Teacher BIBLE STUDY Abraham and Sarai had been living in Canaan for 10 years. Even though God had promised them more descendants than they could count, they still didn t have a child! So Sarai devised a plan to help God out. She gave her slave, Hagar, to her husband as a second wife (concubine). The taking of a concubine by the husband of a barren woman was not unheard of in that day. It was a way to carry on the family name. Since Hagar was a slave in the household, Hagar s child would be Abraham s heir. When Hagar became pregnant and began to disrespect Sarai, Sarai mistreated her until Hagar ran away. Hagar was probably returning to Egypt when the Angel of the Lord found her in the wilderness. He asked her what she was doing and instructed her to return to Abraham and Sarai. The Angel also gave Hagar a promise: She would have a son named Ishmael, because the Lord had heard her cry of affliction. Thirteen years after Ishmael was born, God changed Sarai s name to Sarah to reaffirm his promise of a son for Sarah. Sarah became pregnant and gave birth to Isaac, just as God had said. Abraham and Sarah had waited 25 years for the son of promise. Even though Sarah tried to help God s plan, God was faithful to His promise. God can always be trusted. Help the kids you teach understand that God fulfilled His promise to Abraham by giving him a son. Isaac was the hope of Abraham and Sarah for a future and a legacy. God also promised to send the Savior, Jesus Christ, through Abraham s family. Jesus ultimately fulfilled God s promise to Abraham, and He is the hope of the world for salvation and redemption. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 2 Session 2 1 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Preschool BIBLE STUDY OVERVIEW Session Title: The Sons of Abraham Bible Passage: Genesis 16:1-16; 17:15-22; 21:1-7 Big Picture Question: Who always keeps His promises? God always keeps His promises. Key Passage: Genesis 17:7 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus is the true Son of promise whom God provided as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Small Group Opening (15 20 minutes) Large Group Bible Study (10 15 minutes) Small Group Activities (20 25 minutes) Snack and Transition (20 minutes) 2 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
The BIBLE STORY The Sons of Abraham Genesis 16:1-16; 17:15-22; 21:1-7 Abram and Sarai waited and waited for God to keep His promise that they would have a baby, but no baby was born to them. Abram and Sarai believed God. They had moved when God told them to move from their home. But they were very old, and they could not imagine how God could keep His promise about the baby. They wanted a baby, so they thought and thought, trying to think of their own plan to make God s promise come true. First, they thought that one of Abram s servants who was already a grown man could be like a son, even though he was not their son. But God said no, that was not His plan. Then, they thought that maybe Hagar (HAY gahr), one of Sarai s servants, could have a baby who would be Abram s son. Hagar found out she was going to have a baby; soon she began to make fun of Sarai because she was going to have a baby and Sarai wasn t going to have a baby. Sarai was upset. Sarai began to treat Hagar badly, and Hagar ran away. But the angel of the Lord was watching Hagar running away through the desert. He asked Hagar what she was doing. Hagar said, I am running away from Sarai. The angel of the Lord said, Go back and do not say mean things to Sarai. You will have a son and many grandchildren and many, many great-grandchildren. Name your son Ishmael (ISH may el). Hagar did what the Lord wanted her to do. But Hagar s baby was not the baby God had promised Abram and Sarai. When Ishmael was 13 years old and Abram was 99 years old, The Lord came to Abram and changed his name to Abraham. He changed Sarai s name to Sarah and promised to bless her. She would have a son. Her descendants would make nations, and some of them would be kings. Abraham fell facedown and laughed. He was thinking, Can a 100-yearold man and a 90-year-old woman have a baby? Abraham said to God, If only you could use Ishmael for your plan. But God said, No. Your wife Sarah will have a son and you will name him Isaac. I will tell him My promises about his future descendants. Now Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 2 Session 2 3 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
