God s Unfolding Story - PDF Free Download

Bible Story: God Made a Promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:1-6; 17:1-8,15-19) Bible Phrase: Abraham believed God (Genesis 15:6). Bible Truth: I can believe God will do what He promises. Old Testament Unit 3: Abraham Lesson 3: God Made a Promise to Abraham God s Unfolding Story 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. Suggested Schedule: Arrival Centers 25 minutes Clean-up Time 5 minutes Bible Story Time 15 minutes Craft Time 10 minutes Snack Time 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal Hour A 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us. Unfolding God s Story for Teachers Please read our story from Genesis 15:1-6; 17:1-8,15-19. The passage begins with these words, After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision (Gen. 15:1). These events included a military battle Abram had just engaged in to rescue his nephew Lot. Earlier, four powerful tribes from the east invaded five rebellious tribes located near the Dead Sea. The five included Sodom, where Lot lived. The invaders took goods and food as well as Lot and all his possessions. Abram was informed of the calamity; so he rallied his men and ambushed the eastern kings. All the goods and captives were rescued. Abram was not a military man, but God empowered him for the required task. It was an amazing victory (see Gen. 14:1-17). Following these events, God told Abram in a vision, Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great (Gen. 15:1). What a tremendous affirmation those words must have been! Abram had experienced God in a whole new realm, but he still had questions. The couple s attempt to help God by having Ishmael was not divinely ordained. Abram and Sarai still were without children and were getting older. How would God accomplish what He continued to promise? As Abram s vision continued, God said he would have a son from his marriage to Sarai. He took Abram outside to observe the night sky. The black desert sky surely appeared endless with countless stars shining bright and clear. God asked Abram to count the stars. Obviously it was not possible. God told Abram his offspring would be that numerous. So this would include not only the promised son, but every child to come from Abram s seed. Genesis 15:6 is a monumental verse that reads, Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness. This is the first time the verb believed is used in the Old Testament. It gives us insight about God s response to faith and belief in Him. Abram trusted God, and God counted him as righteous before Him. More than 13 years passed from the end of chapter 15 to the beginning of chapter 17. At 99, Abram received another visit from God. God stressed the covenant the He had made with Abram. It was not just a promise from God but a covenant between God and Abram. God gave Abram a new name Abraham, meaning father of many nations. God spoke the blessings of the covenant and then explained Abraham s part. Circumcision would bind the covenant. Also, Sarai now would be called Sarah. Then God spoke those long awaited words, Your wife Sarah will bear a son, and you will name him Isaac (17:19). Abraham obeyed God and was circumcised. God was bound to His special people the children of Abraham, the nation of Israel. Lesson Plan Arrival Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them. Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed. Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session. Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT03 Lesson 3 Hour A Page 1

Puzzle Center: Work Puzzles Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for the children to work. What to Do: Encourage each child to finish a puzzle before leaving the center. Offer guidance rather than working the puzzle for the child. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, take advantage of opportunities to say the Bible Phrase or to briefly tell the Bible story. Home Living Center: Role Play Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit, small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans, plastic food items; and doll items such as baby doll, doll bed, doll bag, blanket, clothes, bottles, and diapers. What to Do: Home living items will encourage children to role play home activities such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for the baby. Link to the Bible Story: As children play, look for opportunities to engage in conversation about the Bible story, Bible Phrase, or Bible truth. Center Time Art Center: Sand Painting Black construction paper White or silver crayons Glue, small bag of sand, paper plates What to Do: Print today s Bible Phrase at the bottom of each paper. Draw the outline of a large star on each paper. Pour sand onto paper plates. Invite each child to spread glue inside the star outline. Next demonstrate how to sprinkle a small amount of sand over the glue on a star. Shake excess sand onto a paper plate. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, say today s Bible Phrase, Abraham believed God (Genesis 15:6). Comment that in today s Bible story God promised Abraham he would have a family as large as the number of stars in the sky. Bible Learning Center: Matching Sets of Stars Copies of Activity Page: Match the Stars (Reproducible) Crayons or washable markers What to Do: Invite children use a crayon or marker to draw a line from a set of stars on the left to the matching number of stars on the right. Link to the Bible Story: As children work on the activity, express that God promised Abraham he would have a family as large as the number of stars in the sky. Comment that Abraham believed God s promise. Block Center: Build with Blocks Wooden blocks Plastic animals What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Link to the Bible Story: As children build, listen for opportunities to share the Bible Phrase or to tell a part of the Bible story. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT03 Lesson 3 Hour A Page 2

