Timothy J. Shrimpton

Timothy J. Shrimpton

Interior Design and Layout: Timothy Shrimpton Color Illustrations: Keith Neely Art Director: Karen Knutson Cover Design: Pamela Dunn Maps: Lynda Williams All Catechism references correspond to Luther s Catechism 2017 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. This publication may not be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or converted to any electronic or machine-readable form in whole or in part, except for brief quotations, without prior written approval from the publisher. ISBN 978-0-8100-2918-7 Northwestern Publishing House 1250 N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI 53226-3284 www.nph.net 2018 Northwestern Publishing House Published 2018 Printed in the United States of America ISBN 978-0-8100-2918-7

Growing in the Word Bible History Course Introduction Many students arrive in catechism class without a clear knowledge of Bible history. Growing in the Word aims to teach through an overview of Bible history while at the same time teaching or reviewing the parts of Luther s Small Catechism. As the students grow in their knowledge of the history of God s plan of salvation, they will also review the six chief parts of Christian doctrine. This 58-lesson course teaches through an overview of Bible history, from Genesis through Revelation, in one year. The lessons are designed to be a bridge between earlier elementary Bible history and catechism instruction and more common formats for adult Bible classes. While aimed primarily at middle school students, this course may be adapted to teach adults who have an interest in reviewing Bible history in isolated segments or as a whole. For an overview of Luther s Small Catechism grouped by subject matter with introductions taken from Bible history, consider this course s sister course, Growing in Grace. Leaders may wish to alternate the two courses year by year. The Growing in the Word curriculum is flexible and can be adapted to a variety of teaching schedules or situations. Different options are listed in the schedule templates in the Teacher s Guide Digital Resources. Those who use this curriculum in a Lutheran elementary school setting generally are able to teach one lesson per class period. There may be times when lessons require being divided up over multiple class periods, depending on your time constraints. Those who meet less often for longer periods of time (e.g., for public school confirmation instruction) may want to consider a homework/in-class pattern. The following pattern has worked well in situations where there is at least 90 minutes available for each class period: Class Period #1: Lesson A is done in class. All Scripture references are read out loud with the class, and questions are answered together. Lesson B is assigned as homework (perhaps ideally as an assignment to be done with parents or other family to double as a home devotion during the week). Class Period #2: Lesson B is reviewed in a shorter period of time as the students will have already been through it on their own earlier in the week. After a review of Lesson B is complete, the class takes on Lesson C together in class where, again, all Scripture references are read out loud and the questions are answered together. Lesson D is assigned as homework. Class Period #3: Lesson D is reviewed in a shorter period of time, etc. If following the above pattern, it is recommended that Lesson 1 be assigned as homework ahead of the first class period so that Lesson 2 s more complicated concepts (temptation, sin, death, etc.) may be taught freshly in class by the teacher at the start of the course. Important parts of the course are color-coded to help them stand out: Scripture references are printed in green, which will highlight anything taken from God s Word. These include the main readings for each lesson as well as any supplemental passages. Parts of Luther s Small Catechism are printed in blue boxes. They are referenced when appropriate to the Bible history course and are not presented in the same order as they appear in the catechism. Leaders may wish to review them as memory work or reference additional parts not included in the lessons.

References to other lessons are printed in a bold typeface. These references point back to a previous lesson s content or ahead to a connection in a future lesson. Extra notes will occasionally be found in red boxes on the right-hand side of the page. Key Questions are printed in purple boxes at the end of each lesson. They have been designed to serve as an easy, compact review of the flow and point of each section of Scripture. Mastery of all of these questions will allow the student to be able to give a brief summary and overview of Bible history and God s plan of salvation. These questions may well serve as the basis for quizzes and tests in addition to any memory work that may be assigned. Homework is listed in a gray box at the end of each lesson. That box includes a place to write memory work assignments and reading assignments in Luther s catechism. Each lesson has at least one main Scripture reading designed for the students to look up and read aloud in class. Some of these sections are long, so they may be divided over multiple readers. Supplemental passages may be referenced in the lessons. The teacher may wish to have the students look up each of these passages in their Bibles or provide the students with a printed list of the passages for easier and more efficient references. When appropriate, each lesson has a reading assignment from Luther s Catechism coordinating with a concept touched on in the Bible history lesson. If time permits either in the initial teaching or in review, teachers may want to flesh out some of the concepts contained in those sections from Luther s catechism that were not comprehensively covered in the lesson. (Page numbers correspond to Luther s Catechism 2017 Northwestern Publishing House.) This teacher s guide includes Digital Resources with the following useful components: PowerPoint presentations covering the questions and answers of every lesson Spreadsheet schedule templates for personalizing the schedule of the course, including memory work assignments Supplemental passage handouts for students offered in various English Bible translations Digital versions of every lesson s Key Questions for easy use in quizzes and tests Digital versions of the time lines used in the lessons Digital versions of the maps used in the course

