covenant with abram - cokesbury god's covenant continued. • abraham is called the father of...

Lesson Flow

85Unit 3 | God Keeps His Covenant Promises | Lesson 9

Memory Verse

= requires extra preparation

Memory VerseHe remembers his

covenant forever, the

word he commanded,

for a thousand

generations.

—Psalm 105:8

Heart Prep � Meet with God

Connect � “Symbol of a Promise” activity page

� Old clothes, an old sheet, or other fabric

� Standard supplies: scissors

Into the Word � Bibles

� Big Bible Panorama from Preteen Rio Basics

� “Abraham” StoryPoint from Preteen Rio Basics

� “Covenant” StoryPoint from Preteen Rio Basics

� Standard supplies: sticky putty

BreakOUT #1: Clinging to the Covenant (optional, 10 min.)

� Foam pool noodles (2 to 4)

� Optional: small prizes

Go DeepNo materials

BreakOUT #2: Our Faithful God (optional, 5–10 min.)

� “Your Grace Is Enough” audio from the DVD-ROM

� Standard supplies: DVD player

� Optional: computer, worship CD and CD player

ReConnect � “My Promise” activity page

� Cloth bracelets from Connect

� Standard supplies: paper, pens or pencils

Genesis 15; Psalm 105:8–10;

Luke 1:68–75

Covenant with Abram

86

Heart Prep

Almighty God,

How beautiful You are. Thank You for being willing to enter into our lives, to reveal Yourself in ways

that we’re able to understand. Thank You for entering into a relationship with Abram so long ago so

that we could be redeemed. Your plan extends from the beginning to the end, and it is wonderful to

see it fulfi lled. Thank You for giving us glimpses of Your plans, Your promises, and Your perfection.

In the name of Jesus, the One who perfectly fulfi lled the covenant, amen.

“Do not be afraid, Abram,” God’s voice booms. “I

am your shield, your very great reward.”

Picture God showing up and audibly speaking those

words to you. Imagine the awe, the amazement, the joy.

God almighty—our eternal reward.

Abram has already established a relationship with

God. He heard God’s voice before, and he followed it

by leaving his father’s land and going to where God

directed him (Genesis 12). God also promised him many

descendants, but Abram was still waiting.

So when God shows up this time, Abram asks questions.

“What can you give me, since I remain childless?” he asks.

God takes him outside. Count the stars if you can, He

says. That’s the number of your off spring.

Abram believes God, and God declares him to be

righteous because of his faith.

� Abram openly talks with God and asks Him

questions, requesting proof. In your faith journey,

do you talk to God and ask Him questions? Do

you feel free to interact with Him in this way?

God reminds Abram that He has also promised him

expansive lands. Again, Abram wonders audibly, “How

can I know?” (emphasis added).

So God makes a covenant with Abram. God enters into

Abram’s world, showing us yet another aspect of His

humble character.

The covenant between God and Abram means that

they’re entering into an eternal relationship. Both promise

to follow certain rules. But this covenant ceremony diff ers

in one way: God steps in and promises to keep both sides

of the covenant. He knows Abram and his descendants

will fail. But even as God looks down the corridor of time

and sees the countless ways men and women will stray

from His promise, He still establishes an eternal

relationship with humanity.

God knows that He alone can carry out this promise. So

He walks through the path of blood for both of them.

When Abram fails to keep the covenant, God will pay for

it with His own blood.

Thousands of years later, Christ hangs on the cross, blood

dripping to the ground. “It is fi nished,” He cries. His blood

has fulfi lled the terms of the covenant cut so long ago.

� What does it mean to you that God has kept His

promises throughout the ages?

God confi rmed this covenant and then reaffi rmed it over

and over again. He didn’t have to do this.

What humility. What grace. What beauty.

Even as God looks down the corridor of time and sees the countless ways men and women will stray from His promise, He still establishes an eternal relationship with humanity.

