Previous Lessons

Previous Lessons

January 31


Watch the video above and talk about it with your family.

Sometimes being jealous can make us do silly things. That’s what happened when Joseph got a special present from his dad.

In today’s lesson, we’re going to learn about a guy named Joseph. Joseph was one of Jacob’s many sons and Joseph was the favorite. One day, Jacob gave Joseph a beautiful robe to show him how much he loved him. Joseph loved his robe because it made him feel special. Joseph’s brothers hated the robe because it was a reminder that Joseph was the favorite. To make matters worse, Joseph told his brothers a dream he had that showed all of his brothers bowing down to him. Now, that really angered the brothers! So, they hatched a plan to get rid of Joseph. One day when they were all out working, they captured Joseph, ripped off his robe and sold him to some foreign traders who brought him to Egypt. Then, they dipped the robe in some blood and brought it back to Jacob saying that Joseph had been killed by animals. This is a crazy story but there is an important lesson to learn. Jealousy makes us do silly things that can really hurt people. Joseph’s brothers made a terrible decision when they got rid of Joseph all because they didn’t like the attention he got from their father. So kids, don’t be jealous!

Key Points:
  • Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son, so he gave him a robe. Genesis 37:3
  • Joseph’s brothers got jealous because he was so special. Genesis 37:11
  • Joseph’s brother sold him into slavery. Genesis 37:26
  • Sometimes being jealous can make us do silly things. 1 Corinthians 13:4

Memory Verse:

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud…

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Describe a time you were jealous of a sibling or friend. How did it make you feel and what did you do?
  3. Who was the favorite son? What did Jacob give to Joseph?
  4. Why do you think the brothers were so jealous of Joseph? What did their jealousy lead them to do to Joseph?
  5. Read Psalm 37:1-3. What does this passage tell us not to do? Who should we trust in for all of our needs?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

January 24

Watch the video above and talk about it with your family.

When Jacob tricked his dad into speaking a blessing, those words were so important that he couldn’t take them back.

In today’s lesson, we’re going to continue talking about Jacob and Esau. Remember, they were twins but Esau was born first. Last week we learned that Esau was willing to give up his birthright, or inheritance, for a bowl of Jacob’s yummy stew. Well, today, we’re going to learn how Jacob tricked Isaac, his father, into giving him the blessing. Now, Isaac was old and he couldn’t see well. He knew he was going to die soon. So, he told Esau to go hunt and then prepare a special meal for him and then he would give him the blessing. Well, Jacob and his mom came up with another plan. They made Isaac’s favorite meal and then Jacob dressed up like Esau to trick Isaac into thinking he was Esau. Well, it worked. Isaac thought he blessed Esau, his oldest, but he actually blessed Jacob. So, Esau was out of luck. Once the words of blessing were spoken, it was too late to take them back. Now kids, we don’t deal with birthrights anymore but we do deal with the power of our words. Let’s learn from this story that we should be careful what we say because our words have power to help or hurt others.

Key Points:
  • Isaac was old and wanted to bless his sons. Genesis 27:1-4
  • Rebekah and Jacob made a plan to steal Esau’s blessing.
  • Jacob tricked his dad and got the blessing of the firstborn. Genesis 27:27-29
  • Our words have power so we need to be careful what we say. Proverbs 18:21

Memory Verse:

Proverbs 18:21 The tongue can bring death or life.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. What’s the nicest thing someone has said about you? What are some mean things kids say to each other?
  3. Who did Jacob and his mom trick?
  4. What did Jacob steal and why?
  5. Read Ephesians 4:29. What are some examples of words we shouldn’t speak to others? What are some examples of kind words we should speak?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

January 17


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Esau was a strong man with a weak will. And that made it easy for his brother to trick him.

In today’s lesson, we’re going to learn about Isaac’s twin sons named Jacob and Esau. Esau was the older brother which meant that he got the birthright. The birthright meant that when Isaac died, Esau would get all of his money and land. That was a big deal. Esau grew up to be a skilled hunter so he spent a lot of time out in the wilderness. Jacob was more of a homebody and enjoyed to cook. One day, Jacob made a delicious stew. When Esau came home from a long day, all he wanted was the stew. He was starving. Jacob decided to take advantage of the situation and told Esau he could have the stew if he gave up his birthright to him. Now, anyone would know this is a bad trade. You don’t give up your inheritance for a bowl of soup but that’s what Esau did. Esau lacked an important quality in his life -self control. He gave up his future because he was hungry. Let’s learn from this story that we should practice self-control in our own lives by not giving up big things for little things.