Table of Contents Lessons 1. The Early World: God Creates the World (Creation)... 1 2. The Early World: The Fall Into Sin and Its Deadly Results (After Creation)... 5 3. The Early World: God Protects His Promises Through the Flood (After Creation)... 9 4. The Early World: God s Promise to Noah; the Tower of Babel (After the Flood)... 13 5. The Patriarchs: Abraham s Call and Faith (c. 2091 2067 B.C.)... 16 6. The Patriarchs: Isaac s Birth and Almost Sacrifice (c. 2066 2046 B.C.)... 21 7. The Patriarchs: Isaac Blesses Jacob; Jacob s Dream (c. 2006 1966 B.C.)... 25 8. The Patriarchs: Jacob s Favoritism; Joseph s Slavery (c. 1900 1897 B.C.)... 28 9. The Patriarchs: Joseph Prospers in Prison and With Pharaoh (c. 1897 1884 B.C.)... 32 10. The Patriarchs: Joseph and His Brothers (c. 1884 1859 B.C.)... 36 11. Slavery and Exodus: The Birth and Call of Moses (c. 1526 1446 B.C.)... 40 12. Slavery and Exodus: Moses Confronts Pharaoh (c. 1446 B.C.)... 43 13. Slavery and Exodus: Passover and the Tenth Plague (c. 1446 B.C.)... 47 14. Slavery and Exodus: The Red Sea; Manna and Quail (c. 1446 B.C.)... 50 15. Slavery and Exodus: The Ten Commandments; the Golden Calf (c. 1446 B.C.)... 54 16. Slavery and Exodus: Wandering for Faithlessness (c. 1446 1406 B.C.)... 57 17. Slavery and Exodus: Entering the Promised Land (c. 1406 B.C.)... 61 18. The Period of the Judges: Gideon (c. 1170 1133 B.C.)... 64 19. The Period of the Judges: Ruth and Boaz (11th century B.C.)... 67 20. The Period of the Judges: Samuel and the Call for a King (c. 1105 1048 B.C.)... 70 21. The United Kingdom: King Saul s Rise and Fall; David s Anointing (c. 1048 1031 B.C.)... 73 22. The United Kingdom: David Confronts Goliath; King Saul s Jealousy (c. 1031 1010 B.C.)... 76 23. The United Kingdom: King David s Sins and Repentance (c. 1002 B.C.)... 80 24. The United Kingdom: King David s Psalms; King Solomon s Temple (c. 1002 967 B.C.)... 85 25. The Divided Kingdom: King Ahab and the Prophet Elijah (c. 871 870 B.C.)... 90 26. The Divided Kingdom: The Prophet Jonah Is Sent to Assyria (c. 790 B.C.)... 94 27. The Divided Kingdom: The Fall of Israel and the Rescue of Jerusalem (c. 722 701 B.C.)... 98 28. The Divided Kingdom: The Reforms of King Hezekiah and King Josiah (c. 715 B.C. and c. 633 B.C.)... 102 29. The Divided Kingdom: The Prophet Jeremiah and the Fall of Jerusalem (c. 589 586 B.C.)... 106 30. Exile in Babylon: The Fiery Furnace and the Lions Den (c. 604 536 B.C.)... 110 31. The Return From Exile: The Prophet Haggai and Rebuilding the Temple (c. 538 516 B.C.)... 114 32. The Return From Exile: God Saves His People Through Esther (c. 483 473 B.C.)... 118 33. The Intertestamental Period: The Desecration and Purification of the Temple (c. 168 164 B.C.)... 122 34. Promises of the Savior Throughout the Old Testament... 127 35. The Savior Comes: God s Messengers Promise the Births of John the Baptist and Jesus (c. 3 B.C.)... 130 36. The Savior Comes: The Births of John the Baptist and Jesus (c. 3 2 B.C.)... 134 37. The Savior Comes: John s Preaching; Jesus Baptism (c. 29 A.D.)... 138 38. The Savior Comes: Satan Tempts Jesus; John Directs People to Jesus (c. 29 30 A.D.)... 142 39. Jesus Ministry: Nicodemus; the Samaritan Woman; Rejection in Nazareth (c. 30 31 A.D.)... 146 40. Jesus Ministry: The Catch of Fish; Healing the Centurion s Servant; Calming the Storm (c. 30 32 A.D.)... 149

