Covenant with Abram
Lesson Flow
Genesis 15; Psalm 105:8–10;
Luke 1:68–75
Memory Verse
Heart Prep
He remembers his
Meet with God
covenant forever, the
Connect
word he commanded,
“Symbol of a Promise” activity page
Old clothes, an old sheet, or other fabric
Standard supplies: scissors
for a thousand
generations.
Into the Word
—Psalm 105:8
Bibles
Big Bible Panorama from Preteen Rio Basics
“Abraham” StoryPoint from Preteen Rio Basics
“Covenant” StoryPoint from Preteen Rio Basics
Standard supplies: sticky putty
BreakOUT #1: Clinging to the Covenant
(optional, 10 min.)
Foam pool noodles (2 to 4)
Optional: small prizes
Go Deep
No materials
BreakOUT #2: Our Faithful God (optional, 5–10 min.)
“Your Grace Is Enough” audio from the DVD-ROM
Standard supplies: DVD player
Optional: computer, worship CD and CD player
ReConnect
“My Promise” activity page
Cloth bracelets from Connect
Standard supplies: paper, pens or pencils
= requires extra preparation
Unit 3 | God Keeps His Covenant Promises | Lesson 9
85
Heart Prep
Genesis 15; Psalm 105:8–10;
Luke 1:68–75
“D
o not be afraid, Abram,” God’s voice booms. “I
am your shield, your very great reward.”
Picture God showing up and audibly speaking those
words to you. Imagine the awe, the amazement, the joy.
God almighty—our eternal reward.
Abram has already established a relationship with
God. He heard God’s voice before, and he followed it
by leaving his father’s land and going to where God
directed him (Genesis 12). God also promised him many
descendants, but Abram was still waiting.
So when God shows up this time, Abram asks questions.
“What can you give me, since I remain childless?” he asks.
God takes him outside. Count the stars if you can, He
says. That’s the number of your offspring.
Abram believes God, and God declares him to be
righteous because of his faith.
Abram openly talks with God and asks Him
questions, requesting proof. In your faith journey,
do you talk to God and ask Him questions? Do
you feel free to interact with Him in this way?
God reminds Abram that He has also promised him
expansive lands. Again, Abram wonders audibly, “How
can I know?” (emphasis added).
The covenant between God and Abram means that
they’re entering into an eternal relationship. Both promise
to follow certain rules. But this covenant ceremony differs
in one way: God steps in and promises to keep both sides
of the covenant. He knows Abram and his descendants
will fail. But even as God looks down the corridor of time
and sees the countless ways men and women will stray
from His promise, He still establishes an eternal
relationship with humanity.
Even as God looks down the corridor
of time and sees the countless ways
men and women will stray from His
promise, He still establishes an eternal
relationship with humanity.
God knows that He alone can carry out this promise. So
He walks through the path of blood for both of them.
When Abram fails to keep the covenant, God will pay for
it with His own blood.
Thousands of years later, Christ hangs on the cross, blood
dripping to the ground. “It is finished,” He cries. His blood
has fulfilled the terms of the covenant cut so long ago.
What does it mean to you that God has kept His
promises throughout the ages?
So God makes a covenant with Abram. God enters into
Abram’s world, showing us yet another aspect of His
humble character.
God confirmed this covenant and then reaffirmed it over
and over again. He didn’t have to do this.
What humility. What grace. What beauty.
Almighty God,
How beautiful You are. Thank You for being willing to enter into our lives, to reveal Yourself in ways
that we’re able to understand. Thank You for entering into a relationship with Abram so long ago so
that we could be redeemed. Your plan extends from the beginning to the end, and it is wonderful to
see it fulfilled. Thank You for giving us glimpses of Your plans, Your promises, and Your perfection.
86
In the name of Jesus, the One who perfectly fulfilled the covenant, amen.
Genesis 15; Psalm 105:8–10; Luke 1:68–75
5
Connect
MATERIALS
Symbol of a Promise
“Symbol of a Promise” activity page
Old clothes, an old sheet, or other fabric
9
God often instructed His people to remember His goodness to them byy building
monuments or creating covenants. They could look at the monument or think about the
covenant and remember what God had done.
