Chronological Bible Storying: Redemptive Track

Transcription

Chronological Bible
Storying:
Redemptive Track
for Evangelism
2011
Newfrontiers Zimbabwe Chronological Bible Storying Manual
This is part of a series of manuals produced in Zimbabwe by the Newfrontiers churches.
Newfrontiers is a worldwide family of churches together on a mission and represents over
700 churches active in over 60 nations.
The purpose of these manuals is to serve as a tool in the church’s vision to establish the
kingdom of God by making disciples, training leaders, starting churches and reaching the
nations. Specifically, the materials in this manual are part of a Chronological Bible Storying
initiative intended to communicate the Big Story of God’s redemptive plan to all who will hear
it – regardless of their ability or inability to read.
The approach of these manuals is chronological in that it follows God’s story as it unfolds in
time. It is also thoroughly Bible-based in that it is intended to communicate scriptural truths –
nothing more and nothing less. Finally it uses the genre of story to communicate these truths
in a powerful and compelling way – just as Jesus often did. (Mark 4:34)
Should you require more information about Newfrontiers or Chronological Bible Storying, feel
free to contact us on +263 9 202468 or visit the Newfrontiers website at
www.newfrontierstogether.org
Copyright © Samuel Nathan Poe & CBS Team, NewFrontiers International
First Published in 2011
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form
(including photocopying or storing in any medium by electronic means) without the prior
written permission of the authors.
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Table of Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………………..
1. How We Got Our Bible……………………………………………………….
2. The Creation of the World………………………………………………….
3. The Creation of Man………………………………………………………….
4. The Creation of the Spirit World.………………………………………..
5. First Sin and Judgment……………………………………………………..
6. Cain and Abel…………………………………………………………………..
7. The Flood………………………………………………………………………..
8. The Tower of Babel…………………………………………………………..
9. The Call of Abraham…………………………………………………………
10. God Provides a Substitute Sacrifice for Isaac…………………….
11. Joseph……………………………………………………………………………
12. The Passover: The Blood of the Lamb………………………………..
13. The Lord God Gives His Holy Law……………………………………..
14. The Sacrificial System……………………………………………………..
15. David the King…………………………………………………………………
16. The Prophets Speak of a Coming King……………………………….
17. The Birth of Jesus……………………………………………………………
18. The Baptism of Jesus………………………………………………………
19. Nicodemus: Being Born Again…………………………………………..
20. The Rich Man and Lazarus………………………………………………..
21. Jesus Heals the Paralyzed Man…………………………………………
22. The Compassionate Father……………………………………………….
23. Jesus Explains the Man Born Blind……………………………………
24. Jesus Calms the Storms…………………………………………………..
25. Jesus Delivers the Madman………………………………………………
26. Jesus Raises Lazarus to Life…………………………………………….
27. The Last Supper………………………………………………………………
28. The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus………………………………………
29. The Crucifixion………………………………………………………………..
30. The Resurrection……………………………………………………………..
31. The Ascension: Jesus Returns to Father God……………………..
32. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit………………………………………
33. Jesus, the Great High Priest……………………………………………..
34. The Return of Jesus………………………………………………………….
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Introduction
Chronological Bible Storying is a strategy for evangelism, planting churches and training
disciples. It uses biblical storytelling, rather than teaching from the stories, to teach the
fundamental truths of the Christian faith.
This track of thirty-four stories from the Bible is the result of the work of a team of writers.
The story list was determined by two main factors: 1) The main stories of the Bible that tell of
God’s overall redemptive plan, and 2) The worldview issues faced in Zimbabwe. Our desire
has been to make the stories easy to tell and to remember. Storytelling is the most effective
way to teach ‘oral learners’ (people who prefer to learn through hearing rather than reading),
but can be equally effective among literate learners. Everyone loves a good story!
Its primary design is for the purpose of bringing unbelievers to an encounter with the One
True Creator God, but can also be very useful to churches that want to establish their
congregations in “God’s Big Salvation Story.” We can’t assume that people who have been
attending church meetings for years necessarily know the overall story of the Bible. Many
people know a story here and a story there, without knowing how they fit together or fit into
the “Big Story.” By taking the whole church through this track of stories, everyone will come
to know that Creator God created us in his image, and planned from the beginning to bring
us into relationship with him. His wonderful salvation plan unfolds as the stories are told.
We have established from the beginning of the stories that this is Creator God that we are
talking about, and that the Bible his book. The Bible is his Word to all people from every
nation. We consistently refer to him as Creator God until the story of Moses, when God
reveals his name as “I AM” or the LORD. We then begin to refer to him as Lord God,
eventually familiarizing people with the various names for our One True God. Later,
especially in Jesus’ ministry, he comes to be referred to as Father God, so we begin to refer
to him that way too. (Also, especially through the coming of Jesus, we see the One God,
Creator of heaven and earth, as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—
three magnificent persons, yet One Living God.)
We have attempted to frame the stories accurately, with a minimum of paraphrasing and
interpretation. Background information or other details important for understanding the
stories are included in the “Bridge,” which is told before the main story begins. It is helpful
for those listening to know what is the actual story from the Bible and what are the
storyteller’s own comments. For this reason, each story indicates when the story from God’s
Word begins and ends.
Each of the stories is preceded by “Thoughts for the Storyteller,” Scripture references that
were used in framing the stories and other helpful information. It is suggested that you be
familiar with this material before telling the story to your audience.
The section called “Interact with the Story” will be very useful for preparation. We encourage
you to work through this worksheet in order to get a clear grip on the main things we can
learn from the story about who God is and what he does and in the light of that, who we are
and the part we have as human beings in the story.
Some storytellers find it helpful to make a series of simple drawings depicting each scene or
episode as they come in the story. This is a memory aid used to help remember the
sequence of scenes in the story without relying on the printed story. This technique is called
‘storyboarding’. Good storytelling is best done by telling the story from memory, rather than
reading it to the listeners. This does not require word-for-word memorization of the story, but
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remembering each short scene in the right sequence, and being able to tell it in your own
words without losing the accuracy of the story. The storyboard idea may to helpful to you in
this memory process.
The effectiveness of these stories lies largely in the hands of the storytellers. Practice telling
the memorized story out loud before telling the story to your audience. The more you know
the story the more you will be able to bring the story to life.
Good Storytelling Tips:
1. The story must be memorable. We have left out certain details not necessary for the
reason we are telling the story so the story will be easier to remember.
2. Make it clear to your listeners when the story from the Bible begins and ends.
3. Vary your pace, adding pauses when needed for emphasis.
4. Vary the volume and tone of your voice. The tone of voice can reflect the attitude of the
character in the story.
5. Adjectives add colour to the story, and verbs help the listener visualize the action. Give
attention to these.
6. Dialogue between characters delivers drama to the story. Clearly identify who is
speaking to whom.
7. When possible, move around as you are telling the story, using appropriate gestures and
hand motions.
8. Make eye contact with your audience.
9. Don’t “jump ahead” to future stories. Let the “Big Story” develop and unfold as the stories
are told in order.
10. Review the stories by re-telling the last story before beginning a new one. Oral learners
are especially helped by repetition.
Discussion Tips:
1. Good discussion following the storytelling is one of the best ways to make sure your
listeners understand the story and how it connects to the previous stories told.
2. We have included discussion questions for you to consider. Typically, the first few
questions asked after every story are the same (e.g. What do you learn about God in this
story).The rest of the questions may go into more of the details in the story. You may not
have time to ask all of them.
3. Encourage participation. That may help lead the discussion forward. However, don’t allow
the discussion to drift too far from the intended theme.
4. Through the discussion you may be alerted to any misunderstanding of the story or
where the listeners are at in their walk with God. Be sure to listen carefully.
5. You may also discover conflicting world-view issues or strongholds through the
participation of your listeners.
6. Make room for the Holy Spirit’s leadership as you lead the discussion time.
7. Some of the questions are intended to get the listeners to “see themselves in the story.”
This is an important part of this whole process of Biblical storytelling.
8. Avoid debate or arguments. Let the story, rather than individual opinions, be the
authority.
9. Keep the discussion free and open. Discussion is an important part of the storytelling
session. Try to get as many as possible involved. Try to avoid having the discussion time
dominated by just a few more outspoken participants.
10. Endeavour to guard participants from being shamed as they share their thoughts.
We pray that this track of stories will be a helpful tool for sharing God’s wonderful redemptive
plan!
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1. How We Got Our Bible
Thoughts for the Storyteller
The Bible is Creator God’s word for all peoples! Creator God has given it to us and means
it to be used to teach, rebuke, correct and train in righteousness.
Hearing and
understanding Scripture is essential in equipping people for the things that Creator God has
in store for them. The story below introduces Creator God’s book. Throughout the story it is
important to emphasize that this is genuinely Creator God’s word. It was not the creation of
any one man or people group but rather written by a number of people through the ages who
were inspired by Creator God’s spirit.
In our context of Zimbabwe, many are amazed to hear that African scholars played key roles
in establishing the final version of Creator God’s book. The story describes a man called
Athanasius who was from Egypt. Around 370 AD Athanasius played a key role in helping to
establish the list of books that now make up the New Testament.
This story highlights that our Creator God is a God who speaks to his people throughout the
world and at all times through history. Let’s pray that he will use this story and the others
that we will tell from his book to touch people’s lives in the coming weeks.
Scripture & Other Points of Interest
Main Biblical Reference: Various references are used in this story. The following points
come out in the story and are supported by a number of Scriptures.
2 Timothy 3:16
2 Peter 1:12-21
Exodus 31:18
Deuteronomy
10:5
Deuteronomy
31:22-26
Deuteronomy 4:2
Joshua 24:26
1 Samuel 10:25
2 Chronicles
20:34; 26:22;
32:32
Jeremiah 30:2
Luke 1:1-4
2 Peter 3:15-16
Rev 22:18-19
All Scripture is Creator God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness. It equips the people of Creator
God for every good work.
This emphasizes that Scripture was written down by men who were
carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Some of the earliest written words of Creator God were the Ten
Commandments, which were written on stone by Creator God’s finger.
These tablets were kept in a special place by the people who followed
Creator God.
Moses wrote some words of Creator God that were kept alongside the
stone tablets.
This clearly states that nothing should be added to or subtracted from
the word of Creator God.
Only those whom Creator God chose were allowed to write in the book.
Whenever Creator God did something very important, he would tell
someone to write it down so that people would remember.
There came a time when Creator God decided the book was completed.
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Interact with the Story
When you have finished telling this story what would you like your listeners to remember
about God from this story?
What do you want them to remember about mankind, you and me, from this story?
How can you emphasize this as you tell the story? (Think of your tone of voice, gestures and
movements.)
What questions did you have as you read the story?
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The Story
Bridge:
Over the next several weeks, we are going to hear about the BIG story of Creator God’s
involvement with his creation. This story covers thousands of years and is continuing to
unfold today – even we are part of the story! But the story begins a long, long time ago.
Today’s story is about how we got Creator God’s book, called the Bible, which tells us about
the BIG story of Creator God.
Main Story:
Creator God is a God who speaks. Sometimes he told people to write down things for him.
This would often be when he had done something very important or wanted the people to
remember something. These people were not making things up! They were speaking
and writing from Creator God as they were carried along by Creator God’s Spirit.
A very long time ago, there came a time when Creator God wanted something written for his
book and he decided to write it down himself. He wanted his people to know how to live and
so he wrote down instructions, carved in stone by the finger of Creator God, and gave them
to one of his people, named Moses. The people kept these stone tablets in a very special
place for safekeeping, because the words Creator God had written were very important.
Creator God also spoke to Moses and said, “Write down these words I’m going to tell
you, because these words, too, must go in my book.” Moses did this and the words
Moses wrote were kept in the same place as the stone tablets. Creator God made it very
clear that no one should add anything to Creator God’s book unless Creator God himself told
him to do this.
Moses died and generations came and went. At different times and in different places,
whenever Creator God did something very important, he would choose someone and say to
them, “Write this down so that all the people will remember this.” Only people whom
Creator God himself chose were allowed to write in the book. These people were not
making things up! They were speaking and writing as they were carried along by
Creator God’s Spirit. Many people were used by Creator God to be a part of writing this
book. Creator God himself specially chose each one of them. Many people were used to
write the book, but they were each writing a part of the same big story.
There came a time when Creator God decided that the book was complete. His people had
written everything that he wanted them to remember in the book. The people Creator God
had chosen had faithfully written down everything Creator God said. They had not made
anything up! They had spoken and written from Creator God as they were carried
along by Creator God’s Spirit. When Creator God had finished the book, he ended it with
a warning that anyone who added anything to Creator God’s book, or anyone who removed
anything from Creator God’s book, would be punished very severely.
As time went by, there were some people who tried to add to or take away from what was
written in Creator God’s book. Many people who trusted in the words of Creator God’s book
had long discussions and meetings about Creator God’s book, to make sure that exactly
what Creator God wanted was kept in his book. These were men from many countries.
They all wanted to make sure that Creator God’s book was exactly as he had wanted it, with
nothing added or removed, and nothing made up. One of the men who helped with this was
a man from Africa, called Athanasius. People called him the black dwarf because he was
black and very short. He loved Creator God’s book and he played a big part in making sure
that exactly what Creator God wanted was kept in the book.
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Many other people dedicated their lives to making sure that you and I could have Creator
God’s book and know Creator God’s stories. Many of them even died in the process, but
Creator God was faithful to make sure that you and I could have this very important book,
with nothing added, and nothing taken away. A book written by people who were not
making things up! They were speaking and writing from Creator God as they were
carried along by Creator God’s Spirit.
Teaser:
And that is our story about Creator God’s book. In the following stories, we will be telling
stories from this important book. There are a number of stories, but they all fit together into
one BIG story about Creator God’s involvement with his creation. Some of the stories are
sad, some of them are happy, but all of them are very powerful because this is Creator
God’s book.
Discussion Questions
1) What does this story tell us about Creator God?
2) What did you learn about the people that Creator God used to write down the words
of his book?
• These people were not making things up, but they were carried along by the
Spirit of Creator God as they spoke and wrote down the words of this book.
3) Why do you think Creator God wanted people to write this book?
4) How much authority does this book have? Why do you think that?
a. Can it tell us how to live?
b. Is there anyone who can say anything that is more important than what is in this
book? Anyone in our church, families, community or country?
5) If someone wanted to know about Creator God, how could they go about it? What
advice would you give them?
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2. The Creation of the World
What a story of GREAT WONDER! Let’s emphasize the fact that Creator God created
EVERYTHING and when he looked at what he had created, he saw that it was GOOD! Right
here at the beginning of Creator God’s book, we get an idea of how good Creator God is,
how creative he is and how he delights in all he has made. What wonderful truths!
This story has a way of evoking other questions of how exactly the creation of the world
happened. The primary purpose of the story is not to answer every question we have and
give every detail about creation. The story was written as a theological narrative in order to
reveal the Creator God of creation, to show how we humans are to know and relate to him,
and to emphasize Creator God’s glory.
Main Biblical Reference: Genesis 1:1-2:3
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
Do you remember in the last story we heard about Creator God’s book, the Bible? In today’s
story, we are going to start telling the BIG story of Creator God that is told in the Bible. We
will start at the beginning of that book, a long, long time ago when Creator God made the
skies and the earth. And so our story from Creator God’s word begins.
Main Story:
In the beginning, Creator God created the skies and the earth! Before creation, the earth
had no shape or form and was empty. Darkness was over everything and the Spirit of
Creator God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Then Creator God said, “Let there be light!” and there was light! Creator God saw that the
light was good! Creator God separated the light from the darkness, calling the light “day”
and the darkness “night.” Evening passed and morning came. This was the first day.
Then Creator God said, “Let a space appear in the water to separate the waters!” And
so it was. Creator God made the space and separated the waters above the earth from the
waters below. Creator God gave a name to the space – he called it “sky.” Evening passed
and morning came. This was the second day.
Then Creator God said, “Let the water under the sky gather into one place and let there
be dry ground!” And so it was. Creator God called the dry ground “land” and the gathered
water “seas.” And Creator God saw that it was good. Then Creator God said, “Let the
land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees that produce seed-bearing
fruit.” And so it was. And Creator God saw that it was good. Evening passed and morning
came. This was the third day.
Then Creator God said, “Let there be lights in the sky to separate the day from the
night as well as to mark the seasons, days and years.” And so it was. Creator God
made two lights—the sun to rule over the day and the moon to rule over the night. Creator
God also made the stars and set them in the sky to give light to the earth, to rule the day and
night, and to separate light from darkness. And Creator God saw that it was good. Evening
passed and morning came. This was the fourth day.
Then Creator God said, “Let the sea be filled with living creatures and let the sky be
filled with birds.” And so it was. Creator God made all the great creatures of the sea and
every bird in the sky. And Creator God saw that it was good. Creator God blessed them
and said, “Be fruitful and multiply in number! Let the fish fill the seas and let the birds
fill the earth.” Evening passed and morning came. This was the fifth day.
Then Creator God said, “Let the land produce all kinds of living creatures.” And so it
was. Creator God made the wild animals, livestock and all the creatures that crawl along the
ground. And Creator God saw that it was good. Then Creator God said, “Let us make
mankind in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and
the birds of the air, over the livestock and all the creatures that crawl along the
ground and over all the earth.”
So Creator God created mankind in his own image;
In the image of Creator God he created them.
Male and female he created them.
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Creator God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply in number! Fill the earth
and be good masters of it. Rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, over
every living creature that crawls along the ground.” Then Creator God said, “I have
given you every seed-bearing plant and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit
throughout the entire earth to be your food. And I have given every green plant to all
the animals and birds for their food.” And it was so. Creator God looked over all he had
made and it was very good. Evening passed and morning came. This was the sixth day.
The creation of the skies and the earth was completed! By the seventh day, Creator God
finished his work of creation, so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And Creator
God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested
from all the work of creating that he had done.
Teaser:
And that is our story from Creator God’s word. Creator God finished his work of creation,
with man being the final creature that he created! In the next story we will hear more
specifically about Creator God’s special creation of man and the responsibilities he gives
him!
1) What do we learn about Creator God from this story?
• He spoke and it was so! He is the all powerful one whom all creation is subjected
to; all creation obeys his voice and heeds to his commands.
2) How did Creator God view all that He created?
• He saw His creation as good, but upon the creation of mankind, he saw that his
creation was very good.
3) What does it mean to be created in Creator God’s image?
• This doesn’t refer to a likeness in physical appearance. Being created in Creator
God’s image is to represent him on earth as well as living eternally like Creator
God. This is a huge responsibility and honour which brings purpose and meaning
to our existence.
4) What responsibility or command did Creator God give mankind?
• He commanded humans to reproduce and have children, filling the earth with
humans. He also commanded them to be good masters over the earth. Being a
good master over the earth is not to exploit the earth’s resources or to take
advantage of the earth for one’s selfish gains, but it means to learn how to care
for the earth and harness the earth’s potential, using its resources for one’s
benefit. For example, to be good masters of the earth would be to cultivate its
fields, mine its mineral riches, use its trees for construction, domesticate animals,
etc.
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3. The Creation of Man
As we share on the creation of woman, let’s be aware of worldview issues that we may need
to confront. Eve was created in equality to Adam, to be a helper but not a subordinate. Eve
was created because Adam was inadequate on his own. She was not simply a partner for
procreation or daily assistance but a mutual support, needed by Adam as much as she
needed him.
It is also important to note that in the story, Creator God designed one man and one woman
to be united in marriage and to become one flesh, enjoying exclusive sexual union with one
another, and never to be separated by divorce. Notice that Adam did not find a suitable
helper amongst the animals, indicating that Creator God did not intend for man to have
sexual relations with animals.
Main Biblical References: Genesis 2:4-25
Genesis 2:25
Matthew 19:5
It is important to note that Adam and Eve were naked and felt no
shame. This is how life was before the fall.
Jesus attributes the words of Genesis 2:24 as God’s own words. They
are the biblical foundation for marriage.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
We heard about how Creator God made the world and all that is in it in six days and rested
on the seventh. Not only did he declare his creation as being good, but upon the creation of
mankind, he said, “It is very good!” In this story, we will hear more specifically how
Creator God went about creating mankind and the special responsibilities he gave to
mankind. And so our story from Creator God’s word begins.
Main Story:
After Creator God made the skies and the earth, on the sixth day he formed man from the
dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. And the man became alive.
His name was Adam, the first man.
Now Creator God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden, and he placed Adam in this
garden to work it and take care of it. Creator God had made all kinds of trees to grow in the
garden, which were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were
the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and a river which watered the
garden flowed from Eden. Creator God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from
any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil. If you eat from this tree, you will certainly die.”
Creator God brought all the beasts of the field and the birds of the air, all the animals he had
created, and brought them to Adam to see what Adam would name them. Whatever Adam
called each living creature, that became its name. In this way, Adam gave names to every
beast of the field, the birds of the air and all the animals. But no suitable helper was found
for Adam.
Creator God said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for
him.” So Creator God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. Whilst he was still asleep,
Creator God took one of Adam’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. From the rib he
had taken out of the man, Creator God made a woman and brought the woman to Adam.
Adam exclaimed, “She is part of my very body—my own flesh and bones! I will name
her ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man will leave his father and
mother and be united in marriage to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. Adam also
gave her the name ‘Eve,’ which means ‘the mother of all the living.’ Adam and Eve were
both naked and they did not feel shame.
Teaser:
And that is our story from Creator God’s word. Though everything Creator God had created
was good, we'll hear that not everything remained good. In the next story, we’ll hear that
before the world was created, a dilemma was taking place in heavens.
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2) In this story, what ways do we see Creator God caring for Adam?
• By providing a garden for him, by creating woman for him as a helper.
3) What was Creator God’s purpose in the creation of mankind?
• Creator God created us to be in relationship with him, not because he was
lonely or needed anything from man, but because all of creation was for
Creator God’s pleasure, including mankind.
• Whilst we are on earth, we work with Creator God to care for creation.
4) If mankind was created to be in relationship with Creator God and work with him
caring for creation, what implications does that have on the way we live our lives
today?
5) How was Adam to serve Creator God in the garden?
• Tending the garden, caring for animals, caring for woman.
6) What do we learn about the marriage relationship from this story?
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4. The Cre atio n o f t he S pirit Worl d
We have already shown that Creator God created the world and human beings. This week
our story tells how Creator God made not only the world and human beings, but also all the
angels. Creator God is the Creator of everything and as the Creator he has authority over
everything. Some of the angels, created by Creator God to glorify him, rebelled and are
now actively working on earth against Creator God. However, Creator God still has the
ultimate control and has prepared a punishment for Satan and his demons.
In our context of Zimbabwe, let’s remember that our communities believe in many different
spirits. We are emphasizing here that there is no spirit more powerful than Creator God and
he has power and authority over all of his creation, both physical and spiritual. Those spirits
working against Creator God will find their punishment in Creator God’s time.
It is also important to note that “angels” in this story is a general term that encompasses
what the Bible refers to as “angels,” “seraphim,” “cherubim,” etc.
When we die, we do not become angels or demons. Angels are not dead humans, but
these spirit beings are altogether something else that Creator God created.
Scr ipt ure & Oth er Poi nt s o f Int ere s t
Main Biblical References: This story is not based on one main biblical passage, but lots of
biblical references as noted below.
John 1:3;
Creator God created everything, including the heavens.
Colossians 1:16;
Nehemiah 9:6
Job 38:4-7
Creator God created the angels before the creation of the world
and humans.
Psalm 103:20
The angels were created to serve Creator God.
Hebrews 1:14
They are ministering spirits who help God’s people.
Revelation 5:11
There are innumerable angels.
2 Peter 2:4
Satan and some other rebellious angels rebelled against Creator
Matthew 25:41
God; therefore, Creator God removed them from their position as
Jude 6
his servants and cast into the place he prepared for them, called
Revelation 20:10 hell.
Job 1:7; 2:2
Until the great Day of Judgment, Creator God in his sovereignty
Ephesians 6:11
has allowed Satan and his demons to be active upon the earth.
1 Peter 5:8;
Satan and his demons hate Creator God and fight against him.
Revelation 12:1- They also try to cause mankind to disobey Creator God and rebel
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against him too.
1 Chronicles
These are numerous examples of Satan at work upon the earth.
21:1; Job 1:7;
Matthew 8:28-34;
9:32-33; 12:22;
15:22-28
Luke 22:3
17
movements.)
18
The Story
Bridge:
In the last story, we heard how Creator God finished his work of creating the world. Do you
remember how Creator God looked at everything he had made and saw that it was good?
Well, this story actually starts before the earth was created. And so our story from Creator
God’s word begins.
Main Story:
In the very beginning, before day and night, before the sun and moon and stars, before
animals or before anything was created, there was Creator God. Creator God has no
1
beginning and no ending. He is eternal.
Creator God began making ALL things, as we have already heard. As he was creating the
heavens, he created thousands upon thousands of spirit beings called angels that were
good, righteous and pure. These angels were made to worship Creator God and to obey
and serve him by doing whatever he commanded them to do. They love to worship and sing
God’s praises. The angels were there when Creator God began creating the world. They
watched with amazement at all the wonderful things that Creator God made and they sang
his praises when they saw his creation.
Unlike mankind, angels do not get married or have children. Though these angels are
powerful, they are not as powerful as Creator God who made them. All the angels that
Creator God created were good.
However, there was a time when some angels decided to rebel against Creator God. They
became wicked by disobeying Creator God and no longer worshipped or served him. One of
these rebellious angels is known as Satan, and all the others who followed Satan’s rebellion
against Creator God are called demons. This was not good. So, in his judgment, Creator
God kicked these evil and rebellious beings out of his holy presence in heaven and cast
them into a place he had prepared for them called hell.2 Creator God can never allow evil
and rebellion against him to live on in his Presence.
Though Satan and his demonic followers are powerful, they are not as powerful as
Creator God who made them. Satan and his followers are also allowed to roam the earth
for now, where they try to get mankind to also disobey Creator God and turn against him
too.3 However, Creator God is not finished punishing these rebellious beings. He has set a
time when their punishment for wickedness will be fully carried out and they will be locked up
permanently in hell.
Teaser:
And that is our story from Creator God’s word. Since the final time for punishment is still to
come, Satan and his followers are allowed to roam on the earth for now. In the next story,
we will hear about what happened when Satan found his way into the good Garden of Eden,
that Creator God had planted, and began talking to the humans there.
1
John 1:1. Psalm 90:2
2 Peter 2:4.
3
Revelation 12:1-4
2
19
1) What do you learn about Creator God in this story?
• He has no beginning and no ending. He is eternal.
• He is holy.
2) What are angels and why were they created?
