Bible, Glitter and Glue

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Jacob had twelve sons, but his favourite was Joseph. Joseph’s brothers were jealous, so they conspired together and sold him as a slave to some traders heading for Egypt. They told their father that Joseph was dead.

Bible verses used in this episode:

• Genesis 37:1-36
• Genesis 35:23-26

Outline:

1. Extreme family tensions and dreams (Genesis 37:1-11)
2. Brothers take revenge (Genesis 37:12-32)
3. Jacob’s grief (Genesis 37:33-35)
4. Joseph ends up in Egypt (Genesis 37:36)

Tips for teaching children:

• Guide children in writing the names of their siblings on small cards to form prayer reminders. Pray for the siblings in class and then send the cards home so the children will be reminded to continue praying.
• Draw an outline of a coat and decorate it with paints, stickers or glitter.
• Learn the names of the 12 sons of Jacob (from Genesis 35:23-26)
• Sing the “Sons of Jacob Song” song.

Tips for teaching adults:

• A long-sleeved coat was a symbol of favouritism and status.  Challenge class members to display objects or photos representing status and honour and discuss why these are considered important. 
• There is much negative emotion in this story, leading to tragedy.  Most of the students in your class can probably relate to the emotions in the story.  Ask the class to think about and discuss the following questions: 
  • How is your family like or unlike this family?  
  • Have you felt like your sibling was favoured over you?  How did this make you feel?  How have you dealt with your feelings?  
  • Which character do you identify with? Why?  
  • Each of us might experience jealousy or resentment at times.  How do you deal with jealousy and resentment in your life?  How should you deal with these?  Encourage the class to speak to one another about how they can deal with jealousy and resentment.
• Pray that we may learn to love and accept one another.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Joseph Sold By His Brothers

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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Having deceived his brother and father, Jacob escaped to relatives in Haran. During the journey, Jacob dreamed of a stairway between heaven and earth on which angels were ascending and descending to the Lord at the top. God reassured Jacob of his blessing and promise. Undeserving as he was, this promise sustained Jacob over the next twenty years as he worked for his uncle Laban and built a family and wealth. Eventually, Jacob returned to his home and was surprised to find that his brother, Esau, welcomed him with open arms.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Genesis 28:10-33:20

Outline:

1. Jacob encounters God at Bethel (Genesis 28:10-22)
2. A growing family and trickery at Haran (Genesis 29-31)
3. Jacob returns to Canaan and makes peace with his brother, Esau (Genesis 32:1-33:11)
4. Jacob’s family makes their home in the land of Canaan (Genesis 33:12-20)

Tips for teaching children:

• Dress up as one of the characters and tell the story from that character’s point of view
• Designate one area as “Canaan” and the other as “Haran.”  Move between the areas as you tell the story. (Start in Canaan, go to Haran, and come back home to Canaan.)
• Make a craft involving a ladder. Alternatively, make a ladder of pretzel sticks and little marshmallows.
• Draw a family tree with Jacob, his wives and children.

Tips for teaching adults:

• This story is quite long (6 chapters), so it would be helpful to summarise it for your students instead of trying to go into too much detail or read the entire passage of Scripture.  Use the outline above to help summarise, and then use the main points of the outline as "talking points."  Draw questions from one or two sections of the story. For example, relate questions to Jacob’s dream of the ramp to heaven and his wrestling with God.
• Alternatively, spread the story over four teaching sessions. Refer to the outline above and cover one of the four points per session. 
• To help students relate to the story, you might use one or more of these discussion starters:
  • Which character do you identify with (or have at some point in your life)? Explain.
  • How does Jacob’s character change throughout this story?  
  • God uses a scoundrel like Jacob to move his plans to bless the nations through him.  What does this tell you about God?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Jacob Goes to Haran  

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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Esau and Jacob were the twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah. Esau should have inherited the responsibilities and blessings that come with being the oldest son, but he rashly sold his birthright to his younger brother for a pot of stew. Later, in an elaborate act of deception, Rebekah and her favourite son, Jacob, tricked the elderly and blind Isaac. He was fooled into promising Jacob the family blessing. Jacob escaped his angry brother by travelling to his mother’s people in the city of Haran.