Genesis 15; Psalm 105:8–10;

Luke 1:68–75

5

Unit 3 | God Keeps His Covenant Promises | Lesson 9 87

Genesis 15; Psalm 105:8–10; Luke 1:68–75

ConnectMATERIALS

� “Symbol of a Promise” activity page

� Old clothes, an old sheet, or other fabric

� Standard supplies: scissors

Before your preteens arrive, gather up some old clothes, an old sheet, or some inexpensive

fabric. Also, you might e-mail your students’ families earlier in the week and ask them to

send along some old clothes or fabric. Write the Memory Verse on the whiteboard.

As your students arrive, hug them and remind them you’ve been praying for them. Then

ask them if they’re good at remembering things or if that’s diffi cult for them. What kinds of

things do they tend to forget?

Once most of your preteens have arrived, have everyone sit together. Share one of your

favorite memories with your students and then one of your funniest memories. Be sure

to share why these events stick out in your mind. Once you’ve shared and allowed your

students to ask questions, engage them in the conversation.

� What’s one of your best memories? What’s one of your funniest?

� How do you make sure you’ll remember things in the future? Do you journal,

take pictures, or talk about past events with family members?

God often tells His people to remember the things He’s done for them. One of the ways He

helps His people remember is by creating covenants. Throughout the Bible, a covenant is a

symbol of a special relationship or a promise between God and His people.

Introduce the new Memory Verse to your students and recite it together. God has

remembered His promises to us for thousands of years, and He is faithful to fulfi ll them.

He remembers his covenant forever, the

word he commanded, for a thousand

generations.

Psalm 105:8

Hand out the “Symbol of a Promise” activity pages. Have the students work together in

groups as they follow the instructions to create symbolic bracelets. Once your preteens

have fi nished their bracelets, have them set them aside. You’ll come back to them later

during ReConnect.

Name: ________________________________________ Unit 3 | Lesson 9 | God’s Covenant with Abram

God often instructed His people to remember His goodness to them by building

monuments or creating covenants. They could look at the monument or think about the

covenant and remember what God had done.

1. Cut or tear three strips of fabric,

with each strip about a foot long.

2. Hold the ends of the three strips

together and tie them into a knot.

3. Braid the strips tightly.

4. Tie a knot at the end of the braid.

5. Ask a friend to tie the braid around

your wrist. If it’s too long, trim the

braid before knotting the end.

y building

monument or think about the

had done.

With this activity you’ll make your own symbol to remind

yourself of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises.

9Symbol of a Promise

Memory

Verse

88

God’s Covenant with Abram

MATERIALS

� Bibles

� Big Bible Panorama from Preteen Rio Basics

� “Abraham” StoryPoint from Preteen Rio Basics

� “Covenant” StoryPoint from Preteen Rio Basics

� Standard supplies: sticky putty

We fi rst learn about Abram in detail in Genesis 12. God speaks to him and tells

him to leave his father’s land because God is going to bring him to a new land.

God tells Abram that He will make him into a great nation with many

descendants and that he will be blessed so he, in turn, can bless the whole

world through his off spring. Abram immediately obeys God and moves on

with his wife, Sarai.

Have your students turn to Genesis 15 in their Bibles and ask for a volunteer to read

verse 1. Abram had already heard from God and obeyed His voice by leaving his

people and moving to a new land. God had promised to make him a great nation

with many descendants. In Genesis 15, God appears again, reminding Abram of who

He is and the protection He off ers.

Abram lived during a time when people worshipped many diff erent gods. His

homeland of Ur was dedicated to Nanner, a god of the moon. The people of Ur

worshipped Nanner, among many other gods. Abram must have heard of a lot of

gods who made promises. But this God—the one, true God—appeared to Abram

personally over and over again.

Ask for a volunteer to place the “Abraham” StoryPoint on your Big Bible Panorama

timeline using sticky putty. You can refer to the Big Bible Panorama diagram on

page 131 of your leader’s guide to see where the “Abraham” StoryPoint should be

placed. Abram (whose name is later changed to Abraham) is the father of the Israelite

people—through his descendants God brings about a mighty nation and the

blessing of Jesus for the entire world!

� Why did God tell Abram not to be afraid?

� What does it mean that God is Abram’s “very great reward”?