• Spirit beings that were created good, to worship and serve Creator God.
3) Who do you think Satan is? Where did he come from?
4) Who do you think is stronger, Creator God or Satan? Why?
5) In this story we heard that Satan and his followers are allowed to roam on the earth. Do
you think they are still roaming on the earth today? If so, what do you think they are
doing?
6) Why couldn’t Satan stay in Creator God’s presence after he rebelled?
• Because nothing evil can live in Creator God’s holy presence.
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5. First Sin and Judgment
As we see in this story, the disobedience of mankind changes the way man was created to
be. This disobedience separates mankind from a relationship with his Creator, fellow man
and animals. It also interrupts their roles as child-bearers and cultivators, introducing pain
and hard toil as well as physical and spiritual death (as they are driven out of Creator God’s
presence). Despite this, we still see Creator God’s grace at work as he responds to the
disobedience of Adam and Eve by making them clothes of animal skin, making provisions for
their new condition.
This is an important story as it is the event that kick-starts the rest of mankind’s journey
towards salvation through Christ, necessary because of this original disobedience. Allow
plenty of time for discussion as we relate ourselves to Adam and Eve’s disobedience and
recognize our need also to re-establish our relationship with Creator God.
Main Biblical References: Genesis 3:1-24
Genesis 3:5, 3:7
Genesis 3:6, 3:17
Genesis 3:8-10
Genesis 3:12
Genesis 3:15
Genesis 3:16
The serpent promises that by eating the fruit, Eve will be like
Creator God. However, the irony is that Eve is already like
Creator God, being created in his image, and having
immortality. Upon eating the fruit she doesn’t become more
like Creator God, but becomes less like Creator God and is
going to die. The serpent also promises that her eyes will be
opened and they were, but not in the way she had hoped;
instead, her eyes were open to see her nakedness.
The tendency of this story is to completely blame Eve for the
fall of mankind. However, Adam was with Eve when she ate
the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He
could have intervened and stopped Eve from eating the fruit,
but he allowed it to happen. He listened and obeyed Eve
instead of Creator God.
Here we see the guilt, shame and fear that the humans felt
before Creator God upon sinning.
The blame is not only put on the woman but ultimately, Adam
is blaming Creator God for giving him the woman who, from
Adam’s viewpoint, caused him to sin.
This passage gives the first hint of the gospel. Satan delivers
a crippling blow to the offspring of the woman, Jesus, by
“attacking his heel,” but Jesus, in turn, delivers a fatal blow to
Satan by “attacking his head” and defeating him through his
death and resurrection.
Creator God announces that power struggle and conflict will
now be the norm between man and woman, instead of the
unity and harmony they experienced in Eden. Woman will
21
Genesis 2:15 &
3:17-19
Genesis 3:8, 3:21
want to negatively control or dominate her husband, but he
will powerfully control and dominate her. Man’s domination
over woman was not how Creator God intended their
relationship to be, but is a result of the fall. Let’s challenge
worldviews that encourage negative domination over women,
which are not Creator God’s plan, but are results of
disobedience.
Work is not the punishment for sin as man was put in the
garden to tend it. The punishment is the pain involved in
working the ground.
Creator God’s grace is revealed after the fall as Creator God
came to Adam and Eve and he made clothes for them as a
result of sacrificing an animal and using the skins to cover
them. In later stories, we’ll see more significance of sacrifice.
movements.)
22
The Story
Bridge:
Remember how Adam and Eve were living in the beautiful Garden of Eden that Creator God
had made for them? Creator God had put Adam in the Garden to work it and take care of it.
Creator God had told Adam, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you
must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat from this tree,
you will certainly die.” They were in the very presence of Creator God and they did not
wear any clothes and were not ashamed. Everything was very good. And so our story from
Creator God’s word begins.
Main Story:
Now the serpent was more clever than any of the animals Creator God had made. The
serpent asked Eve, “Did Creator God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the
garden?’” Eve said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from all the trees in the garden,
but Creator God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of
the garden and you must not touch it, or you will certainly die.’”
The serpent said, “You will not certainly die! For Creator God knows that when you eat
of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like Creator God, knowing good and
evil.” Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and attractive to the eye and also
desirable for gaining wisdom, so she took some fruit and ate it. She also gave some fruit to
her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened
and they realized they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings
for themselves.
Then Adam and Eve heard the sound of Creator God walking in the Garden and they hid
from Creator God amongst the trees of the Garden. But Creator God called to the man and
said to him, “Why are you hiding?” The man replied, “I heard you moving about in the
garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
So Creator God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree
that I commanded you not to eat from?” Adam said, “The woman, whom you gave me,
she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it.” So Creator God said to the woman,
“What is this you have done?” And the woman replied, “The serpent tricked me, and I
ate it.”
So Creator God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more
than all the wild beasts and all the living creatures of the field! You will crawl on your
belly and eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put hostility between you and the
woman and between your offspring and her offspring; her offspring will attack your
head and you will attack her offspring’s heel.”
To the woman Creator God said, “I will greatly increase your labor pains so that you will
have pain in childbirth. You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate
you.”
And to Adam Creator God said, “Because you obeyed your wife and ate from the tree
about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ cursed is the ground
because of you! It will produce thorns and thistles for you and through sweat and
painful toil, you will eat of its food until you return to the ground and die, for out of
dust you were taken and to dust you will return.”
23
Creator God made garments from animal skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. And
Creator God said, “Since they have become like one of us, knowing good and evil, they
must not be allowed to also eat from the tree of life or they will live forever.” So
Creator God sent away Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and drove them out to the
east where they would work the ground. And Creator God placed angels with flaming
swords outside of the Garden to guard the way to the tree of life.
Teaser:
And that is our story from Creator God’s word. What will happen to Adam and Eve and their
offspring as they now live outside of the Garden of Eden? How will humanity live after being
separated from Creator God?
2) How was life for Adam and Eve before eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil?
• Man and woman lived in unity and oneness, they were in Creator God’s
presence, they served Creator God and enjoyed the fruits of the Garden that
Creator God provided for them.
3) Why was Eve tempted to eat the fruit of the tree?
• She wanted to be like Creator God, knowing good from evil.
4) What were the results of eating from the fruit of the tree?
• Death entered the world – both spiritual death and physical death. We see
spiritual death as Adam and Eve were driven out from being in Creator God’s
holy presence in the Garden and physical death in that mankind would now
experience death and return back to the ground from which he came.
• Woman was to have pain in childbirth and there would be animosity between
husband and wife as she would try to control him, but be dominated by him.
• Unlike in the Garden, man would have to work the ground through sweat and toil.
• The ground was punished to produce thorns and thistles, needing to be cultivated
and worked.
• The snake was punished to crawl on the ground and eat the dust of the ground,
indicating that he was humiliated and brought low.
• Adam and Eve were forced to leave the Garden of Eden, the place where Creator
God’s holy presence was, since sin cannot be in Creator God’s presence.
5) What implications do Adam and Eve’s actions have for us today?
6) How did Creator God show his grace and goodness in this story?
• He came to Adam and Eve and he made them animal skin clothes to cover their
nakedness.
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6. Cain and Abel
In this story we hear that the sin which Adam and Eve fell into is now at work in all their
descendants. However Creator God did not give up on mankind. He continues to call people
to put their faith and trust in him. Though both Cain and Abel gave an offering to Creator
God, only one brother had the right attitude. Abel had put his faith in Creator God, giving his
best offering, but Cain’s offering simply displayed his obligation and not his faith and trust in
Creator God. It was not the content of the sacrifice that Creator God was concerned with,
but the attitude of the heart.
Creator God is All Knowing, which is made clear in this story when Creator God knew that
Cain killed Abel even before he asked the question, “Where is your brother?”
In Creator God’s “Big Salvation Story” of the Bible, the blood of Abel crying out from the
ground for punishment of injustice becomes a shadow of the Blood of Jesus that makes a
way for forgiveness and oneness with God.
This story is a powerful picture of the horror of the stronghold of jealousy and how it leads to
hatred and even murder.
Main Biblical Reference: Genesis 4:1-15
Romans 5:12
Hebrews 11:4
Genesis 4:6-7
Genesis 4:10 &
Hebrews 12:24
James 3:16
When Creator God made Adam and Eve, they had no sin. In the Garden
of Eden they had oneness with Creator God. But Adam and Eve sinned
and were forced to leave the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve
began to have children, they were born as sinners and did not have
oneness with Creator God. This becomes clear in today’s story and the
stories that follow.
Abel’s sacrifice was pleasing to Creator God because of his faith in
Creator God. The content of this verse has been included in this story.
Creator God, in his mercy, called Cain to repent (turn away from his sin),
but Cain refused to obey as is demonstrated by him murdering his
brother.
The blood of Abel crying from the ground for vengeance against injustice
is contrasted with the blood of Jesus, which brings forgiveness and
atonement (oneness) with God.
This story confronts the stronghold of jealousy/envy in a powerful way.
Cain’s jealousy and hatred for Abel led to the first murder in human
history.
25
movements.)
26
The Story
Bridge:
In our last story we heard about how Adam and Eve sinned against Creator God by eating
the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that was in the middle of the Garden
of Eden. After that they were forced to leave the Garden. Yet, Creator God did not give up
on them. He came to them and made clothes for them to wear from animal skins. He still
loved them. But the oneness they had known with Creator God was now broken because of
their sin. And so our story from Creator God’s word begins.
Main Story:
Adam slept with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant and had a son. Then Eve said,
“I’ll name him Cain because I got him with the help of Creator God.” Later she had
another son and named him Abel.
Abel became a herdsman, but Cain farmed the land. One day, Cain brought some of his
harvest as an offering to Creator God. Abel also gave an offering to Creator God. Abel
killed the first-born lamb from one of his sheep and gave Creator God the best parts of it.
Creator God was pleased with Abel and his offering because Abel had faith and believed
God. But he was not pleased with Cain and his offering because Cain did not have faith in
Creator God. This made Cain so angry that even his face showed his anger.
Creator God said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why is your face showing anger?
If you do what is right, your face would be uplifted and not angry anymore. But if you
refuse to do what is right, watch out as sin is waiting to attack you like a lion. Sin
wants to dominate you, but you must master it!”
One day Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go for a walk.” And when they were out in a
field, Cain attacked and killed his brother, Abel.
Afterwards Creator God asked Cain, “Where is Abel?” Cain answered, “How should I
know? Am I supposed to keep track of him wherever he goes?” Then Creator God
said, “Why have you done this terrible thing? Your brother’s blood is calling out to
me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the ground which has opened its
mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. You will never be able to farm
the land again. If you try to farm the land, it won’t produce anything for you. From
now on, you’ll be without a home, and you’ll spend the rest of your life wandering
from place to place.”
Cain said to Creator God, “This punishment is too much for me to take! You’re making
me leave the land and leave your presence. I will have to wander about without a
home and anyone who sees me could kill me.”
But Creator God answered him, “Then if anyone kills you, they will be punished seven
times worse than I am punishing you.” Creator God put a special mark on Cain to warn
anyone who saw him not to kill him. So Cain went out far away from Creator God’s
presence and lived in the Land of Wandering, east of Eden.
Teaser:
And that is our story from Creator God’s word. There were many more generations born to
the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. And the problem of sin continued through all
these descendants from one generation to the next. Finally Creator God said, “That’s
enough!” Come back for the next story to find out what happened.
27
1. What do we learn about Creator God in this story?
• He is righteous. He was pleased with Abel’s sacrifice because his worship
originated from his faith in Creator God.
• He is All Knowing. Creator God knew Cain killed Abel even before asking
the question, “Where is your brother?”
• He is filled with grace. Creator God called Cain to repent (turn from his
sin) and do what is right. Creator God also made a way for Cain so no
one would kill him.
• He hates sin. Creator God judged Cain because of his sin.
2. What do we learn about the descendants of Adam and Eve from this story?
• Because Adam and Eve were sinners, their offspring inherited the
problem of sin. This sin problem, which we all have, is inherited from our
first parents, Adam and Eve.
3. If Cain inherited the sin problem from Adam and Eve, do you think that Abel was also a
sinner?
4. Why was Creator God pleased with Abel’s offering?
• Abel had faith in Creator God. He believed Creator God and gave his
best offering to Creator God. Cain was just fulfilling his duty in giving his
offering to Creator God. Creator God was pleased with Abel’s heart
attitude and faith.
5. Why was Cain angry?
• He was jealous of Abel because Creator God was pleased with Abel’s
offering.
• Cain did not accept Creator God’s help to turn from his sin when Creator
God spoke to him about it. He did not have faith in Creator God.
6. When we sin, whom do we sin against?
• We sin against Creator God, our Creator. Cain sinned against Creator
God when he murdered his brother Abel.
• When Cain killed Abel he also sinned against his brother as well. (Cain’s
blood cried out from the ground for vengeance against this injustice.)
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7. The Flood
Humanity had become so corrupt that all they could think about was doing evil. We see in
the story that Creator God takes an active role in his creation throughout history. In his
justice, he will not allow sin to continue without confronting it. However, his grace and
compassion are obvious even here, in the way he deals with Noah and his family. We can
emphasize here that there are consequences to disobedience as Creator God cannot leave
sin unaddressed. But at the root is Creator God’s desire to be in relationship with us – he
wants to be actively involved with humanity, you and me!
The use of animal sacrifices in ancient times as a symbolic act of worship and thanksgiving
to God is seen in this story and will be further developed in later stories.
Also in this story, we see that Creator God is a covenant making and keeping God. This is
an important truth in God’s Big Salvation Story. This, too, will be further developed in later
stories.
Main Biblical Reference: Genesis 6:1-9:17
1 Peter 3:20
Peter refers to the story of the flood and uses it as a metaphor
for our salvation. You do not need to mention this whilst you
are telling the story. We only point it out to show how Creator
God has been working towards our salvation since the fall.
29
movements.)
30
The Story
Bridge:
In the last story, we heard how the sin of Adam and Eve was inherited and continued in the
lives of their children.
Throughout the following generations, as Adam and Eve’s
descendants filled the earth, more and more sin and evil acts were committed, things very
unpleasing to Creator God. And so our story from Creator God’s word begins.
Main Story:
Mankind was fulfilling the command Creator God gave them—to be fruitful and multiply in
number—as the number of people on earth had increased. However, Creator God saw that
mankind had become wicked, corrupt and filled with violence. They always had only evil
thoughts in their heart. Creator God’s heart was full of pain as he was sorrowful that he had
made mankind. So Creator God said, “I will wipe out mankind, whom I have created,
from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the
ground, and birds of the air.”
But there was one man, Noah, who found favour in the eyes of the Creator God. Noah was
a righteous man amongst those around him. He was without fault and obeyed Creator God.
So Creator God told Noah of his plans to destroy mankind and the entire earth. He gave
specific instructions to Noah saying, “You must build a great boat according to my exact
instructions, for I am going to send a great flood to destroy all life on the earth.
Everything on earth will die, but I will make a covenant with you. You, your wife, your
three sons and your sons’ wives will enter the boat. And two of every living creature,
both male and female, will come to you in order to be kept alive. And you are to store
enough food for you and the animals.”
Noah did everything that Creator God commanded and spent many years building the boat
exactly as Creator God had instructed. When Noah completed the boat, Creator God came
and said to Noah, “Go into the boat, you and your family. In seven days, I will send
rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and will wipe out all living creatures
from the face of the earth. Take with you extra animals and birds to be used for
sacrifices.”
So Noah did everything that Creator God commanded. Noah entered the boat with his
family in order to escape the floodwaters. And two of every kind of living creature, male and
female, came to Noah and entered the boat, as well as the extra animals and birds that
would be used for sacrifices, just as Creator God had commanded. At the end of the
seventh day, Creator God closed the door of the boat.
For forty days and forty nights, the waters of the earth burst forth and it rained. Floodwaters
covered the surface of the earth, even the highest mountains, and the boat floated on the
water! Every living creature on earth died and was wiped out except for Noah and all those
in the boat. The floodwaters covered the earth for one hundred and fifty days.
Creator God did not forget about Noah, his family and all the animals that were with him in
the boat. So Creator God sent a wind and it blew across the floodwaters, which began to
recede. As the waters receded, the boat came to rest on a mountain and when the earth
was dry, Creator God called for Noah, “Come out of the boat, all of you, and bring out
the animals so that they may be fruitful and multiply in number.”
Noah then built an alter and offered on it a burnt offering to Creator God using some of the
extra animals and birds that were especially set apart for sacrifice. The blood of the animals
was poured out as a symbolic act of worship and thanksgiving to Creator God. Creator God
was pleased and said in his heart, “Even though every inclination of mankind’s heart is
31
evil from birth, I will never again punish the earth and destroy all living creatures as I
have done.”
Then Creator God blessed Noah and his sons saying, “Be fruitful and increase in number
and fill the earth! Just as I gave you all green plants, so all animals will now be your
food too. Only, you must not eat meat with the blood still in it, because the life of the
animal is in the blood.” And then Creator God made a covenant with Noah, his
descendants and every living creature saying, “I will never again send a flood to destroy
all life on the earth. I will put a rainbow in the sky as a reminder of the covenant and
every time a rainbow appears, I will remember the eternal covenant that I have made
between you and all living creatures.”
Teaser:
And that is our story from Creator God’s word. In the next story, we will hear of how Noah’s
descendants were not faithful to Creator God, choosing to settle in one place instead of
filling all the earth as Creator God had commanded. How will Creator God deal with them
this time?
• Creator God is righteous and desires right behaviour from his creation. He will not
tolerate wickedness and violence amongst his creation, but will deal with it in his
timing.
2) Why was Creator God sad that he had created people?
• Because of the violence and evil which people were doing on the earth.
3) What does it mean that Creator God made a covenant with Noah and his descendants?
• A covenant is a pact or agreement made by Creator God to mankind. The terms
and promises of the agreement are always set by Creator God. Creator God
always keeps the terms of his agreement.
• In this story, Creator God promised not to flood the whole earth again and we see
that Creator God is faithful to this promise.
4) What reminder of the covenant did God give to Noah and all living creatures?
• The rainbow
5) Is this a story about judgment or salvation?
• Both! Whilst the story is about judgment of a wicked people, it is also about
Creator God’s desire to save Noah and his family from a wicked and violent world.
6) Why do you think Noah made animal sacrifices to Creator God in this story?
• In ancient times such sacrifices were offered to Creator God as a symbolic act of
worship and thanksgiving. (We will learn more about this in a later story.)
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8. The To we r of Babel
The Tower of Babel is a short but brilliant example of Hebrew story telling. The story falls
easily into five episodes (see below) showing how Creator God ensured that his original
purpose for mankind to spread across the earth was fulfilled. In Genesis 9:1, Creator God
had ordered his people to increase in number and to fill the earth. Instead, we see in
Genesis 11, they had gathered in one place and were planning to build a great tower into the
heavens so that they could make a name for themselves and not be scattered throughout
the earth. In this story we can emphasize how Creator God blocks all attempts to get into
heaven that are man-centred.
It comes clear in this story that all mankind is in the same need of God. God has no
favourite tribes or nations. We can see that Creator God has a worldwide plan, something
that will become clearer as we look further into his book!
Main Biblical Reference: Genesis 10:1-32; 11:1-9
Introduction
Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Conclusion
Genesis 11:4
Genesis 11:8-9
Verse 1
Verse 2:
The travels of mankind
Verses 3-4: Human plans to build a city and a tower.
Verse 5:
Divine Inspection visit.
Verse 6-7: Divine plans to frustrate mankind.
Verse 8:
Mankind is scattered; building is stopped.
Verse 9:
What Babel means.
In ancient Babylonian cities, we find temple structures that were
built with towers designed as stair steps. They believed this
made it easy for the pagan gods they worshipped to come down
from heaven to earth, to receive worship at the temple, and to
bless the people. Most likely the tower that Noah’s descendents
were building had the same sort of structure and intention. We
see in Genesis 11:5 that Creator God did come down from
heaven to their city; however, he did not come to bless them, but
instead he came down to frustrate their plans.
In Genesis 11:8-9, we see Creator God scattering the people and
confusing the language as the people wanted to make a name for
themselves. But in Acts 2:1-13 at Pentecost, we see the
believers from all over the world gathered in Jerusalem where
they began understanding each other, as if they are speaking
one language, in order that they would make a name for Creator
God amongst the nations. You do not need to mention this whilst
you are telling the story. We will pick this ‘thread’ of God’s Big
Salvation Story later.
33
movements.)
34
The Story
Bridge:
In the last few stories, we have heard how Creator God had a plan for mankind to fill the
earth. When he created Adam and Eve, he commanded them to be fruitful and increase in
number and to fill the earth. We learned in our last story that Creator God flooded the earth
leaving only one family behind. But when Noah came out of the boat, Creator God said to
him and his sons once more, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.”
Would mankind fulfil Creator God’s commands? And so our story from Creator God’s word
begins.
Main Story:
Noah and his sons indeed were fruitful and did multiply in number after the flood. Noah’s
sons had many children and their children had many children and after some time Noah had
many descendents. All the people in the world at that time spoke the same language and
used the same words. They travelled together eastward and came to a plain in Babylonia
where they all settled, instead of fulfilling Creator God’s command to spread out and fill the
earth.
One day, they said to each other, “Come, everybody. Let us bake bricks!” And so they
did. They made bricks and tar for cement. Then they said, “Come, everybody. Let us
build a city for ourselves with a tower that reaches to the heavens so that we may
make a name for ourselves. Otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the entire
earth.” And so they did.
But Creator God came down to earth to see the city and the tower they had begun building.
He was not pleased and said, “If these people, who speak the same language, have
begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them to achieve.
Come, let us go down and confuse their language, giving them different languages, so
they won’t be able to understand each other anymore.”
So Creator God scattered them from there over the face of the entire earth, and they
stopped building the city. That is why that city’s name was called Babel, which means
“confusion.” It was from there that Creator God confused the language of the entire world
and scattered the people across the face of the entire earth.
Teaser:
And that is our story from Creator God’s word. Creator God confused the language and
scattered the people so that mankind would resume their mission to fill the earth, just as
Creator God had originally intended. Creator God had a plan for all the earth, and in the
next story we will hear how he chose one particular man to play a very important part in that
plan.
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Discussion questions
• Creator God cares about what people do. He sees what they do and he knows their
thoughts and plans.
2) What do we learn about the people in this story?
• People wanted security and stability by building a city (instead of moving throughout
the earth) and they were prideful in wanting to make a name for themselves (instead
of wanting to make a name for Creator God).
3) Why was Creator God displeased with the people’s actions in the story?
• Creator God did not create mankind to live for his own glory, but for Creator God’s
glory.
• Creator God did not want mankind all living in the same place. He wanted them to
scatter into different parts of the world.
4) Do you think this Creator God is ruler over all peoples or just some peoples? Does
Creator God have any favourites when it comes to the peoples of the earth?
• All peoples of the world descended from Noah and therefore all the peoples of every
tribe, nation and language are actually brothers. In this story, Creator God treats all
the people in the story in the same way. He doesn’t have any favourites.
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9. The Call of Abraham
This story tries to summarize many chapters of the Bible into one single story. Have a good
read through the story before your storytelling session and note those areas you’d like
especially to emphasize. Be sure to tell it with lots of expression.
Important things to highlight include Creator God’s twofold promise to Abraham: despite
having Canaanites living in Canaan, Abraham will possess the land as his inheritance AND
despite having no children now, Abraham will father a great nation that will bring salvation to
other nations. Creator God is concerned for all nations and will bring salvation through
Abraham’s descendants. It is good in this story to emphasize that Creator God has made a
covenant promise to Abraham that he keeps repeating even when Abraham disbelieves or
tries to take matters into his own hands. Creator God is always faithful to the promises he
makes even when we are not!
Remember in the story of the flood, how Creator God made a covenant with Noah and his
descendants. He gave the rainbow as a sign or symbol of the covenant he had made.
Notice in this story that Creator God gave Abraham a sign or a symbol of the covenant he
made with him. It was the sign of circumcision. Every male child born into Abraham’s
household was to have the foreskin of his male member cut away.
Main Biblical Reference: Genesis 12-22.
Joshua 24:2
Hebrews 11:8-10
Romans 4:1-3
Genesis 15:6
This passage mentions that Abraham was
from a family who worshipped other gods.
The writer points out that Abraham
responded in faith and obedience to Creator
God’s call to leave his home and go to a
place he did not even know where.
Paul makes it clear that Abraham was not
justified by works of the law, but by his faith
in Creator God. Abraham believed Creator
God and, therefore, was counted righteous
by Creator God.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
Today’s story takes place many generations after Creator God had confused man’s
language and scattered the people far and wide who were living in Babylon. However,
Creator God had a plan to use one man from that same region for his great purposes. This
man came from a family who were given to worshipping idols instead of Creator God. This
man was named Abram. And so our story from Creator God’s word begins.
Main Story:
Abram and his wife, Sarai, lived in a land where their family and their countrymen served
many false gods. One day, Creator God said to Abram, “Leave your country, your
relatives and your father’s house and go to a land I will show you. I will bless you and
I will make your name great! I will bless those who bless you and curse those who
curse you! I will give you many descendants and through you all the peoples on earth
will be blessed!”
So Abram left, taking his wife, Sarai, his household and all his possessions, and set out on
the journey, just as Creator God commanded. Abram was 75 and Sarai was 65 at that time!
When Abram got to a land called Canaan, he saw that Canaanite people were living there.
However, Creator God promised Abram, saying, “Look all around you and walk
throughout this land, for I will give this land to your descendants.” Abram travelled
throughout this land, living in a tent, and he built altars and offered burnt offerings as he went
in order to worship Creator God.
Now Abram and Sarai had never been able to have children. Time passed and still no child
came. Finally Abram asked Creator God, “What good are all of your blessings if I
continue to be childless? I am getting old and you have given me no children, so I
will have to give my inheritance to one of my servants.” Creator God replied to Abram,
“No, you will have a son who will come from your own body and he will inherit
everything that I have promised you.” Then Creator God took Abram out beneath the
night sky and said, “Look up into the heavens and count the stars if you can. That’s
how many descendants you will have!” Abram believed what Creator God said and,
because of his faith, not because of any works he had done, he was counted righteous by
Creator God.
Creator God also said, “I am Creator God who brought you out of the land of your
fathers to give you this land of Canaan as an inheritance.” Abram asked, “How can I
know that I will inherit this land?” So Creator God called Abram to sacrifice some
animals before him. He assured Abram that though his descendants would be slaves in a
foreign land for many generations, they would return to this land. Then Creator God made a
covenant with Abram and once again said, “I will give this land to your descendants.”
