When to use: 21 February 2027

Unsettle

Second Sunday in Lent

Worship Tools

Worship Outline

Additional Scriptures

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22:23-31; Mark 8:31-38

Preparation

Items for Focus Moment: chair, book of scripture, small bell or chime, sign printed with “The End is Near”; a chair. Recruit three people of any age for the Focus Moment. These helpers can be chosen ahead of time or in the spirit of the moment.

Be ready to project or print the following scripture: Romans 4:13-25.

Prelude

Welcome

Call to Worship

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. For dominion belongs to the Lord. And he rules over the nations.

Rejoice, O my heart, and cry to the Lord, and say, “O Lord, I will praise you forever; my soul will rejoice in you, my God, and the rock of my salvation.”

—Psalm 22: 27-28; 2 Nephi 3:50, adapted

Hymn of Praise

“Praise to the Living God” CCS 8

OR “The God of Abraham Praise” CCS 94

OR “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” CCS 87

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.

Opening Prayer

Response

Lenten Reflection

Last Sunday was the beginning of a five-Sunday journey through the Lenten season. Unlike the early disciples who didn’t seem to understand where the journey was heading, we do. But during Lent we have an opportunity to imagine ourselves on the same journey as the disciples, experiencing their excitement and at times their uncertainties. There were signposts along the way, not visible ones, but words that Jesus spoke to them. Let your Lenten reflections this week help you focus on signposts for your own journey as a disciple alongside Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Light the peace candle
Optional: have a volunteer ring a chime or bell three times

Statement

Lent is a time that leads us to turn our focus inward, to think about where we are on the journey walking with Jesus. Week by week we remember parts of his journey in the last days of his earthly life and the courage it took for him to keep moving.

While we are not on the same kind of journey, we are walking as he did on this Earth that was created as a blessing to all creatures. While we do so we need to actively participate in helping to protect, preserve and restore this wonderful planet to be what God created it to be. In doing so we will be peacemakers.

Prayer

to be read aloud in unison adding an Amen at the end

“Touch the Earth Lightly” CCS 137

OR “God of Creation” CCS 147

Focus Moment

Portrayal

Invite the three people chosen to participate to take their places: one on the chair with a book of scripture in hand, one holding the bell or chime, and one carrying the sign. The person with the bell or chime quietly rings it while slowly walking around the person on the chair. Alternatively, a person participating online could unmute and do this part by providing any audible distraction.

Meanwhile, the person seated continues to focus on reading. The person with the sign begins to circle around the seated person too, holding the sign so they can see it while the chiming, bell ringing or other sounds continue. The person seated keeps focusing completely on reading. After 2-3 minutes have elapsed signal to the participants to stop and return to their seats or mute again.

Statement

That was an example of not letting anything disturb us. Sometimes outside events can arouse feelings of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. We lose the ability to stay focused on God and God’s promises. We let disturbing things overwhelm our minds.

Scriptures can help guide us into refocusing by holding up how people encountered God through many generations. In Community of Christ, we hold the following Basic Belief about scripture:

Scripture is writing inspired by God’s spirit and accepted by the church as the normative expression of its identity, message, and mission. We affirm the Bible as the foundational scripture for the church. In addition, Community of Christ uses the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants – not to replace the witness of the Bible or improve on it, but because they confirm its message that Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God. When responsibly interpreted and faithfully applied, scripture provides divine guidance and inspired insight for our discipleship.

—Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, Herald House, 2018, p. 36.

Scripture Exploration

Display Romans 4:13-25 or refer to the printed or projected scripture. Allow two to three minutes for participants to read the scripture, then briefly discuss this question:

What does the scripture say to you about the faithfulness of God? about hope?

Morning Message

Based on Romans 4:13-25

Reflection

Invite participants to take three deep breaths. Ask them to think about the message they just heard. What thoughts will they take with them into the coming week? What was something new to think about and remember? If time permits, after several moments to ponder, invite them to turn to a neighbor and share.

Disciples’ Generous Response

Statement

God is the giver of life and hope. We can place our trust in God’s faithfulness toward us. We can respond to God’s generosity by being good stewards of creation and sharing our giftedness and resources.

Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes

Lenten Examen: Meeting Challenges in New Ways

Lent invites us to slow down, and pay attention, making room for transformation. The Examen is a simple prayer practice reviewing the day or week with God, noticing what brought life, what was difficult, and where we might meet the challenges of life in new ways.

We trust that the Spirit is present in our joys and our challenges.

I invite you to pause for a moment, and take a few deep breaths, turning your attention inward as I ask these reflective questions:

What are you grateful for today? Notice the people, moments, and gifts that brought you life.

Invite God to help you look back on your day or week with honesty, compassion, and curiosity.

What moments were difficult, challenging, uncomfortable, or unexpected? What did they stir in you?

Where did you experience love, connection, courage, peace, or hope? Where did you see the Spirit at work?

Where might you have responded differently? What new way of meeting a challenge might be possible?

Release what you need to let go of: hurt, regret, fear, or old patterns. Allow grace in and the possibility of beginning again.

Offer the day ahead to God. Ask for openness to new possibilities and courage to meet whatever comes with love, compassion, and hope.