Ask for a volunteer to read Genesis 15:2–3 aloud to the others. God speaks to Abram, and

Abram responds by asking what God will give him. Remember, Abram and God have

already begun a relationship. God has already promised him descendants. Abram reminds

God that, so far, he doesn’t have any children! During Bible times, if a person died without

any children, his chief servant would inherit all of his property and responsibilities. Abram’s

oldest servant was apparently Eliezer, whom we likely see mentioned in Genesis 24, after

God has followed through by providing a son for Abram.

Into the Word

asked Adam to tend it.

• God promised

Abraham land and

descendants and

told him all people

would be blessed

through him.

• God miraculously

gave Abraham a son,

Isaac, and through

him, God's covenant

continued.

• Abraham is called

the father of the

Jewish people.

Through his line of

descendants, Jesus

came as a blessing to

the whole world!

Abraham

Unit 3 | God Keeps His Covenant Promises | Lesson 9


89

Leader Tip

Abram can’t see how God’s promise will come true when the possibility isn’t right in front

of him. Abram’s response is natural to us—we can’t see the future, so we question how God

will fulfi ll His promises.

� Do you ever ask God questions about your future?

� In what ways has God answered you before? In what ways are you still waiting

to hear His answer?

Have a volunteer read Genesis 15:4–5 aloud. God answers Abram; He even takes him outside

to show him a picture of how numerous his descendants will be. What a gracious God to

take the time to explain Himself to humankind! God does it here with Abram, but He’s also

explained His character and nature to us through His Word, His prophets, and His Spirit. How

wonderful of God to lavish His attention and time upon us so freely and patiently.

� Why do you think God chose Abram to be the father of a nation?

Ask a volunteer to read verse 6 to the group. God chose Abram to become the father of His

people. Abram was nothing special; he wasn’t a king or a ruler. He was a simple man who

decided to obey God. God often uses those who are ordinary—but obedient—to complete

His will. Abram believed God, and in that belief, God blessed him with a righteous faith. God

does the same for us: Our faith in Jesus Christ makes us blameless and righteous before God

(Romans 3:22–23).

BreakOUT #1: Clinging to the Covenant (10 min.) MATERIALS

� Foam pool noodles (2 to 4)

� Optional: small prizes

God made big promises to Abram, and Abram decided to believe that God would

keep them. Abram had to choose to cling to these promises even when he couldn’t

see how God would fulfi ll them. This activity will give your preteens a picture of what

it means to hold on tightly to God’s covenant.

Depending on the size of your group, hand out the foam pool noodles, or “covenant

noodles,” to two to four students. Send these students to the middle of the room.

Have the other students spread out around the room and freeze in position with their

hands outstretched. These students need to keep their eyes tightly shut.

When you say, “Go!” the students holding the covenant noodles should start walking

around, sweeping the noodles past the frozen students. When the students feel

noodles sweep past, they should try to grab them. They can’t open their eyes until

they’ve fi rmly grasped the noodle! Once they’ve caught a noodle, they become part

of the team. They must continue to hold on to the noodle and then help collect

other kids onto the team. The “covenant leaders” who fi rst held the noodles must

continue to carefully lead the growing team of “covenant holders” that they pick up.

You might want to make your

room more comfortable by

placing large pillows or beanbags

around the room or furnishing

it with a couch. Try to use all

the space in your room so that

you don’t always confi ne your

activities to a table.

90


Once everyone has successfully grasped the covenant, see which team has the most

players. You may want to reward the members of the winning team with small prizes.

Even when we can’t see how God will fulfi ll His promises, we know from His Word and

from our previous experiences that He is trustworthy. It is always worth it to cling to

Him—He is always faithful to come through.

Have a volunteer read Genesis 15:7–8 aloud. Again Abram questions God. How can he really

know that God will do this for him? God responds again.

� Why did Abram continue to question God? Do you think he had weak faith? Or

did he have a lot of faith? Explain your answer.

Have a volunteer read verses 9–11 aloud.

In biblical times, a covenant meant more than just an ordinary promise or an agreement.