More years passed and Sarai became impatient about being childless. She devised a plan
for her servant, Hagar, to be a substitute mother for her. Abram agreed and so he slept with
Hagar. She became pregnant and gave birth to a boy, named Ishmael, when Abram was
86. But Hagar and Sarai’s relationship became strained. During her pregnancy, Hagar
began to despise Sarai and in return, Sarai treated Hagar badly. Eventually, Hagar and
Ishmael were sent away and not allowed to go on living with Abram’s family.
Later when Abram was 99 years old, Creator God reconfirmed his covenant with Abram and
his descendants saying, “I will greatly increase the number of your descendants. No
longer will you be called Abram, but I am changing your name to Abraham, which
means ‘father of many nations.’ And I will give you the land of Canaan as an
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inheritance to you and your descendants. Every male amongst you shall be
circumcised as a sign of this covenant I am making with you. I am also changing your
wife’s name to Sarah, which means ‘Princess’, because she will be the mother of
nations. In about a year from now, she will be blessed with a son, whom you are to
name, Isaac.”
But upon hearing Creator God’s promise, Abraham laughed and said to himself, “Can a son
be born to a man who is 100 years old? Can Sarah have a baby when she is 90?”
Abraham asked Creator God, “Would you just pass on your blessing through my son,
Ishmael?” But Creator God replied, “It will be through Sarah’s son, Isaac, and his
descendants, not Ishmael, that I will keep this eternal covenant.” Sarah overheard
Creator God’s promise and also laughed to herself saying, “Will an old woman like me and
an old husband like mine really have a child?” But Creator God said, “Why did you
laugh? Is anything too hard for me? In about a year from now, you will have a son.”
And a year later, exactly as Creator God had promised, Sarah gave birth to their first son,
naming him Isaac, which means “laughter!”
Teaser:
And that is our story from Creator God’s word. The birth of Isaac was the beginning of
Creator God fulfilling the covenant he made to Abraham, who would have as many
descendants as the stars in the sky. By this point, Abraham had gotten used to hearing
Creator God’s voice, but he would never believe what Creator God was about to tell him
next!
1) What do we learn about Creator God in this story?
• Creator God did not choose to make a covenant with Abraham based on
Abraham’s good deeds, but Creator God chose to make a covenant with
Abraham based on Creator God’s faithful and good character
• Creator God is the initiator of the blessings for his people and faithfully keeps his
promises to bless his people.
• Creator God considered Abraham righteous because he believed what Creator
God promised, not because of any works Abraham had done.
• He is in control of the events of Abraham’s life and is faithful to his promises even
when Abraham is unfaithful to Creator God.
2) What covenant promises did Creator God make to Abraham in this story?
• Creator God would bless him and his family and they would be a blessing to all
the other people on earth.
• Creator God would give Abraham’s family the Land of Canaan as an inheritance.
3) What sign or symbol of the covenant did God give to Abraham and his descendants?
• Every male child born to them was to be circumcised.
4) In what ways did Abraham and Sarah try to fulfil Creator God’s promises on their own?
• Because Abraham didn’t have a son, he was going to give his inheritance to his
servant in order to have an heir. And later whilst they were still childless, Sarah
devised for Abraham to sleep with Hagar in order to have a son.
• This plan did not work out and ended in much heartache.
5) Why does Creator God continually repeat his promise to Abraham?
• Because the events and circumstances of Abraham’s life did not seem to match
the promises of Creator God: the Canaanites were living in the land Creator God
was promising Abraham and Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children.
• Creator God was faithful to all his promises.
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10. God Provides a Substitute Sacrifice for Isaac
This is a great story: a harsh command, a painful journey and a last-minute intervention!
Let’s really engage our listeners with the wide range of emotions that are present in this
story!
Points to draw out of this story include Abraham’s amazing faith and absolute obedience to
Creator God. Abraham trusted Creator God completely and did what he commanded– in the
same way Creator God expects us to put him first, even before our families and those things
most precious to us. And as a result of his faith and obedience, Creator God blessed
Abraham. Let’s also remember that whilst this story focuses on Abraham and Isaac, there is
a much bigger story also going on – Creator God is faithfully continuing to work out his plan
to bless the peoples of the earth through Abraham’s descendants.
Main Biblical Reference: Genesis 22:1-19
Genesis 22:5, 8; Hebrews 11:17-19
Hebrews 6:13-18
Abraham says things like “we will return” and
“Creator God will provide the lamb.” He fully
believed in Creator God’s promises to him
and his descendants and expected Isaac to
come back with him after the sacrifice. He
trusted that Creator God would either make
some other provision for the sacrifice or even
resurrect Isaac after he’d been sacrificed.
Creator God swears an oath by his own
name, as there is no one greater to swear
by, that this promise will indeed happen
because of Abraham’s faith and obedience in
Creator God’s promise.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In our last story, we heard about a man called Abram, later called Abraham, who Creator
God called to leave his familiar home and go to a new place in the land of Canaan. Creator
God promised to give Abraham many descendants, to give his descendants the land of
Canaan as an inheritance, and to bless all peoples through him. But what would Abraham
do when this promise was threatened? And so our story from Creator God’s word begins.
Main Story:
When Isaac was a young boy, Creator God called out to Abraham, “Abraham! Take your
son, your only son, Isaac, the one you love, and go up to one of the mountains I will
show you and sacrifice him there as a burnt offering.”
So the very next morning Abraham woke up early, saddled his donkey and chopped enough
wood for the burnt offering. He then called his son, Isaac, and two of his servants and they
set off for the place which Creator God had told him to go to. They travelled for three days
and on the third day Abraham looked up and saw in the distance the place Creator God had
told him about.
Then he said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over
there and worship. Then we’ll come back to you.” Abraham placed the wood for the
burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders and picked up the knife and the fire as they went toward
the place of sacrifice. As they were walking, Isaac spoke up and asked, “Father?”
Abraham replied, “Yes my son.” Isaac continued, “The fire and the wood are here, but
where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered him saying, “Creator God
himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.” And they continued walking.
Finally they reached the place that Creator God had told Abraham about. When they got
there, Abraham built an altar. When the altar was complete, he arranged the wood on top of
it, tied up his son, Isaac, and placed him on the altar. Then Abraham reached out his hand
and took the knife to slay his son when Creator God called out from heaven, “Abraham!
Abraham! Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that
you have respect for me as you have not held back from me your son, your only son.”
Just then Abraham looked up and in a nearby bush he saw a ram caught by its horns. He
took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering to Creator God instead of his son. After this
Abraham named the place, “Creator God Will Provide,” since Creator God had provided a
ram for the offering.
Then Creator God called out to Abraham a second time and said, “I swear by my own
name that I will bless you because of what you have done. You have not held back
your son, your only son, so I will certainly bless you. I will make your children after
you as many as the stars in the sky and as many as the grains of sand on the
seashore. And through your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed because
you have obeyed me.”
Then Abraham and Isaac went back to the servants and they all went home together.
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Teaser:
And that is our story from Creator God’s word. Creator God’s promise to Abraham did
indeed continue through his descendants. Abraham had a son, Isaac, and Isaac had a son,
Jacob, who became a very great man with twelve important sons. In our next story, we’ll
hear about one of Jacob’s sons whom Creator God used to save Jacob’s entire family.
1) What do we learn about Creator God in this story?
2) What do we learn about Abraham in this story?
3) Creator God told Abraham to sacrifice his son. Why do you think that he did that?
• Creator God was testing Abraham’s obedience and complete trust in him.
• Creator God knew that he was going to provide a ram as a substitute sacrifice
instead of Isaac.
4) What do you think would have been going through Abraham’s mind as he travelled for
three days to the place of sacrifice?
5) What did Creator God swear by his own name that he would now do and why?
• He swears an oath, that what he had promised to Abraham would certainly come
to pass, that through Abraham and his offspring all the nations would be blessed.
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11. Joseph
The story of Joseph is quite a long one, but is full of adventure and emotion. Let’s highlight
Joseph’s reactions to all the different situations he faced: wherever he found himself, be it in
prison or a palace, Joseph entrusted his life to Creator God and remained faithful to Creator
God. And Creator God remained faithful to Joseph, bestowing on him great responsibility
and many blessings. As with all our recent stories, this is not just the tale of one man, but
the continuing story of Creator God’s faithfulness to fulfil the promise he had made to
Abraham that his descendants would multiply and be a blessing to the nations.
Main Biblical References: Genesis 37-39; 41-50
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In the last story, we heard of Abraham’s faith and obedience when Creator God asked
Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Because of Abraham’s obedience, Creator God
swore that he would indeed keep his promise to Abraham—to have many descendants and
to gain possession of the land of Canaan. In today’s story, we’ll continue to hear of how
Creator God protected this family through whom he would bless all peoples of the earth. And
so our story from Creator God’s word begins.
Main Story:
Abraham was the father of Isaac. Creator God appeared to Isaac saying, “I am with you
and will bless you. For I will give you as many descendants as the stars in the sky
and will give your descendants all of this land. Through your offspring, all nations on
earth will be blessed because Abraham obeyed me.” When Isaac was 40, he married
and became the father of twin boys, Jacob and Esau. But it was through Jacob that Creator
God’s promise would continue. Creator God said to Jacob, “No longer will you be called
Jacob, but your name will be Israel. Many peoples will come from you and this land I
gave Abraham and Isaac, I will also give to you and your descendants.”
And Creator God did bless Israel with twelve sons, who all lived in the land of Canaan. Out
of all of his sons, Israel loved the second youngest son, Joseph, the most and made him a
very special coat. Joseph’s brothers hated him because he was their father’s favourite.
As a young man Joseph had some dreams. One day Joseph said to his brothers, “Let me
tell you about my dream. We were out in the field tying up bundles of wheat.
Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles gathered around and bowed down to
mine.” Joseph’s brothers said to him, “What is this? Do you plan to rule over us?”
Later on, Joseph shared another dream with them. He said, “I dreamed that the sun, the
moon, and eleven stars bowed down to me.” Joseph’s brothers hated him all the more
because of his dreams that he shared with them.
One day Israel sent Joseph to check on his brothers out in the field. When they saw him,
they grabbed him, ripped off his special coat, and threw him into a deep pit! Instead of killing
him, they decided to sell Joseph to slave traders who were passing by on their way to Egypt.
Then Joseph’s brothers took his very special coat, soaked it in goat’s blood, and brought it to
their father saying, “We found this coat out in the field–does it belong to Joseph?”
Israel examined it and said, “It is my son’s coat! A wild animal has devoured him!” He
wept for Joseph saying, “I will mourn my son’s death until the day I die!”
Meanwhile, in Egypt the slave traders sold Joseph to a man named Potiphar, one of the
officials of the king of Egypt. Potiphar noticed that Creator God was with Joseph and gave
him success in everything he did. So Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his entire household
and everything he owned!
Now Joseph was well built and handsome. Potiphar’s wife noticed him and constantly
pressured him, saying, “Come sleep with me!” But Joseph refused, saying, “My master
has put me in charge of his entire household and has withheld nothing from me
except for you, his wife. So how could I do such a wicked thing and sin against
Creator God?”
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One day when Joseph was working indoors, Potiphar’s wife grabbed him by his coat and
said, "Come sleep with me!" But Joseph ran outside, leaving his coat in her hand. She
kept Joseph’s coat and when Potiphar got home, she explained, “That slave you brought
here tried to come in here and sleep with me! But when I screamed for help, he left
his coat behind and ran out.” Potiphar was furious and threw Joseph into the prison. But
before long Creator God gave Joseph favour with the warden of the prison, who put Joseph
in charge of all the prisoners. Creator God was with Joseph and gave him success in
everything he did.
Whilst in prison, Creator God gave Joseph the ability to successfully interpret some of the
prisoners’ dreams! A few years later, whilst Joseph was still in prison, the king of Egypt had
some dreams that troubled him. In one of them he saw seven fat cows being eaten by
seven thin cows! None of the king’s wisest men could interpret what this meant. However,
one of the servants, who had been in prison with Joseph, told the king about Joseph's ability
to interpret dreams. So the king summoned Joseph and he said to him, “I have heard that
you can interpret dreams.” Joseph replied, “I can't, but Creator God will give you the
answers that you are looking for."
The king told Joseph his dreams and Joseph interpreted them saying, “Creator God has
revealed to the king what he is about to do. The whole land of Egypt will have seven
years of an abundance of food. But then seven years of a severe and devastating
famine will spread throughout the entire land.”
The king said, “Because Creator God has enabled you to know all this, I am putting
you in charge over all the land of Egypt and over my household. Only I will be greater
than you.” So Joseph, who was 30 at the time, was released from prison and put in charge
of all the land. During the seven years of abundance, Joseph travelled throughout Egypt
collecting and storing the huge amounts of excess food. Then the seven years of famine
began. There was no food throughout the surrounding countries, but there was food in
Egypt so people from the surrounding countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain.
When Israel, Joseph’s father, realized his family was running out of food, he sent his sons to
Egypt. When the brothers arrived to buy grain, they came and bowed down to Joseph.
They didn’t recognize Joseph, but Joseph recognized them and pretended to be a stranger.
Joseph treated his brothers harshly. He accused them of being spies, accused them of
stealing and even put them in prison for a time. But the time came, after several encounters
with his brothers, when Joseph finally revealed himself and wept loudly before his brothers
saying, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold as a slave!”
The brothers were shocked and terrified. But Joseph spoke kindly to them saying, “Don’t
be angry with yourselves for selling me into slavery. For Creator God sent me ahead
of you to save your lives. It is not you who sent me here, but Creator God. What you
meant for evil, God intended for good so he could preserve the lives of many people.
Now you will live near me, you, your entire families and all your possessions, and I
will provide food for you.” So Israel and his entire household moved from Canaan to live
in Egypt, escaping the famine and enjoying the blessings that Creator God had given
through Joseph.
Teaser:
And that is our story from Creator God’s word. In today’s story we heard how Creator God
saved Israel and his family through Joseph. In the next story, we’ll hear the trouble Israel’s
family got into in Egypt and how Creator God faithfully rescued them once again.
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• He can take bad situations and use them to work out for his good purposes. He
can work through people who are not perfect. He is the source of all grace.
2) What do we learn about Joseph from the story?
• Creator God was with him through difficult situations and as a result, Joseph
trusted Creator God. Creator God was helping him, giving him success and
wisdom.
• His brothers were jealous of him because he was his father’s favourite and he
told them about his dreams that they would one day bow down to him.
3) How did Creator God continue keeping his covenant with Abraham and his descendants
in the story?
• Creator God sent Joseph ahead of his brothers to save his family from dying in
the famine. We also see Creator God’s promise starting to be fulfilled as he used
Joseph to bless many peoples of the earth in the time of famine.
5) How did Joseph respond when tempted to sin?
• He fled the situation and honoured Creator God.
6) In your life have you ever seen Creator God take a bad situation and cause it to work
something good?
7) How can Joseph’s story help us when someone offends us or sins against us?
• Joseph forgave his brothers as he saw Creator God’s sovereignty over the
situation—he saw Creator God using the evil of his brothers for his good
purposes.
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12. The Passover: The Blood of the Lamb
What a powerful story of the Lord God’s faithfulness in sparing his people from judgment
brought upon the Egyptians! The Lord God shows himself entirely capable of protecting his
people and punishing those who oppose him. He spared the Israelites because of the
lambs’ blood they smeared on their doorposts. By obeying the Lord God and putting their
faith in him, the Israelites were being spared his judgment.
Main Biblical Reference: Exodus 1:1-14:9
Exodus 3:14
Exodus 3:14; John
10:11; 11:25; 14:6;
15:1; 18:5-6
Exodus 12:25
1 Corinthians 5:7
“Yahweh” or “Jehovah” means “I AM WHO I AM.” The “I AM”
is the “Ever-Present-All-Sufficient One.” Because this name
was considered too holy to speak, all Israel used the name
“Lord God” instead.
Later Jesus would give many statements saying, “I AM…”
Upon doing so, he was clearly stating that he is the Lord God,
based upon the name of the Lord God in Exodus 3:14.
Israel was not to think of the exodus as merely the departure
from Egypt, but rather as a departure from one land in order to
enter another land, which would be their own, as Creator God
had promised Abraham.
Here Christ is referred to as the Passover Lamb. In the story
of the exodus, the Lord God uses the blood of a lamb to cover
the sins of his people. For us today, Christ’s blood has been
shed to cover our own sins.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In the previous story, we heard about Joseph, the great-grandson of Abraham. Despite
many difficulties, like slavery and imprisonment, Creator God put Joseph in charge of the
land of Egypt and used Joseph to save Abraham’s family line from famine. And so our story
from Creator God’s word begins.
Main Story:
Joseph and the rest of Abraham’s descendants, who became known as the Israelites,
settled in the mighty kingdom of Egypt during the seven years of famine. Over hundreds of
years, they began to greatly increase in number and fill the land. However, the king of Egypt
said, “Look, the Israelites have become too numerous! We must do something about
them or else they may join our enemies to fight against us and leave the country.”
And so the Egyptians made the Israelites into their slaves and oppressed them ruthlessly
with forced labour. Despite their oppression, the Israelites were still growing in number so
the king of Egypt ordered all Israelite newborn boys to be killed by drowning them in the
nearby river.
However, one Israelite family put their newborn son in a basket and floated him down the
river in hopes of saving his life. The Egyptian king’s daughter discovered the baby crying in
the basket and felt sorry for him. So she took the baby as her son and raised him in the
palace of the king, naming him Moses.
One day, after Moses had grown up, he watched his own people, the Israelites, working as
slave labor and noticed an Egyptian beating an Israelite. Moses looked to see that no one
was watching him and he killed the Egyptian, hiding him in the sand. However, the king
heard of this and tried to kill Moses so Moses fled from the king into the wilderness and
became a shepherd.
The king of Egypt eventually died and a new king was installed who also oppressed the
Israelites. The Israelites cried out to Creator God because of their slavery. Creator God
heard their cries and was very concerned about the Israelites as he remembered his
covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
One day whilst Moses was tending his flock in the desert, he saw a bush on fire, but it did
not burn up. Moses said, “Why doesn’t this bush burn up? I will go over and see this
strange sight!” Then Creator God appeared to Moses from within the bush and called,
“Moses! Moses! Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy
ground. I am the God of your fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Moses hid his face,
because he was afraid to look at Creator God.
Creator God told Moses, “I have heard my people crying out because of their slavery.
Therefore, I am going to rescue them from the Egyptians and bring them into the
plentiful land of Canaan, the land I promised to Abraham and his descendants. Go! I
am sending you and your brother, Aaron, to the king of Egypt to rescue my people out
of this land.”
But Moses said to Creator God, “Who am I that I should go to the king and bring the
Israelites out of Egypt?” But Creator God said, “I will be with you.” Moses then said to
Creator God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers
has sent me to you,’ and they want to know your name, what should I tell them?”
Creator God said, “I AM WHO I AM. Tell the Israelites that the Lord God, the God of
your fathers, has sent me to you. This is my name forever.”
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So Moses went back to Egypt, and he and his brother Aaron went to the king and said,
“This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘Let my people go out into the wilderness to
worship me!’” But the king hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses’ message.
Instead the king said, “Why are you stopping the Israelites from working? These
people want to go worship because they are lazy. Get back to work!” And the king
oppressed the Israelites even more.
So Moses asked the king several more times to let the Israelites go to worship the Lord God.
But each time, the king refused to let them go and so the Lord God would send a series of
terrible plagues on the Egyptians and their land. Though the king would say he would let the
Israelites go, when the plagues ended, the king would once again harden his heart and
refuse.
Finally the Lord God told Moses to say to the king, “Here is what the Lord God says: ‘I am
going to send a final plague! At about midnight I will pass throughout Egypt and
every firstborn son of every family in Egypt will die. And there will be great wailing in
Egypt. However, I will not touch any of the Israelite families with this judgment.’ Then
you will tell me and my people to leave!” In spite of this final warning, the king hardened
his heart and refused to listen.
So the Lord God gave the Israelites specific instructions on how they would be saved from
this final judgment that would come upon Egypt. The Lord God said to Moses, “Each man
is to take a spotless one year-old male lamb and slaughter it in the evening, putting
some of the blood of the lamb on the doorframes of their houses. Then the Israelites
are to stay in their houses until morning. When the Lord God goes through the land
to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on your doorposts and will pass
over that doorway so that your firstborn will be saved. Inside, the Israelites will roast
and eat the lambs along with bread that has no yeast. And they are to be prepared to
leave Egypt at any minute! This is the Lord God’s Passover, which will be observed
for generations to come!” The people bowed down, worshiped the Lord God and did
everything exactly as He commanded.
It was about midnight when the final plague began to happen, just as the Lord God said.
The firstborn son in every Egyptian household was struck down, including the king’s firstborn
son. And there was loud wailing in Egypt. But the Lord God kept his promise to the
Israelites and did not harm any Israelite firstborn sons. The Lord God had passed over their
households because of the blood painted on their doorposts. The king of Egypt told Moses
and the Israelites to leave as soon as possible. Even the Egyptian people urged the
Israelites to go, giving them their gold, silver and fine clothes as they left.
So Moses led the Israelites through the desert. The Lord God sent a pillar of cloud to guide
them by day and a pillar of fire to guide them by night. When the king of Egypt was told that
the people had fled, the Lord God hardened the king’s heart and the king said, “What have
we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost our slave labor!” So the king and
his large army pursued the Israelites through the desert.
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. In today’s story, the Lord God kept his
promise to make Abraham’s descendants numerous and he brought his people out of
slavery in order to take them to their own land. But what will happen to the Israelites? Will
the Egyptian army defeat them and return them as slaves? Or will the Lord God save them
from their captors?
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1) What do we learn about the Lord God in this story?
• He is faithful to his covenant to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He judges those who
oppose him and delivers those who obey him. He reveals his name.
2) What do we learn about Moses?
3) Creator God revealed his name to Moses as being “I AM WHO I AM.” What does his
name reveal about who Creator God is?
• With the revelation that Moses received about the Lord God’s name, we come to
understand that Creator God is the “I AM,” the Lord God. He is the One who is
always present everywhere and has all power.
4) Why do you think the Lord God struck down the first-born of Egypt?
• As judgment for their hard-heartedness and sin.
5) Why do you think the Lord God spared the Israelites?
• Because they obeyed him in faith and put the blood of the lamb on their doors.
Because of the blood of the lamb, the Lord God’s judgment passed over them.
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13. The Lord God Gives His Holy Law
This story tells of a special time in the continuing relationship between the Lord God and the
Israelites. The Lord God is making a covenant with Moses and the Israelites by giving his
law. It was made specifically with the people of Israel. The Lord God is guiding his people in
how to remain in obedience to him so that he can be their Lord God and they can be his
people, entering into a closer relationship with the Lord God. However, the Israelites
immediately break the covenant, indicating that they will not be able to keep the demands of
this covenant.
This is not the first place where the Lord God makes a covenant with someone. We saw the
Lord God making a covenant with Noah not to destroy the earth again. He made an eternal
covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob promising to give them a land and give them many
descendants through whom all peoples will be blessed. And here again we hear of another
covenant the Lord God makes with the Israelites, promising them to be his special people.
A covenant is a pact or agreement made by the Lord God to mankind. The terms and
promises of the agreement are always set by the Lord God. In the covenant the Lord God
made with Noah, for example, the Lord God promised he would never flood the whole earth
again, but mankind was not given any terms of the agreement to keep. However, in this
covenant, the Lord God sets terms of the agreement that he expects mankind to keep, which
in this case is to keep his holy law.
Main Biblical Reference: Exodus 14-34
Exodus 16-17
Notice how quickly the people forgot how powerful and mighty
the Lord God is! They had seen Him miraculously do the
impossible--deliver them from Egypt and destroy all the
Egyptian army in the Red Sea! But shortly after, they are
complaining that they are going to die in the desert from no
water or food. How quickly they forgot that the Lord God can
do miraculous things!
Exodus 19:4-6
This is the main point of this story. The Lord God has
powerfully brought the Israelites out of slavery to be his
special people. He makes a covenant with them and gives
them his law so that they know how to obey him and to uphold
their side of the covenant. The Lord God will be their Lord God
and they will be his people.
Exodus 19:7-8
Notice that when the Israelites heard of God’s covenant that
Moses told them about, they willingly responded by saying
they wanted to keep all of the Lord God’s commands.
Exodus 20:1-17
The Ten Commandments: The first four are to do with the
relationship between man and the Lord God whilst the last six
are to do with the relationship between man and man.
Deuteronomy 27-30
Here the Lord God gives a specific list of blessings and
curses. Some blessings of obeying the covenant include:
rains, crops, health, protection from enemies and prosperity.
Some curses of disobeying the covenant include: drought,
famine, sickness, being attacked by enemies, exile, death.
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Exodus 32
It wasn’t even forty days after receiving the covenantal laws
that the people broke them, crafting a golden idol and
worshipping it! Though the Israelites said they would obey all
the Lord God’s commands, they immediately show that they
are not able to keep them.
movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
We heard about how the Lord God brought the Israelites out of Egypt on the night of the
Passover. The Lord God sent a plague killing all firstborn sons of Egypt, but because the
Israelites painted the blood of a sacrificial lamb on their doorposts, this judgment passed
over them. The king of Egypt sent the Israelites away in his grief, but later changed his mind
as he realized he was losing all of his slave labour. What would happen to the Israelites?
And so our story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
The king of Egypt chased after the Israelites with his large army of chariots and horses. As
the Israelites saw the Egyptians coming from behind and saw the Red Sea before them, they
cried out to Moses, “What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? It would
have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Moses said,
“Don’t be afraid. Today, you will see the Lord God deliver you. He will fight for you!”
The pillar of cloud leading the Israelites now moved between the Egyptians and the
Israelites, protecting the Israelites. Then Moses stretched out his hands over the Red Sea,
as the Lord God commanded him, and the Lord God divided the waters so that the Israelites
could cross the Red Sea on dry ground!
The Lord God hardened the hearts of the king’s army who followed the Israelites into the
sea. But then the Lord God sent confusion upon the king’s army as their chariot wheels
began falling off. As they realized the Lord God was fighting against them, they tried to go
back, but the Lord God commanded Moses to stretch out his hands over the Red Sea once
again. The sea waters flowed back and covered over the entire army, drowning them all.
That day the Israelites saw the great power of the Lord God as he saved them from the
hands of the Egyptians. And all the Israelites danced and sang praises to the Lord God, “I
will sing to the Lord God, for he is highly exalted! He is my strength and my
salvation. Who is like the Lord God—holy, glorious and mighty? He will rule forever.”
