In the Beginning

Lesson 1
For Thought...
In The Beginning

  1. How do you normall picture the world, this garden, that God created?

  2. If God made humans unique amongst his creation, how is that shown?

  3. What kind of relationship did God have with the humans?

  4. What kind of relationship did Adam and Eve have with each other? Why were they not ashamed to be naked?

  5. What did you learn about God? Where did you see it?

The Fall

Lesson 2
For Thought...
The Fall

  1. What do you think about the serpent? What was he trying to do?

  2. What did Adam and Eve do wrong? What were their consequences? How was their relationship effected?

  3. Why do you think God requires consequences for sin? What do you think would happen if He didn't?

  4. What did you learn about humans in this story? What did you learn about God in this story?

Cain & Abel

Lesson 3
For Thought...
Cain & Abel

  1. What did God say to Cain and what do you think it meant?

  2. Why do you think Cain killed his brother?

  3. If Cain was a sinner, was Abel also one?

Noah

Lesson 4
For Thought...
Noah

  1. Why did God flood the Earth?

  2. From the story, how does God feel about humans?

  3. Why do you think Noah took animals onto the Ark?

  4. What was God communicating through the rainbow?

  5. What did God say to Noah about blood and sacrifices?

The Covenant

Lesson 5
For Thought...
The Covenant

  1. Why did God stop the people from building the monument?

  2. What do we learn about Abraham/Sarah from this story?

  3. Where do we see that Abraham struggled with this promise?

  4. Why did God call Abraham righteous?

  5. What was God's relationship with Abraham like?

  6. Why do we call the promise to Abraham a covenant?

  7. What did God promise to Abraham?

  8. If you had to wait 25 years for a promise of God to come true, would you still believe it?

  9. Did you hear anything that reminded you of previous stories?

Isaac

Lesson 6
For Thought...
Isaac

  1. What does this story show us about Abraham?

  2. What was Abraham's relationship with Isaac?

  3. What was the relationship like between God and Abraham?

  4. What was Abraham risking in order to obey God?

  5. Where have we seen sacrifice before? How does it relate to this story?

  6. What does God teach these characters through these sacrifices?

  7. What does the story teach us about God?

Jacob & Esau

Lesson 7
For Thought...
Jacob & Esau

  1. What do we learn about all these characters?

  2. What did God tell Rebecca about the children in her womb?

  3. Why do you think Esau gave up his inheritence so easily?

  4. Why do you think Jacob desired his father's blessing?

  5. Why would God pass on his blessing to Jacob when he deceived his father?

  6. What blessing is God passing on through Abraham, Isaac and now Jacob?

  7. What does this story teach us about God?

Joseph

Lesson 8
For Thought...
Joseph

  1. What do we learn about all these characters?

  2. Why did Joseph's brothers not like him?

  3. What can we learn from Joseph?

  4. How did Joseph respond in the difficult situations he faced?

  5. Do you think Joseph's response was realistic?

  6. How does God continue his promise to the Hebrews?

  7. What does this story teach us about God?

Moses

Lesson 9
For Thought...
Moses

  1. How did the Israelites get into Egypt?

  2. Why did Moses remove his sandels when he spoke to God?

  3. Why do you think Moses was afraid to look at God?

  4. What did God call Himself in the story?

  5. What did we learn about Moses?

  6. What did we learn from this story that ties into previous stories?

  7. What does this story teach us about God?

Passover

Lesson 10
For Thought...
Passover

  1. Why is this story called the Passover?

  2. What parts of God's promise to Abraham do we see beginning to be fulfilled?

  3. Why do you think God would harden Pharoh's heart?

  4. Did Pharoh's stubborness allow God to display His mighty works?

  5. Where is water mentioned in this story? How is that significant?

  6. Where have we seen water mentioned before?

  7. What did God specficially say about the animal they were to sacrifice?

  8. Why is it so important that that animals is pure?

  9. Why do you think God required blood?

  10. How might you have felt on that night of the Passover?

  11. Where do you see yourself in this story?

  12. What does this story teach us about God

Covenant & Law

Lesson 11
For Thought...
Covenant & Law

  1. What is a covenant?

  2. How can the Israelites keep their side of the covenant?

  3. What do you think God meant by you will become a kingdom of priests?

  4. What is the purpose of the commandments and the laws?

  5. Which of these commandments do you think is the hardest to keep?

  6. What do you think it means to lust after what others have?

  7. What do God's commandments and laws show about Him?

  8. What is the result of following God's ways?

Sacrifice

Lesson 12
For Thought...
Sacrifice

  1. What was the purpose of the tabernacle?

  2. Why do you think no one was allowed in the holy of holies?

  3. What was the purpose of the sacrifices people brought?

  4. What do you think the word "attonement" means?

  5. What is the most significant part of the Day of Atonement?

  6. Why were the two goats used in the Day of Atonement?

  7. Wow does this connect to previous stories?

  8. What does this story teach us about God?

Judges, Kings & Prophets

Lesson 13
For Thought...
Judges, Kings & Prophets

  1. Why did God tell the Israelites to drive out everyone in Canaan?