Key Points:
  • Isaac had twin boys named Jacob and Esau. Genesis 25:25-26
  • Esau was the older twin so he was supposed to be the lucky one.
  • Jacob tricked Esau and stole his birthright. Genesis 25:33
  • It’s foolish to give up something big for something small.

Memory Verse:

Proverbs 25:28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Have you ever made a bad trade with a friend or sibling? Explain.
  3. What were the names of the twins in the story today?
  4. What did Jacob take from Esau?
  5. Read 2 Timothy 1:7. What doesn’t God give us? What does he give us instead? In what areas of your life do you need to work on self control?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

January 10

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When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, it was the biggest test of his life. Could he do it?

In today’s lesson, we’re going to learn about Abraham and his son, Isaac. Abraham was famous for his faith in God because he knew that God would fulfill his promises. One promise God gave to Abraham was that he would be blessed with many children. Even though Abraham and his wife were really old, God gave them a son. They were so excited and Abraham loved Isaac with all of his heart. One day, God put Abraham to a test. He wanted to see if Abraham would trust him, even if it meant giving up something Abraham really loved. So, God told Abraham to give up his son by offering him as a sacrifice. Abraham was crushed. He didn’t understand why God would ask this of him. He had to make a choice- obey God and trust that his ways are best or ignore God and hold onto his son. Abraham decided to trust God and he did what God asked and prepared to give up Isaac. At the last second, God told Abraham he didn’t have to do it. God was testing Abraham’s faith to see if he was willing to give up everything to follow God, even if he didn’t understand. We can learn from Abraham’s faith.

Key Points:
  • God gave Abraham a son named Isaac even though he was super old. Genesis 21:2-3
  • God tested Abraham’s faith in a crazy way. Genesis 22:1-2
  • Abraham passed the test and proved that he trusted God more than anything. Genesis 22:12
  • Faith is believing in God even though we don’t always understand what he’s up to. Hebrews 11:17

Memory Verse:

Hebrews 11:17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Do your parents ask you to do things or eat things that you don’t like? Explain.
  3. What was the name of Abraham’s son?
  4. What did God ask Abraham to do that was hard? Why did God ask that of Abraham?
  5. Read James 1:2-3. Why can we be joyful, even when we’re going through hard times? How does the hard stuff make our faith stronger?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

January 3

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A long time ago, God made a one-in-a-million promise to a guy named Abe. And once he believed it, his dreams came true.

Today we’re talking about a guy named Abraham. God promised Abraham some really important things and they all came true. One promise affects you and me! The first promise God made to Abraham was that his people would have land to call their own. It was called the promised land. Abraham had to really trust God to leave the place he grew up to go start a new life somewhere else. The second promise was about kids. God told Abraham that he would have kids as numerous as the stars in the sky! Abraham had to trust God on this one, too. He was already old, like grandpa old, before he had his first kid! This promise meant that the nation of Israel would grow in numbers. The third promise was the really big one. God told Abraham that all people would be blessed through him. This blessing was referring to Jesus. Jesus came to save the world from sin and death and that includes us! Abraham had a lot of faith in God and he trusted in God’s plans. We should trust in God, too.

Key Points:

  • God told Abraham to go to the Promised Land, far away from anywhere he’d ever been. Genesis 12:1-3
  • God told Abraham that he would have a huge family, even though he was childless.
  • God told Abraham that the whole world would be lucky through him, even though he was just one random guy.
  • Abraham had a lot of faith, even though he could hardly believe what God was promising. Genesis 15:6

Memory Verse:

Hebrews 11:8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land. He went without knowing where he was going.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
  3. Where did God tell Abraham to go?
  4. What did God promise Abraham about kids?
  5. Read Proverbs 3:5-6. Why is God worthy of our trust? Why shouldn’t we depend on our own understanding?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

December 20

Watch the video above and talk about it with your family.