The Lord God led the Israelites up from the Red Sea into the desert. But the Israelites soon
began to complain against Moses saying, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt into
this desert to make us die of hunger and thirst? At least in Egypt we had meat and
could eat all the food we wanted!” So the Lord God provided drinking water to come out
of a rock and sent bread from heaven that would cover the ground every morning. Even
when the people got tired of bread, the Lord God sent quail to come every evening so they
had meat to eat.
Three months after the Lord God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt, the people camped at
Mount Sinai in the Desert of Sinai. Whilst the Israelites were building their campsite, Moses
journeyed to the top of the mountain to meet with the Lord God who said, “You yourselves
have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you out of Egypt to myself. And now,
if you will listen to me and keep my commands, then, out of all the nations of the
world, you will be my special people, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Then
Moses came down from the mountain reporting to the Israelites all that the Lord God had
said. And all the people replied, “We will do everything the Lord God has said.”
So the Lord God gave Moses specific instructions to prepare the Israelites for when he
would come down on Mount Sinai to make a covenant with Israel. After three days of
preparing themselves, the people heard a very loud horn and saw thunder, lightening and a
dense cloud come upon the mountain. They stood at the foot of the mountain and saw the
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Lord God himself descending upon Mount Sinai with fire!
violently and all the Israelites trembled with fear!
The whole mountain shook
Then the Lord God called Moses to come up to the mountain where he gave him all the laws
of the covenant. The Lord God said:
“I am the Lord God who brought you out of slavery in Egypt. You shall not worship
any other gods, but you are to worship me alone.
“You shall not create idols or images and bow down to worship them, for I am a
jealous God.
“You shall not disrespect the Lord God’s name or treat him with contempt.
“You shall work six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath day, which you shall
keep holy by resting from work, just as I did when I created the world.
“Obey your father and mother.
“Do not murder.
“Do not sleep with a man or woman to whom you are not married.
“Do not steal or take something that is not yours.
“Do not give false witness against someone else.
“Do not become envious of what someone else has.”
The Lord God continued to give the rest of the laws of the covenant to Moses who then
communicated them with the people—laws about how people were to worship the Lord God,
how people were to live and how people were to treat others. If the people obeyed all of the
Lord God’s commands, then he promised to bless them; however, if the people disobeyed
the Lord God’s commands, then he promised to curse them. When Moses went and told the
people all of the Lord God’s laws of the covenant, they all responded once again saying,
“Everything the Lord God has said we will do.” Moses then wrote down everything the
Lord God had said and all of Israel worshipped the Lord God.
Again the Lord God called Moses up to the mountain, this time taking his assistant, Joshua,
with him. Moses told the people to wait for them and put his brother, Aaron along with a
man named Hur, in charge of the people whilst they were gone. The Lord God gave Moses
specific instructions on how to build a special tent for him so that the Lord God could live
amongst his people. When the Lord God finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai after
40 days, he gave Moses two stone tablets with all of his laws inscribed on them, written by
his very own finger!
Meanwhile, the people got tired of waiting for Moses and said to Aaron, “Come, make us a
god who will go before us. As for Moses, we don’t know what has happened to him.”
So Aaron told the people to bring all their gold, which they melted down and cast into a
golden calf. Then he said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up out of
Egypt.” And they worshipped the idol.
When Moses came down from the mountain with the two stone tablets, he saw the idol and
the people shouting and dancing. He became very angry and threw down the stone tablets,
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breaking them to pieces, and he also destroyed the golden calf. Though the Lord God
wanted to destroy all the people, Moses reminded the Lord God of his promise to Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob. The Lord God did not destroy all of the Israelites completely, but he struck
the people with a plague as a punishment for their rebellion.
Then the Lord God called Moses up to the mountain once again and revealed more of his
character to Moses saying, “I am the Lord God, the compassionate and gracious One,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving wickedness, rebellion and
sin. Yet I must punish the guilty for their sin. I am making a covenant with you. I will
do amazing wonders before you and all the other surrounding nations will see the
awesome things I will do for you.” So the Lord God told Moses to chisel two new stone
tablets in order that the Lord God might write down the same laws of the covenant upon
them. And Moses once again told the Israelites everything the Lord God had commanded
them.
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. The Lord God had made a covenant with
the Israelites, but right away they showed that they could not keep all the laws of the
covenant. How could the holy Lord God be able to dwell amongst such a sinful people?
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1) What do we learn about the Lord God from this story?
• He powerfully saved Israel out of slavery and wants to give them their own land.
He alone is God, he is holy, he is compassionate, gracious and forgiving, yet he
is just by punishing sin. He showed mercy to the Israelites by not destroying
them after they worshipped the idol and by making another covenant with them.
2) What do we learn about the Israelites from this story?
• The Israelites were quick to complain, forgetting that the Lord God can do
miracles. They said they would obey the Lord God’s commands, but soon
afterwards, they worshipped a golden calf. They didn’t trust Moses or the Lord
God.
3) What did the Lord God say he would do if Moses and the Israelites obeyed the specific
covenant that he made with them? And if they disobeyed?
• The Lord God wanted to be Israel’s only God and they would be his special
people out of all the nations of the earth if they obeyed the Lord God’s commands.
If his people obey his laws, then the Lord God will bless them. If they disobey his
laws, then the Lord God will curse them.
4) How does the Lord God desire us to live with our fellow man?
• To respect each other, not to take something of our neighbours which is not ours,
not to lie to one another, not to be envious of what others have, not to sleep with
someone you are not married to, etc.
• The ten laws stated in the story are commonly called “The Ten Commandments”.
It would be good to review the Ten Commandments at this point.
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14. The Sacrificial System
This week we see how the Lord God is holy and must be approached in a very specific way.
Should the high priest get it wrong, he would die in the Lord God’s holy presence! This story
deals with the technicalities of how the Israelites were to approach the Lord God and have
their sins covered, before Jesus came and shed his blood as the perfect atoning sacrifice. A
picture is provided that the storyteller can use if he finds it helpful when telling this story.
God recognizes that his people cannot perfectly keep his law because of their sinful nature.
Out of his love for them and his longing to live amongst them, he provides a specific way for
their sins to be covered over. In this story the word ‘atonement’ is used. This term, in the
original language of the Old Testament (Hebrew), means “to cover over”.
Main Biblical References: Exodus 25-40, Leviticus 16 & 23
Hebrews 2:17
Hebrews 7:23-27; 10:1-18
Hebrews 9:11-28
Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45
The high priest in Moses’ time was his
brother, Aaron, and after Aaron died, the
high priest was always a male descendant of
Aaron. In this story, we see the high priest
making atonement for the sins of the
Israelites, but we know that Jesus is THE
Great High Priest, who made atonement for
the sins of all people.
In this story, we see the high priest making
atonement for his sins and then for the sins
of the Israelites, but this system is imperfect
as it only covers over one’s sins and must be
repeated every year. But Jesus, THE Great
High Priest, offered a complete and one time
sacrifice for the sins of all people when he
offered himself.
The tent, its furnishings and its practices,
were an earthly model of the Lord God’s
heavenly dwelling place. This is another
reason why the Lord God gave such specific
instructions about the tent.
The curtain dividing the Holy Place and the
Most Holy Place was torn when Jesus died
on the cross, indicating that sin no longer
separates the Lord God and man.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In the last story, we heard of how the Lord God met with Moses on Mount Sinai, giving
Moses all the laws of the covenant for the Israelites to follow. Once when Moses went up to
the mountain, the Lord God gave Moses specific instructions on how to build a special tent
for him so that the Lord God could live amongst his people. And so our story from the Lord
Main Story:
The Lord God told Moses of a special tent that his people were to build for him so that he
could live amongst them. The Lord God gave detailed instructions of how it was to be
constructed, what was to be inside of it, what was to happen inside of it and how it should be
packed up and moved whenever the Lord God called the Israelites to go to a different place.
Moses then told all the Israelites of the Lord God’s specific instructions. The Lord God
appointed two men whom He had specially skilled to make everything that was to be used in
the tent, as well as other craftsmen to help. So the Israelites willingly offered their
possessions to be used for the building of the tent.
This tent was to be set in the middle of the Israelites’ camp and had a wall surrounding it,
made of fabric curtains hung on poles. This was the outer courtyard and there was only one
entrance into the courtyard. Inside the courtyard was a large altar for sacrificing animals and
a basin for washing.
The actual tent itself, made of animal skins hung between poles, also had only one entrance
and inside the tent were two rooms. The first room was called the “Holy Place” and inside it
was a golden lampstand whose lamps burned all day and night, symbolizing the Lord God’s
constant watch over his people. There was a table with bread on it, symbolizing the Lord
God’s provision for the Israelites. And there was also a small wooden altar covered in gold
where incense was burned, symbolizing the prayers and worship of the Israelites rising up to
the Lord God.
The second and smaller room beyond the “Holy Place” was called the “Most Holy Place.”
The two rooms were separated by a thick curtain. The only thing inside this room was a
wooden chest covered in gold, called the box of the Covenant. Inside the box were the
stone tablets with the Lord God’s commands on them as well as some bread from heaven
which the Lord God had provided the Israelites when they were wandering in the desert.
The lid of the box of the Covenant was called the “atonement cover.” It was made of pure
gold and had two carved angels on top with their wings stretched wide. It was here, seated
on the lid of the box of the Covenant, that the Lord God’s presence would live and be
amongst his people; this was his throne.
When the building of the tent was completed, the glory of the Lord God settled on the tent in
the form of a cloud and filled the tent. Whenever the Lord God wanted the Israelites to
move, his cloud would rise off of the tent and the priests would pack up and carry the tent
with all the Israelites following behind.
Now, the Lord God gave very specific instructions as to who could enter the tent. Priests
were to do all the work involved with the tent and they had to make sure they followed the
Lord God’s instructions carefully or else they would die. The Israelites were to come into the
courtyard and bring regular sacrifices for their sins according to the Lord God’s commands.
The priests would accept the sacrifices, slaughter them and place them on the large altar to
be burned. Only the priests were allowed in the Holy Place to oil the lamps, bring new bread
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and burn incense continually before the Lord God. No one was allowed to enter the Most
Holy Place where the Lord God’s presence was, except for one man on only one day each
year. This special day was called “The Day of Atonement”.
Now Aaron, Moses’ brother, was appointed the first high priest. Only the high priest was
allowed to enter the Most Holy Place on the “Day of Atonement” because this was the one
day each year when the sins of the Israelites were covered over. The high priest would go
before the Lord God on behalf of all the people.
On the Day of Atonement, Aaron, the high priest, first offered a bull as a sacrifice to the Lord
God and he sprinkled its blood on the atonement cover. This was to cover over his sins and
the sins of his household. Then a goat would be sacrificed to the Lord God and he sprinkled
its blood on the atonement cover. This was to cover over the sins of all the Israelites.
Finally Aaron, the high priest, was to lay his hands on a live goat and confess the sins of all
the Israelites, putting them onto the goat. Then he would send the goat far away. This was
to show that the sins of all the people had been removed from them.
The Israelites could not perfectly keep every law the Lord God required. So the Lord God
provided this specific way in which the sins of the people could be covered over, allowing the
holy Lord God to live amongst this sinful people. And so the Lord God commanded that this
Day of Atonement was to be repeated once every year on behalf of Israel.
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. This was the way the Lord God had
provided for the sins of the people to be covered over. But just because the Israelite’s sins
were covered over doesn’t mean that life was easy. They faced many enemies in the land of
Canaan. In the next story we will hear of an unlikely rescuer who delivered Israel from her
enemies.
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1) What do we learn about the Lord God from this story?
• The Lord God goes to a lot of trouble to be able to live amongst his people. He is
holy and sin cannot live in his presence, so he provides a way for their sin to be
covered, enabling him to live amongst them.
2) Why is the Lord God so specific about the detailed instructions given to the high priest on
the Day of Atonement?
• Because the Lord God is holy and sin cannot be in his presence
• The Lord God gave very specific instructions to provide a way for sin to be
covered over. The word “atonement” means to “cover over”.
3) What is the significance of the goat that was sacrificed on the Day of Atonement?
• Its sprinkled blood on the Atonement Cover represented the covering over of the
sins of all the Israelites.
4) What is the significance of the live goat that was sent away?
• To provide a visual representation to the Israelites that on this day their sins had
been removed from them.
5) Because the Day of Atonement had to be repeated every year,
a) What does this tell you about the sins of the people of Israel?
• They were not completely removed, but were merely covered over or removed
from them for the time being. That is why this process had to be repeatedly
continued.
b) What does this tell you about the animal sacrifice made?
• They were imperfect and unable to completely remove sin.
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15. David the King
Throughout Israel’s history, notice how faithful the Lord God continued to be to the Israelites
even when they were disobedient to him and went their own way. Eventually the Israelites
wanted a king because that is what all the other nations around them had. This was not
necessarily the Lord God’s intention, but he granted his people their request. David, just a
little shepherd boy from a small and unimportant town of Bethlehem, was anointed as king.
He appeared to be an unlikely candidate to fight the Philistine giant, but because of his faith
in the Lord God, he had success. Throughout David’s life, he proved to be mostly a faithful
king who walked closely with the Lord God and recognized that his kingdom was not his
own, but it was the Lord God’s.
Main Biblical References: 1 Samuel 8-17; 2 Samuel 5-7
1 Samuel 17
2 Samuel 7:12-16
The battle of David and Goliath depicts David as a rescuer of his
people, Israel. Though David came from the insignificant town of
Bethlehem and was just a shepherd, the Lord God used him to
deliver Israel. In a similar way, Jesus came from the same
insignificant town of Bethlehem and was just a carpenter, but the
Lord God used him to deliver all peoples of the world.
The covenant the Lord God makes with David declares that his
throne will be established forever. This is only possible if a king,
from the line of David, comes who is without sin and will live
forever, which is what we see in Jesus.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
The Lord God rescued Israel out of slavery in Egypt in order to bring them into the land he
had promised them. Previously, we heard that the Lord God entered into a special covenant
with the Israelites in the desert of Sinai, but it was not very long after receiving the laws of
the covenant that the people broke them by worshipping a golden calf.
Due to their continued disobedience and unbelief, the Lord God made the Israelites wander
in the desert of Egypt for forty years until he allowed them to enter the land of Canaan, which
he had promised to give Abraham and his descendants. Just before Moses died, he
appointed a new leader, Joshua, who led the Israelites into the land of Canaan. Even
though there were many people living in Canaan, the Lord God promised to fight the battles
for the Israelites and give them this prosperous land.
So the Israelites entered the land the Lord God promised them and the Lord God did fight for
them, as he had promised, bringing them many great victories. The Lord God had
commanded the Israelites to completely destroy all the people that they came up against in
the land of Canaan, which the Israelites did initially. But it was not long before the Israelites
disobeyed the Lord God, choosing rather to live alongside the people of the land. And so
they began to worship the gods of the people who remained in Canaan and to follow the evil
ways of these people.
Because of their disobedience, the Lord God stopped fighting for the people of Israel,
allowing other nations to overpower them. As the Israelites were defeated, they suffered
and cried out to the Lord God for help and forgiveness. The Lord God would forgive them
and give them leaders, called judges, who would lead the Israelites into victory against their
enemies. But it wasn’t long until the Israelites would once again turn away from the Lord
God and live as they wanted. Again and again, they would be defeated by their enemies,
would suffer and would cry out to the Lord God for help! And again and again the Lord God
would give judges to save Israel, but the Israelites would eventually turn away from the Lord
God. And so our story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
After many years, when Samuel the prophet was leading Israel, the Israelites said to him,
“We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead
us and to fight our battles.” This displeased Samuel, but the Lord God said to Samuel, “It
is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me who is their king. Since the
day I brought them out of Egypt, they have rejected me and served other gods. Warn
them what a king will do.” Samuel warned them what it meant to have a king rule over
them. He said to them, “This is the kind of king you will have: he will take your sons
and your daughters and make them his servants.
He will take your fields and
gardens and give them to whomever he wants. He will tax you heavily and take the
best things you have and keep them for himself.” But the people refused to listen and
still said, “Give us a king to lead us.”
So the Lord God told Samuel to appoint a strong and tall man named Saul to be the king of
Israel. Saul was 30 when he became king, but it wasn’t long before Saul began to disobey
the Lord God’s commands. Samuel told him, “Because you have rejected the word of
the Lord God, the Lord God has rejected you as king. The Lord God will search for
another man after his own heart and anoint him leader of his people.”
So the Lord God said to Samuel, “I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem for I have
chosen one of his sons to be king.” When Samuel got to Jesse’s house, he saw the
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oldest son of Jesse and thought, “Surely the Lord God’s future king is standing right
here.” But the Lord God said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height,
for I have rejected him. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord God looks
at the heart.”
Jesse presented six more sons before Samuel, one by one, but upon seeing each one,
Samuel said, “The Lord God has not chosen this one.” So Samuel asked Jesse, “Are
these all the sons you have?” Jesse answered, “There is still the youngest, but he is
tending the sheep.” So Samuel sent for the last son, David, who was bright-eyed and
good looking. Then the Lord God said to Samuel, “Anoint him, for he is the one!”
Samuel anointed David with oil and the Spirit of the Lord God came upon David in power
from that day forward. Though Saul was still the king of Israel, at that time the Spirit of the
Lord God left Saul.
A short time later, the Israelites’ enemies, the Philistines, gathered their army to fight against
Saul’s army. The Philistine army had a giant warrior, named Goliath, who was over two and
a half metres tall and was outfitted in armor. Every day for forty days, Goliath challenged the
Israelites, saying, “On this day I challenge Israel’s army! Choose a man and have him
fight me. If he kills me, we will become your subjects; but if I kill him, you will become
our subjects.” Upon hearing these words, all the Israelites were terrified.
Now Jesse’s three oldest sons were in Saul’s army. One day Jesse told David to take some
food to his brothers. When David arrived, he heard Goliath taunting the Israelite army and
he saw the Israelites withdrawing in fear. David asked some soldiers, “Who is this
uncircumcised Philistine, that he should challenge the army of the Lord God?”
So David went to Saul saying, “I, your servant, will fight this Philistine!” But Saul said,
“You can’t fight against him! You’re just a boy and Goliath has been fighting since he
was young!” But David said, “I have been a shepherd for my father’s flock and have
struck down lions and bears who threatened the sheep. The Lord God who delivered
me from lions and bears will also deliver me from the hand of this Philistine!” So Saul
put his armor on David, but David could hardly walk around as he was not used to it.
Instead, David took his shepherd’s staff, five smooth stones from the stream and his sling
and approached the giant.
Goliath saw David coming towards him and despised him saying, “Am I a dog that you are
coming after me with sticks? Come here to me, so I can feed you to the animals!” But
David replied, “You are coming against me with a sword, but I am coming against you
in the name of the Lord God of Israel whom you have challenged. Today the Lord
God will deliver you into my hand and I will feed you and your soldiers to the animals!
Then all will know that the Lord God is with Israel, for the battle is the Lord God’s!”
As Goliath went to attack David, David put a stone in his sling and struck the giant in the
head, causing him to fall down with his face to the ground. David then took Goliath’s sword
and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that Goliath was dead, they began to run
away, with the Israelites chasing after them and defeating them! The Lord God had won a
great victory! And from that day on, David became a mighty warrior in the army of Israel.
Several years later, Saul died and David became the next king of Israel. He led Israel in
many great victories against their enemies and conquered Jerusalem, making it the capital
city of his kingdom. David loved and worshipped the Lord God, who was very pleased with
David. One day, the Lord God made a special covenant promise to David, saying, “Your
house and your kingdom will continue forever before me. I will make sure that one of
your descendants will always be king.” Then David prayed, “Lord God, keep forever
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the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house so that your name
will be great forever.”
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. David ruled over Israel for forty years before
he died, and his son, Solomon, became the next king. The Lord God had made a covenant
with David that his house and kingdom would be established forever. In the next story, we
will hear more promises the Lord God made about an important descendant of David.
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1) Why did the Israelites want a king?
• They wanted to be like all the other nations. They were living like all the other
nations after they entered the land the Lord God promised them by worshipping the
gods of the other nations and practicing the evil ways of the other nations. Now they
wanted to be like the other nations by having a king too!
3) What do we learn about David in this story?
4) Why do you think David had such confidence in going out against Goliath?
• He had been anointed by the Spirit of the Lord God. He did not like that Goliath was
challenging the Lord God himself and wanted the Lord God’s glory to be shown to
everyone.
5) What covenant promise did the Lord God make to David regarding his kingdom?
• David’s kingdom would continue forever as someone from his family line would
always be upon the throne.
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16. The Prophets Speak of a Coming King
This week we hear of how the prophets in Israel and Judah prophesied of a Coming King
who would make a New Covenant with the people of the Lord God. This Coming King would
bring to pass all that the Lord God had promised his people throughout history. The kings
who followed David were often wayward and not faithful to the Lord God, yet the Lord God
remained faithful to his people, reassuring them of the Deliverer he would send.
One reason this story is very important is because it shows continuity between what the Lord
God was doing before Jesus was born into the world and after his coming. Both the people
living before and after the coming of Jesus were putting their hope in the same person for
salvation—the Messiah-King. As storytellers we know what is to come, the Lord God’s
wonderful gift and sacrifice of Jesus. Let’s get excited about these prophecies that tell of
Jesus and his coming mission!
God holds us responsible for our wrongdoing, whether or not we are caught in our
wrongdoing or whether or not someone tells us to do it. Note that the consequences of
Solomon’s sin were mostly seen after he had died. His kingdom was split into two nations
who fought each other, his people followed after his ways and also worshipped false gods,
and eventually the Israelites were even kicked out of their land! This touches on a worldview
issue of how wrongdoing is viewed. Some people think they are not responsible for their
actions as someone else has told them to do it. However, we see in Solomon, that because
he married foreign wives and worshipped false gods, God held him responsible and
punished his nation because of it!
Main Biblical References: 1-2 Kings; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Isaiah 9:1-7
Many Biblical references are included in the story. It is not necessary to say the chapter and
verse of the prophecies when you tell the story. These are given so you can look up the
prophecies in the book of Isaiah in your Bible.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In the last story, we heard about how the Lord God chose David to be the king of Israel and
how David loved and trusted the Lord God ever since he was young. After King David’s
death, his son, Solomon, succeeded him as king of the nation of Israel. And so our story
from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
Under Solomon’s leadership, the people of Israel enjoyed rest from their enemies and great
prosperity. Solomon had a magnificent temple built in the capital city of Jerusalem, which
replaced the Lord God’s special tent. This temple symbolized the Lord God’s permanent
presence, which remained with his people.
Though Solomon loved the Lord God and was highly respected for his great wisdom, he
later disobeyed the Lord God by marrying foreign wives who turned his heart towards
worshipping false gods. Because of Solomon’s disobedience, the Lord God caused civil war
to break out after Solomon’s death. The Israelites divided into a northern kingdom, called
Israel, and a southern kingdom, called Judah.
Most of the kings who led these two kingdoms continued to worship false gods. During
these dark times in Israel and Judah’s history, the Lord God sent many prophets over a
period of several hundred years. These prophets were messengers who called the people
to return to the Lord God’s ways and to follow the laws of the covenant so that the Lord God
may bless them. These prophets also warned the Israelites that if they continued to rebel
against the Lord God, they would face the curses of the covenant!
However, the Israelites refused to return back to following the Lord God. So the Lord God
removed his protection from both Israel and Judah, allowing other nations to overpower and
conquer them. The Israelites were forced out of their own land and were carried off as
captives to live in their conqueror’s land for seventy long years!
Not only did these prophets call people back to obeying the Lord God, they also assured the
people of Israel that the Lord God had not given up on them! He had a plan to save them
from their sinfulness and to restore them into a full relationship with himself. A prophet,
named Jeremiah, proclaimed the Lord God’s message, saying, “A day is coming when I
will make a new covenant with the people of Israel. I will put my laws in their minds
and write my commands on their hearts. I will be their Lord God and they will be my
people. I will forgive their wickedness and will never again remember their sins.”
(Jeremiah 31:31-34)
Prophets also told the people of Israel that this “Coming Day” would begin with the coming of
a promised Messiah, the One anointed with the Lord God’s Spirit! This Messiah would also
be the King, who would rule forever and save the Israelites. The Lord God gave the
prophets visions of what this Messiah-King would be like.
Just listen to some of the amazing prophecies that one particular prophet, Isaiah, gave
concerning this coming Messiah-King. Isaiah said:
“One day the Lord God will honour Galilee, where people from different nations
live. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
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“For a child is born to us! We’ve been given a son and he will be our ruler.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Lord God, Eternal Father,
and Prince of Peace.
“He will sit on King David’s throne and his kingdom of justice and righteousness
and peace will last forever.” (From Isaiah 9:1-7)
Isaiah also gave a prophecy about how to recognize this child. He said: “The Lord God is
giving you a sign. A virgin will become pregnant and have a son and he will be called
Emanuel, which means ‘God with us.’” (Isaiah 7:14)
Isaiah also went on to prophesy about this coming King as a Servant who would suffer for
his people. Isaiah said:
“He was like a lamb about to be slaughtered but he didn’t say a word.
“He was arrested, sentenced and led off to die and nobody cared. He was put
to death for our sins even though he never committed a crime or told a lie.
“He gave up his life to take the place of sinners and he prayed for them to be
forgiven. His death was a sacrifice to make it possible for many to be counted
righteous.” (From Isaiah 53:7-12)
There was another prophet, named Micah, who even prophesied about where this coming
Messiah-King was going to be born. Micah said:
“Even though you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, O Bethlehem, out of
you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people, Israel. And his family line
goes back to eternity.” (Micah 5:2)
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. After the Lord God sent Isaiah, Micah and
many other prophets, the Lord God stopped sending prophets to his people for a period of
400 long years. But then the exciting time came for the Lord God to fulfil these long awaited
prophecies. The promised Messiah-King is about to come!
Dis cu s sion Que sti on s
• The Lord God is a jealous God who won’t tolerate it when his people worship false
gods. The Lord God punishes the sin of his people, but he doesn’t give up on
them as he is going to send a future Messiah-King to save them.
2) What do we learn about King Solomon in this story?
• Sin leads us away from the Lord God. The consequences of his sin changed his
nation forever.
3) What were some of the purposes the Lord God had for sending prophets to his
people?
• Call them back to obedience.
• Warn them of coming punishment.
• Tell of a coming Messiah-King who would come to save them.
4) What do we learn about this promised coming Messiah-King from the prophecies the
prophets brought from the Lord God?
5) What would the “New Covenant” be like that God promised to make with his people?
• The Lord God would do a special work in the hearts and minds of his people. He
would always be their God and they would be his people.