  2. What's the pattern the Israelites got into?

  3. What is the role of the prophets?

  4. What do the prophets foretell about the Messiah?

  5. What have we seen for the first time in these stories and what do you wonder about them?

  6. What common theme runs through all of these stories?

  7. What have we learned about what we're like?

  8. What have we learned about what God's like?

Birth Of Jesus

Lesson 14
For Thought...
Birth Of Jesus

  1. What do we learn about Joseph & Mary?

  2. What was unique about Jesus' birth?

  3. Why do you think it was important that Jesus be born by a virgin?

  4. Who was Jesus a descent of? Why is this significant?

  5. How does this connect to previous stories?

Baptism & Temptation

Lesson 15
For Thought...
Baptism & Temptation

  1. What do we learn about John?

  2. What was John's message?

  3. Why do you think people came to be baptized by John?

  4. What do we learn about Jesus?

  5. Where have we seen Satan or evil tempt a person in the stories before this?

  6. How did that person respond?

  7. How did Jesus respond to Satan's temptations?

  8. In your own words, what was Satan tempting Jesus with?

Jesus & The Pharisees

Lesson 16
For Thought...
Jesus & The Pharisees

  1. How would you have responded if you were in that house that day?

  2. Why do you think Jesus said "Don't worry your sins are forgiven?"

  3. What was Jesus teaching them in this story?

  4. What is a disciple?

  5. Do you think this was an easy decision for Matthew?

  6. Why do you think people like Matthew dropped everything to follow Jesus?

  7. Who did Jesus spend time with?

  8. Why did the religious leaders have a problem with this?

  9. What did we learn about Jesus from this scene?

  10. What is the Sabbath?

  11. What was Jesus claiming about Himself from this last scene?

  12. Where does Jesus power & authority come from?

  13. What do we learn about this relationship with God from this story?

  14. Who else had a perfect relationship with God from previous stories?

  15. What was that relationship like?

  16. What do we learn about the Pharisees, Jesus & Jesus' mission?

  17. What do you think it would take for this mission to be accomplished on Earth?

The Kingdom

Lesson 17
For Thought...
The Kingdom

  1. What do you learn about the Kingdom of God from this scene?

  2. In your own words, what is Jesus teaching His followers in this scene?

  3. How is Jesus Kingdom teachings similar to what God taught in past stories?

  4. What do you think Jesus meant when He said "I have come to fulfill the laws of Moses and the writings of the prophets?"

  5. What do we learn about Jesus from this scene as a whole?

  6. Why do you think Jesus taught in parables?

  7. What do you think the Kingdom of God is like from these parables?

  8. Why is the Kingdom of God so hard to describe?

  9. What kind of King or Kingdom do you think the Jewish people were hoping for?

  10. What did the Jewish people want to conquer?

  11. What kind of Kingdom was Jesus going to establish?

  12. Why do you think Jesus was looking to help them understand that?

  13. Why do you think Jesus chose twelve to be His apostles?

  14. What did Jesus send them to do?

Jesus' Miracles

Lesson 18
For Thought...
Jesus' Miracles

  1. Which of our stories talk about the wind & the waves?

  2. If you were on the boat, how would you have responded to Jesus?

  3. What do we learn about the disciples from this scene?

  4. Why do you think Jesus waited to calm the storm, until the boat was full of water?

  5. What do we learn about Jesus from this scene?

  6. What do we find out about this man who met with Jesus?

  7. What are demons?

  8. How do you think the demons knew who Jesus was and why were they afraid?

  9. How did people who saw what happened respond?

  10. Why do you think the crowd begged Jesus to go away?

  11. How did the man who was set free from the demons respond?

  12. Why did Jesus tell them he couldn't go on the boat?

  13. What do we learn about Jesus from this story?

  14. What kind of emotions do you think this girl's parents were feeling?

  15. Why do you think people doubted Jesus in this scene?

  16. Why do you think Jesus sometimes asked people not to talk about His miracles?

  17. How do people usually respond to Jesus' miracles?

  18. What do we learn about Jesus from this scene?

New Covenant

Lesson 19
For Thought...
New Covenant

  1. Why was Jesus going to Jerusalem?

  2. What do we know about this celebration?

  3. Why did the Jewish leaders want to kill Jesus?

  4. What did Jesus do before the passover meal began?

  5. Why did Jesus wash their feet?

  6. What was the covenant?

  7. What is God's new covenant? What does it require?

  8. What was the new covenant Jesus gave the disciples? How were they to show His love?

  9. How do we remain in Jesus' love?

Death & Resurrection

Lesson 20
For Thought...
Death & Resurrection

  1. Why was the curtain in the temple torn in half? What did it separate?

  2. How did Jesus fulfill the prophets predictions of the coming Messiah?

  3. How is Jesus being raised from the dead significant?

  4. What does that show us about Him?

The Church

Lesson 21
For Thought...
The Church

  1. Do you think Jesus was really raised from the dead?

  2. What was Jesus' command just before He left the disciples?

  3. What is a disciple?

  4. How do all of these stories connect into one big story?

  5. If you had to tell the story of the Bible, what would you add or remove?