When Mary and Joseph tried to find place to stay in Bethlehem, there was no room for them in the inn.

The day Jesus was born was a special day because it was the day God came to be with us. Do you remember his nickname from last week? Jesus is Immanuel which means “God with us”. Now, you would think that Jesus would choose to be born in a fancy hotel. He’s God so he should have the best. Nope. That wasn’t the case at all. Mary and Joseph, Jesus’ parents, were traveling a long way when it was time for Jesus to be born. So, they found an inn to stay in for the night. Well, the inn was full of other travelers so they had to stay in a barn. This is where Jesus was born- a stinky barn full of animals. And, he didn’t even have a nice crib to sleep in that night. He was put in a manger which was a feeding trough for the animals. Can you imagine how dirty and smelly? Yuck! We can learn an important lesson from this story. The inn keeper didn’t make room for Jesus. He didn’t understand who he was. Let’s not let that be true of us. We know that Jesus is God who came to save us from our sins so let’s make room for him in our hearts. Let’s make Jesus our first priority, not our last.

Key Points:
  • There was no room in the inn. Luke 2:7
  • Jesus came to be with us. Matthew 1:23
  • We should make room in our hearts for Jesus!

Memory Verse:

Luke 2:7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Describe the coolest hotel you’ve ever stayed in on vacation.
  3. What happened when Mary and Joseph showed up at the inn?
  4. Why do you think Jesus chose to be born in a barn instead of a nice hotel?
  5. Read Philippians 2:5-8. According to this passage, what all did Jesus give up when he came to earth? What can we learn from the attitude of Jesus?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

December 13

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Sin is something that is inside of all of us, but lucky for us we’ve got a way to fight it.
Today we’re going to learn about sin. Sin is when we do things our way instead of God’s way. Did you know that God has a certain way he wants us to live? He does and he gives us the Bible to know how to do it! God gives us the rules and our job is to obey them. Sounds easy enough. Well, think about your day today. Did you lose your cool and yell or hit your sibling for taking your stuff? Did you disobey your parents by not taking out the trash? Did you sneak a cookie when your Mom said no dessert? All of those examples are sinful because they go against what God wants for us. He wants us to obey our parents, to be kind to our siblings and not take stuff that doesn’t belong to us. So, maybe you haven’t done those things today but you probably have in the past. Well, here’s the good news. We can beat sin in our lives because of Jesus! Jesus came to defeat sin by dying on the cross to pay for our sins. So, with Jesus, we have the ability to say “No” to sin and “Yes” to living for God. Kids, watch out for sin in your life. Do things God’s way and you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble!
Key Points:
  • Sin is doing things our own way instead of God’s way.
  • Sin started with the very first people, and it’s still around today! Genesis 3:6-7
  • Sin separates us from God and the people we love.
  • Jesus took care of our sin problem when he went to the cross. Romans 6:23

Memory Verse:

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. What are some rules your parents have for you to obey? What are the consequences if you disobey?
  3. What is sin? Who were the first people to sin?
  4. Who came to fix our sin problem?
  5. Read Colossians 1:13-14. What are the kingdoms that Paul is talking about? Who saves us from darkness?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

December 6

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When an angel told Mary a super important message, it showed the whole world the real meaning of Christmas.

Christmas is such a fun time of year as we put up all the pretty decorations, eat yummy food and see a lot of presents under the tree. All those things are great but Christmas is about so much more than that. Christmas is all about God’s desire to have relationship with us. God sent Jesus into the world- a baby born in Bethlehem who would grow up to be the Savior of the world. In fact, another name for Jesus is Emmanuel which means “God with us”. Jesus came into the world at Christmas time so he could fix our relationship with God. He came to die for our sins. When we trust in Jesus, the Bible says we are saved and our relationship with God is fixed. That’s why Christmas is more about relationships than anything else. Instead of just focusing on the gifts and pretty decorations, we need to remember that Christmas is really about having a relationship with God. And, Christmas is a great time to spend with other people we love like family and friends. So kids, when you’re opening presents, remember that a relationship with Jesus is the best gift of all.