41. Jesus Ministry: Feeding More Than Five Thousand People; Walking on the Water; Peter s Confession; the Transfiguration (c. 30 32 A.D.)... 152 42. Jesus Ministry: The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant; the Good Shepherd; Teaching Mary and Martha (c. 30 32 A.D.)... 157 43. Jesus Ministry: Raising Lazarus From the Dead; Entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (March, 33 A.D.)... 162 44. Jesus Passion: The Commands of Maundy Thursday Evening (April 2, 33 A.D.)... 166 45. Jesus Passion: Judas Betrayal; Jesus on Trial (April 2 3, 33 A.D.)... 170 46. Jesus Passion: Jesus Crucifixion and Burial (April 3, 33 A.D.)... 175 47. Jesus Exaltation: Jesus Rises From the Dead (April 5, 33 A.D.)... 179 48. Jesus Exaltation: Jesus Continues to Prove His Resurrection, Restores Peter, and Ascends Into Heaven (April May, 33 A.D.)... 183 49. The Early Christian Church: The First Christian Pentecost Day (May, 33 A.D.)... 187 50. The Early Christian Church: The Beginnings of the Church and Opposition (c. 33 35 A.D.)... 191 51. The Early Christian Church: Stephen s Death; Saul s Conversion (c. 36 A.D.)... 196 52. The Early Christian Church: Peter Is Sent to the Gentiles (c. 36 41 A.D.)... 201 53. The Early Christian Church: Paul s First Missionary Journey (c. 47 48 A.D.)... 204 54. The Early Christian Church: Excerpts From Paul s Second Missionary Journey (c. 49 51 A.D.)... 208 55. The Early Christian Church: Excerpts From Paul s Third Missionary Journey (c. 52 55 A.D.)... 213 56. The Early Christian Church: Paul s Arrest, Trials, and Appeal to Caesar (c. 55 57 A.D.)... 216 57. The Early Christian Church: Paul s Journey to Rome (c. 57 60 A.D.)... 220 58. The Results of God s Faithfulness to His Promises... 224 Appendix and Indexes Appendix: Bible History Time Line and Maps of Israel... 229 Scripture Reference Index... 231 Catechism Part Index... 237

Lesson 29 The Divided Kingdom: The Prophet Jeremiah and the Fall of Jerusalem c. 589 586 B.C. Though God-fearing kings like Hezekiah and Josiah attempted to reform the worship life in the Southern Kingdom, Judah still followed in Israel s footsteps: the people did not serve the true God exclusively. They served false gods and ignored what their God had told them. They ignored and abused the prophets God sent to them. And after Assyria had taken Israel into exile and besieged Jerusalem, that empire fell to Babylon, a new world superpower. Because the people of Judah also ignored his Word, God sent Babylon to come and take them into captivity as well. Jeremiah 38:1-28 God s Word Through Jeremiah Is Despised God sent Jeremiah to deliver an unpopular message to his people. The people didn t want to hear the message, so they abused God s messenger. 1. What was the message Jeremiah spoke to the people that upset Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehukal, and Pashhur so much (vv. 2-3)? Jerusalem was going to be destroyed by the Babylonians. 2. Where did this message come from (v. 3)? From God. 3. What did the officials think should happen to Jeremiah (v. 4)? He should die for what he said. 4. Why did they think he was worthy of death? They thought that his words were discouraging the soldiers and the people. 5. What did they do to Jeremiah to keep him quiet (v. 6)? They lowered him into a cistern. 6. Does that remind you of anything else we ve heard in our lessons this year? Review Lesson 8 and Genesis 37:18-24. Joseph s brothers threw him into a well before they sold him into slavery. 106