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17. The Birth of Jesus
In this story we have the arrival of Jesus! We can clearly see in this story that this Jesus is
divine: Promised Ruler, Saviour, Forgiver of sins, Son of the Lord God, and the Lord God
himself living on earth. However, we also see his humanity as he is born by a woman to live
and eventually die as all humans do.
Notice the humble origins of Jesus the King: born to a couple suspected of sexual
immorality; after he was born he was laid in a manger or feeding trough; and visited first by
shepherds. Not only did Jesus humble himself by leaving his place in heaven and coming to
earth as a man, he also humbled himself to be born in the most modest of circumstances.
This can be a powerful message to our listeners in realizing that Jesus has experienced
similar circumstances and environments to our own.
Take note of some of the details of this story. The angels appeared to ordinary shepherds,
who were not viewed as the most important people in society. Yet they were the first
witnesses of the baby Jesus, even before the wise men came! Notice these shepherds
immediately witness about Jesus to those around them! Notice that the wise men came
from another nation to worship Jesus. Already Jesus is a light to the nations!
Main Biblical References: Matthew 1:18-2:23; Luke 1:1-2:20
Matthew 1:18-23
Luke 1:34-35
The virgin birth of Jesus made possible the
uniting of full deity and full humanity in one
person. Jesus, who has eternally been God
the Son, is now also fully man. Because
Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit he
was holy and did not inherit the sinful nature
of Adam, and is able to save from their sin
those who trust in him
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In our last story we heard that the Lord God sent prophets to the Israelites, now known as
Jews, who told of a Messiah-King that would one day come. This Messiah-King would be
anointed with the Lord God’s Spirit and would have an eternal kingdom. Then 400 years
passed when there were no prophets speaking in the land of Israel. But the time had come
for the Lord God to fulfil these long awaited prophecies! And so our story from the Lord
Main Story:
Today our story begins with a virgin woman, Mary, who was engaged to a man, named
Joseph, a descendant of King David. One day the Lord God sent an angel named Gabriel to
Mary, who appeared to her saying, “Greetings, favoured one, the Lord God is with you!”
Mary was greatly troubled by Gabriel’s words and began to wonder what kind of greeting this
must be! But Gabriel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with the
Lord God! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name
him Jesus, which means ‘the Lord God saves.’ He will be great and will be called the
Son of the Lord God, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David!
He will rule over the house of Israel forever, and his kingdom will never end.”
Mary was overwhelmed by this news and asked, “How will this be, since I have not slept
with a man?” The angel replied, “The Lord God’s Spirit will come upon you and the
child to be born will be holy; for he will be called the Son of the Lord God.” Gabriel
gave Mary a sign to confirm the truth of his message: “Look, your cousin Elizabeth, who
was barren, has also become pregnant with a son in her old age. Nothing is
impossible with the Lord God.”
Mary believed the words of Gabriel and said, “I am the Lord God’s servant. Let this
happen to me according to your word.” When the angel left, Mary visited Elizabeth and
saw that she was indeed pregnant. And Mary praised the Lord God!
Before Mary and Joseph were united in marriage, Mary was found to be pregnant through
the Lord God’s Spirit, called the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a righteous man and did not want
to publicly disgrace Mary, so he intended to break the engagement privately, rather than
officially in front of a judge.
As he considered this, an angel of the Lord God appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child
conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit! She will give birth to a son and you will name
him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke he
did what the angel had commanded and took Mary as his wife, but they did not sleep with
each other before the birth of her son, whom they named Jesus. This all happened in
fulfillment of what the prophet, Isaiah, had proclaimed when he said, “A virgin will become
pregnant and have a son and he will be called Immanuel which means ‘the Lord God
with us’.”
Now, in those days the Romans were ruling over Israel. The Roman emperor called for a
census to be taken throughout the entire Roman Empire and declared that everyone had to
go to their home village to register for the census. Because Joseph was a descendant of
David, he went to David’s village, Bethlehem, to be registered along with his wife,
Mary. Whilst they were there, the time came for Mary to deliver the child. So Mary gave
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birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him up in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because
there was no place for them in the guest room.
In nearby fields that night, shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks when an angel of
the Lord God appeared to them! The glory of the Lord God shone around them and they
were terrified! But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen, for I bring you good
news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the village of David, a
Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord God. This will be a sign to
you: You will find a baby wrapped up in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly the sky was filled with angels singing, “Glory to the Lord God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.” When the angels left, the
shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has
happened, which the Lord God has told us about!”
So they hurried off and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby wrapped up in a blanket and lying
in the manger. When they had seen the baby, they spread the news of what they had been
told about this child, and everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds said to
them! The shepherds returned to their fields, glorifying and praising the Lord God for all the
things they had heard and seen, which were just as the angel had said!
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem asking,
“Where is the one who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose in
the sky and have followed it to come and worship him.” The religious leaders said that
according to the prophet Micah, the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, for Micah said:
“Even though you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, O Bethlehem, out of you
will come a ruler who will shepherd my people, Israel.”
Once again the star that the wise men had seen led them until it stopped above the place
where the child was. As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother,
they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave this
newborn king gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. So through the birth of Jesus, the Lord God
fulfilled his promises that he had spoken through King David and the prophets. In the next
story, we will hear about one prophet, whom the prophet Isaiah also prophesied about, who
came before Jesus to prepare the people’s hearts for Jesus.
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1) What do we learn about Jesus from this story? How was he described by the angels and
Joseph’s dream?
• Son of the Lord God who was conceived by the Holy Spirit;
• The descendant of David and promised ruler in David’s line;
• Saviour of the world saving people from their sins;
• Emanuel, meaning that Jesus, the Lord God, was dwelling on earth with men;
• Fulfilment of prophets’ prophecies of a Messiah-King who would come.
2) The angel said to Mary that this child would not be conceived in the normal way by a
man, but he would be conceived by the Holy Spirit. What is the significance of this virgin
birth?
• Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, which means that he is divine in his very
nature and being.
• Born of a woman means that he is also truly human.
3) Micah gave a prophecy of Jesus that he would be born in Bethlehem and would be the
ruler of the Lord God’s people. However, Jesus’ bed was in a manger or feeding trough
for animals. What is the significance of this?
• Here is a ruler of the Lord God’s people. He was not born on a royal bed in a
palace, but was born in normal and humble surroundings. What a humble birth
for the Son of the Lord God who was to rule from David’s throne eternally!
4) What did the shepherds do upon when they saw the baby Jesus?
• They immediately told others about Jesus, whom they had seen and heard about.
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18. The Baptism of Jesus
In this story, the Lord God confirms that Jesus is his special Son, the one prophesied about,
who would perform the Lord God’s special plan for the world. And the Holy Spirit descends
upon Jesus, empowering him to carry out this plan. John the Baptist makes it clear that he
himself is not the Messiah-King; he is only preparing people’s hearts for Jesus’ coming by
telling them to repent. As we have seen, the Lord God had promised to send a Saviour and
Messiah-King, and in this story we see the Lord God’s fulfilment of his promises and the
beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth.
Main Biblical References: John 1:19-34; Luke 3:1-20; Matthew 3; Isaiah 40:3, 42:1
Matthew 3:16-17
Notice all members of the Trinity involved
here: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus)
and God the Spirit (the Holy Spirit). The
Lord God reveals himself here as three
distinct and eternal persons, yet as one
Living God. Notice too the voice of the
Father speaks to his eternal son that he is
well pleased with him, even before Jesus did
anything in his ministry.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In the last story, we heard the words of the prophets being fulfilled as the Messiah-King,
Jesus, a descendant of David, was born in Bethlehem to a virgin. Jesus was the Emanuel,
the Lord God himself dwelling amongst men! Now the Lord God had not sent a prophet to
the Jews for over 400 years. However, the time had come for the Lord God to send a
prophet to come and prepare people’s hearts for the message Jesus would bring. This
prophet’s name was John. And so our story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
A few months before Mary became pregnant with Jesus, Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, who was
old and barren, became pregnant and gave birth to a son, named John. When John grew
up, he began preaching in the wilderness, telling people, “Repent, for the Kingdom of the
Lord God is near!” John was preparing people’s hearts for the coming of Jesus, the
Messiah King, by warning them of the Lord God’s coming judgment, telling them of the need
to confess their sins, and guiding them to turn back to the Lord God’s ways. Isaiah, the
prophet, had spoken about this hundreds of years ago, saying, “A voice cries out in the
wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord God and make straight paths for him.’” John
was that voice in the wilderness!
John, who became known as John the Baptist, was a very unusual prophet. Not only did he
live and preach in the hot, dry wilderness, but he also wore clothes made of camel’s hair and
ate locusts and wild honey! Since he was the first prophet to come to the Jews after
hundreds of years of silence, many people were intrigued by John. In fact, many people
came out to him from all over the land of Israel. They heard John’s preaching, confessed
their sins and were baptized by him in the Jordan River. This “baptism”, or “washing in
water” symbolized that they were turning away from their sin and turning in faith toward the
Lord God.
When John the Baptist saw a crowd of unrepentant Jews that came out to be baptized by
him, he said to them, “You sons of snakes! Who said you could escape the coming
judgment? Repent! And do not rely upon being Abraham’s descendants, thinking
you are therefore the Lord God’s chosen people. The axe of God’s judgment is ready
to chop down every unproductive tree.”
The crowd asked, “What do you want us to do?” John replied, “If you have two coats
give one to the poor. If you have extra food share with the hungry.” Tax collectors,
who also came to be baptized, asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” John said, “Do not
collect any more money than you are required to.” Then some soldiers asked him, “And
what should we do?” John replied, “Don’t take money by violence and don’t accuse
people falsely, but be content with your pay.”
The people were filled with anticipation because they had been hoping that the Lord God
would send someone to deliver them. They all began to wonder if John might be the
Messiah, the Lord God’s Anointed One, who was promised by the prophets. But John said
to them all, “I baptize with water those who turn from their sins and turn to God, but
someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am- so much greater that I am not
even worthy to be his slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He
will separate the chaff from the grain, burning the chaff with an almighty fire and
storing the grain into his barn.” And with many other words, John urged the people to
prepare their hearts for the Messiah’s coming.
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Then Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John, recognizing who
Jesus was, did not want to do this, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you
come to me for baptism?” Jesus replied, “Let it happen, for it is right for us to do this
in order to make righteousness complete.” And so John baptized Jesus.
As soon as Jesus was baptized and came up out of the water, heaven opened up and John
saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove and landing upon Jesus. A voice was heard from
heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” The prophet
Isaiah had also spoken of this hundreds of years ago saying, “Here is my servant whom I
support, my chosen one in whom I take pleasure. I have placed my spirit on him and
he will make just rulings and judgments for the nations.”
Some time later, John saw Jesus coming toward him and he said to some of his followers,
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I was
talking about when I said, ‘A man will come after me, but he is greater than I am,
because he was living before me.’ For I saw the Holy Spirit come down from heaven
in the form of a dove and rest on him. I have seen this happen, and I tell you the truth:
This man is the Son of the Lord God.”
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. John the Baptist recognized the arrival of
Jesus, the Messiah-King. He saw the Holy Spirit come upon Jesus and he heard Father God
speak from heaven, confirming Jesus as his special Son. In the next story, we will hear
more about Jesus’ life as he began to teach the people about the Kingdom of the Lord God.
1) What do we learn about John in this story?
• John’s coming was foretold by Isaiah. John’s role was to prepare people for the
Messiah’s coming by urging people to repent of their ways and turn toward the
Lord God’s ways.
2) Why was there a need to prepare the people?
• He prepared people because when Jesus would come, Jesus would ultimately
distinguish between those who had repented (the grain) and those who had not
repented (the chaff), condemning the unrepentant to eternal punishment in hell.
3) How did John consider himself in comparison with Jesus?
• He made it clear that he was not the Messiah! In fact he considered Jesus, the
Lord God’s Son, much greater than himself and saw himself as unworthy
compared to Jesus—John considered himself not even worthy to be Jesus’ slave!
Also John felt unworthy to baptize Jesus who was greater than him.
4) What is the significance of Jesus’ baptism? Of the Holy Spirit coming upon him? Of
what the Father said of his Son?
• Though Jesus is great as he is the Lord God’s Son, Jesus humbled himself to
being baptized by John and submitting to the Lord God’s purposed plan for him.
• Through this baptism the Lord God confirms Jesus as his special Son by placing
the Holy Spirit on him. Jesus is the foretold One, who would bring about the Lord
God’s special plan for the world.
• Father God loves his Son and is well pleased with him.
5) Why do you think John the Baptist called Jesus the “Lamb of God who takes away the
sin of the world”?
• Do you remember the story of the Passover lamb? (It might be good to review
that story here.) John is indicating that Jesus is the fulfilment of the Passover
lamb who will save his people from God’s judgment against sin.
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19. Nicodemus: Being Born Again
In this story, we hear the Lord God’s plan to bring back the people of the world into a
relationship with him. It is Jesus’ role and mission on earth to bring people back into a
relationship with the Lord God. Jesus tells us of how we need to be born from above or born
again: to repent from a life of darkness and sin, to believe in Jesus for salvation and eternal
life. Even though Nicodemus was a Jewish religious leader who knew the Lord God’s law,
he did not understand what it meant to be born again.
Please notice that in the story Nicodemus was a “Pharisee”. Pharisees were considered
experts concerning the Law of Moses. As teachers who taught the people to keep the Law
of Moses they made up even more laws to keep that were not even found in the Law of
Moses. Pharisees were often prideful of their knowledge of Scriptures.
Jesus’ words here are heavy and loaded with meaning, telling how one can be saved and
have eternal life! Be sure to talk about the meaning of Jesus’ words in the discussion
questions below.
Main Biblical Reference: John 3:1-21; Matthew 4:23-25
John 3:16
This is a key verse in which Jesus clearly states his role and
mission on earth. He has come to save humanity from their sins
and give them eternal life.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In the last story, we heard of John the Baptist who came preparing people’s hearts for the
coming of Jesus. Upon his baptism, the Lord God put his Holy Spirit upon Jesus, confirming
Jesus as his special Son. In this story, we will hear more about Jesus’ life as he began to
teach the people about the Lord God. And so our story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
Jesus went all around Israel preaching the good news about the Kingdom of God- about life
under God’s eternal and gracious rule. He was also healing people. He was healing all
sorts of diseases, he healed people in severe pain, he healed those who were paralyzed, he
drove out the demons from those who were possessed by them. Large crowds were coming
from everywhere to listen to what Jesus was saying, and they brought their sick so Jesus
would heal them. And Jesus did, he healed them all.
Now, there lived a man, named Nicodemus, who was a Jewish religious leader called a
‘Pharisee’. Pharisees were considered experts concerning the Law of Moses. Nicodemus
had seen Jesus’ miracles and was curious about him, so he came to Jesus one night,
determined to find out more about this man who could perform such wonders.
Approaching Jesus, he said to him, “Teacher, we know you are a teacher who has come
from the Lord God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if
the Lord God were not with him.” Jesus declared, “I tell you, no one can get into the
Kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
Nicodemus asked, “How can someone be born again when he is old like me? Am I to
crawl back into my mother’s womb in order to be born again?”
Jesus explained saying, “The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without
being born of water and of the Spirit. Humans can only reproduce human life, but the
Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don’t be shocked at my words that you
must be born again by the Spirit to enter the eternal life of God’s Kingdom. The Spirit
is like the wind that blows wherever it wants. You can hear the wind, but you can’t tell
where it comes from or where it will go next; so it is with the Holy Spirit.
Nicodemus asked again, “What do you mean? I still don’t understand.” Jesus
questioned him saying, “You are a Jewish teacher but you don’t understand the need
for new life in the Spirit? I speak of what I have seen with my own eyes. For only I, the
Messiah, have come to earth from heaven so that everyone who believes in me will
have eternal life.
“For the Lord God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that
anyone who believes in him shall never perish, but will have eternal life! For the Lord
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save it. Those
who don’t trust him have already been condemned for not believing in the Only Son of
God.
“The Light has come into the world from heaven, but men loved darkness instead of
light because they liked to do evil things. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and
will not come into the light because he is afraid that his actions will be seen. But for
those who abandon their sinful life and come into the light, it is made clear that they
are living a life that comes from the Lord God.”
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Nicodemus thought about all that Jesus had said. Some time later in his life, Nicodemus
realized that even though he was a religious leader, he was a sinner and needed to turn
from his sinful life and believe in Jesus.
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. Jesus had explained to Nicodemus that by
believing in the Lord God’s Son, anyone could be born again and have eternal life. But what
about those who would not choose to stop doing evil things and would not believe in Jesus?
In the next story we will hear what happens to one such man!
1) What do we learn about Jesus in this story?
2) What do we learn about Nicodemus from the story?
• He was a Pharisee, a Jewish religious leader considered an expert in the Law of
Moses.
• As a teacher of Scriptures, Nicodemus should have at least partially understood
the need to be born again since the Lord God had told his people in the past
about their need to receive a new heart by the Holy Spirit. (See Ezekiel 36:26) .
3) In the story, Jesus spoke of the need to be born again in order to enter the Kingdom of
God. He said, “Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life
from heaven.” What did he mean by this?
• Physical birth only gives birth to physical life, a life separated from the Lord God.
But the Holy Spirit gives birth to a spiritual life, a life centred on the Lord God and
in relationship with him. There is a need for a second, non-physical birth: to be
born from above or born of the Spirit.
4) How would you explain what the Kingdom of God is?
• The Kingdom of God speaks about life under God’s eternal and gracious rule.
• To be born again and receive eternal life means that you have entered into the
Kingdom of God.
5) What evidence does Jesus give that a person has been born again?
• He or she believes that the Lord God loved the world and sent his Son, Jesus, to
save the world, giving people eternal life.
• He or she desires to live in the light of Jesus by turning from sin and following
Jesus.
6) Jesus said, “ The Light has come into the world.” What did he mean by this?
• Jesus himself is The Light of the world and has come into the world to bring light
to those living in the darkness of their sin and evil ways.
• Those people who choose The Light, Jesus, and turn from the darkness of their
evil ways will not be condemned; but other people who do not choose The Light
and continue in their evil ways already stand condemned.
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20. The Rich Man and Lazarus
In this story, Jesus teaches that what we do in this life will affect us in the next life. We see
the rich man had no suffering on earth, but had suffering in hell after he died and sought for
his suffering to be relieved. However, the rich man never did anything on earth to relieve the
sufferings of Lazarus, who was now being comforted in heaven. We also hear in this story
that in this life on earth, we can choose where we will spend eternity: in heaven or hell.
There is a bit of irony here in this story as Jesus himself died and came back to life and still
the hard-hearted did not believe. Jesus knows that a testimony from the dead won’t change
the hearts of the evildoers.
Due to the prevalence of “ancestral worship” in the Zimbabwean culture, it would be wise to
strongly emphasize the fact that the dead could not go back to speak to or influence the lives
of the living in this story.
Main Biblical Reference: Luke 16:19-31
What we do know about the rich man?
He wore fine clothes.
He lived an extravagant lifestyle.
He is only known as “the rich man.” He
has no identity apart from his wealth.
He knew Lazarus by name, but hadn’t
helped him.
He had five brothers who probably had
similar lifestyles.
He is in torment in hell.
What do we know about Lazarus?
He was poor.
He lay at the gate of the rich man’s
property.
He has a name, Lazarus.
His body was covered with sores.
He longed to eat scraps from the rich
man’s table.
He is with Abraham in heaven.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In the last story, we heard about how Jesus taught Nicodemus, an expert of the Lord God’s
law, about the need to be born again. Jesus spent a lot of time teaching and on one
occasion, Jesus told today’s story. And so our story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
There was a certain rich man. He wore expensive clothes and lived each day in complete
luxury. However, at the rich man’s gate sat a poor beggar whose name was Lazarus. Now
Lazarus was covered head to toe in sores which the dogs would come and lick. Moreover,
Lazarus was hungry and spent his days longing for scraps from the rich man’s table.
One day, Lazarus died. He was carried by the angels to be with Abraham in heaven.
Meanwhile, back on earth, the rich man also died and was buried. Unlike Lazarus, his soul
went to hell. Whilst being tormented in hell, the rich man lifted up his eyes and saw
Abraham far off in the distance with Lazarus. He yelled, “Father Abraham, take pity on
me and send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue.
Please send him because I am in agony here from the fiery flames!”
But Abraham replied, “Son, remember how you lived whilst you were on earth? You
had all the good things in life, but Lazarus had bad things happen to him. Now
Lazarus is being comforted and you are suffering. Besides, there is a great divide
which separates us from each other and it cannot be crossed. No one can cross over
from here to there and no one can leave you there to come to me here.”
But the rich man would not give up. The rich man urged Abraham, saying, “Father
Abraham, I beg you, send Lazarus to my father’s house! I have five brothers who are
still alive and I need him to warn them about this place of torment so that they can
avoid it when they die.” Abraham said to the rich man, “They have the teachings of
Moses and the prophets who have warned them already. Your brothers can read their
writings any time they want to.”
The rich man said, “No, Father Abraham! Don’t you realize that if someone who had
died went to them, surely then they would repent and turn from their sins!” But
Abraham responded: “If they will not listen to the teachings of Moses and the prophets,
then they will not listen even if someone were to rise from the dead.”
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. Jesus told many other stories and did some
other amazing things as well! In the next story, we’ll hear of some of the exciting things
Jesus did!
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1) What did you learn in the story about the rich man? About Lazarus?
2) Why couldn’t Lazarus get some water and take it to the rich man?
• Because a huge gulf or divide separates Abraham and Lazarus from the rich
man. This gulf dividing heaven and hell can not be crossed.
3) Why couldn’t Lazarus go back and warn the rich man’s brothers?
• The dead are not able to go back and speak to the living.
• Because the living brothers have the words of Moses and the prophets, who have
already come to warn the people about how the Lord God wants them to live.
They warned people of the Lord God’s coming judgment and told them to turn
from their ways and follow the Lord God’s ways.
4) Why do you think the rich man ended up in the place of torment, hell?
• Because in his lifetime he had not obeyed the words of Scripture (for example, he
had not helped Lazarus).
5) Do you think that the dead can come back to the living and speak to us? Why or why
not?
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21. Je su s He al s th e Par al yze d Ma n
In this story we find Jesus living and ministering in the region of Galilee. His home base is in
the city of Capernaum. This may seem like a minor point, but like so many things in the life
of Jesus, it is very significant. You may remember from the story “The Prophets Speak of a
Coming King” that Isaiah the Prophet prophesied that the Lord God would honour Galilee
where people of different nations live. In this story about Jesus we see this prophecy being
fulfilled.
What a fantastic story! First, we see the great faith of the friends of the paralyzed man,
determined to see Jesus and have him heal their friend. Second, and most important, we
see Jesus making a bold statement that he is the Lord God, since it is only the Lord God
who can forgive sin.
Within our Zimbabwean context, there are n’angas, witchdoctors and religious practitioners
who claim to be able to heal. How are they different to Jesus? Jesus doesn’t just heal, but
has the power to forgive sins too! Let’s emphasize this to our listeners.
Main Biblical Reference: Mark 2:1-12 & Luke 5:17-26
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
Jesus went around the land of Israel teaching and performing miracles everywhere he went.
And everywhere he went, crowds of people would come out to hear him speak about the
kingdom of the Lord God and would be amazed by the wonders he performed amongst
them. In today’s story, we will hear about what happened when one particular crowd
gathered around Jesus! And so our story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
When Jesus returned to the town of Capernaum in which he was living, in the region of
Galilee, everyone in the town heard that he was back home and a crowd gathered at the
house where he was staying. In fact, there were so many people that the doorway was
blocked and no one could get in or out! Inside Jesus was preaching the word of the Lord
God and healing many sick people.
Now, in that town there lived one particular man who was paralyzed and could not walk to
where Jesus was staying. However, the paralyzed man had four friends who had heard that
Jesus was in town. So the four friends came and put their friend on a mat, carrying him to
see Jesus.
When they got to the house where Jesus was, they saw that the house was so full of people
there was no way they could get to Jesus. Determined that Jesus should see their
paralyzed friend, the four friends broke through the tile roof above Jesus, and when they had
made a hole, they lowered their paralyzed friend down on his mat. When Jesus saw how
much faith they had, he said to the paralyzed man, “My dear son, your sins are all
forgiven.”
Now there were some religious scholars sitting there. They questioned in their hearts, “Why
does this man speak like this? This is blasphemy! Only the Lord God can forgive
sins.”
Immediately Jesus knew what they were thinking and he said to them, “Why do you
question like this in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to this man ‘Your sins are
forgiven’ or to say ‘Get up, take up your mat and walk?’ But so you may know that I,
the Son of Man, have authority on earth to forgive sins, ”Jesus said to the paralyzed
man, ‘Get up, pick up your mat and go on home.”
And the man did it! He got up, grabbed his mat and walked out with everyone watching him.
Everyone in the house was amazed and glorified the Lord God, saying, “Wow! We have
never, ever seen anything like this before!”
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. Jesus continued to perform miracles
amongst the people and he continued to teach about the Kingdom of God. His teachings
were often controversial especially amongst the religious leaders. In the next story, we will
hear about the Lord God’s outrageous love and forgiveness, which challenged the religious
leaders’ views once again.
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• Jesus is claiming to be the Lord God himself since he declared that the paralyzed
man’s sins were forgiven.
2) Why were the religious leaders troubled when Jesus said that the man’s sins were
forgiven?
• Only the Lord God forgives sin, but Jesus is claiming that he can forgive sin too.
That means Jesus is claiming to be the Lord God himself! This is what caused
the religious leaders to say what they said in their hearts.
3) How did Jesus prove that he is indeed the Lord God who has the power to forgive sin?
• Anyone can claim they forgive sins since no one can physically see if they
actually can or not. But not just anyone can claim to heal and then actually do it!
In order to prove he really is the Forgiver of sins and is the Lord God, Jesus
healed the paralyzed man. This proved that he is the Lord God, having power
over sickness, disease and evil too.
4) Imagine if you were the paralyzed man. How would you feel? What would your
response be to Jesus?
• Hopefully your response would be to follow him.
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22. The Compassionate Father
This story shows us many wonderful things about the Lord God, our Father! As we
emphasize the father’s great love and compassion for both of his sons, let’s highlight that the
Lord God feels the same way about all of His sons, not showing favouritism toward one or
the other! The Lord God does not treat us in the way our sins deserve, He does not act
unfeeling towards us and he desires so much to have a relationship with us, his children.
With this story there is a lot of room for wider involvement – why not tell the story a second
time acting it out as a drama? In the discussion time, encourage people to imagine how all
the different characters felt as the story developed and to consider the ways in which they
relate to the different family members. This is a personal story with a lot of potential for
personal response so let’s make space for that.