Bible verses used in this episode:

• Genesis 25:19-34
• Genesis 27:1-28 through 28:1-5

Outline:

1. Twin sons are born to Isaac and Rebekah (Genesis 25:19-26)
2. Esau sells his birthright to Jacob (Genesis 25:27-34)
3. Rebekah and Jacob trick Isaac (Genesis 27:1-40)
4. Jacob escapes to Haran to find a wife (Genesis 27:41-28:5)

Tips for teaching children:

• Before telling the story, place a blindfold on a child volunteer. Hand them various items that they can feel and identify. Afterwards, tell the children that there will be a blind person in today’s story.
• Use paper, a whiteboard, sand, and a stick to draw the four main characters (Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Esau). These can be simple stick figures. Help the children describe each character and what we have learned about them in today’s story. 
• Help the children concoct a stew. You could begin with a simple broth made with an instant soup packet and boiling water. Supply various ingredients and spices so children can add what they wish.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Since this is a long story, perhaps you can divide the class into two groups and ask them to read the story and discuss aspects of the story.  Hand each group a list of questions they are to discuss among themselves.  After discussing these questions, gather the groups again to compare their discussion and responses.
• Here are a few questions to hand to the two groups: 
  • In what ways are deception and trickery manifested in the story? 
  • What do you see as a primary theme in this story?  Why?  
  • Describe the characters of this story: Esau, Jacob, Isaac and Rebekah.  What are the positive and negative aspects of their characters?  
  • What is one lesson to be learned from the story? 

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  Jacob, Esau, and the Birthright

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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Abraham wanted his son to marry a woman who worshipped the “true and living God,” so he sent a servant back to the land of his relatives to find a wife for Isaac. Rebekah and her family believed in God. She left her home and her family and travelled back to Canaan to become Isaac’s wife. Isaac married her and loved her, and they followed God together.

Bible verses used in this episode:

• Genesis 24:1-67
• 2 Corinthians 6:14

Outline:

1. Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:1-9)
2. The servant encounters Rebekah and her family (Genesis 24:10-61)
3. Isaac and Rebecca marry (Genesis 24:62-67)

Tips for teaching children:

• Gather wedding pictures to show the children.  This is more fun if it is of people they know.
• Invite a married couple to talk to the children about what it is like to be married to a Christian.
• Trace the servant’s journey on a map.

Tips for teaching adults:

• You, the teacher, may best summarise this long chapter for the class. Or, if you have more time, divide up the chapter and choose several readers to read it aloud.
• Have the class name various marriage customs in our world today that they are familiar with, such as “arranged marriages” or “choosing your own partner”.  Discuss the pros and cons of each of these customs.
• Ask the class to consider their own background and marriage. Then, we will open up a discussion about how the way we are brought up affects our marriage (good, bad, or just interesting).

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  A Wife for Isaac

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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Abraham’s faith was tested when the Lord asked him to sacrifice Isaac on an altar. Abraham had a strong faith in God’s earlier promise that he would have many descendants, so he set out to prepare an altar and kill his only son. Abraham displayed this willingness to obey God unconditionally. At the last moment, an angel stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son.

Are we willing to give up (sacrifice) anything if it will help us to serve God better?

Bible verses used in this episode:

• Genesis 22:1-19
• 2 Chronicles 3:1
• Hebrews 11:17-19
• James 2:20-24

Outline:

1. Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son, Isaac (Genesis 22:1-10)
2. Abraham passes the test (Genesis 22:11-14)
3. The angel restates God’s promise (Genesis 22:15-19)

Tips for teaching children:

• Ask children to draw four squares on a piece of paper (or fold the paper into squares). In one square, they should write the word “GOD.” In each of the other four squares, they can draw pictures of people or things that are very important to them. Create “1st Place” ribbons from paper or actual ribbon. Children then talk about the people and things that are important to them and then glue the first-place ribbon on the square containing the word “God.”
• Zentangle the word “FAITH”. Instructions here.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Encourage your group to consider various aspects of the Scripture by presenting the following questions:
  • Why does God test Abraham in this way? 
  • What does Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac reveal about his faith and trust in God?
  • How does God's intervention at the last moment change the narrative?
  • What are two big takeaways from this story for you? 
• Help the group contemplate sacrifice by asking them to:
  • Use a piece of paper to write down a significant sacrifice they have made because of their faith and trust in God.  
  • Read these out to the class if they are comfortable to do so.  
  • Pray that each of us can grow into the faith of Abraham.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  Abraham Prepares to Sacrifice Isaac

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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Upon learning that the Lord was about to destroy the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham bargains with God to spare the city if he can find just ten righteous people. But only one man, Lot, was found righteous, and the cities were destroyed. As Lot and his family fled the city, Lot’s wife turned and looked back at the city despite being warned not to. She turned into a pillar of salt.

