LESSON 3: GOD PROMISES AND GIVES A SON TO ABRAHAM

Dig In to the Bible

  • Read: Genesis 15:1-7; 21:1-7

  • In This Passage: God promises to give Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. Years go by, and Abraham and his wife, Sarah, are very old, but finally God keeps his promise. Sarah gives birth to a baby, and Abraham names him Isaac.

  • Bible Point: God is faithful.

  • Summary Verse: “Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens” (Psalm 8:1).

 Dig Deeper

  • You’ll Be Teaching: God is faithful. In a world of instant gratification, waiting is hard for kids. And during the waiting, it can be hard to trust in God’s faithfulness. God promised Abraham descendants, but Abraham had to wait more than 14 years to see that promise fulfilled. God’s timing isn’t always our timing, but it’s always best, and he’s always faithful.

  • Think About: Think of personal examples of God’s faithfulness to you. Then thank him!

 Dig In to Prayer

  • Ask God to help your kids trust in his faithfulness no matter what their circumstances.

Quick Tip

  • God is faithful—are you? Serving every week in children’s ministry may seem like a big thing to ask, but your faithful presence in kids’ lives, building relationships with them and showing you care, will go a long way in teaching them about God’s love and faithfulness. If you’re not serving weekly, ask God to show you how you could make that happen.

LESSON 3: Opening Music Videos!

Lesson 3: Step # 2
Core Bible Discovery

Supplies: Bible * Paper *Markers

Lesson 3: Step #3 Talk about it with your family and play this game!

Bonus FUN!

Craft Activity!

Baby’s Sleeping Signs

Supplies

  • “Baby’s Sleeping” handout (1 per child) (download here)

  • scissors

  • hole punches

  • yarn

  • glue sticks

  • cotton balls

  • pink, blue, and green markers

Make Baby’s Sleeping Signs

            Show kids the sample craft you made. Say: God gave baby Isaac to Sarah and Abraham as a sign of his faithfulness. God promised them a child, and then they had one even when they were very old! Isaac was a special gift to them, and we’re going to make special gifts for new parents. Set out the supplies to share, and have kids follow these directions to make “Baby’s Sleeping” signs.

  • Cut out the sheep on the “Baby’s Sleeping” handout. (This is already done for younger kids)

  • Punch holes where indicated.

  • Tie a piece of yarn through the holes, long enough that the sign can hang from a doorknob. (Older kids can help younger kids tie knots.)

  • Use pink, green, or blue markers to color cotton balls.

  • Glue the cotton balls to the sheep, without covering the words.

 
Shhh babys sleeping.jpg

Talk About It

 • Why would these signs be helpful to a new mom or dad?

 • What do babies show you about who God is?

 God is faithful, and one way he shows his faithfulness is when a new baby is born! But new babies need a lot of sleep…and so do their parents! Babies wake up a lot, so new parents want to do their best to help them stay asleep. These signs will help new parents tell everyone to be quiet so their baby doesn’t wake up.

 

HIGH-ENERGY GAME TIME!!

Hop to It!

Supplies

  • painter’s tape

  • upbeat music (optional)

  • music player (optional)

Easy Prep

  • Use painter’s tape to create a start and finish line on the floor.

Tips

  • If you used the Music Video block, consider repeating the songs from today’s lesson during the game. You can find the downloadable album here.

  • Using painter’s tape is important; it rips easily so if a child should stumble while racing, he or she won’t pull a partner off balance.

 

Run a Three-Legged Race

            Say: Today we’re talking about how God is faithful. Let’s play a game of Hop to It! and see what it can teach us about faithfulness.

  • Have kids form pairs. As much as possible, pair kids of similar heights.

  • Position pairs behind the start line, facing the finish line.

  • Have kids in each pair stand next to one another, shoulder to shoulder, and use painter’s tape to lightly tape together the legs that touch.

  • Explain how a three-legged race works: Kids in each pair must faithfully stay in step as they race to the finish line.

  • In the first round, use tape. It’s okay to run a second round with tape, too; it may take one race for partners to work out their rhythm.

  • If you’d like, play upbeat music as kids play the game.

  • In the last race, remove tape and have partners keep their previously taped legs together as they race, being mindful to not break stride. It’s difficult to do!

 

Talk About It

            Ask: • Which was harder: faithfully staying in step when you and your partner were connected together or when you weren’t? Why?

            • In what ways are you and God connected? How does that help you faithfully stay in step with God? Or doesn’t it?

            After kids respond, continue.

            Say: It’s sometimes hard to faithfully stay in step with what God wants and where he’s going.

            But God is faithful to us—all the time! He goes through life with us shoulder to shoulder, never leaving or forgetting us!