Main Biblical Reference: Luke 15:1-2, 11-32
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
Jesus continued to go about teaching about the Lord God and all kinds of people would
come to hear him speak: famous people and common people, religious leaders and ordinary
Jews, holy men and known sinners, government workers who worked on behalf of the hated
Roman occupancy, and those with lowly jobs. In today’s story, we’ll hear about the Jewish
religious leaders who began to have a problem with Jesus because he associated himself
with known sinners. And so our story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
One day when Jesus was teaching, he openly welcomed men and women who were well
known sinners as well as tax-collectors, who took advantage of the Jewish people. At this,
some of the Jewish religious leaders objected saying, “This man Jesus has no credibility!
He teaches great things and yet accepts these sinners and even eats with them!”
When Jesus heard these complaints, he told this story so that the Jews and the religious
leaders would hear him:
There once was a man who had two sons. One day the younger son said to his father,
“Father, eventually I am going to inherit my share of your estate. Rather than waiting
until you die, I want you to give me my share now!” Though these words would have
been very hurtful to the father he went ahead and divided his wealth between his two sons.
A couple of days later, the younger son gathered all his belongings and journeyed off to a far
away country. There he wasted all that he had, living a wild and extravagant lifestyle.
When he had finally reached the end of his inheritance, he was forced to go to work for one
of the citizens of that far away country just so he could survive. This employer sent the
young man into his farm to feed pigs in their pig sty. What a change of lifestyle! The young
man was so hungry that he even longed to eat the food that was given to the pigs. But no
one gave him anything.
Finally, he came to his senses and said to himself, “How many of my father’s servants
have plenty of food and even some to spare, but here I am starving! I will get up and
go to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against the Lord God and
against you. I am not even worthy to be your son. Please make me one of your
servants.’”
So the young man got up and set out on the long journey to his father’s farm. Whilst he was
still some way from his father’s house, his father saw him coming and his heart went out to
him. The father ran to him and hugged and kissed his son, filled with joy at seeing his son
again! The young man spoke to his father just as he had rehearsed, “Father, I have sinned
against the Lord God and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son...”
But the joyous father interrupted him and said to his servants, “Go! Bring my best coat
and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and give him sandals to wear! Go and kill
the fattened calf, and let us eat and celebrate, for this son of mine was dead but is
alive. He was lost, but is now found!”
Now the older son had been working hard in the field. As he came home, he heard lots of
celebrating and asked one of the servants nearby, “What is all this excitement about?”
The servant replied, “Your brother has returned! Your father has killed the fattened calf
and is celebrating because he has received his son back safe and sound!” But the
older son refused to go in and celebrate.
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His father came out and pleaded with him to come inside, but the son objected saying,
“Look! All these years I have faithfully worked for you and I have never disobeyed
you, but you never even gave me a goat to celebrate with my friends! Yet, this son of
yours wastes your wealth on prostitutes, and you kill the fattened calf for him?!” The
Father responded gently, “Son, you are always with me, and everything that I have is
yours. But you see, it is right to celebrate, for your brother was dead but is now alive,
he was lost but now is found!”
Teaser
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. What an amazing story Jesus told the
religious leaders! In this story, we heard of Jesus’ compassion for those who live their lives
in open sin. In the next story, we will hear of Jesus’ compassion even toward a blind
beggar!!
1) Why were the religious leaders angry with Jesus?
• Because he did not send the sinners away, but instead he welcomed them and
even ate with them. The religious leaders should have rejoiced over seeing
sinners returning from their wayward lives and coming to Jesus, but instead it
made them angry.
2) Why did Jesus tell the story?
• Because he wanted to challenge the religious leaders’ objections to his
acceptance of the sinners.
3) What do you think about the father in this story? How do you think he would have felt
when his son asked for his inheritance whilst he was still alive?
• An inheritance is only given when a father dies. By asking for his inheritance
early whilst the father was still alive, the son was essentially saying that he
wished his father were dead. The son was disrespecting his father and this
would have hurt him greatly.
4) If you were the father in the story, what do you think you would have done when you saw
your son returning?
• A cultural note here; in that culture during Jesus time on earth it would have been
quite unusual for an older man to go running to someone. It would have been
seen as very undignified.
5) If you were a character in this story, would you be the older brother or the younger
brother? Why?
6) What do we learn about Father God in this story?
• Father God is compassionate and forgiving.
• Father God is gracious and does not treat us as our sins deserve.
• Father God desires to see people return from their evil ways and experience His
love and grace.
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23. J e su s Ex plai ns the Man Bo rn Bl ind
Th oug ht s for t he St or ytel ler
This is a great story of Jesus’ healing power! However, more than that, Jesus was teaching
a special lesson through this particular healing. Many people believe the blind man in this
story was cursed with blindness because of his sin, as many people today may also believe.
However, we can emphasize in this story that just because a person is not physically well
does not mean that their condition is the result of sin.
Also, just because the religious leaders claimed to be able to see does not mean they were
able to see spiritually. Jesus shows how this man’s healing from blindness was the Lord
God’s plan to bring glory to himself! The Lord God is also glorified when spiritual eyes are
opened too, just like the blind man’s were.
In this story, the Pharisees keep questioning and questioning the man who had been blind
as they do not believe his testimony. If this story is told without expression, then the story
may feel like it is dragging on and on. However, if the storyteller can tell the story with much
expression and feeling, then the audience will be able to feel the ridiculousness of the
continuous questioning, the disbelief of the Pharisees and the frustration of the man who
had been blind as he kept telling the same testimony over and over again!
Scr ipt ure & Oth er Poi nt s o f Int ere s t
Main Biblical Reference: John 9
John 9:1
John 9:2-3
John 9:35-41
John 9:5, 39
It was a common Jewish belief at this time that a person was
blessed for good behaviour and cursed for bad behaviour. No
wonder lots of people had questions about this man who had
been blind since his birth – what kind of sin must he or his family
committed for him to be cursed since birth?
Jesus shows us the truth that a person’s disability does not mean
they have sinned. It may be that the Lord God will use their
disability for his own glory, like he did with the healing of this blind
man.
The religious leaders believed they were righteous before the
Lord God just because they were religious. All of us need to
acknowledge our sinfulness and recognize it that it is only Jesus
who makes us righteous before the Lord God.
It is only Jesus who gives people the spiritual sight that is
necessary for salvation.
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movements.)
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Th e Stor y
Bridge:
From among his disciples Jesus chose twelve men to be with him as he travelled throughout
Israel teaching the people. He called them ‘apostles’, meaning ‘ones who are sent’. Jesus
had many things to teach them, and in today’s story they learn a very important lesson. And
so our story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
On one particular Sabbath day, whilst Jesus was out walking along with some of his
disciples, they saw a man begging, who had been blind his whole life.
His disciples asked him, “Master, was it because of this man's sin, or the sin of his
father and mother, that he has been blind from birth?” Jesus answered them, “It was
not because of his sin, or because of his father's or mother's sin. He was born blind
so that the works of the Lord God might be seen in his life. Whilst it is day we have to
do the works of him who sent me: the night comes when no work may be done. As
long as I am in the world, I AM the light of the world.”
Having said these words, Jesus spat on the ground and mixed his saliva with the earth to
make a muddy mixture. He wiped this mud over the blind man's eyes, and said to him, “Go
and make yourself clean in the pool.” The blind man hurried away to this pool and, after
washing there, he came back home able to see!
His neighbours and others who had seen him before begging in the street were shocked and
exclaimed, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg money from people?” Some
said, “It is him,” whilst others said, “No, he just looks a lot like him!” But the man who
had been blind said, “It is me! I am the one who used to be the blind beggar, sitting
and asking people for money!” So they said to him, “How then were your eyes made
open?” The man who had been blind said, “The man whose name is Jesus put mud on
my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go and wash yourself in the pool,’ so I went away and, after
washing, I am now able to see!”
The people took this man, who had been blind, before the religious leaders in the
synagogue, which was the Jewish meeting place. These religious leaders, called the
Pharisees, interrogated the man with many questions about how his eyes had been made
open. He kept telling them about Jesus saying, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed
them and now I am able to see!” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man, Jesus, has not
come from the Lord God. He should know that the Lord God does not permit any kind
of work on the Sabbath!” But other Pharisees said, “How is it possible, then, for a
sinner to do such signs?” So there was division amongst the religious leaders, and they
could not agree.
Again they questioned the man who had been blind asking, “What have you to say about
this man, Jesus? After all, it was your eyes he opened.” The man said, “He is a
prophet.” Then the Pharisees refused to believe that this man was actually born blind, so
they sent for his parents. They asked his parents, “Is this your son, who you say was
blind at birth? How is he now able to see?” In their answer, his father and mother said,
“We know he is our son and we know he was blind from birth, but we don’t know how
he can see now or who opened his eyes. Why don’t you ask him? He is old enough
to speak for himself!”
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At this, the Pharisees again called for the man who had been blind asking, “What did he do
to you? How did he manage to make your eyes see?” The man who had been blind
replied, “I keep telling you, but you don’t listen! I was once blind but now I see. Why
do you keep asking me? Is it because you also want to become his disciples?” At
this the Pharisees became furious and insulted him, saying, “You are obviously his
disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that the Lord God gave his word to
Moses, but as for this man, Jesus, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
The man who had been blind said, “Now this is very strange. You say you do not know
where he comes from, yet we know that the Lord God listens not to sinners but to the
godly. If he were not from the Lord God, then he could do nothing.”
The Pharisees insulted him further, saying, “What? You were born full of sin! Who do
you think you are trying to teach us anything?” And with this, they kicked him out of the
synagogue into the street.
When Jesus heard that the Pharisees had kicked out the man who had been blind, Jesus
found the man and asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man-the Messiah?” The
man who had been blind said, “Who is this Son of Man? Tell me, so that I may have
faith in him.” Jesus said, “You have seen him, for I am he!”
The man who had been blind said, “Master, I do believe!” and he worshipped Jesus.
Jesus said, “I came into this world to be a judge, so that the blind may see, and those
who claim to see may become blind.” Some Pharisees who were listening asked Jesus,
“Are you saying that we are blind?” Jesus declared, “If you were blind you would not
be guilty of sin. But because you claim to see, you are accountable for all your sins.”
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. In the next story, we will hear that Jesus not
only has power over blind eyes, but over creation itself!
Discu ssio n Qu es tion s
• He chose, from among his disciples, 12 to travel with him. He called them
‘apostles’.
• He showed God’s compassion by healing a blind beggar on the Sabbath day.
• He is the Son of Man, another way of saying that he is the Messiah (see Daniel
7:13,14)
2) What was it about this healing that got the Jewish leaders so upset?
• The Sabbath was a day that the Jewish people were to rest from work, according
to the Law of Moses. Yet, Jesus worked by healing a man on the Sabbath.
Therefore, the Jewish leaders were divided—some thought he was a sinner and
could not be from Lord God since he worked on the Sabbath and others thought
that because he could heal, he must be from the Lord God.
3) What important lesson did Jesus teach his disciples in this story?
• Suffering is not always connected with sin or wrongdoing.
4) Why do you think the disciples thought the man’s blindness could have been caused by
his ancestors’ sin? What was Jesus’ reply?
• Jesus explained that the Lord God had a purpose in allowing the man to be born
blind—that the works of the Lord God may be revealed in his life. The Lord
God’s glory was revealed in this man when he was healed!
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24. Jesus Calms the Storms
Over the last few stories, we have heard that Jesus has the power to heal people and forgive
people’s sins. In this story, which actually contains two accounts, we will hear of Jesus’
power over nature as well! This story shows how Jesus was completely human and
completely the Lord God at the same time. He was human as he was tired from a long day
and needed to sleep. Yet, he was the Lord God as he was able to calm storms and walk on
the water!
From this story we also learn that we can have complete trust in Jesus, whatever situation
we find ourselves in. Jesus expects us to trust him with our very lives, and he will help us
through difficulty and danger. What an amazing truth!
Main Biblical Reference: Mark 4:35-41; Matthew 8:18-27; Luke 8:22-26; Matthew 14:2232
On Lake Galilee, where this story takes place, there were often violent storms that would
come without warning. Though many of the disciples had been fishermen on this lake and
were used to the sea, such a storm was still quite terrifying. It is not surprising that the
disciples were afraid when their boat was in danger of sinking, yet Jesus is in complete
control and actually rebukes the disciples for their lack of faith!
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In our last few stories, Jesus revealed his power to forgive sin by forgiving the paralyzed
man and he revealed his power to heal sickness by healing the paralyzed man and the blind
man! Well, in today’s story, Jesus reveals even more of his power! And so our story from
the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
Jesus had been teaching the crowds with his disciples all day. When he was finished
teaching, Jesus told the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side
of Lake Galilee whilst he stayed behind to disperse the crowds and pray. So the disciples
set off in the boat and sailed for the other side.
It began to get late and the sky turned dark. As the disciples were out on the water, a storm
blew across Lake Galilee and caused the waves to beat hard against the boat. It was a
scary storm. But the disciples grew even more terrified when they saw what looked to them
like a ghost walking toward them on the water! They were scared and screamed, “It’s a
ghost!” But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Do not be afraid. It is me.”
Peter said to Jesus, “Master, if it is really you, order me to come to you by walking on
the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water,
going toward Jesus. But when Peter saw the strong wind he became afraid and he starting
to sink. Peter cried out, “Master, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and
caught Peter, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When Jesus and
Peter got into the boat, the wind and waves stopped and the lake became calm! Then the
disciples in the boat worshiped Jesus.
There was another time when Jesus also demonstrated his power to calm the stormy water!
It was a similar situation as Jesus had been teaching the crowds with his disciples all day
long. When evening came, he said to his disciples, “Come, let’s go across to the other
side of Lake Galilee.” So Jesus and his disciples left the crowd and got into a boat to cross
to the other side.
All of a sudden, a furious storm came down upon the lake! One wave after another began
crashing into the boat, throwing it this way and that. Water began filling the boat and they
thought they were going to sink! Through all of this, Jesus was in the back of the boat with
his head on a pillow fast asleep!
Now the disciples, believing they were in great danger of drowning, went to wake up Jesus,
saying, “Teacher, save us! Don’t you even care that we are about to die?!” Jesus
woke up and rebuked the wind and ordered the waves saying, “Quiet! Be still!”
Then the wind and the waves stopped and the lake became calm! Everything was
completely still! Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “Why are you so afraid? Do you
still have no faith?”
After witnessing all of this, the disciples were overcome with great awe and amazement!
They asked each other, “Who is this? For even the wind and the waves obey him!
Truly he is the Son of God.”
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Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. Jesus had just revealed his power over
creation itself! In the next story, Jesus will reveal more of his power—power even over the
forces of evil spirits!
1) What do we learn about Jesus in this story? Who is he?
• He has authority over the forces of nature, meaning he is the Lord God
himself! For we saw the Lord God giving commands to creation when he
created the world and here we see Jesus doing the same thing.
2) When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, what was their first reaction and
why?
3) Why do you think Jesus was asleep--did it mean he didn’t care?
• He was asleep because he was tired from a long day! He was a human!
• He could rest knowing that the Lord God was in control of all events.
• His sleeping does not mean he did not care.
4) From this story, what do we learn about following Jesus?
• Jesus requires us to have faith in him, even through difficulties and
danger or even when our circumstances seem scary or when it may seem
like Jesus does not care for us.
5) Have you ever felt like you were in a difficult or dangerous situation? Did you feel the
Lord God was near you or far away in that situation?
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25. Jesus Delivers the Madman
We have seen how Jesus has the power to forgive sin, heal people and command creation
to obey him. This story shows that Jesus also has power over all evil spirits. This story has
the potential to bring freedom to many people in Zimbabwe who live in fear of evil spirits.
Jesus has authority over all spirits and if we are walking with him, we do not need to fear
evil. In fact, if we are followers of Jesus, Jesus has even given us the authority to cast out
demons in his name!
Main Biblical References: Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-38
Mark 5:1
Mark 5:9
Mark 7:31; 8:1-13
This region was named Gerasenes. It was in a Gentile region
near Lake Galilee. The Jewish people regard pigs as unclean,
but to the Greeks who lived in Gerasenes, they were valuable
livestock.
The evil spirit in the man was called “Legion”. A legion was the
largest unit in the Roman army, consisting of 3000 to 6000
soldiers! This name indicates that this man was possessed by
many demons.
This story ends with the man, who had been possessed with a
demon, witnessing throughout the region about what had
happened to him. This testimony must have had an effect on the
people of this area because the next time Jesus returned there,
the crowds came out to see him.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In the last story, Jesus and his disciples got on a boat to go to the other side of the lake.
Whilst on the boat, the disciples experienced a terrible storm and Jesus showed his power
over the sea by the command of his voice! Well, Jesus and his disciples finally reached the
other side of the lake only to come upon another situation where Jesus would show his
power! And so our story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
Jesus and the disciples finally reached the region on the other side of Lake Galilee. As
Jesus was getting out of the boat, a madman, who was possessed by demons, came out to
meet him. Now this madman wore no clothes and lived in the cemetery, amongst the
graves. No one could restrain him. For he had often been tied up and even chained, but he
would simply break the chains. No one was strong enough to control him. Night and day he
roamed through the graves and the hills, screaming out and cutting himself with sharp
stones.
This madman had seen Jesus from far away. He ran to meet him and fell on his knees in
front of him. Jesus said, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit.” At this, the evil spirit in
the madman shouted at the top of his voice, “Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most
High God! I beg you, do not torture me!” Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And
he said, “My name is ‘Legion’, for we are many.” And then he desperately begged Jesus
not to banish them from the region.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside nearby. The demons begged Jesus, “Send
us amongst the pigs! Allow us to go into them.” So Jesus gave them permission, and
all of the evil spirits came out of the man and went into the pigs. The whole herd of pigs,
about 2000 of them, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned!
The herdsmen of the pigs ran off, telling the story of what had happened in the town and the
countryside. Some who had witnessed the incident also told others about the man with the
evil spirits and the pigs. Everyone wanted to see for themselves so they came to Jesus and
they saw the madman sitting there, wearing clothes and making sense! The people were
afraid! Then they begged Jesus to leave their region.
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons ran after
Jesus, saying, “Please, let me go with you!” But Jesus said, “No, go home to your
family and tell them how much the Lord God has done for you and how he has had
mercy on you.”
So the man went around to ten towns in the region and began to tell of all that Jesus had
done for him. And everyone who heard him was amazed.
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. Jesus has power over sin, sickness,
creation and, in this story, even evil spirits! But does Jesus even have power over death?
Come and listen to the next story to find out!
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• Jesus is Master over the natural world and the spiritual world! Here he shows his
power over evil spirits.
• The evil spirits know Jesus has power over them and they are afraid of him as
they know they will eventually be judged and eternally condemned by Jesus.
2) Why was the madman living in the cemetery, breaking chains and cutting himself?
• He was possessed by many evil and powerful spirits.
3) Who was more powerful in the story: Jesus or the evil spirits that possessed the man?
• The man with the evil spirits fell down before Jesus’ feet!
• The evil spirits begged to be allowed to go amongst the pigs and Jesus gave
them permission!
• Jesus told the evil spirits to come out of him and they obeyed!
• The evil spirits were afraid of Jesus as they knew his power over them!
4) Which do you think Jesus cared about more: the 2000 pigs or the one man in front of
him? Why?
• Even though a herd of 2000 pigs is of great monetary value, Jesus finds more
value in one human life than in a herd of 2000 pigs.
5) What did Jesus tell the man delivered from the evil spirits to do?
• To go and tell about what the Lord God had done for him to those in his area.
6) Have you ever known anyone possessed with evil spirits? Do you think Jesus would be
able to deliver them?
• Yes, Jesus will be able to deliver them, even today.
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26. Jesus Raises Lazarus to Life
What a powerful story! By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus shows that he has authority
even over death! He is the resurrection who brings eternal life. We also hear in this story
that the Lord God can use suffering, sickness and death to bring glory to himself!
Encourage your audience, especially in the discussion, to imagine how Mary and Martha
would have felt at various points in the story. Are there times when we feel similar emotions
of hope, disappointment, sorrow and joy as we trust Jesus to work in our life?
Main Biblical Reference: John 11:1-53
John 11:4
John 11:17
This statement is highly ironic as Lazarus’
sickness didn’t end in his death as he was
raised back to life. But by bringing Lazarus
to life, it led to Jesus’ death and crucifixion
as the religious leaders were now out to kill
him. As with Lazarus and also in Jesus’
death, the Lord God was glorified as he
raised them back to life.
Jesus arrived when Lazarus had already
been dead for four days. Leaving such a
long time after death made the challenge
greater and therefore the miracle greater –
no one could deny Lazarus was definitely
raised from the dead! This would have
greatly increased the faith of Jesus’
followers.
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movements.)
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The Story
Teaser:
In the last few stories, Jesus has shown his power to command creation to obey him by
calming the wind and waves. And he also has shown his power to command the evil spirits
to obey him by casting out the evil spirits from the madman! In this story, we’ll hear of
another realm in which Jesus reveals his power! And so our story from the Lord God’s word
begins.
Main Story:
There was a certain man named Lazarus. Lazarus lived in a small village near Jerusalem,
the same village where his two sisters, Martha and Mary, lived. Jesus loved Martha, Mary
and Lazarus. One day Lazarus became sick and so his sisters sent a message to Jesus
saying, “Look, Master! The one who you love is sick.”
When Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, he replied, “This sickness won’t end in death, but it
will end in the Lord God’s glory so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Jesus stayed where he was for two more days and then said to his disciples, “Let’s go back
near Jerusalem again.” But his disciples replied, “Teacher, just a short time ago the
Jewish leaders were trying to stone you to death as a heretic and now you want to go
back there?!”
Jesus replied, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him
up.” Now by ‘sleeping’, Jesus meant that Lazarus had died, but the disciples thought Jesus
was literally talking about sleep and answered him, saying, “Master, if he has fallen asleep
he will recover.” Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died. I am glad for you that I
wasn’t there when he died because it will give you a chance to believe. Come on, let’s
go to him.” Then one of Jesus’ disciples, named Thomas, said to the rest of the disciples,
“Let us go too so that we will die with him.”
When Jesus arrived near the village, he found that Lazarus had been buried in the tomb for
four days! People from nearby the village came to Martha and Mary to console them over
the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet
him, but Mary remained sitting in the house.
When Martha saw Jesus, she said to him, “Master, if only you had been here my brother
would not have died, but even now I know that whatever you ask from the Lord God,
the Lord God will give you.” Jesus replied to her, “Your brother will come back to life
again.”
Martha said, “I know that he will come back to life again in the resurrection at the last
day.” Jesus answered her straight back saying, “I AM the resurrection and the life.
Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes
in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Martha answered him, “Yes, Master. I
believe that you are the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Lord God, who was to
come into the world.”
When Martha had said this, she went and called for Mary and told her privately, “The
Teacher is here and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and
went to him. At this point, Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place
where Martha had met him. When the people, who had been comforting Mary, saw her get
up and leave so quickly, they followed her because they thought she was going to Lazarus’
tomb to mourn.
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When Mary reached Jesus, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Master, if you had been
here, my brother would not have died!” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the people
who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved and greatly troubled. Jesus
asked, “Where have you laid him?” They answered, “Master, come and see.”
Then Jesus wept. When the people saw this, they said, “Look at how much Jesus loved
him!” But some of them said, “Shouldn’t the same person who could make a blind man
see also have been able to keep Lazarus from dying?”
Jesus was once again deeply moved as he arrived at the tomb, which consisted of a cave
with a big stone pushed up against it. Jesus ordered that the stone be removed, but Martha
objected, “Master, he has been dead for four days! It will stink!” Jesus said to her,
“Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of the Lord God?” So
they took away the stone.
Jesus looked up to heaven and shouted in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” And the
dead man did come out! Lazarus was still wrapped in his grave clothes: his hands and feet
were tied up in pieces of cloth and a cloth was wrapped around his face! Jesus said, “Untie
him and let him go!”
After this, many of the people, who had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Jesus. But
some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priest
and some of the Jewish religious leaders called a meeting and said, “What are we to do?
This man is performing many miraculous signs! If we allow this to carry on much
longer, everyone will believe in him and the Romans will come and take away our
temple and our nation.”
Then Caiaphas, the high priest, said, “Can’t you see it is to our advantage that one man
is put to death for the people, rather than the whole nation be destroyed?” So from
that day on the Jewish religious leaders plotted together to kill Jesus.
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. Caiaphas’ words may have had more
significance than he realized. Let’s hear what happens in the next story as the Jewish
leaders now plot to kill Jesus.
2) What do we learn about Mary and Martha in this story?
3) How do you think Mary and Martha would have felt when Jesus did not come straight
away?
• They may have felt that Jesus didn’t love them or didn’t care for them.
4) After hearing Lazarus was sick, why did Jesus delay two more days before going to
Martha and Mary?
• To show that Lazarus was really dead.
• To test the disciples’ faith and for them to believe.
• Because he knew that raising Lazarus from the dead would lead to the Lord God
being glorified.
5) How do you feel about death, and does this story affect your thoughts in any way?
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27. Th e L ast Sup per
In this story, we hear that Jesus knew everything that was going to happen before it
happened. The Lord God was fulfilling his promise to send a deliverer for his people,
although the people weren’t expecting a deliverer who would have his body broken and his
blood poured out in order to save them. The Last Supper and what follows fulfils more of the
prophecies about Jesus.
As you tell the story of the Last Supper you could actually have some bread and a glass of
wine or juice. As you speak of Jesus breaking the bread and pouring the wine, you could act
it out at the same time.
Main Biblical References: Mark 14; Luke 22; Matthew 26; John 13:1-17
John 13-17
These chapters in John all deal with events that happened on
this same night. John goes into great detail of what Jesus said
to his disciples on this occasion; however, these details are too
many to include in this story. In fact, numerous stories could
later be told from these chapters in John. It would be good to
read these chapters as you prepare for telling this story.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
Over the last few stories, we have heard how Jesus revealed his power over sin, sickness,
creation, evil spirits and even death itself! Though Jesus was popular with the crowds of
people, the Jewish religious leaders and priests did not like him! They were jealous of the
attention he was getting, they thought he stirred up trouble and they thought he was a
heretic! So they began plotting to kill Jesus. Would their plotting really succeed?
In today’s story, the time for the celebration of the Passover Feast in Jerusalem was nearing.
Once a year the Jews celebrated the Passover Feast to remember how the Lord God
delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. During this feast, the Jews sacrificed a lamb and ate a
special meal to recall how the Israelites had sacrificed a lamb and painted its blood on their
doorposts in order that the plague of the firstborn son would ‘pass over’ them. And so our
story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
Two days before the Passover Feast was to be celebrated, the chief priests and the experts
in the law were trying to find a way to arrest Jesus and kill him. But they were afraid of the
people and said, “We won’t arrest and kill him during the feast as there could be a riot
amongst the people.”