Sin causes pain and sorrow. A definition of “sin” for children could be: “Words, thoughts or actions against God or what He wants. These can be words, thoughts or actions we DO. It can also be words, thoughts or actions that we should do but choose NOT TO DO.”

Bible verses used in this episode:

• Genesis 18:16-19:29
• 2 Peter 2:6-8
• 1 Corinthians 15:33

Outline:

1. Abraham bargains with God (Genesis 16:33)
2. The angels find evil in the city of Sodom (Genesis 19:1-9)
3. Mercy for Lot and his family (Genesis 19:10-22)
4. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:23-29)

Tips for teaching children:

• Cut out two large heart shapes. One of white paper and the other black.  Leave the white heart whole, but cut the black heart into 5 or 6 pieces like a puzzle.  
  • Show the white heart and talk about a pure heart that wants to follow and please God.
  • Next, lay the white heart down and begin covering it with the black “puzzle” pieces. As you place each piece, talk about sin that makes our hearts “dirty”. For example, for children, this might involve saying bad words, lying, or hitting someone. Talk about how God can make our hearts clean again when we tell Him we are sorry and ask for forgiveness.  Remove the black pieces when you talk about forgiveness.
  • The people in today’s story (in Sodom) were not sorry for their sins. They wanted to have a sinful heart.

Tips for teaching adults:
The goal of discussion questions is not to receive one right answer.  The teacher uses these questions to generate discussion. This opens up people's minds to see things in the text that would otherwise not be apparent at first glance. 

For instance, ask the participants to read Genesis 19:25. Note that Abraham seemed very bold, and then ask:

• What is Abraham asking God to do?
• What does he mean by asking, “Won’t you do what is right?”  Does he think God might not do what is right? 
• How does the text encourage us, the reader, to consider God’s mercy and justice? 

You could also ask the students to consider the sin of Sodom.  

• How does the text suggest that Sodom’s biggest sin was violence and injustice?  
• How does Sodom’s inhospitality contrast with the Lot’s hospitality as well as Abraham’s hospitality?  

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  Sodom and Gomorrah

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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God changed Abram and Sarai’s names to Abraham and Sarah. When they hosted three visitors, they were told that God would give them a child within the year. The promise was fulfilled when Sarah gave birth to a son, Isaac, one year later. Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7

Outline:

1. Abraham and Sarah offer hospitality to three visitors (Genesis 18:1-8)
2. The Lord promises a son (Genesis 18:9-16)
3. Isaac is born one year later (Genesis 21:1-7)

Tips for teaching children:

• Use sheets and blankets to construct a tent
• Prepare food as if for a guest
• Sing God Answers Prayer and talk about how, sometimes, we have to wait for God to answer our prayers.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Here’s a fun conversation starter at the beginning of class:  “What makes you laugh?” “What do you think is funny?”
• Some questions to get a conversation going: 
  • How did Abraham and Sarah show hospitality to these three visitors? 
  • How do you show hospitality to visitors to your house?
  • What do you do to make them feel like they are important? 
• Verse 14 is the key text in this story.  Ask the class if anyone wants to share difficult things in their life.  Pray about the hard things that were shared in the class.  
• When is it hardest for you to trust God?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  Abram’s Three Visitors

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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Abram and his nephew, Lot, both prospered while living in the land of Canaan. Their servants began to argue over whose flocks and herds should have the small amount of grass that was available. To solve the problem, Abram told Lot to choose an area for himself. Abram would take what was left. Lot chose the more fertile land and moved near a place where very bad people lived. Abram began living in a less fertile area, but God blessed him and told him that all that land would someday belong to his descendants.

Remember to make careful choices because choices have consequences.

Bible verses used in this episode:

• Genesis 13:2-18
• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Proverbs 19:21
• Matthew 6:33
• James 1:5

Outline:

1. A crowding problem (Genesis 13:2-7)
2. Abram suggests Lot to choose new territory (Genesis 13:8-13)
3. God restates land promises to Abram (Genesis 13:14-18)

Tips for teaching children:

• Place upright dominoes in a row. Push over one domino and watch all of the dominoes fall, one by one.  Talk about decisions and how they set off consequences.
• Draw or paint a map of the places where this story takes place. Use this simple map as a guide. 