It required a special ceremony during which vows were taken and the two parties entered

into a relationship.

This type of covenant was familiar to Abram, which was why he knew to cut the animals

in two and arrange them opposite to each other. The blood from the animals would run

toward the middle, creating a stream. The animals that God asked Abram to bring were

the same animals that God later commanded the Israelites to use whenever they brought

off erings to the Lord (Leviticus 1).

� Why do you think people in Bible times made covenants this way?

The covenant process that God and Abram were depicting usually involved

two parties—a greater person and a lesser person. The greater person would

establish all of the rules of the covenant, and the lesser person would agree

to them. In God and Abram’s case, God promised to provide Abram with land

(Genesis 15:18–21) and numerous descendants that would bless the entire world

(Genesis 12:2–3).

God makes the promises here—even though He is the greater party. Abram

believes the Lord and it is credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Later, God

commands Abram to walk blamelessly before Him, and they reconfi rm their covenant

(Genesis 17:1–2).

As we will discover as we study Abram’s descendants, they did not uphold Abram’s

belief in God’s promises—they turned away from God, sinned, and worshipped false

gods. God knew this would happen, and that makes His willingness to enter into a

covenant with Abram even more meaningful.

Ask one of your students to put the “Covenant” StoryPoint on the Big Bible Panorama

timeline using sticky putty. You can refer to the BBP diagram on page 131 of your

• God created the

asked Adam to tend it.

• God appeared to

Abram and cut a

covenant with him

(Genesis 15).

• Later, God confi rmed

His covenant with

the entire nation

of Israel on Mount

Sinai (Exodus 19). He

promised to always

provide for Israel.

• In the New Testament,

Jesus created a new

covenant through

His saving blood.

We remember this

covenant by recalling

His sacrifi ce when

we take communion

(Luke 22:19–20).

Covenant



91

leader’s guide to see where the “Covenant” StoryPoint should be placed. God created a

covenant with Abram, and He renewed that promise to the nation of Israel hundreds of

years later. Even later, Jesus created a new covenant through His sacrifi ce on the cross.

The covenant process in Bible times usually involved the lesser person agreeing to many

more terms than the greater person. What is interesting in the Genesis 15 passage is that

God—the greater party—talks about all of the promises He is making. The focus is on the

Lord and what He will do.

� Why do you think God is making the promises in this covenant ceremony?

Ask a volunteer to read Genesis 15:12–16 aloud. Abram falls into a deep sleep and

experiences a “thick and dreadful darkness.” That Hebrew expression would be similar to the

English description of someone being “scared out of his mind.” Abram is about to enter an

everlasting covenant with the one true God. He knows his own weaknesses—he probably

knows that he and his descendants will fail to keep their promises.

� Why do you think Abram was terrifi ed at this moment?

God speaks to Abram and tells him that his descendants will be in slavery for 400 years but

will return one day to the land of Israel. This comes true later when Abram’s descendants

move to Egypt and end up in slavery to Pharaoh. But God later rescues them from slavery and

demonstrates His majestic power in the great exodus. God brings Abram’s descendants back

to the land He’d promised them.

� Why do you think God allowed Abram’s descendants to be in slavery?

Have a volunteer read verses 17–21 aloud.

Go Deep MATERIALS

None

Ask your students to fi nd quiet spots around the room and close their eyes. If possible,

dim the lights. As you share the following information with your students, ask them to

imagine that they’re present as this ceremony is about to take place.

God and Abram are entering into an eternal covenant. Blood has been shed. Abram is

frightened, but God is present.

As God and Abram stand ready to enter into their covenant, a “smoking fi repot with a

blazing torch” appears and passes between the animals.

In the Bible, smoke represents the presence of God. He appears on Mount Sinai in a cloud

of smoke (Exodus 19:18), Isaiah sees a vision of God surrounded by smoke (Isaiah 6:4), and

the temple of God fi lls with smoke because of His presence (Revelation 15:8). The smoking

fi repot is God showing up to solidify His promises as one half of the covenant.