Standard supplies: scissors
With this activity you’ll make your own symbol to remind
yourself of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises.
1. Cut or tear three strips of fabric,
with each strip about a foot long.
2. Hold the ends of the three strips
together and tie them into a knot.
Before your preteens arrive, gather up some old clothes, an old sheet, or some inexpensive
fabric. Also, you might e-mail your students’ families earlier in the week and ask them to
send along some old clothes or fabric. Write the Memory Verse on the whiteboard.
3. Braid the strips tightly.
4. Tie a knot at the end of the braid.
5. Ask a friend to tie the braid around
your wrist. If it’s too long, trim the
braid before knotting the end.
Name: ________________________________________
Unit 3 | Lesson 9 | God’s Covenant with Abram
As your students arrive, hug them and remind them you’ve been praying for them. Then
ask them if they’re good at remembering things or if that’s difficult for them. What kinds of
things do they tend to forget?
Once most of your preteens have arrived, have everyone sit together. Share one of your
favorite memories with your students and then one of your funniest memories. Be sure
to share why these events stick out in your mind. Once you’ve shared and allowed your
students to ask questions, engage them in the conversation.
What’s one of your best memories? What’s one of your funniest?
How do you make sure you’ll remember things in the future? Do you journal,
take pictures, or talk about past events with family members?
God often tells His people to remember the things He’s done for them. One of the ways He
helps His people remember is by creating covenants. Throughout the Bible, a covenant is a
symbol of a special relationship or a promise between God and His people.
Introduce the new Memory Verse to your students and recite it together. God has
remembered His promises to us for thousands of years, and He is faithful to fulfill them.
Memory
Verse
He remembers his covenant forever, the
word he commanded, for a thousand
generations.
Psalm 105:8
Hand out the “Symbol of a Promise” activity pages. Have the students work together in
groups as they follow the instructions to create symbolic bracelets. Once your preteens
have finished their bracelets, have them set them aside. You’ll come back to them later
during ReConnect.
Unit 3 | God Keeps His Covenant Promises | Lesson 9
87
God’s Covenant with Abram
Into the Word
MATERIALS
Bibles
Big Bible Panorama from Preteen Rio Basics
“Abraham” StoryPoint from Preteen Rio Basics
“Covenant” StoryPoint from Preteen Rio Basics
Standard supplies: sticky putty
Abraham
• God promised
Abraham land and
asked
Adam toand
tend it.
descendants
told him all people
would be blessed
through him.
• God miraculously
gave Abraham a son,
Isaac, and through
him, God's covenant
continued.
• Abraham is called
the father of the
Jewish people.
Through his line of
descendants, Jesus
came as a blessing to
the whole world!
We first learn about Abram in detail in Genesis 12. God speaks to him and tells
him to leave his father’s land because God is going to bring him to a new land.
God tells Abram that He will make him into a great nation with many
descendants and that he will be blessed so he, in turn, can bless the whole
world through his offspring. Abram immediately obeys God and moves on
with his wife, Sarai.
Have your students turn to Genesis 15 in their Bibles and ask for a volunteer to read
verse 1. Abram had already heard from God and obeyed His voice by leaving his
people and moving to a new land. God had promised to make him a great nation
with many descendants. In Genesis 15, God appears again, reminding Abram of who
He is and the protection He offers.
Abram lived during a time when people worshipped many different gods. His
homeland of Ur was dedicated to Nanner, a god of the moon. The people of Ur
worshipped Nanner, among many other gods. Abram must have heard of a lot of
gods who made promises. But this God—the one, true God—appeared to Abram
personally over and over again.
Ask for a volunteer to place the “Abraham” StoryPoint on your Big Bible Panorama
timeline using sticky putty. You can refer to the Big Bible Panorama diagram on
page 131 of your leader’s guide to see where the “Abraham” StoryPoint should be
placed. Abram (whose name is later changed to Abraham) is the father of the Israelite
people—through his descendants God brings about a mighty nation and the
blessing of Jesus for the entire world!
Why did God tell Abram not to be afraid?
What does it mean that God is Abram’s “very great reward”?