Key Points:
  • Christmas is about relationships, not presents.
  • An angel talked about relationships in his first words with Mary.
  • Jesus proves how much God cares about relationships

Memory Verse:

Matthew 1:23 She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. What are your favorite family traditions at Christmas?
  3. Who was Jesus’ mom? What did the angel tell Mary?
  4. What was Jesus’ nickname? What does it mean?
  5. Read John 3:16. Who loves us? Why did Jesus come? What does it mean that we can have eternal life?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

November 29

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Jesus started his Sermon on the Mount by describing the kinds of people God blesses. And he wasn’t talking about sneezers.

We’re going to learn about the most famous sermon Jesus preached. It’s known as the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus sat on a mountainside with his disciples and a crowd of people gathered to hear what Jesus had to say. He started by talking about the kinds of people God blesses. Now, to bless means how God loves, protects and provides for people. I’m sure the crowd was excited to hear who the lucky people were! Jesus started by talking about the poor, hungry and people who were sad. I bet the crowd was looking around thinking, “Why are these kinds of people getting God’s blessings?” Well, that was part of Jesus’ point. God wants to bless everyone, even those that seem unimportant. And, the other lesson Jesus taught is that people can still be happy, even when they’re sad. The reason- because God is on their side and he will help them to get through it. This is also true for us. We can experience God’s blessings, too. We just need to look to him for our protection and provision and he’ll take care of the rest.

Key Points:

  • God loves to bless people who don’t seem important to the world. Matthew 5:3-9
  • Whoever God blesses is really, truly happy.
  • We can even be happy when people are picking on us for loving Jesus. Matthew 5:10-12

Memory Verse:

Matthew 5:3 God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Who are the people in your life who care about you? How do you know they care?
  3. Who was teaching on the mountainside?
  4. Who did Jesus say God likes to bless?
  5. Read Isaiah 41:10. Why don’t we have to be afraid or discouraged? How does God help us?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

November 22

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One of Jesus’s very first miracles didn’t happen at a temple or a hospital. It happened at a grown-up party!

In today’s lesson, we’re going to learn about the first miracle Jesus ever performed. One day, Jesus, his disciples, and even his mom were invited to a wedding. It was a fun time of celebrating with friends. People were eating, drinking and probably dancing! Well, at some point, the host of the party ran out of wine for the guests. This was not a good thing. Jesus’ mom told Jesus to fix the problem. So, Jesus went to some workers and told them to fill some big jars with water. When the workers brought the jars full of water to the host for him to taste, the host was shocked at how yummy the wine tasted. Now, to the workers and the disciples, this was a very confusing reaction. They knew the jars were full of water, not wine. So, why was the host saying it was wine? Well, that’s because Jesus turned the water into wine! Jesus is God so he can make anything happen! Now, the point of the miracle wasn’t about wine. The point was to remember who Jesus is and that he came to save us from our sins. Now, that’s something to celebrate!

Key Points:
  • One of Jesus’ very first miracles happened at a wedding party. John 2:1-2
  • Jesus didn’t want to do the miracle, but his mom asked him to. John 2:4
  • Jesus turned water into wine to send an important message. John 2:11
  • Jesus came so we would have something to celebrate!

Memory Verse:

John 2:11 And his disciples believed in him.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Describe your favorite birthday party.(what you did, who was there, theme etc.)
  3. Where was Jesus when he performed his first miracle?
  4. What miracle did Jesus perform? What was the real reason Jesus turned water into wine?
  5. Read Isaiah 35:10. What does it mean that Jesus ransomed us? Why should we be full of joy?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

November 15

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Jesus went to the river to get baptized by John. And he did something that every Christian kid should do.

We’re going to learn about the day Jesus got baptized. Remember, last week we talked about Jesus’ cousin, John, who would baptize people in the river. He baptized so many that his nickname was John the Baptist! One day, Jesus came to John and asked John to baptize him. John’s initial reaction was, “No way! You’re Jesus. You should be baptizing me!” But, Jesus insisted that John baptize him. You know why? Because Jesus wanted to model what he wanted his followers to do. Baptism is a really important symbol that shows what Jesus came to do for us. Going into the water means we’re dying to our sin and coming out of the water means we get to live a new life with Jesus. So, when we get baptized, we’re announcing to the world that we belong to Jesus. And, that makes God really happy to see people say that they belong to him. So kids, if you’ve trusted in Jesus, talk to your parents about getting baptized. It will make God smile!