Then Judas, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, went to the chief priests and said, “What will
you give me to betray Jesus and give him into your hands?” When they heard this,
they were delighted and promised to give him thirty silver coins. From that time on, Judas
began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
When the first day of the Passover Feast had finally begun, the day when people sacrificed
the Passover lamb, Jesus said to his disciples, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us
to eat.” The disciples asked, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”
Jesus sent two of the disciples into the city of Jerusalem to make arrangements for the
supper. He said to them, “As you go into the city, a man carrying a bucket of water will
meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and say to the owner of the
house, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover
meal with my disciples?”’ He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set
up. Prepare our supper there.” So the two disciples went on ahead into the city and
found everything just as Jesus had said. They prepared the Passover supper there.
In the evening, Jesus arrived at the large room with the rest of the twelve disciples to
celebrate the Passover meal. During the course of the evening the disciples began to argue
about which of them was regarded as the greatest. As they argued Jesus got up from the
table, removed his outer coat and tied a towel around his waist. He filled a bowl with water
and began to wash each of the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was around
him. When Jesus finished, he sat back down at the table and said, “Do you understand
what I have just done? For I have given you an example to follow. I tell you, the
greater one amongst you is not the one seated at the table, but is the one who serves,
for the leader must become like the one who serves.”
Now Jesus knew that this would be his last Passover Feast with his disciples. As they were
eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and gave thanks to Father God for it. He broke the bread
and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body given for you. Eat this
to remember me.”
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Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to Father God for it. He gave it to the disciples
and they all drank from it. And Jesus said to them, “This is my blood of the new
covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink
wine again until the day I drink it with you in the Kingdom of the Lord God.”
As they were sitting around the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you, one of you eating with
me at this table, will betray me.” The disciples were greatly distressed to hear this and
one by one they began to ask him, “I’m not the one, am I, Master?”
Jesus replied, “The one who shared this dish of food with me. He is the one who will
betray me. I must die as the Scriptures declared long ago, but how terrible it will be
for the one who betrays me. It would be far better for him if he had never been born.”
Then Judas, knowing he would betray Jesus, said, “I’m not the one, am I, Teacher?”
Jesus said, “Yes, you have said it yourself.” After that, Judas left the table and went out
into the night.
Jesus then said to his disciples, “On this very night, you will all leave me, for the
Scriptures say, ‘I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.’” Peter said
to Jesus, “Even if they all leave you, I will not!” But Jesus said to him, “I tell you that
this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny knowing me three times.” But
Peter insisted, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you!” And all of the
disciples said the same thing!
After they had eaten the Passover supper, Jesus and his disciples sang praises to the Lord
God and left the room where they had shared the meal together.
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. Will Jesus, the Messiah-King, really die?
Will Judas actually betray Jesus? Will Peter really deny knowing Jesus? Will all of the
disciples really fall away? In the next story, we will hear if Jesus’ words come true!
• Certainly we see that Jesus knows all things—he knew the disciples would come
across a man in the city who had a room for them to use, he knew Judas would
betray him, that Peter would deny him and that he was to die to forgive the sins of
many.
• Jesus was THE greatest, being the Lord God himself, and yet he served his
disciples, doing the job that a household servant would have done.
2) What do we learn about the disciples in this story?
3) What do the bread and the wine that Jesus gave to his disciples signify?
• The bread and wine signified Jesus’ very own body and blood. Jesus knew he
was going to die and wanted the disciples to understand that he was going to die.
So he gave them the bread and wine to signify himself as he would die in order to
save them.
• He would die in mankind’s place and his blood was to seal the new covenant
between the Lord God and mankind.
4) How does the Passover Feast relate to this story?
• Just as the lambs had to die on that first Passover to save the firstborn sons of
the Israelites from death, so on this Passover Jesus, the Passover lamb, would
have to die. Through his blood not only Israel, but all mankind would be saved
from death.
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28. The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
This is an important story as we lead up to the death of Jesus. As you tell this story, be sure
to use lots of emotion – the pain in Jesus’ voice as he prays to Father God, the fear of Peter
as he watches the terrible events unfold, the disgust of those accusing Jesus and the
laughter of those mocking Jesus. Jesus is utterly deserted by his followers and faces
exactly what he knows lies before him. This is a story of dreadful developments so let’s not
hold back from showing all the emotions of this story.
Main Biblical Reference: Mark 14:24-15:20, Matthew 26:36-27:31, Luke 22:39-23:25
Main Events of the story:
Jesus struggles on the Mount of
Olives
Jesus is betrayed and arrested
Jesus’ trial and Peter’s denial
Prophecies fulfilled:
Psalm 27:12
Isaiah 50:6
Isaiah 53:7
Isaiah 53:3
Psalm 69:4
Matthew 26:36-46
Mark 14:32-42
Luke 22:39-46
John 18:1
Matthew 26:47-56
Mark 14:43-52
Luke 22:47-53
John 18:2-12
Matthew 26:57-27:2, 11-31
Mark 14:53-15:20
Luke 22:54-23:25
False witnesses tell lies about the Deliverer (Mark 14:56-57)
Jesus is beaten and spat on (Mark 14:65)
Jesus was silent when he was accused (Mark 15:3-5)
Jesus was rejected by the Jews (Mark 15:9-14)
Jesus was hated without a cause (Mark 15:10)
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In the last story, Jesus ate his last Passover meal with his disciples. There he told them that
his body would be broken and his blood would be shed for them. He also told them that
Judas would betray him and Peter would deny knowing him and that all the disciples would
fall away from him. Would these things really happen to the Messiah-King, the Lord God’s
appointed Deliverer? And so our story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
After Jesus and his disciples had eaten the Passover supper, they sang praises to the Lord
God and left the room where they had shared the meal together. They went out to a
mountain on the edge of Jerusalem, called the Mount of Olives. There Jesus said to his
disciples, “Stay here and pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
Jesus walked ahead a little farther. He was troubled, overcome with grief and agony. He
threw himself to the ground and prayed to Father God, saying, “Father God, all things are
possible for you. Take this cup of your wrath away from me. Yet, not my will, but let
your will be done.” When Jesus went back to his disciples, he found them sleeping and
said, “Why are you sleeping? Can’t you even keep watch for one hour? Stay alert and
pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Twice more Jesus went away to pray the same thing to Father God and both times he
returned to find his disciples asleep. Finally he said, “Are you still sleeping? Look, the
time has come for me to be betrayed into the hands of evil men. Get up and let’s go,
for my betrayer is here!”
Whilst Jesus was speaking, Judas arrived leading a crowd of religious leaders and priests
who were armed with clubs and swords. Now Judas had given the leaders a sign, saying,
“The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and lead him away.” So when Judas arrived, he
went up to Jesus and said, “Master.” Then Judas kissed Jesus. Jesus said to Judas,
“Judas, are you betraying me with a kiss?”
Then the leaders took hold of Jesus and arrested him. Peter drew his sword and struck the
servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Jesus said, “Peter, put your sword away!
Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and
He would send them instantly? But if I did, how would all that the Scriptures said be
fulfilled?” Then Jesus touched the man’s ear and healed him. Jesus said to the crowd,
“Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would a criminal? Day
after day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, yet you did not arrest me. But
this has happened so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left
Jesus and fled.
Jesus was taken by the crowd to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where religious
leaders and experts of the law were gathered. From a distance, Peter had followed Jesus to
Caiaphas’ house and watched what was happening. The men holding Jesus began to mock
him. Some spat on him and beat him. They blindfolded Jesus saying, “Prophesy! Who
was it that hit you?”
As Peter was in the courtyard of Caiaphas’ house, one of the servant girls of the high priest
stared at Peter and said, “You were with this Jesus!” But Peter quickly replied, “Woman,
I don’t know him!” Then a little later, someone else saw Peter and said, “This man is one
of them!” Again Peter insisted saying, “Man, I am not!” After about an hour, another
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person insisted saying, “Certainly you were with Jesus!” But Peter said, “Man, I don’t
know what you are talking about!” At that very moment, whilst Peter was still speaking, a
rooster crowed. Jesus turned to look straight at Peter and Peter remembered how Jesus
said, “Today, before the rooster crows, you will deny knowing me three times.” Peter
left the courtyard and wept terribly.
The chief priests and experts of the law were trying to find false witnesses who would lie
about Jesus so that they might put him to death. Even though many false witnesses came
forward to testify, they did not find anything against Jesus. Finally, two men got up and
declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the Temple of the Lord God and rebuild
it in three days.’” Caiaphas got up in the middle of the crowd and said to Jesus, “Don’t
you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” But Jesus did not
answer them.
Caiaphas demanded, “If you are the Christ, the Messiah-King, then tell us!” Jesus said,
If I tell you, you will not believe.” Caiaphas asked him again, “Are you the Christ, the
Son of the Lord God?” Jesus said, “You have said it yourself!” Enraged, the high priest
ripped his clothes and exclaimed, “Why do we need further testimony? We have heard
this blasphemy ourselves from his own lips! What is your verdict?” All who were
there condemned Jesus and said that he deserved to die.
When Judas saw that Jesus had been condemned, he regretted what he had done and
returned the thirty silver coins to the religious leaders saying, “I have sinned by betraying
innocent blood.” But the religious leaders said, “That is your problem, not ours.” Then
Judas threw the money into the temple and went out into a field where he hung himself.
Early in the morning, the chief priests, religious leaders and experts of the law tied up Jesus
and led him to Pilate, the Roman governor in Jerusalem, saying, “This man himself has
claimed to be the Christ, the Messiah-King!” Pilate questioned him, “Are you the King
of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “It is you who say so.” The chief priests kept accusing
Jesus of many things and again Pilate questioned Jesus saying, “Don’t you have any
answer to all the accusations they are bringing against you?” Yet Jesus did not answer
and Pilate was amazed. Pilate said to the religious leaders, “I do not find Jesus guilty of
any of the accusations you have made against him.”
During every Passover Feast, it was Pilate’s custom to free one prisoner whom the people
requested. Now there was a well known murderer in prison, named Barabbas. Pilate
addressed the chief priest, religious leaders and people in the crowd and asked them, “Who
do you want me to free? Barabbas, the murderer, or Jesus, who is called the Christ?”
Pilate knew the chief priests had handed Jesus over because they were envious of him.
Yet, the chief priests had stirred up the crowd of people to have Pilate release Barabbas.
Pilate asked, “Then what do you want me to do with this man whom you call the King
of the Jews?” The crowd shouted loudly, “Kill him on the cross! Crucify him!” Pilate
asked, “Why? What has Jesus done wrong? I have examined him and have not found
any fault in him!” But the crowed yelled louder, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Wanting to
please the people, Pilate freed Barabbas and had Jesus severely whipped, giving him over
to be put to death on the cross.
The Roman soldiers seized Jesus and mocked him. They stripped him of his clothes and
put a purple robe on him. They twisted some thorns into the shape of a crown and pressed
it on his head. They even put a staff in his hand and knelt down before him and laughed
saying, “Long live the King of the Jews!” They spat on Jesus! They took his staff and
beat him several times on the head! When they had finished mocking him, they took the
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purple robe off him and put his clothes back on. Then the soldiers led him out to be put to
death on the cross.
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. Jesus was the Lord God’s perfect Son, the
hope of the world, and yet he was being treated like a criminal! In the next story, we will
hear more about what happened to Jesus as he was led to the cross where he was to face a
criminal’s death.
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2) What do we learn about Judas in this story? What do we learn about Peter? About the
rest of Jesus’ disciples?
3) Why did Jesus cry out to Father God on the Mount of Olives?
• Jesus was finding it hard to face the terrible suffering that was before him as the
Lord God was about to pour out his wrath for the sins of humankind upon Jesus.
• Although Jesus was God, he was also man, and the suffering before him was
more terrible than anyone has ever suffered.
4) Why did the high priest, religious leaders and experts of the law say that Jesus must be
condemned to death? How does that differ from what Pilate said?
• They said he had blasphemed as he claimed to be the Lord God, which they
thought was impossible as Jesus was only a man.
• Pilate listened to all the accusations that the Jewish leaders brought against
Jesus, but found no fault in him. This reminds us of what a priest was to do at
Passover time. He was to examine one’s sacrificial lamb to make sure it had no
fault. Here Jesus, the Passover Lamb, was found to have no fault at Pilate’s trial.
5) Did Jesus deserve to die?
• No, he was perfect. He hadn’t done anything wrong, as he really was the
Messiah-King, the Lord God’s Son.
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29. The Crucifixion
Here we reach the very climax of all our stories. This story makes sense of and unites all
the other stories we have been sharing. Jesus, the perfect Son of the Lord God, the only
one who could redeem mankind, dies a horrendous death on the cross in order to forgive our
sins.
As storytellers, this is a story we are familiar with. However, bear in mind that some of your
listeners will not have heard this story before. Let them feel the pain and significance of the
events of Jesus’ death. How incredible is it that the Lord God would desire a relationship
with us so much that he would sacrifice his own Son in order to open the way for such a
relationship! As we end this story, do not be afraid to leave people hanging with the sadness
and devastation of Jesus’ death until the next story. Encourage them to think about the
significance the events of this story have on their lives.
Main Biblical References: Mark 15:20-47; Matthew 27:31-56; Luke 23:26-49; John
19:17-30
Scriptures fulfilled
Luke 23:35-39
Mark 15:38
Hands & feet pierced: Psalm 22.16 (Mark 15:24)
Clothing gambled for: Psalm 22:18 (Mark 15:24)
Died for the wicked: Isaiah 53:12 (Mark 15:27)
Mocked & insulted: Psalm 22:6-8 (Mark 15:29-32)
Buried with the rich: Isaiah 53:9 (Mark 15:43-46)
Not one bone broken: Exodus 12:46, Psalm 34:20 (John 19:33)
Jesus will be pierced: Zechariah 12:10 (John 19:34)
Jesus was forsaken: Psalm 22:1 (Matthew 27:46)
There is irony in the insults that people are shouting. People are
calling for Jesus to save himself if he is really the Lord God. But
by not saving himself, Jesus was actually saving the world. If he
would have saved himself physically, then he wouldn’t have
spiritually saved the world!
The curtain in the temple was a symbol to remind the Jews that
they were shut out of the Lord God’s presence because of their
sin. Once a year the high priest would go behind the curtain and
sprinkle the blood of animals as a sacrifice for the people’s sin.
The curtain ripping in two showed that a way to the Lord God
had been opened through Jesus, the Passover lamb and Great
High Priest.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In the last story we heard of how Jesus’ disciples all deserted him and how Jesus was
falsely accused and had an unfair trial, where he was condemned to death. Jesus was
handed over to Roman soldiers who brutally beat him, made fun of this “supposed” king and
led him to the place outside Jerusalem’s city walls where crucifixions took place. This place
was called Golgotha, which means “Place of the Skull”. What would happen to Jesus, the
true Messiah-King? And so our story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
After the Roman soldiers had finished beating Jesus, they placed a heavy wooden cross on
his shoulders forcing him to carry it to Golgotha. Two other criminals were also being led
there along with Jesus. The soldiers grabbed a man from the crowd, named Simon from
North Africa, and forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.
A great crowd of people, including women who were mourning and wailing, followed behind
Jesus as he made his way towards Golgotha. Finally they reached the place where Jesus
was to be hung on the cross. Jesus was offered wine mixed with gall to relieve his pain, but
he would not take it.
Then soldiers laid the cross on the ground and brutally nailed Jesus to it, forcing large nails
through his hands and his feet. Pilate had prepared a sign, stating the reason for Jesus’
crime, which read, “Jesus, King of the Jews.” The soldiers nailed this sign on the cross
above Jesus’ head. Once they had done this, they hung Jesus on the cross by raising the
cross upright, putting the base of the cross into the ground. Two convicted criminals were
also hung next to Jesus, one on either side of him. Jesus looked at the crowd and said,
“Father God, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing.”
Jesus was crucified at nine o’clock that morning.
Then the soldiers took Jesus’ clothes and started gambling for them with dice to determine
what each person would take. The people who passed by ridiculed Jesus along with the
religious leaders, priests and experts of the law in the crowd. They laughed and mocked
saying, “Look, he saved others, but he cannot save himself! If you are the Lord God’s
Son, the Messiah-King, then come down from the cross and save yourself! If you do,
we may see and believe in you. Let the Lord God deliver you now!” The soldiers joined
in mocking Jesus too, saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, then save yourself!”
Even one of the criminals hanging beside Jesus hurled insults at him saying, “Aren’t you
the Messiah-King? Then save yourself and us too!” But the other criminal rebuked him
saying, “Don’t you fear the Lord God even as you are carrying out your punishment of
death? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.
Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I tell
you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus looked down from the cross to where his mother, Mary, Mary Magdalene and other
women who followed Jesus from Galilee, were standing. When Jesus saw his mother and
John, his disciple, he said to his mother, “Woman, look, here is your son!” And he said to
John, “Look, here is your mother!” And from that time on, John took Mary into his own
home to care for her.
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land and remained until three o’clock in the
afternoon. As Jesus was about to die, he cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why
have you forsaken me?” Knowing that everything was completed and that all the
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Scriptures had been fulfilled, Jesus cried out again in a loud voice saying, “It is finished!
Father God, into your hands I commit my spirit,” and he gave up his spirit, breathing his
last breath. At that moment the curtain in the Temple, dividing the Holy Place from the Most
Holy Place, was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and even
tombs were thrown open.
When one of the Roman officers guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and had seen all that
had happened, he was terrified saying, “Truly, this man was innocent and was indeed
the Son of the Lord God!” The great crowd of people who had come to witness the
events, saw all that had happened and went home regretting what had taken place. But all
those who had known Jesus, including his mother, Mary, Mary Magdalene, and the women
who followed him from Galilee, remained watching from a distance.
Evening was approaching and, according to the Law of Moses, dead bodies could not hang
on a cross overnight. So the religious leaders ordered Pilate saying, “Break the criminals’
legs to quicken their deaths so that their bodies can be taken down.” So the Roman
soldiers broke the legs of the two criminals. But when they got to Jesus, they saw he was
already dead and so they did not break his legs. However, one soldier pierced Jesus’ side
with a spear, and blood and water flowed out.
Now a rich man, named Joseph, a righteous follower of Jesus, went and asked Pilate, “May
I take Jesus’ body to bury it?” When Pilate confirmed that Jesus was dead, he gave the
body to Joseph. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. He placed it in
his own new tomb, which was a cave that had been carved out of the rock. No one had ever
been buried there before. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance of the tomb and
left.
The Jewish religious leaders and priests went to Pilate and said, “We remember that this
Deceiver, Jesus, told his disciples saying, ‘After three days, I will rise again.’ Give
orders to secure the tomb for three days so that his disciples can not come and steal
the body and deceive the people saying, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’” So
Pilate posted Roman soldiers next to the tomb and secured the tomb by sealing the stone.
The women who followed Jesus from Galilee had watched where Joseph had laid Jesus’
body. They went home and prepared spices and perfumes to embalm him. However, the
Sabbath, the day of rest, had arrived so the women did not return to Jesus’ tomb, but they
stayed away and rested all that day as the law instructed them to do.
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. So we hear in this story that Jesus, the Son
of the Lord God, the promised Messiah-King, the only one who could save the world, had
indeed died and his body was placed in a cold tomb! It happened just as the Scriptures had
said. What hope was there now? Well, the story isn’t finished yet. Come back to hear
another story of what happened next.
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1) What do we learn about Jesus?
• Jesus forgave people, even those who crucified him.
• He was perfect and without sin; he was not guilty and deserving of death.
2) Why did the people, including the religious leaders, soldiers and the criminal, mock
Jesus?
• They mocked him because Jesus claimed to be divine but could not save himself,
indicating to them that he was powerless and proving in their minds that he was
not the Lord God.
3) What happened when Jesus died?
• Darkness, an earthquake, the temple curtain was torn in two and tombs opened.
• People mocked Jesus, women mourned for him, etc.
4) Why was Jesus crucified?
• The religious leaders of the day didn’t like him and wanted to get rid of him.
• It was ultimately the Lord God’s plan for our redemption! Jesus, the perfect
Passover lamb, was to be sacrificed and his shed blood was to redeem us, pay
the price for our salvation.
5) What do you think Jesus meant when he said, “It is finished!”?
• That Scriptures had been fulfilled and Jesus had completed the work he had
come to do – he had taken the punishment for sinners who could now be
delivered from sin and death.
6) Why do you think the curtain in the temple was ripped from top to bottom?
• To show that the Lord God was satisfied with the payment Jesus had made for
sins. Jesus is truly our redeemer! There is no more need for a high priest to take
the blood of animals into the inner room of the temple in order to cover over the
sins of the people. Jesus is now our Great High Priest whose own blood sacrifice
has forgiven our sins completely, once and for all, and allows us to be in the Lord
God’s presence.
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30. The Resurrection
In our last story the Son of God died on a cross and was buried in a tomb. What an exciting
thing to be able to continue the story with the wonderful news that death could not hold
Jesus! He overcame death and purchased eternal life for everyone who believes in him.
As we share this story, let’s emphasize the new hope that appeared with Jesus’ resurrection
– for those following him then and for those choosing to follow him now! Let’s make sure to
use this story as an opportunity to invite people to entrust their lives to Jesus.
Main Biblical References: Mark 16:1-18; Matthew 28:1-20; Luke 24:1-49; John 20
The redemption price for sin has been paid. Now Jesus rises from the dead so that we can
live in relationship with the Lord God forever.
Jesus’ disciples didn’t understand that he would rise again from the dead even though he
had told them this is what he would do. Jesus had to appear to them, talk with them and eat
with them so that they understood and believed.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
In the last story, we heard that Jesus had been hung on a cross between two criminals and
had died. His body was buried in a tomb with a large stone rolled over its entrance. Mary
Magdalene and some other women watched Jesus being buried and they went home in
sorrow to prepare spices and perfumes to embalm the body. But they never would have
guessed that their sorrow was about to turn to joy just a few days later. And so our story
from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
Now, soldiers were assigned the duty of guarding the tomb. The Jewish religious leaders
had heard that Jesus had once said that he would die and after three days he would come
back to life. They were afraid that some of Jesus’ followers might steal the body, then tell
everyone that Jesus had come back to life. So, the religious leaders asked for soldiers to
guard the tomb to keep that from happening. Early Sunday morning there was a violent
earthquake and an angel came down from heaven and rolled back the large stone that had
sealed the tomb. The soldiers were terrified and fainted from fear. When they were finally
able to get back to their feet they ran to tell the religious leaders and priests everything that
had happened. They said, “There was a violent earthquake and an angel came, rolling
back the stone of the tomb. We were so terrified that we fainted! When we came to
our senses, we found that the body was gone from the tomb!” The priests and religious
leaders called a meeting and made a plan. They bribed the soldiers and told them, “You
are to say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came at night and stole the body whilst we were
sleeping.’ If the Roman authorities question you, we will confirm this story and keep
you out of trouble.” So the soldiers accepted the bribe and said what they were told to
say. And this lie became widely believed amongst the Jews.
Around sunrise that morning some of the women who followed Jesus went to his tomb with
spices and perfumes to embalm him. They had been asking each other, “When we get
there, who will roll away the heavy stone for us? It is far too heavy for us to move!”
But when the women arrived, they saw that the large stone had already been rolled away
and an angel was seated on top of it. They were terrified and bowed down to the ground!
The angel said, “Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? I know you
are looking for Jesus, but he is not here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he
said he would! Look, there is the place where his body was laid! Now, go and tell
Jesus’ disciples, even Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you into Galilee and he will
appear to them there, just as he had said.”
With great joy the women ran to find the disciples. And the women told them of everything
they had seen, just as the angels had commanded them to do.
But the disciples could not believe the women. Peter and John got up and ran to the tomb.
When they arrived, they went into the tomb and found only the strips of linen cloth that had
been wrapped around Jesus.
After Peter and John returned home Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb, weeping. Two
angels dressed in white robes were seated where Jesus’ body had been laid. They said to
Mary, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She replied, “They have taken my Master away,
and I do not know where they have put him!”
When she had said this, she noticed a man standing behind her. Thinking that he was the
gardener she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put
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him, and I will take him.” The man was Jesus, and he said to her, “Mary.” She
recognized his voice, turned and said to him, “Teacher!” Jesus said, “Go to the disciples
and tell them ‘I will ascend to my Father God and your Father God!’”
Later that day, two followers of Jesus were walking along a road on the way to a village.
They were discussing everything that had happened over the last few days. Whilst they
were walking, Jesus came alongside them, but they did not recognize that it was Jesus.
Jesus said, “You seem to be in deep discussion. What are these things you are talking
about?” They stopped and said, “You must be the only person who does not know the
things that have happened in Jerusalem these last few days!” The two men explained
to this stranger all the powerful things Jesus had done whilst he was alive and how the
religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death.
The two men said, “We had hoped that he was the Messiah, the one who was going to
save Israel. But it is now the third day since these things happened. And now we
hear that some women went to the tomb this morning and found it was empty. The
women said angels told them Jesus was alive. And when some of the disciples went
to the tomb, they did not see Jesus.”
Jesus said, “How slow and foolish you are to not believe all that the prophets have
spoken!” Then from the first book, going right through all the Scriptures, Jesus explained
how it was necessary for the Messiah-King to suffer all these things. As the three of them
approached the village, the men invited Jesus to stay for dinner that evening.
When they were seated at the table, Jesus took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it
to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus. At that moment he
disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us
as he explained the Scriptures to us?” They immediately got up and went back to
Jerusalem, to some of the other disciples who were gathered together in a locked room
because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders and priests. The two men said, “Jesus
really is alive and has appeared to us!” And they told them everything that had
happened.
Just as the men were speaking, Jesus suddenly was standing with them in the room. He
said, “Peace be with you!” The disciples were terrified as they thought they were seeing a
ghost! Jesus said, “Why are you frightened? Look at my hands and my feet. Touch
me! Does a ghost have flesh and bones like you see I have?” Jesus showed the
disciples his nail-pierced hands and feet as well as his pierced side and he even ate some
fish in front of them to show that he was alive.
Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. “It was written long ago that the
Messiah must suffer and die and rise again from the dead on the third day; and that
this message of salvation should be taken from Jerusalem to all the nations. As the
Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
Now Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus, was not with them when Jesus appeared to
them. The other disciples told Thomas, “We have seen the Master!” But Thomas replied,
“Unless I see and put my finger into the wounds from the nails and put my hand into
his side, I will never believe it!”
