The Story of Abraham & Sarah (June 30th & July 7th)

ABRAHAM 

Season of the Church Year: Common Time/ “Great Green Growing” Season  (green)

Story in Scripture: Genesis 12:24- 25:11

This week, we learned about the life of Abram- who became Abraham, the father of the Great Family. This is one of the first lessons of the season focused on the Old Testament “Sacred Stories.” Our attention to Abram’s story begins when God sends he and Sarah in to a new land. We spend considerable time discussing God’s promise fulfilled through the birth of Isaac, and Abraham’s difficult word from God to sacrifice his son (although of course, an angel of the Lord stops him and goes on to say, “God says, ‘I will make you the father of a great family… as many as the grains of the sand in the desert and the stars of the sky. And I will make of you a great blessing, because you obeyed me and trusted what I told you to do.’”

Guiding Questions for Discussion:

(Note: These are the usual questions that are asked after Old Testament character studies.)

Now I wonder which part of the story you liked best?

I wonder what part is the most important?

I wonder what part is about you…. Or what part was especially for you?

I wonder what the story of Abraham and his family might be teaching you?

Prayer:

“Dear Lord, thank you for the story of Abraham. I pray that I would be as obedient to your calling as he was. I also pray that I would wait very patiently for your promises. I know that sometimes I want things to happen quickly, but I know that you will care for me and give me all the things that I need when I need them. I love you and I thank you for all the wonderful blessings that I get to enjoy each day. Amen.” 

SARAH

Season of the Church Year: Common Time/ “Great Green Growing” Season  (green)

Story in Scripture: Genesis 12- 23 & 1 Peter 3:6

This week, we learned about the life of Sarah, the wife of Abraham, father of the Great Family. Much of Sarah’s story centers around her relationship with her husband as they await God’s promise of a family. It’s a bit tricky to explain to children, but we tell the story of Hagar (whom we call a “helper”) and the birth of Ishmael. The fulfillment of God’s promise in the birth of Isaac is celebrated and the sad conflict between Sarah and Hagar is told directly, leaving time for the children to reflect on how each person involved might have felt. Our storytelling about Sarah concludes with the time in which she awaits the return of Abraham and Isaac from the mountain on which Abraham followed God’s call to sacrifice his son, but was redeemed by the word from an angel.

Guiding Questions for Discussion:

(Note: These are the usual questions that are asked after Old Testament character studies.)

Now I wonder which part of the story you liked best?

I wonder what part is the most important?

I wonder what part is about you…. Or what part was especially for you?

I wonder what the story of Sarah and her family might be teaching you?

Prayer:

“Dear Lord, thank you for the story of Sarah. I pray that you will help me to understand how this story teaches me something about my life. Walk beside me each day and help me to be patient and trust that you will fulfill the promises that you have made. Help me to wait on you, instead of always trying to fix things myself. Amen.”