Key Points:

  • John didn’t want to baptize Jesus, because he didn’t feel worthy. Matthew 3:13-14
  • Jesus wanted to get baptized to be a good example to us. Matthew 3:15
  • When Jesus was baptized, God the Father was really happy. Matthew 3:17
  • Baptism is a very important symbol that helps us remember what Jesus did for us. Romans 6:4

Memory Verse:

Romans 6:4 And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Have you ever watched someone get baptized? Where were you and what did you notice?
  3. What did Jesus want John to do?
  4. What does baptism symbolize?
  5. Read Colossians 2:13-14. What does it mean to be dead in our sins? What did Jesus do with our sin?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

November 8

John the Baptist

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Jesus had a cousin who was pretty famous. But that cousin was all about making Jesus famous.

In today’s lesson, we’re going to learn about a guy named John. John was a special guy for a few reasons. First, he was the cousin of Jesus! That’s pretty cool! Second, he was known for wearing weird clothes and eating weird food. He did that because that’s what the prophets did in the Old testament. Prophets were chosen by God to speak to the people for him and they wore odd clothes to show that they were special. That was true for John, too. He had a special job and it was to tell people to get ready for Jesus. He told people that they needed to repent of their sins and be baptized. So, people would come to be baptized by John. John baptized a lot of people and that’s why his nickname is John the Baptist. But, once Jesus started traveling around telling people that he was God who came to save the world, people stopped going to John and just went directly to Jesus. John was okay with that because he knew his job was to make Jesus famous, not himself. We need to remember that, too. We should point people to Jesus every chance we get!

  • John baptized a lot of people. Matthew 3:1-2
  • John’s job was to prepare the way for Jesus to come. Matthew 3:3
  • John wore strange clothes and ate funny food. Matthew 3:4
  • John was pretty great, but he wanted to make Jesus greater. John 3:30

Memory Verse:

John 3:30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Describe your family. (siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins) How often do you get to see them?
  3. Who was John’s cousin?
  4. What did John do for people who trusted in Jesus?
  5. Read Romans 12:1. What does it mean to be holy and pleasing to the Lord? What are some things you can do that honor God?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

November 1

Jesus Is the Word

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The story of Jesus started long before that famous first Christmas. Jesus was actually there when nothing else existed.

In today’s lesson, we’re going to learn another name Jesus was called that maybe you’ve never heard him called before. It comes from our memory verse which refers to Jesus as the Word. Hmmm, that seems weird. Who would ever name their kid Word? Jesus is referred to the Word because he completely represents everything about God, and his truth, because he is God! I know that might sound confusing. How can God be God and Jesus be God. Well, like many things, we aren’t like God at all so we have a hard time understanding how he works. But the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus was there at the very beginning when all of creation was formed. And the Bible also says that Jesus is God. That’s why he was able to walk this earth and live a perfect life. That’s why Jesus was able to die to pay for our sins – because he is God! So, when you think about Jesus, remember that he existed long before that first Christmas when he came to earth as a baby. And picture him as the walking, talking version of the Bible because He is the Word!

Key Points:

  • Jesus existed even before he was born on earth. John 1:1-2
  • Jesus is actually God himself. John 1:1
  • God created everything through Jesus. John 1:3
  • Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness. John 1:5

Memory Verse:

John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Did your parents consider other names for you when you were born? How did they decide what to name you and are you named after someone else?
  3. What is another name for Jesus?
  4. Why is it important to know that Jesus is God?
  5. Read Revelation 1:8. What does alpha and omega mean? What else does this verse say about Jesus?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

This is part of the Life of Jesus series.