about your son Ishmael, I will bless him and make his descendants into a great nation, too. But the promises I have made to you will be the same promises I will make to Isaac. Sarah will have the baby this time next year. What do you think happened a year later? Did Abraham and Sarah have a baby even though they were very old? Of course they did! He was born just when God had promised. Abraham named his son Isaac, as God had told him to do. Isaac means he laughs. Sarah said, God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that I would have a baby? Yet I have had a son for him in his old age. Isaac was the son God had promised them. Who always keeps His promises? God always keeps His promises. Christ Connection: God fulfilled His promise to Abraham by giving him a son. Isaac was the hope of Abraham and Sarah for a future and a legacy. God fulfilled His promise to the world by giving us His Son. Jesus ultimately fulfilled God s promise to Abraham, and He is the hope of the world for salvation and redemption. 4 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Small Group OPENING Session Title: The Sons of Abraham Bible Passage: Genesis 16:1-16; 17:15-22; 21:1-7 Big Picture Question: Who always keeps His promises? God always keeps His promises. Key Passage: Genesis 17:7 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus is the true Son of promise whom God provided as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Prepare: Play Promises in the background. Set an offering basket near the door. Post the allergy alert for the snack ingredients. Set out a few favorite toys such as puzzles and blocks. LOW PREP Abraham and Sarah Waited, 1 per kid clear tape crayons child-size scissors Welcome and Session Starter (15 20 minutes) Greet parents and preschoolers, following your church s security procedures for signing children in. Offer the preschooler one or both activities to set the stage for today s lesson. Activity Sheet: Abraham and Sarah Waited Preschoolers will color the clothing of Abraham and Sarah paper dolls. Instead of changing clothing, their heads will change as they age and wait for their promised son. Hair color will change from dark to gray. Cut out the head strips for the children or let them do it. Assist in taping the head strips as directed, old-age heads taped on top of the young heads at the dotted line. Fold the old heads up so the original young Abraham and Sarah show. Say Abraham and Sarah married, and they waited a long time, but they did not have children. God promised them they would have a son. Again they waited a long time, but they did not have a son. [Fold down the older Abraham and Sarah.] At last, when they thought they were too old, they had the son God had promised them. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 2 Session 2 5 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Today s Bible story is about how God always keeps His promises. inflated balloon countdown video or bell (optional) Name Him He laughs Sit in a circle. Throw a balloon in the air. When it is in the air, the boys and girls must laugh as much as they can. When it hits the ground they must freeze. Anyone who makes a noise after the balloon hits the ground is out for the next toss of the balloon. See who can keep a straight face the longest without laughing. Repeat as long as this is fun. Say In today s Bible story, God said to name somebody a name that means he laughs. Listen to find out whose name that was. Transition to Bible study time Use your signal to get children s attention. Tell them they will hear a story about a baby today. They can walk to the large-group circle acting like babies if they wish. 6 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Large Group BIBLE STUDY Session Title: The Sons of Abraham Bible Passage: Genesis 16:1-16; 17:15-22; 21:1-7 Big Picture Question: Who always keeps His promises? God always keeps His promises. Key Passage: Genesis 17:7 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus is the true Son of promise whom God provided as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Large Group Bible Study Time (10-15 minutes) I Will Keep Note: The story of Abraham s name change occurred in last week s lesson. To avoid confusion he is referred to as Abraham throughout this lesson. The Sons of Abraham video Introduce the Bible story Review what a covenant is (a promise between two people or between a person and God). Sing I Will Keep. Stand up (and sit back down) when you hear the word covenant. Say In last week s Bible story, what did God promise Abraham? God promised that Abraham and Sarah would have many descendants many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. So Abraham had to have a son. But Abraham was 75 years old, and Sarah was 65 years old. They were already old enough to be grandparents or even great-grandparents, and they did not have any children! Do you think God could really keep His promise? Watch or tell the Bible story Tell the Bible story, or show the Bible story video The Sons of Abraham. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 2 Session 2 7 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Bible Key Passage Poster Big Picture Question Poster Use the timeline from the Timeline Map or Small Group Visual Pack. Tip: Do activities one of these ways: at the same time as a group in small groups that rotate through each activity set up as centers, allowing preschoolers to browse and choose Talk about the Bible story Ask the big picture question and show the timeline. Point to pictures of Abraham on the timeline. Say Almost all the rest of the Bible will be about Abraham and his descendants. When you can, gesture from left to right on the timeline to reinforce that we usually read from left to right. Point to Genesis 17:7 in the Bible; read it from the key passage poster. Say Does anyone remember what a covenant is? (a promise between two people or between a person and God) God made this covenant with Abraham. What did God promise? (to be Abraham s God) Read the big picture question poster, emphasizing the words always and God. Say the question and answer together a couple of times, with emphasis, until most preschoolers can say it with you. Say What promise did God make with Abraham that Abraham had to wait for? (a son) Did God keep that promise? (Yes!) Who always keeps His promises? God always keeps His promises. Transition to small groups Describe the activities you have chosen and tell kids how you plan to do them. Move to small groups. 8 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Small Group ACTIVITIES Session Title: The Sons of Abraham Bible Passage: Genesis 16:1-16; 17:15-22; 21:1-7 Big Picture Question: Who always keeps His promises? God always keeps His promises. Key Passage: Genesis 17:7 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus is the true Son of promise whom God provided as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Small Group Activities Time (20 25 minutes) Select from the following activities those which you can staff and which suit your class. Plan how many kids can work on an activity at the same time. During each activity, try to ask the big picture question; train the boys and girls to respond together with the answer. LOW PREP large sheet of paper from a roll masking tape crayons or washable markers Make an Amazing God mural Print Amazing God as the title of the mural. Tape it to the wall, table, or floor. Preschoolers can draw amazing things on the paper. Anything God created is amazing. Recall Bible stories that show God s power. (creation, the great flood, confounding languages at Babel, sending a star and angels to announce Jesus birth) Say Everything God does is amazing. His promises are great, and we can count on Him to do what He says. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 2 Session 2 9 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
beanbag, 1 per child dark pillowcase or a box with a hand-size hole in the side assorted baby items (doll, diaper, pacifier, bottle, rattle, board book) Play a waiting game Line kids up at the end of a hall or at one end of the room. Give each one a beanbag to place on his head. Announce that you will play Red Light/Green Light : you will stand as far away as you can and say green light. The kids will walk toward you until you say red light. They might have to wait patiently for you to say green light again. Each kid will also have to walk carefully if the beanbag falls off someone s head, he must return to the starting line. Say Observe that Abraham and Sarah had to wait patiently for God to do what He had promised. Sometimes they probably thought time was passing slowly while they waited! Guess baby items Put the baby items in the pillowcase or box. Give each child a turn to feel, guess, and remove a baby item. Return the item to the pillowcase or box. Challenge the kids to feel for something that has not been pulled from the bag yet. Keep track of how many things you put in the bag and how many are left to find. Say What did God promise Abraham and Sarah that they wanted very much? (a baby) Did God keep His promise to Abraham and Sarah? (Yes! God always keeps His promises.) 10 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
