God Makes a Promise to Abram Genesis 12:1-7 and Genesis 15:1-6

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1 Fall 2016 ~ Beginners Lesson #9 Learning Objectives God Makes a Promise to Abram Genesis 12:1-7 and Genesis 15: The children will examine God s promise to Abram and verbalize God s promise to us that Jesus will return again one day. 2. The children will recognize that patience is one of the Fruit of the Spirit. Memory Verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart. --Proverbs 3:5 (NIRV) Getting Started Choose One Activity Stars in the Sky Cut out several different sized star shapes. As the children arrive, let them color the stars with markers, crayons, glitter glue, etc. Once they have finished, let the children tape the stars onto a piece of black poster board (to look like the night sky). Say to the children: Today, we are going to learn about a man named Abram and the very special promise that God made to him. The Night Sky Draw star shapes on plain white construction paper using a white or yellow crayon. Let the children paint with black watercolor paint across the whole paper. The crayon stars will still shine through the black paint. Say to the children: Today, we are learning about Abram. God made a very special promise to Abram, and it had to do with the stars in the sky! Star Activity See: Preschool Activities Stars in the Sky Before class, you will need to cut out as many stars as you can of the different sizes. Also cut out letters from white construction paper to spell out Stars in the Sky in bold letters and paste it across the top of the poster board. (You may also just want to write the words directly on the poster board.) Then hang the poster board that represents the night sky on the wall where it can easily been seen and reached by the children. Please see the website above for detailed instructions. Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions Message: God Keeps His Promises! Genesis 12:1-7 ~ God Chooses Abram The LORD had said to Abram, Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you. 1

2 Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions Continued So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventyfive years old when he left Haran. 5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites. 7 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, I will give this land to your descendants. And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the LORD, who had appeared to him. Genesis 15: 1-6 Sometime later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great. 2 But Abram replied, O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don t even have a son? Since you ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir. Then the LORD said to him, No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir. 5 Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That s how many descendants you will have! 6 And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith. Discussion Questions: 1. What did God tell Abram to do? (Leave his country with his family and go to a land that God chose for him.) 2. What did God say to him? Did he say: He will make Abram into a great nation? (Yes.) He will make his name great? (Yes.) He will be a blessing? (Yes.) He should go all by himself? (No.) All peoples on earth will be blessed through him? (Yes.) 3. How did Abram show his faith? (He obeyed God and left his country.). Who promised to give Abram land to live in at the new place? (God.) 5. When Abram got to the new land, why did he build an altar? (To worship God.) 6. God also promised Abram something else; do you remember what it was? (That he would bless his children and grandchildren.) 7. Did Abram have any children? Why not? (No. He was already old, 75 years old!) 8. What does it mean to be patient? (Children should remember this from the fruits of the spirit, but remind them in the discussion what it means. Remind them that it is one of the Fruits of the Spirit. Show them on the wall if possible.) 9. Do you think Abram had to have patience while he waited to see what God promised to him that would happen? (Yes a lot of patience!) 10. Is it hard for you to have patience when you have to wait for something you really want? (Answers will vary.) 11. What are some of the things in your life that are the hardest to wait and have patience for? (Answers will vary. Discuss together appropriate scenarios.) 2

3 Application to Real Life Enjoy a healthy snack together as you talk: Ask the children: Have you ever made a promise to someone? (Take responses and discuss together.) Did you keep your promise? (Discuss). Well, God made us a promise too, and the great news is: God ALWAYS keeps his promises! He will never ever break His promise. Do you know God s special promise to us is? It is the greatest promise that anyone has ever made. Can you guess it? (Try to give them clues as needed.) God has promised to send His Son Jesus again so that we can be with Him forever! Doesn t that sound exciting? Has it happened yet? (No.) Before Jesus can come, we have to get our hearts and souls ready for Him. How do we get ready for Jesus? (Make a list of things we can do to get ready use pictures if possible. Use things the children already know about: praying to God each day, practicing the fruits of the spirit (talk about by name what they are), doing our best to follow His commandments (especially the 2 greatest commandments), etc.) We all have to be patient and show our Heavenly Father that we are really working hard to get ready for Jesus to come again. We don t know when He will come, but we can pray for grace every day and for more patience as we wait! (Teacher Note: When you pray with your class, be sure to include some of these items you discussed together in your prayer. Remember to model what to pray for, and try to expand their prayers beyond praying for material things or people.) Memory Work Suggestions 5 minutes 1. Name the two main parts of the Bible. (Old Testament and New Testament) 2. Practice finding the book of Genesis in your Bible. 3. Lead the class in saying a prayer, thanking God for always keeping His promises.. Practice repeating the memory verse. 5. Retell the story about Paul and Silas. Activity Ideas Moving Day Game See: Preschool Games Moving Day You will need to find lots of old clothes, shoes and other heavy objects to fill two small suitcases, so that each suitcase will be heavy enough that it will take 3 or kids to haul it across the room. Use masking tape to form a starting and destination line at opposite ends of the room. (MODIFY as needed according to your class size..if you only have enough children for one team, recruit volunteers OR perhaps play beat the clock and have the team race against the clock to beat a certain time.) Please see the above website for detailed instructions. Also, recruit additional volunteers as needed. Wait and Go Game This game is also known as Red Light, Green Light. The children will take turns calling out Wait (instead of stop) and Go. When wait is called, all the children must stop. When go is called, the children will continue to move towards the goal in this case, you may want to make a sign that says Shechem. For added fun you could have the children put on clothing or head pieces that were typical dress of people in Abraham s time. 3

4 Activity Ideas Continued Count the Stars Activity Give each child a piece of black construction paper. Then give each child a small amount of paper stars. (You may print them on card stock paper or you may use star stickers if that is easier.) Allow the children to glue (or stick) their stars to the black paper, leaving some space between the stars. Next give each child a piece of chalk (any color) and have him or her connect the stars and count them. You may want to pre-write the memory verse on the top of each paper with chalk, or have it printed on strips for the children to glue directly onto it. Then remind the children about today s story, and God s promise to Abram. Sing: Father Abraham (Note: Remember to have the words posted somewhere in the class area, even if the children cannot read yet. You could use pictures where possible. It will also help you with the words as you teach it to the children.) Father Abraham Had many sons Many sons had Father Abraham I am one of them And so are you So let s just praise the Lord Right arm (while you repeat the song, swing your right arm) When you get to the end say each body part that you have already sang and add a new one) Left arm Right foot Left foot Nod your head Turn around Sit down when you get here you are finished! Snack Time Enjoy a snack of your choice together. Start by praying together and praising God for His promises and blessings. Thank Him for our homes, our parents, our brothers/sister, our grandparents, etc. (Remember at this age modeling prayer is often a great teacher.) Then hand out the treats. Use something small that can be counted. Let the children count their snack as they enjoy it. (Goldfish crackers, etc. would work great.) Remember to make the connection to the lesson when you talk with the children. Play God Says See: Preschool Games God Says In today s story, Abram had to obey what God said, even though it may have sounded funny or strange. Play a round of God says to show that we have to listen to God as well, because He knows what is best for us. The game is similar to Simon Says, although they have to hear God says first or the children will be out. Use the suggestions on the website to get you started, but you may be creative as well!

5 Homework Ideas - Read at home with a grown up: Sarah s Surprise (Genesis 18:1-15 and Genesis 21:1-7). - Learn the memory verse for next week But I will be patient. --Habakkuk 3:16 (NIRV) - Work on memorizing commandment #. - Color the Sarah s Surprise handout and return it for a sticker. Other Resources Preschool Lessons Father of Nations Lesson #2 Old Testament Lessons 15 & 19 5