October 25

The Famous Tower of Babel

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We shouldn’t do great things to be famous; we should do them to make God famous. That’s the lesson of the tower of Babel.
In today’s lesson, we’re going to learn about the tower of Babel. A group of people thought they were pretty awesome so they decided to build their own city that included a huge tower that could reach to the sky. They did it to show the world how awesome and smart they were. And, they did it to be famous. Well, God didn’t like their attitude so he decided to teach them a lesson. At that time in history, everyone spoke the same language so the people could easily work together to build this huge tower. But, God intervened and made the people start speaking in different languages. So, when they showed up to work, no-one could understand each other anymore. Now, God wasn’t mad that they wanted to build a cool tower. He was mad that they wanted to be famous. They wanted to be more important than God. So, here’s the lesson for us. God wants us to work hard, to be creative, and to be successful. But, instead of making ourselves famous, we should point to God and make him famous because he gives us all we have anyways.
  • A long time ago, everyone on earth spoke the same language. Genesis 11:1
  • The people built a tower because they wanted to become famous. Genesis 11:4
  • God turned the people into a bunch of babblers to teach them a lesson. Genesis 11:7
  • We shouldn’t do great things to become famous; we should do them to make God famous. John 3:30

Memory Verse:

John 3:30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Have you ever tried to communicate with someone who speaks a different language than you? How did it go? What did they sound like to you?
  3. Why did the people want to build a tower?
  4. What did God do to confuse them?
  5. Read Isaiah 40:28. List all the things this verse says about God. Why is he worthy of our worship and praise?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

October 18

Noah and the Rainbow

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Even when people’s sin is big, God’s grace is bigger. That’s the real lesson of Noah and the rainbow.

In today’s lesson, we’re learning about a special promise God made to Noah. Last week, we learned about Noah and the flood. God sent a flood to wash away all the evil people. But, because Noah obeyed God, he saved Noah, his family and some animals by showing Noah how to build a big boat. God eventually took all the water away and dry land was found again. So, everyone got off the boat to start a new life! God told them to populate the earth with new people and animals. And, God promised Noah that he would never flood the earth again. He gave him a sign to remember the promise and it’s a sign we still see today. It’s the rainbow! God created the rainbow as a reminder that he will never flood the whole earth again. But, the rainbow is also a symbol of God’s unbelievable love for us. He chose to rescue Noah from the flood, and he chose to rescue all of us from sin when he sent Jesus. Even when we really mess up, God’s love is still there. So, the next time you see a rainbow, remember God’s promise and his love for you.

  • God remembered Noah, and eventually dried up the earth. Genesis 8:1
  • God told Noah and the animals to leave the boat and start over again. Genesis 8:15-17
  • God promised never to flood the earth again, and gave the rainbow as a sign. Genesis 9:11, 17
  • Even when people’s sin is big, God’s grace is bigger.

Memory Verse:

Genesis 9:16 When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Can you think of a time you when you thought you were in big trouble but your parents or teacher let you off the hook? How did that feel?
  3. What did God tell Noah and the animals to do once they got on dry land?
  4. Why did God create the rainbow?
  5. Read Romans 5:8. How did God show his great love for us? Why does it matter that Jesus came to die even though we’re sinners?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

October 11

Noah and The Flood

 

Obeying God is serious stuff, and when he says something he means business! Noah did exactly what God asked, the first time.

In today’s lesson, we’re going to learn about one of the most famous Bible stories. We’re going to learn about Noah and the big flood. Noah lived a long time ago. He lived at a time when most people didn’t care about God and they lived however they wanted. But, Noah was different. He loved God and he wanted to obey him. So, God came up with a plan. He was going to send a big flood to wipe out all the evil that had filled the world. But, he was going to spare Noah and his family and some animals. God told Noah to build a huge boat that would save them from the flood. Noah did exactly what God asked. It took a long time to build because the boat was huge. But, Noah was obedient and finished the job. When it was time, he loaded up the boat with his family and the animals. Just as God had said, the flood came and filled the earth. Because Noah did exactly what God said, his family and all the animals were safe. We should learn from Noah and be obedient, too. It will save us from danger.

Key Points:

  • Everyone on earth got worse and worse, so God decided to send a flood. Genesis 6:5-7
  • Noah was the only guy on earth who loved God. Genesis 6:9
  • Noah did exactly what God asked, the first time he asked. Genesis 6:22
  • It rained for 40 days, but Noah and his family were saved. Genesis 7:22

Memory Verse:

Genesis 6:22 So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Why did God send the flood?
  3. What did God tell Noah to build?
  4. What else did Noah bring on the boat with him?
  5. Read Proverbs 6:20-22. Who should we obey? What should we do with their instructions?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

October 4

Cain and Abel

Watch the video above and talk about it with your family.