Tips for teaching adults:

• Here are some conversational questions to stimulate discussion:
  • Although the text doesn’t explicitly tell us, why do you think Abram let Lot choose first?  
  • Would there be any way for either Abram or Lot to know what the consequences would be of Lot’s choice? 
  • Although Lot got the lushest land, what two things does God promise Abram?  
  • If you were faced with a similar choice, would you have followed Abram’s example or Lot’s? Why? 

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  Abram Gives Lot First Choice

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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God chose one man, Abram, to be the beginning of a new nation called God’s People. He told Abram to leave his home and relatives and set out travelling. Abram, his wife, Sarai, and nephew, Lot, left home. He began to travel and live in tents. The Lord also told Abram that his name would be great and the whole world would be blessed through this new nation. Abram believed in God and had living faith—the kind of faith that proves it is real by doing actions.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Genesis 12:1-9

Genesis 11:27-32

Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11:8

James 2:17

Outline:

1. God tells Abram to go (Genesis 12:1-3)
2. Abram goes (Genesis 12:4-9)

Tips for teaching children:

• When talking about Abram’s movements from place to place, move to different locations in the room.  
  • Ur 
  • Haran
  • Shechem
  • Bethel
• Sing the Father Abraham Song

Tips for teaching adults:

• Plan on a day when the class can take a trip together; choose one person in the class to decide where the class will go. Only that person will know the destination.  Everyone can take a picnic if it is a longer day. If it is a drive, car-pooling is suggested.  If it is a walk, make sure all can walk to the destination.  Enjoy spending time together on this journey.  Ask the class what were they thinking and feeling not knowing where they were going.  What was going through their minds?
• Here are some good conversation starters: 
  • “Imagine you are journeying with Abram.  What kind of questions would you ask him?  How long would you stay with him?” 
  • Where else in Genesis do we read of “blessing” and the promise of “descendants?” (Don’t forget Genesis 1:28 & 9:1 as part of the conversation). 
  • What were some of these blessings the peoples of the earth would receive through Abraham and his descendants?
• Link to free Bible Maps: https://open.bible/maps/   Check out the PDF map of “The World of the Patriarchs”.  Be sure to note this at the top of the website about use of the maps:  “The maps on this page are each included in the Biblica Open Bible Maps collection, copyright 2023 Biblica, Inc, and licensed under a CC-BY-SA license (see below for license terms and limitations).” 

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  God Calls Abram

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: [email protected]

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After Noah and his family left the ark, God planned for them to spread out over the whole earth and repopulate it. Instead, in their pride, they gathered in one place and began to build a tower. To intervene, the Lord confused and stopped their plans, causing everyone to speak different languages. Once again, people began to move away and spread all over the earth.

When teaching, emphasise the nature of unhealthy pride.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Genesis 11:1-9

Proverbs 11:2

Psalm 127:1

James 4:10

Outline:

1. The people congregate in one place (Genesis 11:1-2)
2. They built a tower for themselves (Genesis 11:3-4)
3. God intervenes (Genesis 11:5-9a)
4. The people scatter (Genesis 11:9b)

Tips for teaching children:

• Play Jenga or stack blocks to make a tower
• Contrast different kinds of pride
  • positive pride (self-respect or self-esteem) 
  • negative pride (feeling superior or having an overly high opinion of oneself)
• Invite a guest to class and ask them to explain something to the children in another language.  Talk about why mixing up languages would have caused confusion.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Icebreaker before you begin teaching. Ask the participants to respond to the following, “What is the most important, magnificent or tallest thing you have built?”  Or if you are not a builder: “What is the most important, magnificent or tallest building you have ever seen?  Why?
• Use this material as a background to this story.  Photo montage of a ziggurat and other related artifacts: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Etemenanki#/media/File:Etemenanki_Berlin.jpg
• When is it not good to “settle?”  Are we building monuments, programmes or ministries to ourselves?  Are we trying to make a name for ourselves or to draw attention to God’s name? 
• How can we build for God instead of ourselves as individuals or a church?  

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson:  The Tower of Babel

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: [email protected]