Eight days later, the disciples were gathered together again in a locked room. This time
Thomas was with them. And just as before, Jesus came and appeared amongst them and
said, “Peace be with you.” Then Jesus spoke directly to Thomas saying, “Put your finger
here in my hands and put your hand here on my side. Do not continue to doubt, but
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believe.” Thomas exclaimed, “My Master and my Lord God!” Jesus said, “You believe
because you have seen me, but blessed are those who haven’t seen me and yet
believe.”
The disciples then went to Galilee, the place where Jesus had told them to go, and they
waited for him there.
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. So we can have hope again! Jesus, the
Son of the Lord God conquered death, not only for himself but for all who believe in him. In
the next story we will hear more about what Jesus did after he was raised from the dead.
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1) What do we learn about Jesus from this story?
2) What do we learn about all the people Jesus appeared to in the story (the women, Mary
Magdalene, the disciples, Thomas, the two men on the road, etc)?
3) What did the women find when they went to the tomb?
• The stone had been rolled away from the tomb and the tomb was empty.
4) What did the women tell the disciples? Did the disciples believe them?
• They said they had seen angels who told them that Jesus was alive, they had
seen Jesus himself, etc.
• The disciples did not believe the women.
5) What does Jesus’ death and resurrection mean for us today?
6) Have you entrusted your life to Jesus as your Risen Saviour?
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31. The Ascension: Jesus Returns to Father God
This story shows how Jesus is very much alive and is actively teaching his disciples whilst
on earth! In this story we hear how Jesus lovingly restores Peter as his disciple after he had
denied Jesus three times. We hear of Jesus’ commands to tell everyone all over the world
about what they have witnessed! We hear of the promised Holy Spirit who is going to come
bringing power! And we hear of Jesus returning to Father God in heaven with complete
authority over the whole universe, having completed his mission. Let’s encourage our
listeners with the truth that Jesus is in heaven from where he will one day return!
Main biblical references: John 20:30-21:33; Luke 24:44-53; Mark 16:15-20; Matthew 28:1620; Acts 1:1-11
Secondary biblical references: Philippians 2:9-11; Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3-4; Ephesians
1:20-21; 1 Peter 3:22; Acts 2:32-35; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
The main features of
Acts 1:4-8
Acts 1:8
Matthew 28:18-20
Mark 16:15-18
Luke 24:48-49
Luke 24:50-51
Mark 16:19
Acts 2:33
Philippians 2:9-11
Psalm 110:1
Ephesians 1:20-21
Hebrews 1:3-4
Acts 1:11
John 21:23
the ascension story are:
The promise of the Holy Spirit.
The commissioning of Jesus’ followers.
Jesus blesses his followers.
Jesus goes up to heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father and
is given a name that is above every name.
The promise of Jesus’ return.
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movements.)
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The Story
Bridge:
Do you remember the empty tomb the women and some disciples found in the last story?
We heard about Jesus, who had died on the cross and had risen again on the third day just
as the Scriptures had said. Jesus appeared to the women, his disciples and other men as
well, proving he was really alive! Jesus told his disciples to go to Galilee where he would
appear to them and the disciples went. And so our story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
After the disciples arrived in Galilee, Peter said, “I’m going fishing!” Some of the other
disciples said, “We will go with you.” They went out on Lake Galilee but caught nothing all
night. Very early the next morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know
that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, “Friends, have you caught any fish?” They replied,
“No.” He told them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find
some fish.” So they did and immediately so many fish filled their net, so many that they
were not able to pull up the heavy net! John said to Peter, “It is the Master!” So Peter
dove into the lake to swim to Jesus, leaving the other disciples to come with the boat,
dragging the net full of fish.
On the beach, Jesus had made a fire and cooked bread as well as some of the fish that the
disciples caught. Jesus said, “Come have breakfast,” and he gave the bread and the fish
to them. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was
the Master. This was now the third time Jesus had appeared to the disciples after he was
raised from the dead.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Peter, “Peter, do you love me more than
these disciples do?” Peter replied, “Yes, Master, you know I love you.” Jesus told him,
“Feed my lambs.” Jesus said a second time, “Peter, do you love me?” Peter replied,
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.” Jesus said
a third time, “Peter, do you love me?” Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time
and said, “Master, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus replied,
“Feed my sheep.”
Jesus said, “I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and went wherever
you wanted. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie
you up and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus was indicating to Peter the
kind of death he would die to glorify the Lord God. Then Jesus said, “Follow me.” Peter
asked Jesus, “Master, what about John?” Jesus replied, “If I want him to live until I
come back, what concern is that of yours? You are to follow me!”
Jesus appeared to his disciples repeatedly over forty days, teaching them about the
Kingdom of the Lord God and giving them many convincing proofs that he was indeed alive.
He also appeared to many others, including a large group of five hundred of his followers!
Jesus gave these final instructions to his followers saying, “I have been given all authority
in heaven and earth. Therefore, go and make disciples in all nations. Baptize them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach the new disciples
to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this- that I am with you
always, even to the end of the world. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be
saved, but those who refuse to believe will be condemned. Those who believe will
perform great wonders: they will cast out demons in my name, they will speak in new
languages, they will be safe in dangerous situations, and they will lay their hands on
people who are sick and the sick will be healed!”
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On another occasion, Jesus gave his disciples this command: “Don’t leave Jerusalem, but
wait here for the gift that Father God has promised, which you have heard me speak
about. When John the Baptist was here, he baptized people in water, but in a few
days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit!”
Then the disciples asked Jesus, “Master, is that when you’re going to make Israel a
great nation again?” Jesus answered, “You are not to know the times and dates set by
Father God. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you
will be my witnesses, telling everyone about what you’ve seen and experienced, first
beginning in Jerusalem and then out to the farthest parts of the earth!”
Jesus led his disciples to the Mount of Olives, just outside of the city walls of Jerusalem.
Jesus lifted his hands to bless them. Whilst he was blessing them, Jesus was taken up
before their very eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight. Jesus went up into the very
throne room of heaven and sat down at Father God’s right hand. Father God glorified Jesus,
the Son, and crowned him with supreme authority over all the universe with everything—all
angels, authorities, and powers—in submission to him!
As Jesus disappeared from their view, the disciples were still intently looking up into the sky
when suddenly two angels dressed in white robes stood beside them and said, “Men, why
are you still standing here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who you just saw
going up into heaven, will come back in just the same way!”
So the disciples worshipped Jesus and returned to Jerusalem with great joy as they waited
for the Holy Spirit to come, just as Jesus had commanded them to do.
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. In the following days Jesus’ followers did not
leave Jerusalem, but they waited there. In the next story, we will hear of how the Holy Spirit,
Father God’s promised gift, did come and how it changed their lives and the world forever!
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1) What
•
•
2) What
•
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
do we learn about Jesus in this story?
He graciously restores Peter back into full relationship with himself.
Right now he is in the place of highest authority as supreme King of the universe.
do we learn about Peter in this story?
Notice Peter denied Jesus three times and here Jesus asks him three times,
”Peter, do you love me?” Notice as well, Peter’s response is no longer “Even if
they all fall away, I will NEVER!” He responds with, “Yes, you know I love you.”
Certainly his responses are different now.
• Jesus assures Peter that he is still his disciple when he says, “Follow me.”
Why were the disciples so happy and filled with great joy when Jesus left them?
• Jesus has returned to the Father whom he loves and wants to be with!
• Jesus has been crowned once and for all as supreme King over the entire
universe, ruling over all powers and enemies!
• The disciples know that the Holy Spirit is coming to them!
The disciples were told to go throughout the entire world and tell everyone the good
news. What is the good news they were supposed to share?
• They were to tell people the Lord God’s Big Salvation Story—that Father God
sent his perfect Son, Jesus, into the world to save us from our sins by dying on
the cross. Through his resurrection and ascension, Jesus overcame evil, sin and
death. If we repent of our sins and accept Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we can have
forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with Jesus.
What were they to do amongst those who believed their message?
• They were to make disciples of Jesus, baptize them in water, and teach them to
follow Jesus and obey him.
• Notice that Jesus taught them to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. God is a Trinity: Three Persons, yet One God.
Why did Jesus tell the disciples that they needed to wait in Jerusalem?
• They were to remain there until the Holy Spirit came upon them, empowering
them to be witnesses of Jesus.
Do you want to be a follower of Jesus?
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32. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
In the last story, Jesus had promised to send his disciples the Holy Spirit to be with them
until he returned again. In this story we see that Jesus was faithful to his promise and that
the Holy Spirit came upon his disciples with great power! Not only did the Holy Spirit come
in a mighty way, causing great surprise and wonder, but it also manifested itself through
tongues that were spoken, which everyone there heard as their own language. The promise
of the Holy Spirit was not only for the Jewish people, but for all people—men and women,
great and small—of all nations! May the same Holy Spirit encourage and empower you as
you share this story!
Main Biblical Reference: Acts 2:1-41
Acts 1:4
Acts 2:22-41
In our last story Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until
they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. In this story it is
important to see that when the Holy Spirit comes on the
believers it is not just special power that is coming on them, but
God the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity.
Peter gives a testimony of Jesus in 6 parts:
1. His life and ministry (2:22)
2. His death (2:23-24)
3. His resurrection (2:24-32)
4. His exaltation (2:33-36)
5. His salvation (2:37-40)
6. His new community (2:41)
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movements.)
150
The Story
Bridge:
In the last story, before Jesus went into heaven, he told his disciples that they were to go out
into all the world telling everyone the good news about Jesus—that he had died and rose
again to forgive the world of their sin. But before they were to go, Jesus told his disciples to
wait in Jerusalem for his Holy Spirit to come upon them. This power would enable them to
be his witnesses to the farthest parts of the earth.
In our story today, we will hear of the events that happened during the Feast of Pentecost in
Jerusalem, which was always celebrated 50 days after the Feast of Passover. This was a
celebration of the giving of the Law of Moses at Mount Sinai. And so our story from the Lord
Main Story:
The disciples left the Mount of Olives, where Jesus had ascended into heaven, and went
back to Jerusalem to wait, just as Jesus had commanded them to do. Whilst in Jerusalem,
the disciples and other followers of Jesus met together and prayed, worshipping the Lord
God.
About a week after Jesus had left them, on the Feast of Pentecost, they were gathered
together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the rush of a mighty wind came from heaven
and filled the entire house where they were sitting together. Then tongues spreading out like
fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them! All of them were filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Holy Spirit enabled them!
Now during the Feast of Pentecost, there were in Jerusalem many people who honoured
God from many nations. ¨Upon hearing the noise, a crowd gathered. They were confused
because each one of them heard the disciples speaking in their own language. The crowd
was completely astonished and said, “Aren’t these men from Galilee? How is it that
each one of us hears them speaking in our own language? We are people from Asia,
Africa, Europe and all over the world and yet we hear them speaking in our own
languages about the mighty works of the Lord God!”
Everyone who could hear was amazed and puzzled, saying to one another, “What does
this mean?” There were others, however, who mocked Jesus’ followers and said, “They
are just drunk with wine.”
But Peter stood up with the other disciples and spoke loudly to the crowd saying, “Men of
Israel and all who live in Jerusalem, listen up! These men are not drunk, as you may
think, as it is only nine o’clock in the morning. But this is what the prophet spoke
about in the Scriptures when he said:
‘In the last days I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your
daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old
men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will
pour out my Spirit in those days and they will prophesy. I will perform many
miraculous wonders and signs and whoever calls upon the name of the Lord
God will be saved.’”
And Peter continued, “Men of Israel, listen up! Father God proved to you who Jesus is
by doing many miracles and wonders through him which you yourselves saw.
Despite this, you and other wicked men killed him by nailing him to the cross. But
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that was all part of Father God’s well thought out plan that he purposed long ago.
Father God raised him up, freeing him from death, because it was impossible for
death to hold him down!
“Now Jesus has been lifted up to the right hand of Father God and has poured out the
Holy Spirit. That is what you are seeing and hearing. Therefore, let all of Israel know
beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Father God has made this Jesus, whom you
crucified, both Lord and Christ!”
Now when the crowd heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked, “Brothers, what
should we do?” Peter answered them, “Repent, turn to the Lord God and be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit. For this promise is to you, your children, and to everyone
everywhere whom the Lord God calls to himself. Now repent and turn away from this
wicked way of life.” About 3000 people responded to Peter’s words and were baptized as
followers of Jesus that day.
The disciples and other followers of Jesus not only told people about Jesus in Jerusalem,
but they went out into all the world telling everyone about Jesus, just as Jesus had
commanded them to do.
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. Jesus had kept his promise and the
disciples did receive his power when the Holy Spirit came upon them! In the next story, we
will hear more about the work Jesus is doing on our behalf from his throne in heaven.
2) What do we learn about Peter and the disciples in this story?
• Notice the boldness of Peter and the disciples compared to a few stories ago.
When Jesus’ body was gone, they were scared of the Jewish religious leaders
and hid behind closed doors. Now Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, is boldly
speaking to the crowd about this resurrected Christ!
• Also notice the confidence and boldness Peter has in Jesus! Jesus restored
Peter as his disciple, calling him to follow Jesus. And certainly here we see Peter
witnessing of Jesus, which is a large result of Jesus’ restoration of Peter.
3) What had Jesus promised his disciples before going back to Father God and why?
• That they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.
• He gave them his Holy Spirit so that they could be his witnesses to the ends of
the earth and for his presence to dwell in the disciples after he himself was gone.
4) Who is the Holy Spirit?
• Jesus made it clear that the Holy Spirit is God, just as the Father and the Son
are God. (Matthew 28:19) God is a Trinity. Three Divine Persons, yet One God.
5) What happened when the believers in this story were baptized in the Holy Spirit?
• They began to speak in other languages as the Holy Spirit enabled them.
6) Have you experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in your life? If not, would you like to?
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33. Jesus, the Great High Priest
This story is important as it challenges a worldview issue here in Zimbabwe. In our context,
there is the traditional idea of ancestral spirits as mediators between man and a distant god.
However, this story shows that it is Jesus alone who is the Great High Priest and mediator
between the Lord God and man.
Make sure to be very lively as you tell this story since there is a lot of information and not
much dialogue.
Main Biblical References: Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 8-9; Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34;
1 Timothy 2:5
Jesus introduces the ultimate spiritual reality to which the Old Testament rituals pointed.
Jesus, the Great High Priest, replaces the whole sacrificial system that was established in
the Law of Moses.
In this story we hear how the blood of Jesus pays the price to redeem us from sin once and
for all. The biblical word ‘redeem’ signifies a price paid for someone to be set free from
slavery or bondage. Here are some key verses on redemption through the blood of Jesus:
Ephesians 1:7
Colossians 1:13,14
Hebrews 9:12
Titus 2:14
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movements.)
154
The Story
Bridge:
In the last story, we heard of the Holy Spirit coming down from heaven in power upon Jesus’
followers in Jerusalem. In today’s story we will hear more about what Jesus is doing in
heaven on our behalf. But to understand this properly, we will need to remember what we
learned awhile ago about two men named Moses and Aaron. And so our story from the Lord
Main Story:
Many centuries before Jesus was born the Lord God told Moses to build a tent so that the
Lord God could live amongst His people. This tent had an outer courtyard, a Holy Place and
a Most Holy Place. The Lord God gave Moses very specific instructions on how to build the
tent, what duties the Levite priests were to perform concerning the tent, and how the
Israelites were to worship him and offer sacrifices to the Lord God.
The priests would regularly enter into the Holy Place to perform their duties for the Lord God,
but only Aaron, the high priest, who represented all the Israelites, could enter the Most
Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement. On that day, Aaron, the high priest, would
sacrifice animals, like bulls and goats. Then Aaron would sprinkle the animals’ blood on the
atonement cover of the Box of the Covenant to cover over his own sins and the sins of the
Israelites.
One man could go directly in the Lord God’s holy presence once a year on behalf of all the
people. The high priest would mediate between the Lord God and all the people. Whenever
Aaron, the high priest, went into the Most Holy Place, it was always with a blood sacrifice,
because without blood, sins could not be covered over. The Day of Atonement happened
year after year and generation after generation. Even when Aaron died, another high priest,
a descendent of Aaron, was appointed to carry on this high priestly task.
However, when Jesus died and rose again, all of this changed. When Jesus returned to the
Lord God in heaven, he became the Great High Priest, representing all of his followers.
Jesus, the Great High Priest, Ruler and King, is seated upon the heavenly throne at the right
hand of the Lord God! He is greater than Aaron and every other high priest who ever was!
When one man, Jesus, entered the Lord God’s presence in heaven, he entered with a
blood sacrifice! He did not enter with the blood of bulls and goats, but Jesus entered the
Lord God’s presence with his own blood which he shed on the cross. The blood of bulls and
goats could only temporarily cover over sin and had to be repeated every year, but the blood
of Jesus paid the price to redeem us from sin once and for all. All who follow Jesus have
had their sin completely removed, and belong to him completely forever! Because of Jesus,
our Great High Priest, we are made fully acceptable to the Lord God and are at peace with
Him.
Aaron, the high priest, served in the tent here on earth, but Jesus, the Great High Priest, is
serving in heaven forever. In fact, the earthly tent, the Lord God’s temporary house, was
actually a model of the Lord God’s permanent house in heaven, which is why the Lord God
gave Moses such specific instructions on how to build it. Aaron had to offer a sacrifice for
his own sin, but Jesus had no sin. Aaron offered a goat for the sins of the people, but Jesus
offered himself. Aaron had to make sacrifices for sin year after year, but Jesus made a
sacrifice for sin once and for all—never needing another sacrifice for sin. When Aaron died,
one of his descendants had to become the next high priest, but Jesus lives forever and is
our Great High Priest forever.
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Jesus is eternally coming before the Lord God’s presence as the high priest on our behalf!
He prays for us and represents us to the Lord God. He is the one and only mediator
between the Lord God and mankind. So let us stand firm in our faith in Jesus because, as
the Lord God’s word says:
“We have a Great High Priest who has gone into heaven. He is Jesus, the Son
of the Lord God. Jesus understands every weakness of ours as he was born a
man and tempted in every way we are. But he did not sin! So whenever we are
in need, we should come boldly before the throne of our merciful Lord God.
There we will be treated with undeserved kindness and we will find help in
every need we face.”
Teaser:
And that is our story from the Lord God’s word. Jesus, the Great High Priest, was sacrificed
and with his own blood he forgave the sins of the people, taking it away once and for all. But
did you realize that Jesus will appear on earth again? He will not come to bear our sin. He
has done that already! But in our next story we will hear that he will come for a very different
reason!
Discu ssio n Qu es tion s
2) What was the function of Aaron, the high priest, when the tent was in use?
• To represent the Israelites to the Lord God, offering sacrifices for them, praying
for them and mediating between the Lord God and mankind.
3) What is the difference between Aaron, the high priest, and Jesus, the Great High Priest?
• Aaron had to go before the presence of God in the tent once every year to offer
repeated sacrifices for the sins of the people. When Aaron died, one of his
descendants had to be appointed as high priest.
• Jesus has offered a perfect sacrifice once and for all for our sins. Jesus lives
forever to represent us before Father God
• We no longer need an earthly priest to offer sacrifices and mediate for us.
4) What do we mean when we speak of Jesus as our “mediator”?
• Jesus Christ is eternally before Father God on our behalf, as our Great High
Priest. He has made peace with the Lord God for all who trust in him through his
shed blood on the cross.
5) What does this story tell us about how we can approach the Lord God?
• We can approach the Lord God freely and with confidence through Jesus
knowing that we will meet the Lord God with undeserved kindness and favour,
not harshness or judgment.
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34. The Return of Jesus
This story shares the exciting news that everyone who has trusted in Jesus, whose names
are written in the book of life, will be part of the Lord God’s great family in the new heaven
and the new earth! Things to emphasize in this story include the fact that when Jesus
returns, there will be a great Day of Judgment when all evil and evildoers will finally be cast
out forever. However, those who have faithfully followed Jesus will be rewarded and allowed
to enter into the new heavens and a new earth. Make sure to emphasize the wonderful
descriptive details of this new city! Now is the time to trust in Jesus as it will be too late to
look to him for salvation after our life ends or after Jesus returns.
Though Jesus rewards us in heaven for our faithfulness in following him, our good deeds are
not what get us into heaven. We are allowed to enter into heaven by the shed blood of the
Lamb, which is how our names are written in the book of life.
John was given this vision and was told to write it down in order to give it to the churches.
One suggestion is that the storyteller can read the quoted parts of the story to the listeners
by writing them down on a small piece of paper inserted within his open Bible. This visually
shows that these visions were written down and were to be read to Jesus’ followers.
Main Biblical References: I Corinthians 15; Revelation 20-22
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movements.)
158
The Story
Bridge:
In the past few stories, we heard about how Jesus died on the cross, rose from the tomb and
appeared to his disciples for forty days, teaching them many things about the Kingdom of
God. Then Jesus ascended into heaven and was seated at the right hand of Father God as
Ruler and King over the entire universe! As the disciples watched Jesus ascend into the
clouds, two angels dressed in white robes stood beside them and said, “Men, why are you
still standing here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who you just saw go up
into heaven, will come back in just the same way!” Over the following years some of
Jesus’ disciples wrote many things about what will happen when Jesus returns. These things
are written in our Bible. And so our story from the Lord God’s word begins.
Main Story:
On the day Jesus returns to earth all those who have died trusting in him will be raised from
the dead. They will receive new resurrected bodies that will never again get sick or old or
die. In the same way, the bodies of all the followers of Jesus who are alive on the earth
when he returns will also be changed. Their mortal bodies will be changed into immortal
bodies that are made to last forever. Death will be no more!4
John was one of the disciples who wrote down things that will happen when Jesus returns.
When John was an old man, he was arrested for preaching about Jesus and was sent away
and imprisoned on an island. Whilst he was there, the Holy Spirit showed John an amazing
vision of things that would happen when Jesus returns to earth again. The Lord God said,
“Write down everything you see in the vision.”
In John’s vision, he saw Jesus returning as Ruler and Judge over all the earth! John heard a
voice saying,
“Look! He is returning with the clouds! Every eye will see him, even those who
pierced him! And all the nations of the earth will mourn when they see him.
Certainly this will happen!”5
John wrote down all that he saw when Jesus returns on this great Day of Judgment:
“I saw the ancient serpent, Satan, thrown into the fiery lake, called hell, which
the Lord God had prepared for him long ago. Satan and all of his demons will be
tormented day and night forever and ever.”6
“Then I saw a great white throne with the Eternal God seated upon it. And I saw
every person who had ever lived, great and small, standing before the throne of
the Eternal God. The court assembled and the books were opened. Every
person, great and small, was judged by what was written in the books, according
to their deeds.
“Another book, called the Book of Life, was also opened. In this book were
written all the names of those who have trusted in Jesus, the Lamb, whose
blood has washed away their sin. If anyone’s name was not found written in the
Book of Life, he was thrown forever into the fiery lake called hell.7
4
1 Corinthians 15
5
Revelation 1:7
Revelation 19:20, 20:10
Revelation 4:2-6; Revelation 20:11-15
6
7
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“Then I saw the new heaven and the new earth, for the first heaven and the first
earth had passed away. And in this new heaven and new earth I saw the holy
city, the New Jerusalem. And I heard a loud voice saying, ‘Now the Lord God is
dwelling amongst his people forever! He will wipe away every tear from their
eyes. There will be no more death, sadness, crying, pain or curse. For the old
things have passed away!’ And the Lord God said, ‘Look, I am making all things
new!’ 8
“The glory of the Lord God is in this beautiful city! The city does not need the
sun or the moon to shine on it because the glory of the Lord God and the Lamb
light it by day and night. The gates of the city will never be closed. Nothing that
is evil or corrupt or shameful or deceitful will ever enter into the city. Only those
whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be allowed to live in the
new heaven and the new earth.” 9
In John’s vision, he also saw a crystal clear river filled with the water of life flowing from the
throne where the Lord God and the Lamb were seated. This river flowed through the middle
of the city and on each side of the river was the Tree of Life, producing wonderful fruit all
year long. Men and women from every tribe, language and nation, will serve Jesus and
participate with him in his glorious eternal plans. They will reign with Jesus in this new
heaven and earth forever and ever.10 People of all the nations will bring the special things
from all their cultures that bring glory and honour to the Lord God in this wonderful new
world. All will delight together in the Lord God’s great glory and beauty.
There will be much worship and rejoicing in this new creation in the presence of the Lord
God. All people will worship forever with words like these:
“The Lamb who was slain deserves to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength,
honour, glory, and praise!
“To the One on the Throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory
and strength forever and ever!”
As John’s vision was ending, Jesus wanted to encourage his followers to keep faithfully
following after him. Jesus said,
“Look, I am coming soon! I am bringing my rewards with me! I will give
rewards to everyone according to their faithfulness in following me. I am the
First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. How blessed are all those who
are washed in the blood of the Lamb! They will enter the city gates of the New
Jerusalem and have free access to the Tree of Life.” 11
After seeing all these things, John responded to the vision by saying, “Come, Lord Jesus!
Return!” The Lord God told John to write down the vision he saw and so he did. He wrote it
down just as the Lord God wanted it because he was carried along by the Holy Spirit as he
wrote. And that is our story from the Lord God’s word.
8
Revelation 21:1-5; 22:3
Revelation 21:9-27
10
Revelation 22:1-5
11
Revelation 22:10-15
9
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2) What do we learn about those who don’t follow the Lamb? And about those who do
follow the Lamb?
3) Why do you think some people will mourn when they see Jesus returning?
• When he returns, everyone will see him, but the peoples of the earth (nonbelievers) will mourn as they know their judgment is near!
4) Why did the Lord God create hell?
• The Lord God cannot allow evil to stay in his presence so there has to be a place
where evildoers go that is away from the Lord God.
5) What will life be like in the new heaven and the new earth? How will it be different than
now?
• Since Satan, his evil demons, and all evildoers will be thrown into hell forever
there will be no more evil, sin, wickedness or sorrow in the new heaven and new
earth.
6) At Jesus’ coming, he is planning to reward all his people for their faithfulness to him in
this life. How does that fact affect the way we live?
7) How can you prepare yourself for Jesus’ second coming? How can you help others
prepare?
• Believe in Jesus, turn away from your sinful ways and ask Jesus to forgive you of
your sins, then you can be sure that your name will be written down in the Book
of Life. You can become a follower of Jesus and a citizen of the New Jerusalem
right now! Then you too can have the privilege of telling everyone you know and
meet that they, too, can come to Jesus and receive this eternal life. This is the
Lord God’s Big Salvation Story!
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Chronological Bible Storying: Redemptive Track

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