Everyone gets jealous, and sometimes it makes you do foolish things. That’s exactly what happened to a brother named Cain.
In today’s lesson, we’re going to learn about two brothers named Cain and Abel. Cain was the older brother and he grew up to be a farmer. Abel grew up to be a shepherd. One day, the brothers were told to bring an offering to God as a way to say “Thank You” for all the ways he had blessed them. Cain didn’t put much thought into his gift. He just grabbed some vegetables he had grown and offered them to the Lord. But, Abel had a different attitude. He looked at all of his sheep and chose the best one to offer to God. God was pleased with Abel’s attitude, and his gift, but was disappointed in Cain. Cain became very jealous of Abel and decided he wanted to hurt him. He took him out into the fields and killed him. Cain was so blinded by his jealousy that he made a terrible mistake. But, God still chose to be kind to Cain. He punished him but he still protected him. So, let’s learn from Cain. Don’t be jealous of other people because jealousy leads you down a bad road. But, even if you get jealous, God will still love and protect you.

Key Points:

  • Cain and Abel were brother, the children of Adam and Eve.
  • God liked Abel’s gift, but he didn’t like Cain’s. Genesis 4:3-5
  • Because Cain was jealous, he killed his brother Abel. Genesis 4:8
  • God punished Cain for his actions, but he still protected him. Genesis 4:13-16

Memory Verse:

Psalm 145:17 The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Have you ever been jealous a friend or sibling? Explain.
  3. What were the names of the two brothers in the story? What were their jobs?
  4. Why was Cain jealous of Abel?
  5. Read James 4:2-3. Why do we become jealous? What do you think is the right way to ask God for things?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

 

September 27

How Adam and Eve Messed It All Up

Watch the video above and talk about it with your family. Learn more

God created Adam and Eve and gave them a beautiful garden to live in. And then they made a bad choice that changed everything.

In today’s lesson, we’re going to learn about the first people God created. First, God created Adam. He picked up some dirt to form his body and then breathed into his nose and Adam came alive! Pretty cool, huh?! God also created a beautiful garden where Adam lived. It was called the Garden of Eden. Adam had free reign of this beautiful place full of trees, flowers and yummy fruit. God gave Adam just one simple rule to follow. He could eat any fruit, just not fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. At some point, God decided that Adam needed a friend so he wouldn’t be lonely. So, he put Adam to sleep, removed one of his ribs and created Eve. That’s also pretty cool, huh?! So, Adam and Eve lived together in this lovely place until one day a snake spoke to Eve. He wanted to trick her into eating the forbidden fruit by ignoring God’s rule. And, it worked. Eve ate the forbidden fruit and so did Adam. Once they realized their mistake, they ran and hid from God. They knew that they had made the wrong choice and they knew God would be mad. God wasn’t happy with their choice, and they did pay a consequence. But, God loved them and forgave them. He’ll forgive us, too.

  • God put Adam in the garden and gave him one simple rule. Genesis 2:15-17
  • God made Eve so Adam wouldn’t have to be alone anymore. Genesis 2:18
  • The serpent tricked Adam and Eve into eating from the middle tree. Genesis 3:1-6
  • Just like Adam, we sometimes want to hide from God when we make the wrong choice. Genesis 3:8

Memory Verse:

Romans 6:12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.

Talk About It
  1. What was your favorite part of the video? What is one thing you learned?
  2. What are some of the rules in your house? How about in your classroom? Why are rules important?
  3. What was God’s rule for Adam and Eve?
  4. Who came to trick Eve?
  5. Read Romans 6:12-13. What does it mean that we have new life? Why is sin no longer our master?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

September 20

How God Created Everything

Watch the video above and talk about it with your family. Learn more

A very long time ago God decided to make the whole world and everything in it. And he didn’t have to lift a finger.

