Lesson 7 Opening

LESSON 7 OPENING

A FAMILY GROWS—JACOB’S FAMILY LESSON TEXT Genesis 29:1–30 I love the holidays, how about you? They are a great time for decorating and getting together with family and friends, plus there is usually tasty food. My favorite is [Christ- BIBLE TRUTH mas]. I love the [colors, lights, and music. Everyone seems to be in such a great mood God works through during the season of Christmas]. What’s not to like? Use your own favorite holiday as an families. example. FAITH FOCUS What is your favorite holiday? Take a few responses. What do you like best about that Table of Duties holiday? Give a little time for sharing. I can understand why you like those holidays. Even LAW & GOSPEL though our favorites may not be the same, I think we can agree on one thing: it’s hard to I choose to go my own wait for the holidays! way without trusting God. Present a birthday card or picture of a birthday cake. When your birthday ﬁnally comes, In spite of my sin, God then you have to wait an entire year before it comes again! Hold up a Halloween card or blesses me with my picture of a jack-o’-lantern. Halloween comes and then you have to wait for Thanksgiving family and all that I need to get the yummy pumpkin pie. Use Thanksgiving and Christmas cards or pictures as above. and forgives me through Then you have to be patient for a whole month for Christmas. It’s almost painful seeing His Son, Jesus. those wrapped presents under the Christmas tree, wondering each day what they might BIBLE MEMORY VERSE be. Let all that you do be We have to be patient for those special days to arrive, but we have it easy compared to done in love. 1 Corinthians the people in the Old Testament. Hold up the Bible. Did you know that the people in the 16:14 Old Testament waited their whole lives for Christmas but never got to celebrate it, not VISUAL HELPS even once? Remember that Christmas is not about trees, candy, food, decorations, or Pictures, greeting even presents. What is it really about? Yes, Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. It’s the day that cards, or other items our Savior was born into the world. representing the holidays God promised way back in the Book of Genesis that He would send Jesus to be our of the year and birthdays, Savior. He promised that the One who would save us from our sins would be born into a Bible Jacob’s family. God’s people waited for Jesus for hundreds of years. They weren’t always patient. But then, when the time was right, God kept His promise and our Savior was born. When Jesus was an adult, He experienced lies, suﬀered, and died on the cross, all for our salvation! Today, you are going to learn about Jacob. Jacob experienced a lie, and then he had to have a lot of patience to wait for something he really wanted to happen. As we learn about Jacob and his family, we’ll see that God always keeps His promises. Even though we sin and don’t follow God’s will and even though we make a mess of our relation- ships, God works His good. We can patiently trust in His will, in His perfect timing, and in His forgiveness.

Pray: Dear heavenly Father, give us patience to wait for the good things You have planned for us. Increase our trust in Your will and in Your timing. Thank You for the joy we have in knowing that You kept Your promise to send a Savior. Amen.

Jacob’s Family Genesis 29:1-30 ACTIVITIES Choose from the following activities and crafts to help connect Bible learning to life.

☐ We Believe ☐ Blessings Heart Say, God blessed Jacob with a family. Cut out a large red heart. Have chil- He blesses us too. Do actions together: dren draw or cut pictures from mag- God gives us clothing and shoes (point azines that show family blessings to them), food and drink (pretend to and glue pictures to the heart. Add a eat), house and home (outline a house in air), cross sticker. Punch a hole at the top wife and children (rock baby), animals (make and string with yarn to hang from a doorknob at sounds), all that I have (spread arms wide). He home. richly and daily provides me with all that I need (arms wide) to support this body (point to self) and life. Best of all, God gives us Jesus (make cross).

☐ Play Dough People ☐ Jacob’s Family Dinner Set out play dough, rolling pins, and gingerbread Talk about times that our families, either large cookie cutters. Encourage children to make the or small, gather together. One such gathering people in their family out of play dough. Ask is the family dinner. Using a simple piece of them to name who is in their white paper, have students draw family and count how many. what Jacob’s family dinner table Say, In our Bible story today, might have looked like, includ- God blessed Jacob with a big ing all the children. family.

Copyright © 2020 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV®. Reproducible by purchasers of Enduring Faith curriculum, Unit 4 only. A FAMILY GROWS—JACOB’S FAMILY Unit 4, Lesson 7 The Blessing of Family God blesses us with the people of our family. God works through families to provide for our needs. Special family blessings God gives us are relatives who tell us of Jesus and His saving love.

Directions: On the note card below, write a short message of thanks to a family member or church “family” friend who has shared Jesus with you. In your note, remind the family member of what he or she has taught you. Tell this relative how the Holy Spirit has used this Good News to impact your life and your faith. Give your completed message to your relative. Thank God for him or her in your prayers.

Dear

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