The stories in the whole Bible, including both Old and New Testament stories, is connected to Jesus in some way. As we teach our children the different stories and poems, different characters and different events in the Bible, I hope we could pinpoint them to Jesus. If we could connect Jesus to every story they hear, they would understand how the plan of God unfolds from Genesis to Revelation.
I did not receive a review copy of this book The Gospel Story: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments, but when I saw the preview pages (embedded below), I thought of sharing this with you. This new beautifully illustrated Bible Story book does what I have mentioned above - connect Jesus to every story. In addition, at the end of every story, the author has put in simple questions for the kids to explore. This is certainly a wonderful resource for every Christian family who wants to teach their kids the Bible at home, for every Sunday School class or Christian school.
Free resources for Kids Sunday School and Children's Church
Showing posts with label Story Telling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Story Telling. Show all posts
Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel
Are you a patient person? Or are you someone who wants to get what you want right away? It is difficult to wait sometimes especially when you really, really want something or when you really, really need something done.
Well, remember Jacob? After he got the blessings from Isaac, his father, he went away from his family because his brother, Esau, was so furious that he wanted to kill him. On his way to his mother's relatives, he stopped by the city called Luz. He had a dream of the ladder to heaven where God told him that he will be blessed. Then, off he went to Paddan Aram.
This is the what happened to Jacob (Genesis 29) ...
When he arrived in Paddan Aram, he saw a well and there met Rachel, the second daughter of Laban. Laban is his mother's, Rebekah's, brother. Jacob helped Rachel water the sheep and told her that he is the son of Rebekah, his father's sister. So, Rachel ran back home and told him father who welcomed Jacob to his house.
Jacob stayed and worked in Laban's house for a whole month. Then, Laban said he will pay Jacob for working for him. Now Jacob was in love with Rachel so he said, "I will work for you 7 years in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage." Laban agreed.
Seven long years! But to Jacob it seemed like only a few days because he loves Rachel. When Jacob completed his work, he asked for Rachel's hand. So Jacob got married but when he woke up the next morning, he saw that it was not Rachel whom he married, but Leah, the older sister of Rachel.
He's been tricked! It was kinda like when he tricked his father, Isaac. He went to Laban and asked why he tricked him. Laban said that it is their custom for the older daughter to be married first so he gave Leah. But after the bridal week, he will also give him Rachel in exchange for another 7 years of work. Jacob agreed, got married to Rachel and worked for another 7 years for Laban.
KIDS DISCUSSION
1. Who were the relatives of Jacob whom he met in Paddan Aram?
2. What pay did Jacob agree to receive for working 7 years for Jacob?
3. Why was he willing to wait that long? Do you have the patience to wait that long? (Jacob loved Rachel. If you want something really good, you ought to be willing to wait for it like when mommy is cooking a delicious meal).
4. What happened on the day Jacob got married?
5. Why was it that he did not do something bad in return for Laban's trick on him?
6. Would you have done as Jacob did?
7. What lessons can we learn from this story? (Patience, willing to wait for the best thing, not to reciprocate evil for evil...)
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
KIDS' ACTIVITY
1. Jacob and Rachel coloring page from Biblewise.
2. Jacob and Rachel worksheet. You can ask bigger kids to read the text and answer the questions.
3. Playing with Clay. You can give the children some clay and let them make a boy (Jacob) and a girl (Rachel) clay. You can also make the other characters. Then, retell the story using these clay figures.
To give you an idea of how to make the people clay figures, you can check out the two videos below
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| Jacob and Rachel. Image from Wikipedia |
This is the what happened to Jacob (Genesis 29) ...
When he arrived in Paddan Aram, he saw a well and there met Rachel, the second daughter of Laban. Laban is his mother's, Rebekah's, brother. Jacob helped Rachel water the sheep and told her that he is the son of Rebekah, his father's sister. So, Rachel ran back home and told him father who welcomed Jacob to his house.
Jacob stayed and worked in Laban's house for a whole month. Then, Laban said he will pay Jacob for working for him. Now Jacob was in love with Rachel so he said, "I will work for you 7 years in exchange for Rachel's hand in marriage." Laban agreed.