Ask for a volunteer to read Genesis 15:2–3 aloud to the others. God speaks to Abram, and
Abram responds by asking what God will give him. Remember, Abram and God have
already begun a relationship. God has already promised him descendants. Abram reminds
God that, so far, he doesn’t have any children! During Bible times, if a person died without
any children, his chief servant would inherit all of his property and responsibilities. Abram’s
oldest servant was apparently Eliezer, whom we likely see mentioned in Genesis 24, after
God has followed through by providing a son for Abram.
88
Genesis 15; Psalm 105:8–10; Luke 1:68–75
Abram can’t see how God’s promise will come true when the possibility isn’t right in front
of him. Abram’s response is natural to us—we can’t see the future, so we question how God
will fulfill His promises.
Do you ever ask God questions about your future?
In what ways has God answered you before? In what ways are you still waiting
to hear His answer?
Have a volunteer read Genesis 15:4–5 aloud. God answers Abram; He even takes him outside
to show him a picture of how numerous his descendants will be. What a gracious God to
take the time to explain Himself to humankind! God does it here with Abram, but He’s also
explained His character and nature to us through His Word, His prophets, and His Spirit. How
wonderful of God to lavish His attention and time upon us so freely and patiently.
Why do you think God chose Abram to be the father of a nation?
Leader Tip
You might want to make your
room more comfortable by
placing large pillows or beanbags
around the room or furnishing
it with a couch. Try to use all
the space in your room so that
Ask a volunteer to read verse 6 to the group. God chose Abram to become the father of His
people. Abram was nothing special; he wasn’t a king or a ruler. He was a simple man who
decided to obey God. God often uses those who are ordinary—but obedient—to complete
His will. Abram believed God, and in that belief, God blessed him with a righteous faith. God
does the same for us: Our faith in Jesus Christ makes us blameless and righteous before God
(Romans 3:22–23).
you don’t always confine your
activities to a table.
BreakOUT #1: Clinging to the Covenant (10 min.)
MATERIALS
Foam pool noodles (2 to 4)
Optional: small prizes
God made big promises to Abram, and Abram decided to believe that God would
keep them. Abram had to choose to cling to these promises even when he couldn’t
see how God would fulfill them. This activity will give your preteens a picture of what
it means to hold on tightly to God’s covenant.
Depending on the size of your group, hand out the foam pool noodles, or “covenant
noodles,” to two to four students. Send these students to the middle of the room.
Have the other students spread out around the room and freeze in position with their
hands outstretched. These students need to keep their eyes tightly shut.
When you say, “Go!” the students holding the covenant noodles should start walking
around, sweeping the noodles past the frozen students. When the students feel
noodles sweep past, they should try to grab them. They can’t open their eyes until
they’ve firmly grasped the noodle! Once they’ve caught a noodle, they become part
of the team. They must continue to hold on to the noodle and then help collect
other kids onto the team. The “covenant leaders” who first held the noodles must
continue to carefully lead the growing team of “covenant holders” that they pick up.
Unit 3 | God Keeps His Covenant Promises | Lesson 9
89
God’s Covenant with Abram
Once everyone has successfully grasped the covenant, see which team has the most
players. You may want to reward the members of the winning team with small prizes.
Even when we can’t see how God will fulfill His promises, we know from His Word and
from our previous experiences that He is trustworthy. It is always worth it to cling to
Him—He is always faithful to come through.
Have a volunteer read Genesis 15:7–8 aloud. Again Abram questions God. How can he really
know that God will do this for him? God responds again.
Why did Abram continue to question God? Do you think he had weak faith? Or
did he have a lot of faith? Explain your answer.
Have a volunteer read verses 9–11 aloud.
In biblical times, a covenant meant more than just an ordinary promise or an agreement.
It required a special ceremony during which vows were taken and the two parties entered
into a relationship.
This type of covenant was familiar to Abram, which was why he knew to cut the animals
in two and arrange them opposite to each other. The blood from the animals would run
toward the middle, creating a stream. The animals that God asked Abram to bring were
the same animals that God later commanded the Israelites to use whenever they brought
offerings to the Lord (Leviticus 1).
