of angels. They were created prior to the physical universe to assist in the work of building, governing, and managing that which was to be created.[1]  Angels were designed to be on a lower plane than God, with power and intellect superior to human beings. The angelic realm is very real, even though we cannot perceive it with our natural senses. Their primary job at this time is to minister to us, the future sons and daughters of God.

 

Discuss:

  • Remind your child that everything God creates is beautiful, and though some of the spirit beings described may seem different to the human mind, they have their own special beauty.
  • Discuss God’s throne room. Can he/she identify anything at God’s throne that we have a copy of here on earth? Explain that many of the things we have on earth are physical copies of things in heaven.
  • Explain that “sons of God” in the Bible most often refers to human beings, but sometimes can refer to angels that were created by God [Job 38:7].

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

Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 2 “How Can I Know that God Exists?”

Featured Passages: Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 40:12, 18, 21–22, 25-26; Matthew 21:22; Romans 1:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:21, 16–17; Hebrews 11:1–3; James 1:5-6; 1 John 5:14–15


God wants us to have faith, but our faith is not blind. We are admonished to prove all things, and there is evidence to support God’s existence. We will cover only a few ways we can know God exists here. First of all, God says that the creation declares His glory and that we can know Him through it. The complexity of even a “simple” cell requires that there is an intelligent Designer. The presence of a creation demands that there be a Creator. Another proof of God’s existence is fulfilled prophecy. Only God can say what will happen thousands of years in advance. Answered prayer is a personal way to prove God is real. God wants His children to talk with Him in prayer. Pray to God in faith according to His will, and your answered prayer will give you solid proof that God exists.

 

Discuss:

  • Help your child to understand that it is okay to have questions and that God has the answers.
  • Ask why he or she thinks most people do not want to believe God is the Creator. Guide the conversation to show the human mind is normally hostile toward God and does not want to obey Him (Romans 8:7).
  • Have a conversation about prayer. Cite some personal examples of your prayers that God answered. Encourage your child to develop a personal relationship with God through prayer.

 

Memory Challenge: 

Isa. 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.’”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 1″The God Kingdom”

Featured Passage: Revelation 1:8; Colossians 1:15–16; Psalm 103:19; Hebrews 1:1–3; Joshua 10:11–14; 2 Kings 20:10–11; Matthew 14:25–33; Mark 4:37–41; Revelation 21:7; 2 Corinthians 6:18; 1 John 3:1–3.


 The plant, animal, and human kingdoms are classifications of living things in our material world. The spirit world also has living beings, and the angelic kingdom has different classifications of angels. However, there is one Kingdom above all others, material or spiritual: the God Kingdom. God is on a level of existence that is hard for humans to understand. God is self-existing and eternal. God was, He is, and He always will be. God is the Creator of all things, spirit and material, therefore, God is above all things. God is not bound by physical laws, time, or space because God created these things and controls them all. This is why God could keep the sun from going down for Joshua and turn the sun back ten degrees for Hezekiah. This is why Jesus Christ could walk on water and calm the roaring sea. The good news is that the God Kingdom is a family, and every human being who has ever lived has the potential to be a member. You were born to be part of the family of God! 

 

 

Discuss:

  • Talk with your child about the greatness of God, His power and majesty. State examples and ask him/her to give examples as well.
  • Discuss the fact that God is not bound by the laws of physics (like gravity, magnetism, movement of planets, etc.), which means He can do miraculous things. Discuss some miracles mentioned in the Bible that defy physical laws.
  • Explain that God is offering us eternal life in His family as His sons and daughters. We will be members of the God Family (1 John 3:2).
  • Our inheritance is the entire universe. Perhaps everyone will have his or her own galaxy. Ask what your child would do to inherit the universe. What on earth is worth giving up eternity? Nothing!

 

Memory Challenge:

Colossians 1:16-17 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”