Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Section 1, Lesson 12)
LESSON 12: CALLED TO WALK WITH GOD
…by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. – Romans 3:20
God promised that if the Hebrew people obeyed the Law they would be blessed, but if they disobeyed the Law they would be punished. We also saw that God, knowing the Hebrew people would not be able to fully and consistently keep the Law, provided a way to cover their sin through the offering of sacrifices.
But there is yet another important aspect of the Law we must consider. Many people have the idea that the Law was given as a means for man to be right with God. But the Bible is clear (Romans
3:20) that no person can gain right standing (be justified) with God by keeping the Law. Think about it. If we could keep the Law perfectly (although we can’t), we would still be infected with the sin which was passed down to every person through Adam (see Lesson 18). Sin separates man from God. Even if you had never sinned, the sin in you would still separate you from God.
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 11)
LESSON 11: PEOPLE OF THE PROMISE, PART 2
The Exodus would become the event that defined the people of Israel and their relationship with God. The Passover would become their most revered festival and continues in Jewish homes to this day. After watching the video this week and meditating on the scriptures we’ve listed, take some time to consider the parallels between Israel’s Exodus from slavery in Egypt and your own Exodus from slavery to sin. How did God show himself strong over the god’s that ruled your life before Christ? What path to salvation did He open that appeared to be closed. There are rich echoes of the first Exodus in our own. What obstacles did He overcome in your life?
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 10)
LESSON 10: PEOPLE OF THE PROMISE
Many Bible students believe that Joseph’s life foreshadows God’s promised Deliverer, who we will soon study in upcoming chapters of The HOPE. In fact, the similarities between Joseph and the
promised Deliverer are truly amazing.
Consider that both Joseph and the promised Deliverer…
were sent by their fathers to their brothers – Joseph’s brothers hated him and sought to kill him, and the Deliverer’s own kinsmen rejected Him and sought to kill Him (see Genesis 37:13, John 7:3, Luke 20:47), had a robe that was taken from them (Genesis 37:23-24, John 19:24), spent time in Egypt (see Genesis 37:25-28, Matthew 2:14-15), were sold for the price of a slave (see Genesis 37:28, Matthew 26:15), were bound in chains (see Psalm 105:18, Genesis 39:20, Matthew 27:2), were tempted (see Genesis 39: 7-10, Matthew 4:1-11), were falsely accused (see Genesis 39:16-17, Matthew 26:59), were placed with two other prisoners, one of whom was saved and the other lost (see Genesis 40:2-22, Luke 23:32-43), began their ministries at the age of thirty (see Genesis 41:46, Luke 3:23), were exalted by God after a season of suffering (see Genesis 41:41-43, Philippians 2:9-11), forgave those who harmed them (see Genesis 45:1-15, Luke 23:34), were sent by God to save many (Genesis 45:7, Matthew 1:21, Mark 10:45), understood that God turned evil into good (see Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28), and brought reconciliation, one to his family, the other to the world (see Genesis 45:7-10; Romans 5:10).
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 9)
LESSON 9: BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING
And Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. Our God is a promise maker and a promise keeper. Most of us would like to think of ourselves as promise keepers, but the reality is that even the best of us cannot truly guarantee a promise. Too many variables are outside of our control. That is why we in the church have the tradition of tacking, “Lord willing,” onto the end our verbal commitments. But with YAHWEH it is an entirely different case. We have already learned that our God created all things from nothing, He is all powerful, all knowing, and unchangeable. When God makes a promise you can take it to the bank. Help the children this week to appreciate how deeply God can be trusted.
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 8)
LESSON 8: PRELUDE TO THE PROMISE, PART 2
“And they said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name; lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”– Genesis 11:4
“Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.” – Genesis 11:9
“The number of Noah’s descendants increased greatly, but they remained as one people. They did not fill the earth as God commanded. Instead they built a city. Then they built a tower reaching to the heavens. God was not pleased. So God confused their language. Immediately there were at least 70 groups of people who could not speak with each other. Then God scattered these groups around the earth. And this was the beginning of the languages and nations of our world.” – The HOPE, Chapter 4
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 7)
LESSON 7: PRELUDE TO THE PROMISE, PART 1
As we studied in the previous lesson, the sin that entered the world through Adam spread to every person that has ever lived. That includes Noah. So, if the people of Noah’s day were judged because of their sin, how is it that Noah (who had also been infected with sin) was spared?