In today’s lesson, we’re going to learn about how everything was created in just six days! Have you ever thought about where the stars came from or how the oceans were formed? Have you ever wondered how giraffes got those long necks or how flowers smell so good? It’s because God created them to be that way. In the very first book of the Bible, Genesis, we read all about how God created everything. God is so powerful and awesome that he didn’t have to spend years creating and perfecting what he made. All he did was say, “Let there be light!” and there was light. Or, “Let there be plants and trees” and instantly trees and plants were everywhere! And, on the last day he made his most special creation- people! He took extra special care in creating us. The Bible says that he created us in his image, meaning we were made to have relationship with him. He wanted to have a friendship with us that he couldn’t have with animals or plants. That’s why we are God’s most special creations!

Key Points:

  • God only had to speak and the whole world was created. Genesis 1:3
  • God took 6 days to make everything. Genesis 1:31
  • The best thing God made was you and me. Genesis 1:27

Memory Verse:

Genesis 1:27 So God created human beings in his own image.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. If you had all the legos (or play-dough) you could ever want, what would you create?
  3. How many days did it take for God to create everything?
  4. Who are God’s most special creation?
  5. Read Psalm 148:1-5. Who should praise God? Why is God worthy of our praise and respect?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

September 13

Watch the video above and talk about it with your family. Learn more

God is so great that we will never fully know him. These three things are a good start.

In today’s lesson, we’re going to learn about God. We talk about God every week in church but today we’re going to talk specifically about some important traits that define God. After all, he’s the most important person we can ever know so we should learn what makes him so special. First, God is strong. Did you know that he created everything in the whole world? He did. He created the flowers, sharks, cotton candy and recess! Second, God is perfect. He never makes mistakes. If he went to school with you, he would get a perfect score on every test because he knows everything! Third, God IS love. He isn’t just good at loving us, love is who he is. The most loving thing God has done for us is sending Jesus to die for us. Jesus came to save us from our sins so that we could be in relationship with him. God is amazing. Make sure to take the time to get to know him.

Key Points:

  • God is strong and started everything from nothing. Genesis 1, Genesis 2:1-4
  • God is good and always does the right thing. Psalm 107:1
  • God is love and sent Jesus to die for us. John 3:16

Memory Verse:

1 John 4:8 God is love.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. What is your favorite thing to draw and why?
  3. God created everything in the whole world. What do you think is the most beautiful thing God has created?
  4. What is the most loving thing God has done for us?
  5. Read Romans 8:37-39. How can we know how much God loves us? How does Jesus give us hope and security?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?

This is part of the Bible Basics series.

September 6

Jesus Sitting on the Throne

Watch the video above and talk about it with your family.

Someday, in heaven, Jesus is going to sit in the middle of it all and make the world perfect.

The apostle John had another dream about heaven. It was all about what heaven will be like. Now, people talk about heaven as a cool place but John actually got to see a glimpse of it in this dream and he shared about what he saw in one of the very last chapters in the whole Bible. John describes heaven as a beautiful place full of bold colors and roads made of gold. There is also a throne at the center of heaven and guess who sits there? Jesus! In heaven, we’ll get to see Jesus and be in his presence. We’ll be able to tell him how much we love him and thank him for all he’s done. And, heaven will be a place that is full of happiness. There will be no more crying or pain. Everything will be made new again. Every day in heaven will be like the best day you’ve ever had! Doesn’t that sound amazing? And, anyone can go to heaven if they’ve put their trust in Jesus. So, share Jesus with your friends so they can live in heaven some day, too.

  • Heaven will have a throne right in the middle of everything. Revelation 21:1-3
  • The one sitting on the throne will be Jesus.
  • In Heaven, all the bad things will be gone forever. Revelation 21:4
  • Jesus himself will make everything new. Revelation 21:5

Memory Verse:

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.

Talk About It
  1. What’s your favorite part of the video? What’s one thing you learned from it?
  2. Describe the worst day you’ve ever had. How did you get through it?
  3. Where can we all live with Jesus someday? What will be in the middle?
  4. What won’t be in heaven? How does Jesus make us new?
  5. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. What does it mean that we can be a new person and what is the old stuff we need to get rid of?
  6. How will you apply this lesson to your life this week?