Why do you think people in Bible times made covenants this way?
Covenant
God appeared
created the
to
• God
Abram and cut a
asked Adam
tohim
tend it.
covenant
with
(Genesis 15).
• Later, God confirmed
His covenant with
the entire nation
of Israel on Mount
Sinai (Exodus 19). He
promised to always
provide for Israel.
• In the New Testament,
Jesus created a new
covenant through
His saving blood.
We remember this
covenant by recalling
His sacrifice when
we take communion
(Luke 22:19–20).
The covenant process that God and Abram were depicting usually involved
two parties—a greater person and a lesser person. The greater person would
establish all of the rules of the covenant, and the lesser person would agree
to them. In God and Abram’s case, God promised to provide Abram with land
(Genesis 15:18–21) and numerous descendants that would bless the entire world
(Genesis 12:2–3).
God makes the promises here—even though He is the greater party. Abram
believes the Lord and it is credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Later, God
commands Abram to walk blamelessly before Him, and they reconfirm their covenant
(Genesis 17:1–2).
As we will discover as we study Abram’s descendants, they did not uphold Abram’s
belief in God’s promises—they turned away from God, sinned, and worshipped false
gods. God knew this would happen, and that makes His willingness to enter into a
covenant with Abram even more meaningful.
Ask one of your students to put the “Covenant” StoryPoint on the Big Bible Panorama
timeline using sticky putty. You can refer to the BBP diagram on page 131 of your
90
Genesis 15; Psalm 105:8–10; Luke 1:68–75
leader’s guide to see where the “Covenant” StoryPoint should be placed. God created a
covenant with Abram, and He renewed that promise to the nation of Israel hundreds of
years later. Even later, Jesus created a new covenant through His sacrifice on the cross.
The covenant process in Bible times usually involved the lesser person agreeing to many
more terms than the greater person. What is interesting in the Genesis 15 passage is that
God—the greater party—talks about all of the promises He is making. The focus is on the
Lord and what He will do.
Why do you think God is making the promises in this covenant ceremony?
Ask a volunteer to read Genesis 15:12–16 aloud. Abram falls into a deep sleep and
experiences a “thick and dreadful darkness.” That Hebrew expression would be similar to the
English description of someone being “scared out of his mind.” Abram is about to enter an
everlasting covenant with the one true God. He knows his own weaknesses—he probably
knows that he and his descendants will fail to keep their promises.
Why do you think Abram was terrified at this moment?
God speaks to Abram and tells him that his descendants will be in slavery for 400 years but
will return one day to the land of Israel. This comes true later when Abram’s descendants
move to Egypt and end up in slavery to Pharaoh. But God later rescues them from slavery and
demonstrates His majestic power in the great exodus. God brings Abram’s descendants back
to the land He’d promised them.
Why do you think God allowed Abram’s descendants to be in slavery?
Have a volunteer read verses 17–21 aloud.
Go Deep
MATERIALS
None
Ask your students to find quiet spots around the room and close their eyes. If possible,
dim the lights. As you share the following information with your students, ask them to
imagine that they’re present as this ceremony is about to take place.
God and Abram are entering into an eternal covenant. Blood has been shed. Abram is
frightened, but God is present.
As God and Abram stand ready to enter into their covenant, a “smoking firepot with a
blazing torch” appears and passes between the animals.
In the Bible, smoke represents the presence of God. He appears on Mount Sinai in a cloud
of smoke (Exodus 19:18), Isaiah sees a vision of God surrounded by smoke (Isaiah 6:4), and
the temple of God fills with smoke because of His presence (Revelation 15:8). The smoking
firepot is God showing up to solidify His promises as one half of the covenant.
Unit 3 | God Keeps His Covenant Promises | Lesson 9
91
God’s Covenant with Abram
Now the blazing torch appears. Fire is another substance that represents God
throughout the Bible. God appears to Moses in a burning bush (Exodus 3:2), God
reveals His presence through fire at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:18), and God appears to the
New Testament believers as tongues of fire (Acts 2:3–4).
Leader Tip
Is there something God has said
in His Word that you don’t fully
understand? If so, share your
thoughts with the students.