7. How were the people breaking the Third Commandment? They were despising the Word of God given through Jeremiah. THE THIRD COMMANDMENT Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it. 8. Other prophets were spreading a message that directly contradicted Jeremiah s message. Though they claimed that their message had come from God, they actually had made it up to win the favor of the people and so that the people would feel at ease. How were the people who were spreading these lies breaking the Second Commandment? They were using God s name to lie and deceive. THE SECOND COMMANDMENT You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we do not use his name to curse, swear, lie or deceive, or use witchcraft, but call upon God s name in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks. 9. What did Ebed-Melek do to rescue Jeremiah? Note vv. 8-9,11-13. He spoke to the king, and the king allowed him to rescue Jeremiah. 10. What message did God have for King Zedekiah (vv. 17-18)? If he surrendered to Babylon, he, the people, and the city would be spared. 11. What did Zedekiah instruct Jeremiah to do (vv. 24-26)? Not tell anyone about their conversation. Jeremiah 52:1-30 The Fall of Jerusalem Zedekiah did not listen to the warnings and encouragements God gave through Jeremiah. The disaster, which God had warned them would come upon Jerusalem because of their unfaithfulness, did happen. 12. How long was Jerusalem under siege by the Babylonians (vv. 4-5)? Two years. 13. What happened as a result of that siege (v. 6)? They ran out of food. 107

14. After the Babylonian army broke through the city wall of Jerusalem and entered the city, what did King Zedekiah and the army do (v. 7-9)? Everyone ran away. 15. Because King Zedekiah refused to surrender to the Babylonians as God had instructed him, what happened to him and his family (vv. 10-11)? His family was killed, his eyes were gouged out, and he was in prison until he died. 16. As they came into Jerusalem, what did the Babylonian army do to the temple of the Lord? See v. 13. They set fire to it. 17. What happened to all the utensils God had instructed his people to make for worship in the temple (vv. 17-23)? They took many of them back to Babylon. 18. By their unfaithfulness, God s people ruined their livelihood and lost their homeland. Even more important, their actions threatened the promise God had made. God had promised that a Savior would come who would be born of Abraham s, Isaac s, Jacob s, Judah s, and David s line. He would be born in Bethlehem, and he would crush the work of Satan. Now, with God s people all but gone, it might have appeared that those promises would never come to fruition. However, even as the people were being unfaithful, God made still another promise, this one about their captivity in Babylon. Read Jeremiah 29:4-14. What did God promise his people? After 70 years in exile, God would bring them back. Over the next several lessons, we will see how God, seemingly against all odds, would work through history to preserve his people and do what he had said he would do. God would be faithful to the promises he had made to his people shortly after the creation, again through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and, finally, through the prophets. The Savior of all people would come. 108

Key Questions A. What were the results of Judah s unfaithfulness to God? They were carried off into exile in Babylon. B. How did God show his mercy to his people even during their captivity? He promised to take care of them and eventually bring them home. Homework Catechism Memory Work: Bible Passage Memory Work: Be able to answer the Key Questions for Lesson 29. Read pp. 53-67 in Luther s Catechism. 109

Lesson 54 The Early Christian Church: Excerpts From Paul s Second Missionary Journey c. 49 51 A.D. With the influx of gentile Christians into the church, a council met in Jerusalem to discuss how to handle cultural differences between the gentile and Jewish Christians. Then, after a disagreement arose between Paul and Barnabas as to whether they could trust John Mark (who had abandoned them on their previous missionary journey), Paul opted to go with Silas on his second mission journey. Barnabas and John Mark went to Cyprus on a missionary journey of their own. Acts 16:6-40 Paul s Second Missionary Journey: Philippi Paul, Silas, and Timothy were directed by the Holy Spirit to go to Greece. In the city of Philippi, they were given an unconventional opportunity to share the gospel and save a man s spiritual and physical life. 1. While Paul was traveling back through Lystra, he met a young man named Timothy, who joined their mission team. Though Paul and his companions had plans to go elsewhere and preach the Word, God prevented them from carrying out those plans. In a vision, where did God direct them to go (v. 9)? Macedonia. 208

2. While in the city of Philippi, the missionaries met a woman named Lydia. How does the Bible describe her coming to faith in Jesus (v. 14)? God opened her heart. 3. After the Lord opened her heart, what did she and her household do (v. 15)? They were baptized. 4. What offer did she make to Paul and his companions (v. 15)? To stay at her house. 5. While walking through the city of Philippi, the missionaries came across a girl who was possessed by an evil spirit. What did she do that greatly annoyed them (vv. 17-18)? She was shouting after them, proclaiming what they were doing. 6. Why do you think they wanted her to stop talking about them? Review the Eighth Commandment printed below. While what she said was true, it was coming from an unreliable source that could hurt their reputations. THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, or give him a bad name, but defend him, speak well of him, and take his words and actions in the kindest possible way. 7. Why were the girl s masters so upset with Paul and Silas after Paul had cast out the demon (vv. 19-20)? They lost their source of income. 8. What did the girl s masters do because they were so upset (vv. 19-22)? Dragged Paul and Silas before the leaders of the city and had them beaten. 9. After Paul and Silas were beaten severely and thrown into prison, why do you suppose they were joyfully singing hymns to God (v. 25)? They were thankful to be alive and to suffer for what was right. 10. A violent earthquake shook the prison, and all the doors flew open and all the chains fell off the prisoners. After discovering what happened, what was the jailer going to do? See v. 27. He took out his sword to kill himself because he thought all the prisoners had escaped. 209