92


Now the blazing torch appears. Fire is another substance that represents God

throughout the Bible. God appears to Moses in a burning bush (Exodus 3:2), God

reveals His presence through fi re at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:18), and God appears to the

New Testament believers as tongues of fi re (Acts 2:3–4).

But as the ceremony starts, God appears twice—as smoke and fi re—and walks

between the animals in Abram’s place. God Almighty walks through the path of blood

created for Abram by the dead animals. God knows that Abram and his descendants

won’t keep their promises, so He takes their place. God is implying that He would

rather die than allow His covenant with Abram to be broken.

Abram’s descendants meet with God hundreds of years later and make a covenant

with Him, promising that they will obey God only. They fail to keep their promises—

they disobey and worship other gods. But God always remained faithful to His

covenant promises. He gave Abram all that He said He would. And mankind’s role in

breaking the covenant was ultimately redeemed when God sent His Son, Jesus, as a

sacrifi ce for our sins thousands of years later.

� What does it mean to you that God took Abram’s place as they made

the covenant?

Ask your students to turn to Psalm 105 in their Bibles. Have a volunteer read verses 8–10 aloud,

and then ask one of your students to recite the Memory Verse.



generations.

Psalm 105:8

� What does it mean to you to know that God has kept His promises for

thousands of years?

This psalm was written hundreds of years after Abram and God made their covenant. God

had come through—He had given them land and made Abram’s descendants as numerous

as the stars. But they still waited to see the ultimate fulfi llment of the covenant through a

Messiah who would bless the whole world (Genesis 12:3).

� What promises have you seen God keep in your own life?

Have the students turn to Luke 1 in their Bibles. John the Baptist has just been born, and

his father, Zechariah, praises the Lord for fulfi lling His promises. He takes time to remember

what God has done and has yet to do.

Ask for a volunteer to read verses 68–75 to the group. In this passage, Zechariah praises

God for keeping His word to the people of Israel. By this time, Jesus is about to be born—it

Leader TipIs there something God has said

in His Word that you don’t fully

understand? If so, share your

thoughts with the students.

Sharing your questions with the

students will help them to know

that even adults don’t always

have all of the answers.

Memory

Verse



93

has been thousands of years since Abram and God fi rst made their covenant. But God

has continued to bless and continue His relationship with Israel, even when they’ve failed

to follow Him. And through the birth of Jesus, God brought ultimate fulfi llment to the

covenant He made so long ago.

BreakOUT #2: Our Faithful God (5–10 min.) MATERIALS

� “Your Grace Is Enough” from the DVD-ROM

� Standard supplies: DVD player

� Optional: computer, worship CD and CD player

Take some time to joyfully praise God for His faithfulness, just like Zechariah did. God

was faithful to His covenant, and He is still keeping His promises to us today. Play the

song “Your Grace Is Enough” from the DVD-ROM (using a DVD player or computer).

The lyrics are on the DVD-ROM as well, or you can fi nd them on the Internet.

If you don’t have access to a DVD player or computer, you may want to have your

students listen to your own worship music on a CD player. As you listen to the music,

allow your preteens to express their gratefulness to God through song, movement,

and verbal expression.

God continues to love us and help us, even when we do wrong or don’t listen

to Him. He has promised that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans

8:38–39). What a privilege to have a God who’s faithful even when we aren’t!

MATERIALS

� “My Promise” activity page

� Cloth bracelets from Connect

� Standard supplies: pens or pencils

Let your students collect the symbol bracelets they made during Connect, and pass out the

“My Promise” activity pages. Pass out pens or pencils as well.

Ask your preteens to think about a promise they would like to make to God. It may have to

do with committing to work on loving family members, memorizing Scripture, serving those

in need, or lifting up their requests to God on a daily basis. Allow them to write down their

promises on their activity pages.

As they describe the aspects of their relationship with God that they’d like to work on, read

the Memory Verse aloud to them.

ReConnect

He remembers his covenant forever,

the word he commanded, for a thousand generations.

—Psalm 105:8

Think about a promise you would like to make to God. It might be working on loving

a family member, memorizing Scripture, serving those in need, or lifting up your requests to God

on a daily basis. Remember: Even when we fail to keep our promises, God always keeps His and

can help us to live as He wants us to.