small cups of lemon juice cotton swabs or clean paintbrushes iron or light bulb white paper large baby doll(s) doll-size or newborn diapers masking tape squares and strips of cloth Paint with invisible ink Dip a paintbrush or a cotton swab into a small cup of lemon juice. Paint a picture on white paper, trying not to use so much lemon juice that the paper will be soggy. After the picture dries, iron the paper on low heat to reveal the picture if you have a safe place away from children to use the iron. Otherwise, hold the paper up to a lightbulb to warm and reveal the picture. Avoid setting the paper on fire! Say Abraham and Sarah did not see how God could keep His promise to give them a son. Even though they had to wait a long time for God to keep His promise, that did not mean it would not happen. Take care of the baby Invite kids to practice diapering the baby doll. Talk about which way the paper diapers go (fasteners go from back to front). Use masking tape on paper diapers if the fasteners pull off. Talk about swaddling babies in ancient times. The babies were wrapped tightly in strips of cloth. Demonstrate how to wrap a baby in a square of blanket or other cloth: Place a baby doll diagonally on the blanket with its head near a corner. Fold the bottom corner up and wrap the sides around the baby. Kids may practice with baby dolls. Say Abraham and Sarah waited a long time, but God kept His promise to give them baby Isaac. Abraham and Sarah loved baby Isaac and took care of him, as you are taking care of the baby dolls. Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 2 Session 2 11 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
countdown video or bell (optional) hand sanitizer cups and napkins plastic knives water sugar cookies ready-to-use icing sprinkles allergy alert poster journal page Bible story coloring page crayons or markers books and puzzles Tip: If you need to fill time during transition, clap the Big Picture Question. (Pat legs or shoulders; clap hands to the rhythm.) Repeat. Ask preschoolers to join in with your clapping. Children can clap the answer: God always keeps His promises. Snack Time and Transition (20 minutes) Give the signal to put supplies away and get ready for the snack. Go to the bathroom and wash hands before the snack, or use hand sanitizer. Recruit helpers with clean hands to help set the table with napkins and cups of water. Thank God for the snack. Pray briefly or ask a volunteer to pray. Do not insist that a child pray aloud. Give each person a cookie and a plastic knife. Spoon or squeeze a dollop of icing on each child s cookie. Kids can spread icing on their cookies and eat them. After a child finishes her snack and throws away her trash, tell her to select a book or puzzle to look at, color the coloring page, or work quietly at something else that interests her. If she chooses to work on a journal page, suggest that she draw something related to babies. Transition Welcome the second session teachers and softly tell them what they need to know about the children who are present. 12 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources
Journal Page Key Passage: Genesis 17:7 Session 1: God s Covenant with Abraham Genesis 12:2-3; 15:1-21; 17:1-9 Session 2: The Sons of Abraham Genesis 16:1-16; 17:15-22; 21:1-7 Session 3: God Tested Abraham Genesis 22:1-19 TM UNIT 2 Journal Page 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT
TM Who always keeps His promises? God always keeps His promises. TM UNIT 2 Session 2 The Sons of Abraham UNIT 2 Session 2 Preschool 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT Key Big Passage Picture POSTER QUESTION HCSB
TM I will keep My covenant between Me and you,... to be your God. Genesis 17:7 TM UNIT UNIT 2 2 Key Session Passage 1-3 Poster Preschool (HCSB) 2012 2012 LifeWay LifeWay Christian Christian Resources. Resources. OK TO PRINT Key Passage POSTER HCSB
TM And I will establish my covenant between me and thee,... to be a God unto thee. Genesis 17:7 TM UNIT 2 Key Passage Poster (KJV) 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. UNIT 2 Session 1-3 Preschool Key Passage POSTER Key Passage KJV POSTER KJV
Today your child will be tasting/touching/sniffing Please notify a teacher if your child should not participate in this activity. Instructions: Print this poster, or laminate it and reuse it throughout the quarter. Use a dry erase marker to fill in the necessary information when bringing food, animals, things to smell, or nature items that might cause allergic reactions. Display the poster where parents can see it when they arrive with their children. TM 2012 2012 LifeWay LifeWay Christian Christian Resources. In the Beginning Resources. UNIT 1 Session UNIT 11 Preschool Allergy Alert Bible Study OK TO PRINT 20 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 12
The Sons of Abraham Genesis 16:1-16; 17:15-22; 21:1-7 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. 005508638_2012_FAL.indd 14 4/2/12 9:11 AM
TM UNIT 2 Session 2 The Sons of Abraham 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT
Abraham and Sarah Waited Instructions: Color the clothing of Abraham and Sarah. Cut and tape top edge of the old heads at the dotted line so they fit over the young heads exactly. If you plan to cut these out and also use the coloring page on the back, you will need to make copies of the coloring page! UNIT 2 Session 2 Preschool Activity Pages