11. Read the Conclusion to the Ten Commandments and review v. 30. What did the jailer clearly already know about God and what did he still need to learn? He knew that God punished sin but needed to learn that God forgives. THE CONCLUSION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS What does God say about all these commandments? He says, I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. What does this mean? God threatens to punish all who transgress these commandments. Therefore we should fear his anger and not disobey what he commands. But he promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments. Therefore we should love and trust in him and gladly obey what he commands. 12. When the jailer asked what he should do, Paul and Silas told him simply to trust that Jesus is his Savior (v. 31). Review the Third Article of the Apostles Creed and answer this question: What do we need to do to earn eternal life? Nothing. We trust that Jesus is our Savior with the faith that God gives to us. THE THIRD ARTICLE OF THE APOSTLES CREED I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church he daily and fully forgives all sins to me and all believers. On the Last Day he will raise me and all the dead and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true. Acts 17:1-15 Paul s Second Missionary Journey: Thessalonica and Berea Paul traveled to the Greek city of Thessalonica. After a bad experience in Thessalonica, he found a faithful group of believers in Berea. 13. What familiar sequence of events played out in Thessalonica (vv. 1-8)? Paul preached to the Jewish people; some believed but others got angry. 210

14. In v. 11, what do we learn about the people living in the city of Berea compared to the people living in Thessalonica? The Bereans were more noble people. 15. In what way were they more noble (v. 11)? They received Paul s words eagerly and checked to see if Paul s message matched what God had promised. 16. Why were the Bereans a great model for the early church and for us? Read 1 John 4:1. They tested what Paul said to ensure that what they were hearing was right. 17. Explain this statement: The way the Bereans handled Paul s teaching was in keeping with the Third Commandment. They valued God s Word so much that they worked hard to be sure that what they were taught was true. THE THIRD COMMANDMENT Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it. 18. What happened that prematurely ended Paul s time in Berea (v. 13)? People from Thessalonica came to cause trouble in Berea. Acts 17:16-34 Paul s Second Missionary Journey: Athens Paul journeyed to Athens on his own, while Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea. In Athens, Paul preached to people who had never heard the promises of God in the Old Testament. 19. What especially troubled Paul in Athens (v. 16)? Athens was full of false gods. 20. Paul was able to speak to Jewish believers, believing Gentiles, and people who had never heard God s Word before. How did the unbelievers react to Paul s teaching (v. 18)? They were confused about what he was saying. 21. The people of Athens brought Paul to a gathering place in the city to learn more. Paul couldn t start with the promises of the Old Testament because these people were not Jewish and likely knew nothing about the Bible. What did he use as his talking point (vv. 22-23)? An altar dedicated to an unknown god. 211

22. What did Paul tell the Athenians about their unknown god (vv. 24-28)? He is actually the true God, the Creator of all things. 23. What did the people of that day often worship as gods (v. 29)? Statues made from stone, gold, or silver. 24. Who is the one Paul mentions in v. 31, who was appointed to judge the world? Jesus. 25. Once Paul spoke about the resurrection of the dead, how did the people react? See vv. 32-34. Some mocked him while others wanted to hear more and believed. Key Questions A. When the jailer in Philippi asked what he had to do to be saved, what did Paul and Silas tell him? Trust what God has promised. B. How did the people in Berea show that they were taking Paul s teaching very seriously? They checked God s Word to see if what Paul said was true. C. What did Paul use as he talked to the people in Athens who had never heard God s Word in the Old Testament? He used an altar to an unknown god to talk about the true Creator-God. Homework Catechism Memory Work: Bible Passage Memory Work: Be able to answer the Key Questions for Lesson 54. Read pp. 59-67, 183-194, 213-219, 297-302 in Luther s Catechism. 212