© 2010 David C. Cook. Rio. A© 2010 David C. Cook. Rio. All rights reserved. ights reserved. vid C.d

9My Promise

94




generations.

Psalm 105:8

Remind them that God is the One who remembers His promises and is faithful to keep

them—even when we don’t keep ours. Just as God took Abram’s place, God also took

our place when Jesus died on the cross for us. As the students write down their promises,

remind them that even when we forget or fail, God is always gracious and faithful to help us

grow closer to Him.

After the students fi nish, ask them to pair up. Allow them to share their commitment ideas

with one another, and then ask each student to tie a bracelet onto his partner’s wrist.

Remind the preteens that their bracelets are there to remind them of God’s faithfulness to

them. The bracelet can be a symbol to remind them of their promises to God and God’s

everlasting promise to love and deliver them.

Encourage your preteens to share their promise ideas with their families so that they can

work together to honor God through taking steps to grow closer to Him.

As you end this time, pray together, blessing God for His grace and thanking Him for being

faithful to remember and fulfi ll His promises.

Memory

Verse

PreteenPreteen BreakOUT Activity (10 min.)

God Focus: God’s Covenant with AbramScripture Focus: Genesis 15; Psalm 105:8–10; Luke 1:68–75Topics: God’s faithfulness, covenants, trust

Materials Foam pool noodles (2 to 4) Small prizes (optional)

“Clinging to the Covenant”(Unit 3, Lesson 9, BreakOUT #1)

1815110_BO_cards-L4.indd 371815110_BO_cards-L4.indd 37 3/3/10 11:11 AM3/3/10 11:11 AM

© 2010 David C. Cook. Rio. All rights reserved.

God made big promises to Abram, and Abram made the choice to cling to these promises, even when he couldn’t see how God would fulfi ll them. This activity will give your preteens a visual picture of what it means to hold on tightly to God’s covenant.

Depending on the size of your group, hand out the foam pool noodles, or “covenant noodles,” to two to four students. Send the students to the middle of the room. Have the other students spread out around the room and freeze in position with their hands outstretched and eyes closed.

When you say, “Go!” the students holding the covenant noodles should start walking around, sweeping the noodles past the frozen students. When the students feel noodles sweep past, they should try to grab them. They can’t open their eyes until they’ve fi rmly grasped a noodle! Once they’ve caught a noodle, they must continue to hold on to the noodle and then help collect other preteens onto the team. The “covenant leaders” who fi rst held the noodles must carefully lead the growing team of “covenant holders” that they pick up. Once everyone has successfully grasped the covenant, see which team has the most players. You may want to reward this team with small prizes.

Even when we can’t see how God will fulfi ll His promises, we know from His Word and our previous experiences that He is trustworthy. It is always worth it to cling to Him—He is always faithful to come through.


PreteenPreteen BreakOUT Activity (5–10 min.)

God Focus: God’s Covenant with AbramScripture Focus: Genesis 15; Psalm 105:8–10; Luke 1:68–75Topics: God’s faithfulness, God’s promises, praise

Materials “Your Grace Is Enough” audio from the DVD-ROM

DVD player or computer Optional: worship CD and CD player

“Our Faithful God”(Unit 3, Lesson 9, BreakOUT #2)


© 2010 David C. Cook. Rio. All rights reserved.

Take some time to joyfully praise God for His faithfulness, just like Zechariah did. God was faithful to His covenant, and He is still keeping His promises to us today. Using a DVD player or computer, play the song “Your Grace Is Enough” from the DVD-ROM. The lyrics are available on the DVD-ROM as well, or you can fi nd them on the Internet.

If you don’t have access to a DVD player or computer, you might have your preteens listen to your own worship music on a CD player. As you listen to the music, allow your students to express their gratefulness to God through song, movement, and verbal expression.

God continues to love us and help us even when we do wrong or don’t listen to Him. He has promised that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38–39). What a privilege to have a God who is faithful even when we aren’t!


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