Clean-up Time Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area. Bible Story Time Bible Teaching Picture, God Made a Promise to Abraham (Reproducible) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock) Introduction Show the God s Unfolding Story Cube. Express to the boys and girls that even though there are many stories in the Bible and all of them are true, there is one overall story we can call God s Unfolding Story. Tell children that each picture on the cube represents a part of God s Unfolding Story. Turn the cube and talk about each point in the story. (Refer to page 1.) Express that every story in the Bible is from one of these main points in God s Unfolding Story. Today s story is from the third point; God Chose a Special People. Express the following in your own words. What does it mean to promise something? A promise is something we say we will do. Your mom might promise to take you for ice cream. She will do her best to keep her promise and take you for ice cream. It is important to keep our promises, to do what we say we will do. Sometimes people can t keep their promises and we are disappointed. But God always, always keeps His promises. Our Bible story today is about a promise God made to Abraham. Bible Story God Made a Promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:1-6; 17:1-8,15-19) Abraham and his family were living in the land of Canaan. Abraham had been blessed with many sheep, goats, donkeys, and camels. Abraham was doing well living in the new land. One night God spoke to Abraham and said, Abraham, come outside and look up into the sky. Do you think you can count all the stars? Abraham probably thought to himself, God, there are too many stars to count. God told Abraham that one day his family would be like the number of stars because there would be too many people to count! Abraham did not know how all this would happen since he and Sarah were old and did not have any children. But Abraham believed God because God had made a promise. When Abraham was 99 years old, God spoke to him again. God reminded Abraham of His promise. He told Abraham he would make him the father of many people. God told Abraham how this would happen. God said, I will bless your wife Sarah and she will have a baby. God told them to name the baby Isaac. God would keep his promise to Abraham. God wanted Abraham to trust Him and obey His words. God had important work for Abraham. Abraham and Sarah waited for God to give them their son, Isaac. Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story. Ask questions like these. Could Abraham count all the stars? What did God promise Abraham? Did Abraham believe God? What did God tell Abraham to name his son? 2. Say today s Bible Phrase together, Abraham believed God (Genesis 15:6). Express the following in your own words. Just as God gave Abraham a promise, He also has given us promises. Joshua 1:9 reads, Do not be afraid. God is with you. Psalm 66:19 assures us God hears us when we talk to Him. Abraham believed God s promise, and we can believe these promises. God wants us to trust Him and obey His word. 3. Close the Bible Story Time in prayer, thanking God for His promises and the courage to believe them. 4. Direct children to Craft Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT03 Lesson 3 Hour A Page 3

Craft Time: Make Bible Phrase Reminder Copies of Bible Phrase Door Hanger (Reproducible, cardstock) Self-adhesive stars Crayons and washable markers What to Do: Cut out the Bible Phrase Door Hangers. Invite children to color their door hangers and decorate with the stars. Link to the Bible Story: Remind children of God s promise to Abraham that his family would number as many as the stars. Comment that Abraham believed God s promise. Snack Time Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up. Game Time / Dismissal Bean Bag Game Any small object children can easily pass behind their backs such as: bean bag, crayon, small wooden block What to Do: Invite children to come to the Game Time area and sit in a circle. Choose a child to sit in the middle of the circle. Explain to children they will pass the object behind their backs to the person sitting next to them. As they are passing the object, the child in the center will count to 5. The object should stop when the child reaches the number 5. The child in the center tries to guess who has the object. The child with the object gets to be in the center. Play the game as long as children are interested. At the close of the game, say the Bible Phrase together, Abraham believed God (Genesis 15:6). Remind children that God asked Abraham to count the stars. God promised Abraham He would give him a family as large as the number of stars. Dismiss children when parents arrive. Be sure to follow your church s security guidelines. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT03 Lesson 3 Hour A Page 4

Resources and Supplies Old Testament Unit 3: Abraham Lesson 3: God Made a Promise to Abraham Hour A Standard Art Supplies (Supplies that are generally in the room) Washable markers Crayons Child scissors Playdough and accessories Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers Watercolors Paintbrushes Yarn Standard Equipment (Equipment that is generally in the room) Bible Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic) Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/children s Worship CDs Reproducibles (Included with the lesson plan downloads) Activity Page: Match the Stars (1 copy per child) Bible Phrase Door Hanger (1 copy for every 2 children, cardstock) Teaching Picture, God Made a Promise to Abraham (1 copy per class) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock 1 copy per class) Parents Connect (1 copy per child) Coloring Page, God Made a Promise to Abraham (1 per child) Additional Art and Bible Learning Materials Black construction paper Small bag of sand Several paper plates Additional Craft Materials Self-adhesive stars 10 per child Additional Block Materials Plastic animals God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com OT03 Lesson 3 Hour A

Match the Stars Abraham believed God. Genesis 15:6 Activity Page: Match the Stars Instructions: One copy per child. Use a crayon or marker to draw a line from a set of stars on the left to the matching number of stars on the right. OT03 Lesson 3 Hour A Bible Learning Center God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Abraham believed God. Genesis 15:6 Abraham believed God. Genesis 15:6 Craft Time: Bible Phrase Door Hanger Instructions: Copy 1 sheet for every 2 children. Cardstock recommended. Color the door hanger and decorate with self-adhesive stars. OT03 Lesson 3 Hour A Craft Time God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com