Sharing your questions with the
students will help them to know
that even adults don’t always
But as the ceremony starts, God appears twice—as smoke and fire—and walks
between the animals in Abram’s place. God Almighty walks through the path of blood
created for Abram by the dead animals. God knows that Abram and his descendants
won’t keep their promises, so He takes their place. God is implying that He would
rather die than allow His covenant with Abram to be broken.
Abram’s descendants meet with God hundreds of years later and make a covenant
with Him, promising that they will obey God only. They fail to keep their promises—
they disobey and worship other gods. But God always remained faithful to His
covenant promises. He gave Abram all that He said He would. And mankind’s role in
breaking the covenant was ultimately redeemed when God sent His Son, Jesus, as a
sacrifice for our sins thousands of years later.
have all of the answers.
What does it mean to you that God took Abram’s place as they made
the covenant?
Ask your students to turn to Psalm 105 in their Bibles. Have a volunteer read verses 8–10 aloud,
and then ask one of your students to recite the Memory Verse.
Memory
Verse
He remembers his covenant forever, the
word he commanded, for a thousand
generations.
Psalm 105:8
What does it mean to you to know that God has kept His promises for
thousands of years?
This psalm was written hundreds of years after Abram and God made their covenant. God
had come through—He had given them land and made Abram’s descendants as numerous
as the stars. But they still waited to see the ultimate fulfillment of the covenant through a
Messiah who would bless the whole world (Genesis 12:3).
What promises have you seen God keep in your own life?
Have the students turn to Luke 1 in their Bibles. John the Baptist has just been born, and
his father, Zechariah, praises the Lord for fulfilling His promises. He takes time to remember
what God has done and has yet to do.
Ask for a volunteer to read verses 68–75 to the group. In this passage, Zechariah praises
God for keeping His word to the people of Israel. By this time, Jesus is about to be born—it
92
Genesis 15; Psalm 105:8–10; Luke 1:68–75
has been thousands of years since Abram and God first made their covenant. But God
has continued to bless and continue His relationship with Israel, even when they’ve failed
to follow Him. And through the birth of Jesus, God brought ultimate fulfillment to the
covenant He made so long ago.
BreakOUT #2: Our Faithful God (5–10 min.)
MATERIALS
“Your Grace Is Enough” from the DVD-ROM
Standard supplies: DVD player
Optional: computer, worship CD and CD player
Take some time to joyfully praise God for His faithfulness, just like Zechariah did. God
was faithful to His covenant, and He is still keeping His promises to us today. Play the
song “Your Grace Is Enough” from the DVD-ROM (using a DVD player or computer).
The lyrics are on the DVD-ROM as well, or you can find them on the Internet.
If you don’t have access to a DVD player or computer, you may want to have your
students listen to your own worship music on a CD player. As you listen to the music,
allow your preteens to express their gratefulness to God through song, movement,
and verbal expression.
God continues to love us and help us, even when we do wrong or don’t listen
to Him. He has promised that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans
8:38–39). What a privilege to have a God who’s faithful even when we aren’t!
ReConnect
MATERIALS
“My Promise” activity page
Cloth bracelets from Connect
My Promise
9
Think about a promise you would like to make to God. It might be working on loving
Standard supplies: pens or pencils
a family member, memorizing Scripture, serving those in need, or lifting up your requests to God
on a daily basis. Remember: Even when we fail to keep our promises, God always keeps His and
can help us to live as He wants us to.
Let your students collect the symbol bracelets they made during Connect, and pass out the
“My Promise” activity pages. Pass out pens or pencils as well.
Ask your preteens to think about a promise they would like to make to God. It may have to
do with committing to work on loving family members, memorizing Scripture, serving those
in need, or lifting up their requests to God on a daily basis. Allow them to write down their
promises on their activity pages.
He remembers his covenant forever,
the word he commanded, for a thousand generations.
—Psalm 105:8
© 2010 David
vid
d C. Cook. Rio. All
A rights
ights reserved.
As they describe the aspects of their relationship with God that they’d like to work on, read
the Memory Verse aloud to them.