Seven long years! But to Jacob it seemed like only a few days because he loves Rachel. When Jacob completed his work, he asked for Rachel's hand. So Jacob got married but when he woke up the next morning, he saw that it was not Rachel whom he married, but Leah, the older sister of Rachel.
He's been tricked! It was kinda like when he tricked his father, Isaac. He went to Laban and asked why he tricked him. Laban said that it is their custom for the older daughter to be married first so he gave Leah. But after the bridal week, he will also give him Rachel in exchange for another 7 years of work. Jacob agreed, got married to Rachel and worked for another 7 years for Laban.
KIDS DISCUSSION
1. Who were the relatives of Jacob whom he met in Paddan Aram?
2. What pay did Jacob agree to receive for working 7 years for Jacob?
3. Why was he willing to wait that long? Do you have the patience to wait that long? (Jacob loved Rachel. If you want something really good, you ought to be willing to wait for it like when mommy is cooking a delicious meal).
4. What happened on the day Jacob got married?
5. Why was it that he did not do something bad in return for Laban's trick on him?
6. Would you have done as Jacob did?
7. What lessons can we learn from this story? (Patience, willing to wait for the best thing, not to reciprocate evil for evil...)
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
KIDS' ACTIVITY
1. Jacob and Rachel coloring page from Biblewise.
2. Jacob and Rachel worksheet. You can ask bigger kids to read the text and answer the questions.
3. Playing with Clay. You can give the children some clay and let them make a boy (Jacob) and a girl (Rachel) clay. You can also make the other characters. Then, retell the story using these clay figures.
To give you an idea of how to make the people clay figures, you can check out the two videos below
Jacob Gets Isaac's Blessings
Have you ever played tricks or jokes on your brother or sister or any of your family members? How did that make them feel? This time, we will study the story of Jacob and Esau when their father, Isaac was already old and his eyes were already so weak.
One day, Isaac called his favorite son, Esau, and told him that he is already old and do not know when he will die. So, he told Esau to go out and hunt some wild game. Afterward, he will cook it into a tasty dish and give it to Isaac. Then he will bestow his blessings on him. Esau quickly went out to do what is asked of him.
Now, Rebekah, Isaac's wife heard what he told Esau. She immediately told her son, Jacob, about the conversation and instructed him to bring two young goats so she can prepare the tasty dish which he will bring to Isaac, that he may receive the blessing.
But Jacob told his mother that his brother Esau is hairy and he is not. His mother told him that she will take care of that. After preparing the dish, Rebekah took Esau's clothes and put them on Jacob. She also put goatskins on his hands and the smooth part of his neck. Then, off he went to Isaac's tent.
This is how the conversation between Isaac and Jacob went. (This can be done by two people who will role play as Jacob and Isaac).
Jacob: My father.
Isaac: Yes, my son. Who is it?
Jacob: I am Esau. I have done as you told me. Please sit up, eat some of this tasty dish so that you may give me your blessing.
Isaac: How did you find it so quickly, my son?
Jacob: The Lord your God gave me success.
Isaac: Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.
(Jacob went close to Isaac who touched him)
Isaac: The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau. Are you really my son Esau?
Jacob: I am.
Isaac: My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.
(Jacob brought it to Isaac and he ate. He also gave some wine and he drank.)
Isaac: Come here, my son and kiss me.
(Jacob went and kissed him. Then Isaac blessed him.)
After Jacob received the blessing and left Isaac's tent, Esau arrived. When Esau went into his father's tent and learned that Jacob has acted deceitfully, he cried bitterly. He held a grudge against Jacob and said to himself that he will kill his brother Jacob after his father dies.
This Bible story can be found in Genesis 27:1-42.
KIDS DISCUSSION
1. What did old Isaac tell his son Esau?
2. What did Rebekah tell his son Jacob?
3. How did Jacob disguise himself to get the blessing from Isaac?
4. How did Esau feel when he learned that Jacob got the blessing?
5. What can we learn from this story? (We should not tell lies. Lies and trickery can hurt other people)
MEMORY VERSE: Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to each other.