In the last lesson we learned of God’s promise to send a Deliverer who would one day free man from Satan, sin, and death. Whether or not Noah understood the meaning of this promise, one thing
appears to be true of Noah: he honored God as God. From his actions, we know that Noah trusted God as his Deliverer. His trust was manifested in his obedience. It was Noah’s faith in God that set him apart (Hebrews 11:7) from others of his day.
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 6)
LESSON 6: THE DEADLY DISEASE, PART 2
As you prepare this week, consider how you can help the children to see that God began foreshadowing the coming Deliverer from the very start and that He is the main character throughout
the Bible.
“And the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; on your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life; and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” Genesis 3:14–15
“And the Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 5)
LESSON 5: THE DEADLY DISEASE, PART 1
Question: “What is spiritual death?”
Answer: Death is separation. A physical death is the separation of the soul from the body. Spiritual death, which is of greater significance, is the separation of the soul from God. In Genesis 2:17, God tells Adam that in the day he eats of the forbidden fruit he will “surely die.” Adam does fall, but his physical death does not occur immediately; God must have had another type of death in mind—spiritual death. This separation from God is exactly what we see in Genesis 3:8. When Adam and Eve heard the voice of the Lord, they “hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God.” The fellowship had been broken. They were spiritually dead.
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 4)
LESSON 4: THE CHOICE
“For man was created to love God and to be loved by God.” – The HOPE, Chapter 2
God’s love for us is proclaimed throughout the Old and New Testaments.
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)
Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. (Psalm 25:6)
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. (1 John 4:16)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
In response to that love God calls us to in turn love Him above all else.
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 3)
LESSON 3: CREATION
“According to His story, God spoke all of creation into existence. By His Word He made everything out of nothing… According to His story, God created the heavens, the earth, and every living thing in six days.” – The HOPE, Chapter 1
After reading the preceding excerpt from The HOPE video, let’s consider a few of these concepts. First, because God is all powerful, not limited by anything, He can create however He chooses, even simply by speaking. This concept is clearly presented in the Bible:
“Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)
“…by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed.” (2 Peter 3:5)
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 2)
LESSON 2: WHO IS GOD?
“Before there was anything, before time or space or physical matter, there was God…One who is far beyond our ability to fully comprehend or describe. Through His story, we find that God is Spirit without a beginning or an end. He is complete within Himself, lacking in nothing. He is all knowing and all wise. He is perfect in every way. He is not limited by anything.” – The HOPE, Chapter 1
The first week of our study presented evidence that the Bible is the most trustworthy reference point in all the world for understanding reality. The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself, and it reveals truth about God in two ways. One way is by demonstration: recording God’s action and interaction with the world and humankind. Another way is by declaration: making direct statements or claims about the nature and character of God.
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 1)
LESSON 1: THE BIBLE
The Universal Question: Is there a purpose…for the world and for me?
The HOPE video begins with these words…
“Throughout time people have considered the world in which we live; the complexity and beauty of nature, the mystery of life and death, the depth of human joy and pain …and they have wondered, ‘How did it all come to be? Is this world the result of chance…or design? Is there something, or someone, behind it all? And if there is such a being, then what is He like? Does He have a purpose for this world? Does He have a purpose for me in this world? Does He have a purpose for me beyond this world?” – The HOPE video, Introduction
Jeremiah 29:13 reads: “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
This is the heart of Quest. Some of our kids may be asking questions about the existence of God, others may just be wanting to know Him more. In both cases He promises to be found when we search wholeheartedly for Him.
It begins with you and me. As we dive in to this study, be prepared to let God show you who He is, and to discover new things about God and yourself. Determine that you will “search for Him with
your whole heart,” and then lead the children to do the same.
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 14)
LESSON 14: THE PROMISED ONE, PART 2
The practice of baptism as observed in this lesson had its roots in the washings that God instructed the Hebrew people to do for the purpose of purification (Leviticus 16:26, Leviticus 28, Leviticus 22:6, Numbers 19:7 and Numbers 19). Jesus, however, did not need to be purified. Perhaps this is why John, who knew Jesus from childhood, tried to prevent Jesus from being baptized and said to Him, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” (Matthew 3:14).
So if purification was unnecessary, what was the purpose of this baptism in the life of Jesus? Most theologians agree that at least three things were accomplished by this event: identification, anointing and confirmation. In regard to identification, many believe that Jesus, the One who came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17), was identifying with John’s call to
righteousness – to live according to the ways of God. Some, however, see yet another identification taking place in this event.
