Archive for category: LivingEd – Youth

Author: Janth English

Read Together: After Abraham showed God that he would obey Him no matter what, God made His promises to Abraham unconditional. These promises included rulership, military power, and ownership of the most productive land on earth. Yet, Abraham died without having received them. Did God lie? No! God passed the promises on to Abraham’s son Isaac, and from Isaac to Jacob. Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, had twelve sons, who next received the promises. Through Jacob, God gave the “scepter” promise, which includes kingship and the promise of the future Messiah, to Judah. A scepter is a staff that a king holds, which represents his rulership and authority. The promise of the Messiah was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who was born of the tribe of Judah and who will rule over all nations. The “birthright” promise of national wealth and greatness was given to Joseph. The English-speaking nations of today, who are descendants of Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, have inherited the birthright promises. Many of the blessings we enjoy today are a direct result of Abraham’s obedience to God, and God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to Abraham.

Read Together: Genesis 35:9–15; 48:8–20; 49:1–2, 8–12, 22–26; Hebrews 7:14

Discuss:

• Ask your child how they think Abraham felt about not receiving all the promises during his physical life.  What was Abraham’s focus (Hebrews 11:13–16)?
• Encourage your child to think about the millennium. Will Jesus Christ be the Messiah and King of kings? Will the descendants of Jacob possess national wealth and greatness?
• Remind your child that the identity of the English-speaking peoples can be proven. Refer to the booklet The United States and Britain in Prophecy by Mr. John Ogwyn.

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 – L3.12

Printable PDF – L3.9-L3.12

Sweeting Publishing | FreeBibleimages.org

Author: Janth English

Read Together: Noah had warned the people, but they would not listen. After Noah and his family entered the ark, God closed the door and sealed it. The rain poured down from the sky, and the waters under the earth were opened up. For forty days and nights it rained, and the waters covered the entire earth. No animal that lived on land survived. After being on the water for five months, the ark came to rest on top of Mt. Ararat, which is in modern-day Turkey. Noah, his family, and all the animals stayed on the ark for another seven months while they waited for the waters to recede. Noah had been on the ark for a year, but the first thing he did upon leaving the ark was to make a sacrifice to God and worship Him. God decided that He would never again destroy everything because of man’s wickedness. God made a covenant with Noah, all his descendants, and every living creature that He would never again destroy the earth by flood. The sign God gave in remembrance of the covenant is the rainbow.

Read Together: Genesis 7:16–24; 8:1–22; 9:1–17

Parents:

• Some people believe that the flood was just a local flood somewhere in the Middle East. Explain to your child it was worldwide. (Hint: God said He would destroy “from the face of the earth all living things” [Genesis 7:4], and that “all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered” [Genesis 7:19], and that when the water receded “the tops of the mountains were seen” [Genesis 8:5]).
• Ask your child what would it be like for Noah and his family to stay aboard the ark for a year. What would they eat? Where would they sleep? Where would they get fresh water for themselves and the animals? Building the ark was no small task, and it took a lot of planning.
• Point out that God gave Noah, his sons, and their wives the same command that He gave Adam and Eve. Can he or she point out what that command is?
• Ask your student if he or she has seen a rainbow. Explain that whenever a rainbow in seen in the sky, God wants us to remember that His promise is still in effect. Ask, what was that promise?

Review memorization:  

Genesis 6:9 “This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.”

Printable PDF – L2.11

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.”

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.”

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.’”