KIDS ACTIVITY:
1. Coloring pages: Jacob Gets Isaac's Blessings; Memory Verse
2. Review the story by letting the kids answer this Crossword puzzle.
3. Role playing. Let the children do the role playing of the conversation between Isaac and Jacob.
4. Playing Disguise. Make an easy paper plate mask. This can be done at the beginning and the children can play "guess who" before telling the story of Jacob Gets Isaac's Blessings.
One day, Isaac called his favorite son, Esau, and told him that he is already old and do not know when he will die. So, he told Esau to go out and hunt some wild game. Afterward, he will cook it into a tasty dish and give it to Isaac. Then he will bestow his blessings on him. Esau quickly went out to do what is asked of him.
Now, Rebekah, Isaac's wife heard what he told Esau. She immediately told her son, Jacob, about the conversation and instructed him to bring two young goats so she can prepare the tasty dish which he will bring to Isaac, that he may receive the blessing.
But Jacob told his mother that his brother Esau is hairy and he is not. His mother told him that she will take care of that. After preparing the dish, Rebekah took Esau's clothes and put them on Jacob. She also put goatskins on his hands and the smooth part of his neck. Then, off he went to Isaac's tent.
This is how the conversation between Isaac and Jacob went. (This can be done by two people who will role play as Jacob and Isaac).
Jacob: My father.
Isaac: Yes, my son. Who is it?
Jacob: I am Esau. I have done as you told me. Please sit up, eat some of this tasty dish so that you may give me your blessing.
Isaac: How did you find it so quickly, my son?
Jacob: The Lord your God gave me success.
Isaac: Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.
(Jacob went close to Isaac who touched him)
Isaac: The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau. Are you really my son Esau?
Jacob: I am.
Isaac: My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.
(Jacob brought it to Isaac and he ate. He also gave some wine and he drank.)
Isaac: Come here, my son and kiss me.
(Jacob went and kissed him. Then Isaac blessed him.)
After Jacob received the blessing and left Isaac's tent, Esau arrived. When Esau went into his father's tent and learned that Jacob has acted deceitfully, he cried bitterly. He held a grudge against Jacob and said to himself that he will kill his brother Jacob after his father dies.
This Bible story can be found in Genesis 27:1-42.
KIDS DISCUSSION
1. What did old Isaac tell his son Esau?
2. What did Rebekah tell his son Jacob?
3. How did Jacob disguise himself to get the blessing from Isaac?
4. How did Esau feel when he learned that Jacob got the blessing?
5. What can we learn from this story? (We should not tell lies. Lies and trickery can hurt other people)
MEMORY VERSE: Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to each other.
KIDS ACTIVITY:
1. Coloring pages: Jacob Gets Isaac's Blessings; Memory Verse
2. Review the story by letting the kids answer this Crossword puzzle.
3. Role playing. Let the children do the role playing of the conversation between Isaac and Jacob.
4. Playing Disguise. Make an easy paper plate mask. This can be done at the beginning and the children can play "guess who" before telling the story of Jacob Gets Isaac's Blessings.
Lesson on Prayer - That's When I Talk to God
This book "That's When I Talk to God" is another story book for children I got as a member of the First Wild Card Tour. I'm sharing the book here because I used it some time ago in teaching kids Sunday School. The children actually like it and I also included some accompanying kids activity and memory verse (Please see below after the book description and sneak preview).
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Dan and Ali Morrow are parents of two wonderful daughters. When they’re not writing children’s books, they like to go on adventures around their Colorado home. They are the authors of That’s Where God Is (2010), their first children’s release.
Visit the authors' website.
Cory Godbey illustrates, animates, and writes for Portland Studios, a creative firm dedicated to telling great stories and pursuing excellence in art.
He has contributed to projects such as Zune Arts, Flight graphic novel anthologies, and has worked with many major publishers.
Recently, Cory was accepted in the acclaimed Society of Illustrators Annual.
Cory seeks to tell stories with his work.
He also likes drawing monsters.
Visit the illustrator'swebsite.
