During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
If you did not do this last week, choose 3 good readers to be expert “historians” before class. Explain that a historian is someone who studies history. Cut out the cards at the end of the lesson and give them to your historians. When you ask them to, they will read their cards to the class.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
The Bible is not meant to be a book that gathers dust because it is never opened. Nor is it to just be a book of laws so we can earn our way to God. It is God-breathed! It is God’s love letter to you, inviting you to know Him. Jesus said that this is why He came—that we might know the Father.
How do you approach reading the Bible? Do you recognize that God wants you to know Him? Spend time this week reflecting on the gift of God’s Word. Thank God for revealing His love for you through His story. If you have a Bible, ask God to give you fresh eyes to see Him on every page. Ask Him to renew your love for His Word.
Let the children’s families know that they are learning about how we got the Bible. Encourage the families to put a verse to song or rhyme and then memorize it together.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
As your children arrive, choose 10 and divide them into 2 teams of 5 children each. The rest of the children will choose which team they want to cheer for.
Give each team 10 items. Explain that each team will work together to build a tall tower using all of their items. Team 1 will build their tower on the floor or ground. Team 2 will build their tower on the large, flat object.
After the teams have been building for about 1 minute, shake the flat object that Team 2 is using as their foundation. Their tower will probably fall, and the children may feel frustrated or angry. Encourage them to rebuild their tower. If needed, explain that this is a special part of the lesson.
After another minute, walk over to Team 1 and stomp your feet near their tower. It should not fall. Then clap for both teams. Ask the children to sit down.
Both teams worked hard on their towers. But Team 2’s foundation was shaky, which caused their tower to fall. Because Team 2 built their tower on the floor, their foundation more solid. It did not shake too much, even when I tried to move it.
What was the difference?
One team had a firm foundation that was not easily shaken. The other team’s foundation was shaken.
Things that happen to us can make it feel like we are standing on a shaky foundation. For example, if you do not have enough food to eat or someone is abusing you, it can feel like everything is shaky.
Today we are going to learn about God’s Word, the Bible. It tells us about God and is true and reliable. It is like a firm, solid foundation for life, even when we go through hard things.
Ask your first historian to read the following paragraph. The information your historian will read is provided here for your reference.
Card 1: How People First Heard God’s Word
Hi there! My name is Dr. Know-the-Bible. I am an expert on how the Bible came to us. Did you know that before most people knew how to read or had copies of the Bible, they learned by listening as others told them the stories and poems? Some parts of the Bible have patterns and rhythms to help listeners remember what they hear. Other times important phrases are repeated so that people can remember them.
When the historian is finished reading Card 1, say:
I will read Psalm 136:1–9. Just listen the first time I read it. See if you can hear the rhythm
and pattern.
Read Psalm 136:1–9 from your Bible.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His love endures forever. to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. who made the great lights—His love endures forever. The sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1–9
Now I will read it again. This time, everyone repeat, “His love endures forever” as I pause after each line.
Read the verses from Psalm 136 again, pausing for everyone to repeat, “His love endures forever.”
Can you feel the rhythm of the poem? Does the repetition help you remember it better? Telling a story or poem with rhythm, repetition, and rhyme helps us remember the information. This is one of the ways God made certain that His Word was passed from generation to generation.
Ask your second historian read Card 2.
Card 2: The Bible Is Inspired by God
There are 66 books in the Bible. These books were written over a period of about 1,600 years by about 40 different individuals. These writers were kings, prophets, priests, and the early followers of Jesus. Amazingly, all 66 books by the 40 different writers are consistent with each other. This is possible because each writer’s words were inspired, or influenced directly, by God. The Bible is the Word of God and is different from any other religious book.
After the historian is done reading Card 2, read 2 Timothy 3:16–17 from your Bible.
God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. By using Scripture, a man of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.
2 Timothy 3:16–17, NIrV
What does this verse tell us about the Bible?
God has breathed life into Scripture. It is God’s Word. It is useful for teaching, correcting, training, and making our lives whole.
Ask your third historian read Card 3.
Card 3: God’s Story
Reading the Bible is not like reading just any poem, story, or history. The Bible contains all of these types of writing and more. But the different books and types of writing are like the threads of a beautiful tapestry. Together they tell a single consistent story—God’s story! The Old Testament contains the history of God and His people before Jesus came to earth as a man. The New Testament tells about Jesus’ life and God’s work in the early church. Together, the Bible tells us the story of God and His love and plan for His people.
After the historian is done reading Card 3, share the following.
Listen to these different types of writing found in the Bible.
In the Old Testament we find:
In the New Testament we find:
All of God’s Word, Old Testament and New Testament, poetry, history, or any other type of writing, all shows us who God is, and how we can know and love Him more.
Place the large flat rock in the centre of your area. Gather the children around it. You can do this activity inside or outside. If you do not have a large, solid rock available, you can use a different solid object, such as a tree stump, concrete slab, or hard-packed dirt path.
What is something that surprised you about the Bible today?
Allow the children to share their ideas.
We started class by having teams build towers on firm and shaky foundations. How do you think the Bible is like a solid, firm foundation?
The Bible is inspired by God. It tells us who God is and about His amazing love for us. Listen to what these verses tell us about listening to and obeying God’s Word. If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
Matthew 7:24–27
Now we will each have the opportunity to decide if we are ready to stand on God’s firm foundation. He wants us to know Him and His love. It can help support us even when we go through things that shake our world.
As an active response, have the children take turns standing on the rock and praying a simple prayer like, “God, thank You for giving us your Word, the Bible! I want to stand on the rock of listening to and obeying Your Word.”
Explain that standing on the rock shows they are choosing to make the Bible their foundation and obey what it says. If some children are not ready to make that commitment, that is okay. Encourage them to think about what their foundations are and tell God what they are thinking and feeling. He hears them.
Optional: If you are using Student Pages, there is space for children to draw pictures of themselves standing on the rock, which is God’s Word.
Close class by praying this blessing over the children based on Psalm 119:105:
Blessing: May God’s Word, the Bible, be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. May you hear His Word and obey it. May you always stand firmly on the Word of God!
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
