The Tower of Babel

The Tower of Babel

Wednesday, November 20th & Sunday, November 24th

Key Passage: Genesis 11:1-9

Basic Truth: God is sovereign!

Memory Verse: Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.  Deuteronomy 4:39

Think about it: 

Most of us, at one time or another, have built sand castles on the beach.  The fun of making them big and imposing is tempered by the knowledge that our unique handiwork will probably be swept away by the next high tide.

We also make detailed life plans for success and achievement, all too often without seeking first to be sure that our aims and wishes are in accord with what the Lord’s calling is for us.  But, apart from Him, the “best laid plans” may have no more stability than our sand castles in the changing tides of life. “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: Why is it important that there is only ONE God?

A: God is sovereign--He has the final say about everything!

Grade 1-2

Q: How can God have total control over everything?

A: God has total control over everything because He sees and knows everything. He has absolute power and authority over everything.

Q: Does God see everyone and everything that is happening?

A: Yes! Psalm 33:13-14

Q: Does God control what happens to you? 

A: He knows everything about us and everything that happens to us!

Grade 3-4

Q: How does pride turn us away from God?

A: Pride causes rebellion and disobedience. When I think that I am more important than God and I can do things my own way, I will not see that I need Him or accept His authority. 

Q: Why are there different nationalities and languages in our world today? 

A: God caused it. The tower of Babel was the beginning of races and nations of our world. Every part of our history comes from God's plan.

Q: When God makes a plan, who can stop Him? 

A: no one!!

Grade 5-6

Q: Why does God care what I do? 

A: We are created for God's purposes and He will not allow mankind to alter or interfere with His sovereign plans. 

Q: We often want our own way instead of God's way. Will anyone ever win a fight against God? 

A: No! God is sovereign and no one can stop His plans.

Q: The people in the story were prideful. Why is pride wrong?

A: Pride keeps us from accepting God's authority. We think we're right and we want our own way and disregard what God says.We become rebellious and disobedient, ignoring that we are created for His purposes. 

Family Activities:

1) Discuss problems communicating with people who speak other languages. Why can God communicate with all? (He made the different languages and He knows everything.)

2) Review the first 12 memory verses

To see all of Lesson 11 click the links below:

Grade 1-2

Grade 3-4

Grade 5-6

God Rescued Noah

God Rescued Noah

Wednesday, November 13th & Sunday, November 17th

Key Passage: Genesis 7:1-9:17

Basic Truth: God is faithful

Memory Verse: For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  Psalm 33:4

Think about it: 

Our government spends millions of dollars every year to provide advance warnings of approaching storms.  But all such alarms are useless if the people who are in harm’s way do not respond to the warnings.

Do we as believers claim to have faith to believe that God will do what He says He will do, then fail to obey His specific commands to us?  How then can we escape His righteous judgment?  “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.” (Hebrews 11:7)

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: What does it mean to be faithful?

A: Faithful means to be totally reliable, keeping every promise.

Grade 1-2

Q: Why can we trust God's promises?

A: God is faithful. He will not forget His promises or change His mind. God has all power and authority and is able to do whatever He says He will do.

Q: Can anything stop God from carrying out His plans? 

A: NO! God is ALWAYS able to do whatever He says He will do!

Q: Why do people break promises? Does that ever happen with God?

A: People change their mind, forget, or are not able to keep it. But God will never break His promises.

Grade 3-4

Q: Why do we need to do things God's way?

A: God's way is always right. God provided only one way for sinners to escape punishment. If we don't trust God and accept His way, we will be separated from Him forever. 

Q: Why does God want people to repent? 

A: He doesn't want us to be separated from Him forever, so He chose to give sinners a chance to "repent and live". 

Q: In this story who did God offer mercy and grace to?

A: All of the people! But only Noah and his family accepted it and followed God's commands. 

Grade 5-6

Q: Why would God bring such a devastating flood? 

A: God is faithful in consistently following through on what He has promised. God is holy and just and will not tolerate sin. He demonstrates His power and authority so mankind will know that He alone is God!

Q: What is a covenant?

A: A contract or binding agreement defining the obligations of each party in the relationship

Q: What were both sides of the covenant God made with Noah? Could other people join this too?

A: God promised to save Noah and his family from the flood if Noah built the ark and entered it. Noah preached and warned the people but they ignored Him. If they had come in faith, God would have offered this to them as well. 

Family Activities:

1) Encourage each family member to record in your journal specific ways that God has been faithful. Share what you have written with your family.

2) Read Genesis 7:17-9:17

To see all of Lesson 11 click the links below:

Grade 1-2

Grade 3-4

Grade 5-6

God's Warning of a Flood

God's Warning of a Flood

Wednesday, November 6th & Sunday, November 10th

Key Passage: Genesis 6:5-22

Basic Truth: God calls sinners to repent

Memory Verse: For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!  Ezekiel 18:32

Think about it: 

Signs reading “STOP! BRIDGE OUT”, forecasts of violent weather, our national “Early Warning System” to guard against incoming nuclear missiles - all these serve to alert us to danger, so we can take action for our own well-being.  They are given to us, often at considerable expense, by those who value our lives.  But people who ignore the warnings, and choose to go on living as they please, may well be swept away without further mercy.

God’s love paid a terrible price at Calvary for our sins.  And God’s holiness will send sure judgment on those who continue to despise and reject His love.  “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. (Galatians 6:7, NASB)

Pray that God’s message of mercy and judgment is clear to us!

Ask it:

All Levels

Q: What does it mean to repent?

A: Repentance causes me to have regret over my sin and turn from it.

Grade 1-2

Q: Why did God call Noah a righteous man?

A: Noah agreed with God that he was a sinner and trusted God's promises. Noah did what God required--he put his faith in God.

Q: Sometimes we think our sin isn't very bad. What does God think about sin?  

A: God thinks it's all wrong! God wants us to change the way we think about sin and agree with Him that it's wrong so we will hate it--like God does.

Q: Did Noah still sin? 

A: Yes! No one (not even Noah) can obey God perfectly. But he repented and had faith and followed God. 

Grade 3-4

Q: Why does God give sinners a chance to repent?

A: God calls sinners to repent because of His mercy and grace. We deserve to be separated from God forever, but God desires a relationship with mankind so He chose to give sinners a chance to come to Him for forgiveness.

Q: Why does our faith need to be in God? 

A: He's the only One who can rescue us from our sins. If we don't trust God, we'll ignore His warning and continue to sin.

Q: Can our relationship with God be repaired without repentance? 

A: No, if we don't agree that we're wrong, we won't ask for forgiveness. 

Grade 5-6

Q: What does it mean to "fear the Lord"?

A: To fear the LORD is to understand what God could do to us because of our sin--but also to know that he won't without giving us a chance to repent. This overwhelming sense of awe and respect will move me to repent and turn from my sin. 

Q: What happens when we put our faith in God?

A: It means we recognize His authority and choose to trust Him and obey Him.

Q: How does God feel when sinners refuse to repent? What also happens?

A: God's heart is grieved. When sinners don't repent, they are separated from God, and continue to sin. (Genesis 6:6)

Family Activities:

1) Consider the size of the ark by finding a building approximately that size (450' long, 75' wide, 45' high). Or compare the size of your house to that of the ark.

2) Read Genesis 6:5-7:16

To see all of Lesson 10 click the links below:

Grade 1-2

Grade 3-4

Grade 5-6