Targeted to children four to eight, That’s When I Talk to God mirrors the day of the typical child, creating an opportunity for readers to put the practices in the story to use in their own lives. Through beautiful illustrations and an engaging, familiar character, readers can relate to That’s When I Talk to God. Children will learn to go to God with their fears, their joys, their questions, and their desires. They will also learn the hows, whens, and whys of praying to the Lord in a way they can easily apply to their own experiences. And adults will be reminded to communicate the benefit, simplicity, and beauty of prayer.
Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 36 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook (April 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434700186
ISBN-13: 978-1434700186
AND NOW...THE FIRST FEW PAGES (Click on the pictures to enlarge them!):
REFLECTION: You can use simple questions to ask the children as the story goes along. Like for example, ask them what is shown in the picture. Then, from time to time, ask questions that would relate the story to the lives of the children like for example in the first few pages you can ask them "When do you pray? Do you know that you can pray to God any time and any where?" It is important to let the children see how the story relates to their life. I like the portion when the girl in the story prayed for her friend. Then, I asked the children "Who is your friend?" and immediately after, I ask them to pray a simple prayer for his/her friend i.e. Lord, bless my friend Janel, in Jesus name, Amen.
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
KIDS SONG: God is Only a Prayer Away (This is just the chorus of a song which I heard in the TV program for kids Cherub Wings) Click this link to hear the song.
God is only a prayer away, a prayer away, a prayer away.
You can call on Him night and day.
He's only a prayer away.
KIDS ACTIVITY:
Coloring pages on prayer - Girl/Boy praying where they can write a prayer on the quote bubble above his/her head.
Itsy Bitsy Prayer Book - Shows pictures of the Lord's Prayer.
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today's Wild Card authors are:
and the book:
David C. Cook (April 1, 2011)
***Special thanks to Audra Jennings, Senior Media Specialist, The B&B Media Group for sending me a review copy.***ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Dan and Ali Morrow are parents of two wonderful daughters. When they’re not writing children’s books, they like to go on adventures around their Colorado home. They are the authors of That’s Where God Is (2010), their first children’s release. Visit the authors' website.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:
Cory Godbey illustrates, animates, and writes for Portland Studios, a creative firm dedicated to telling great stories and pursuing excellence in art. He has contributed to projects such as Zune Arts, Flight graphic novel anthologies, and has worked with many major publishers.
Recently, Cory was accepted in the acclaimed Society of Illustrators Annual.
Cory seeks to tell stories with his work.
He also likes drawing monsters.
Visit the illustrator'swebsite.
SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Targeted to children four to eight, That’s When I Talk to God mirrors the day of the typical child, creating an opportunity for readers to put the practices in the story to use in their own lives. Through beautiful illustrations and an engaging, familiar character, readers can relate to That’s When I Talk to God. Children will learn to go to God with their fears, their joys, their questions, and their desires. They will also learn the hows, whens, and whys of praying to the Lord in a way they can easily apply to their own experiences. And adults will be reminded to communicate the benefit, simplicity, and beauty of prayer.Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 36 pages
Publisher: David C. Cook (April 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1434700186
ISBN-13: 978-1434700186
AND NOW...THE FIRST FEW PAGES (Click on the pictures to enlarge them!):
REFLECTION: You can use simple questions to ask the children as the story goes along. Like for example, ask them what is shown in the picture. Then, from time to time, ask questions that would relate the story to the lives of the children like for example in the first few pages you can ask them "When do you pray? Do you know that you can pray to God any time and any where?" It is important to let the children see how the story relates to their life. I like the portion when the girl in the story prayed for her friend. Then, I asked the children "Who is your friend?" and immediately after, I ask them to pray a simple prayer for his/her friend i.e. Lord, bless my friend Janel, in Jesus name, Amen.
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
KIDS SONG: God is Only a Prayer Away (This is just the chorus of a song which I heard in the TV program for kids Cherub Wings) Click this link to hear the song.
God is only a prayer away, a prayer away, a prayer away.
You can call on Him night and day.
He's only a prayer away.
KIDS ACTIVITY:
Coloring pages on prayer - Girl/Boy praying where they can write a prayer on the quote bubble above his/her head.
Itsy Bitsy Prayer Book - Shows pictures of the Lord's Prayer.
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