Unit 3 | God Keeps His Covenant Promises | Lesson 9
93
God’s Covenant with Abram
He remembers his covenant forever, the
Memory word he commanded, for a thousand
Verse
generations.
Psalm 105:8
Remind them that God is the One who remembers His promises and is faithful to keep
them—even when we don’t keep ours. Just as God took Abram’s place, God also took
our place when Jesus died on the cross for us. As the students write down their promises,
remind them that even when we forget or fail, God is always gracious and faithful to help us
grow closer to Him.
After the students finish, ask them to pair up. Allow them to share their commitment ideas
with one another, and then ask each student to tie a bracelet onto his partner’s wrist.
Remind the preteens that their bracelets are there to remind them of God’s faithfulness to
them. The bracelet can be a symbol to remind them of their promises to God and God’s
everlasting promise to love and deliver them.
Encourage your preteens to share their promise ideas with their families so that they can
work together to honor God through taking steps to grow closer to Him.
As you end this time, pray together, blessing God for His grace and thanking Him for being
faithful to remember and fulfill His promises.
94
Preteen
BreakOUT Activity (10 min.)
“Clinging to the Covenant”
(Unit 3, Lesson 9, BreakOUT #1)
God Focus: God’s Covenant with Abram
Scripture Focus: Genesis 15; Psalm 105:8–10; Luke
1:68–75
Topics: God’s faithfulness, covenants, trust
Materials
Foam pool noodles (2 to 4)
Small prizes (optional)
1815110_BO_cards-L4.indd 37
3/3/10 11:11 AM
God made big promises to Abram, and Abram made the
choice to cling to these promises, even when he couldn’t
see how God would fulfill them. This activity will give your
preteens a visual picture of what it means to hold on tightly
to God’s covenant.
Depending on the size of your group, hand out the foam
pool noodles, or “covenant noodles,” to two to four students.
Send the students to the middle of the room. Have the other
students spread out around the room and freeze in position
with their hands outstretched and eyes closed.
When you say, “Go!” the students holding the covenant
noodles should start walking around, sweeping the noodles
past the frozen students. When the students feel noodles
sweep past, they should try to grab them. They can’t open
their eyes until they’ve firmly grasped a noodle! Once they’ve
caught a noodle, they must continue to hold on to the
noodle and then help collect other preteens onto the team.
The “covenant leaders” who first held the noodles must
carefully lead the growing team of “covenant holders” that
they pick up. Once everyone has successfully grasped the
covenant, see which team has the most players. You may
want to reward this team with small prizes.
Even when we can’t see how God will fulfill His promises,
we know from His Word and our previous experiences that
He is trustworthy. It is always worth it to cling to Him—He is
always faithful to come through.
© 2010 David C. Cook. Rio. All rights reserved.
1815110_BO_cards-L4.indd 38
3/3/10 11:11 AM
Preteen
BreakOUT Activity (5–10 min.)
“Our Faithful God”
(Unit 3, Lesson 9, BreakOUT #2)
God Focus: God’s Covenant with Abram
Scripture Focus: Genesis 15; Psalm 105:8–10; Luke
1:68–75
Topics: God’s faithfulness, God’s promises, praise
Materials
“Your Grace Is Enough” audio from the
DVD-ROM
DVD player or computer
Optional: worship CD and CD player
1815110_BO_cards-L4.indd 39
3/3/10 11:11 AM
Take some time to joyfully praise God for His faithfulness, just
like Zechariah did. God was faithful to His covenant, and He
is still keeping His promises to us today. Using a DVD player
or computer, play the song “Your Grace Is Enough” from the
DVD-ROM. The lyrics are available on the DVD-ROM as well,
or you can find them on the Internet.
If you don’t have access to a DVD player or computer,
you might have your preteens listen to your own worship
music on a CD player. As you listen to the music, allow your
students to express their gratefulness to God through song,
movement, and verbal expression.
God continues to love us and help us even when we do
wrong or don’t listen to Him. He has promised that nothing
can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38–39). What a
privilege to have a God who is faithful even when we aren’t!
© 2010 David C. Cook. Rio. All rights reserved.
1815110_BO_cards-L4.indd 40
3/3/10 11:11 AM