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: A Heart of Wisdom, Lesson 11
LESSON 11: WISDOM IS AS WISDOM DOES
Character and a good name are built, not with increasing knowledge, but rather one choice at a time, one action at a time, one day at time. If you’ve ever learned to type you remember the hunt and peck phase. Struggling to not look down at your fingers, wearing out the backspace key, and breaking the auto-correct on your computer. If your work has forced you to keep at it, day in and day out, over any length of time, your fingers are now likely flying over the keys as you bang out emails, reports, and social media posts. You may even be able to carry on a conversation with someone while looking at them and still be typing. How did you get there? You learned to type by typing. Think also of a child learning to walk and then consider the ease and agility of an athlete. Good teaching and a pursuit of knowledge are important, but remember Jesus’ words, “the one who hears these words of mine, AND puts them into action, he is like a man who built his house upon the rock.”
Similarly, you can gain knowledge about prayer, but you will only learn to pray by praying, to share your faith by sharing your faith, to spend time in the Word by spending time in the Word, to serve by serving. Our weak efforts to put his Word into action are taken by God, empowered by his Spirit, and turned into something more. Are we encouraging the young people of the church to actively exercise their knowledge, whether a little or a lot, in a way that honors God? It is through this exercise that they will grow in wisdom and stature, and favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).
I want to leave us with a hard question. Are we leading the children by example? Can it be said of us, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7). Can we tell the children, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). By God’s grace I pray that we will not be found wanting, that we will be able to look at our spiritual children and say with the apostle John, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
BIG IDEA: Wisdom is shown in our actions.
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Proverbs 20:11-20
1 Timothy 4:12
Hebrews 13:7
1 Corinthians 11:1
Philippians 4:9
SECTION VERSE:
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. – Proverbs 2:9-10
LESSON VERSE:
Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright? – Proverbs 20:11
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- Read and discuss Prov. 20:11 and 1 Timothy 4:12.
- What is character? How is it formed?
- Why is important to form good habits while you are young?
- Who helps you to live wisely? Who gives you that power? (2 Peter 1:1-8)
- How can you be an example to older Christians?
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
Family Quest: A Heart of Wisdom, Lesson 10
LESSON 10: A WISE FRIEND
There are two lessons that we’d like to teach the children in this Quest. The first is how to be a friend worth choosing. The second is to choose their friends wisely. One of my favorite examples of
friendship from scripture is that of David and Jonathan. Jonathan proved to be a friend worth choosing. His loyalty, bravery, integrity, and love for David even unto death are characteristics we can all admire and seek to emulate. David chose his friend wisely and did not forget him after he was gone. “Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” – 2 Samuel 9:1. David then took Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s disabled son, and brought him into his house and treated him as family. It doesn’t stretch credulity to think that perhaps David himself shared these words of wisdom with his own son Solomon, “A friend loves at all times,” and “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another,” as he reflected back on his friendship with Jonathan.
We want our kids to have a godly desire to be, and seek God’s grace to be, that kind of friend. A friend who leads others on good paths, spurs others on to faith and good works, speaks words that edify, is loyal and reliable, looks out for their friends, brings out the best in others, and loves at all times with the sacrificial love of Christ.
Equally important is that our children wisely choose this kind of friend for themselves. How many of us have used this phrase of a young person gone astray: “He/she fell in with the wrong crowd”? Don’t misunderstand, Jesus was a friend to sinners and so should we be. However, there is a qualitative difference between the unbelieving friend, to whom you can be a witness for Christ, and a close friend with whom you have fellowship in Christ, share your deepest struggles, and depend upon to correct you when you need it. The latter must be chosen very carefully. The warnings are plenty.
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin” (Prov. 18:24), “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person…or you may learn their ways” (Prov. 22:24-25). “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15:33). When it comes to choosing close friends we need to help the children develop a godly vision for choosing wisely.
BIG IDEA: Wisdom chooses friends carefully.
MEDITATING ON THE WORD:
Proverbs 18:24, 27:5-6, 22:24-25
1 Corinthians 15:33
SECTION VERSE:
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. – Proverbs 2:9-10
LESSON VERSE:
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. – Proverbs 17:17
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- Read and discuss Prov. 17:9-22.
- What is a friend?
- Who is your closest friend? Why?
- What does God say makes for a good friend? Not good friend?
- How can you become a good friend? (Spend time with the best friend, Jesus, in His Word and in prayer).
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.