Prayer

God of new possibilities,

Help us see our lives with compassion and honesty.
Show us where new ways of responding are possible.
Help us release what no longer gives life and open us to your peace.
Give us courage to meet tomorrow with love, hope, and imagination.

Amen.

Hymn of Trust

“I Know Not What the Future Hath” CCS 246

OR “Standing on the Promises” CCS 257

Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.

Translations into Spanish and French for this hymn can be found at: Herald House

OR “By Gracious Powers” CCS 268

Encourage participants to sing in a language other than their own.

Unison Prayer

“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” sing at least twice CCS 499

Read stanzas 1 and 3 aloud in unison. End with Amen.

Consider reading in multiple languages.

Postlude

Sacred Space: Small-Group Worship Outline

Gathering

Welcome

We join with other Christians who for many centuries have observed Lent as the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, not counting Sundays. During Lent, we center our attention on Jesus as we remember his life and ministry. Lent also provides a means to sharpen our focus on our own lives in relationship to Jesus. And the Lenten season encourages us to turn away from whatever distracts or blocks our commitment to discipleship. May the season of Lent help us walk with Jesus, even though the path leads to the cross.

Prayer for Peace

Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.
Light the peace candle.

God of lightness and darkness, peace in our world today may seem unreasonable, far-fetched, ludicrous. Also ridiculous was the thought that Abram and Sarah might have a son. Yet, their descendants now number as many as the stars. God, we know you are capable of the most unlikely things, and we praise you for that! You create something of nothing—every day! We trust that you are working in the world, shining peace into the world like stars in the night sky.

May we pause to see the stars, to see the peace, which you create daily. And then, may we join you. May we be so bold as to work to create something from nothing—and may we see that there is already a peaceful-something, even in the most ludicrously nothing places. In the name of Jesus, our north star. Amen.

Spiritual Practice

Practice of Silence

Practicing silence may be difficult at first. The mind may run wild. Allow yourself grace in this practice. We will begin when I ring the chime. We will be silent for five minutes. I will ring the chime again to conclude our time of silence.

Remember to breathe deeply. Focusing on each breath can help quiet the mind. Become aware of your surroundings; notice how the air feels on your skin; trust that you are in the presence of the Holy—fully surrounding and embracing you. Allow your inner conversations to stop for a while. Be fully present with the One who is fully present with you.

Ring the chime to begin.

Wait five minutes.

Ring the chime to conclude the period of silence.

Ask: How does it feel to be present with God in silence?

Adapted from a Guide for Lent

Sharing Around the Table

Romans 4:13–25 NRSVue

¹³For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. ¹⁵For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

¹⁶For this reason the promise depends on faith, in order that it may rest on grace, so that it may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (who is the father of all of us, ¹⁷as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”), in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.¹⁸Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So shall your descendants be.” ¹⁹He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), and the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.²²Therefore “it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” ²³Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone ²⁴but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, ²⁵who was handed over for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

—Romans 4:13-25 NRSVue

The phrase “hoping against hope,” which sometimes is used to suggest clinging on even when all seems hopeless, originates from verse 18 of today’s scripture and is central to its message. In Abraham, we meet an extraordinary person who had faith in a God who promised the impossible and then did it. God declared to Abraham, “I have made you the father of many nations.”

Such a promise would be challenging for anyone to grasp and accept. But with Abraham, who was almost 100 years old and whose wife, Sarah, was barren, it would have been beyond belief.

Abraham inherited the promise made to him by God, not because he adhered to the law, but because of solid and consistent faith in the face of much evidence to the contrary that what God had promised would come to pass. Abraham believed in hope—a hope that saw beyond the circumstances to rest on the promises and ability of God.

As we continue this Lenten journey of self-reflection and preparation, perhaps it is best to focus not on the cross, but on the resurrection, new life, and “hope against hope” that God has promised, if only we will have faith. God had promised Abraham he would become the father of many nations. Indeed, this was impossible. Jesus told his disciples he would be killed and rise again on the third day. Indeed, this was impossible. Unless you believe in a God of the impossible, that is.

Questions

Abraham believed in hope. Who in your life would you consider as models of Abraham’s faith and hope?
Think of a time when you clung to hope when all seemed hopeless. How did your faith in God help you through that time?
What are your hopes today, and how is faith present in this hope?

Sending

Generosity Statement

Beloved Community of Christ, do not just speak and sing of Zion. Live, love, and share as Zion: those who strive to be visibly one in Christ, among whom there are no poor or oppressed.

—Doctrine and Covenants 165:6a

The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing, small-group ministries as part of your generous response.

The offering prayer for Lent is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response:

Ever-present God, forgive us when we are less than loving, less than hope-filled, less than you have created us to be. Your mercy and grace are always with us. May we find strength in your presence, and may we respond to your love with generous spirits. Amen.

Invitation to Next Meeting

Closing Hymn

Community of Christ Sings 244, “There’s an Old, Old Path”

Closing Prayer

Optional Additions Depending on Group

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread,and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

—1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NRSV

Communion Statement

All are welcome at Christ’s table. The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is a sacrament in which we remember the life, death, resurrection, and continuing presence of Jesus Christ. In Community of Christ, we also experience Communion as an opportunity to renew our baptismal covenant and to be formed as disciples who live Christ’s mission. Others may have different or added understandings within their faith traditions. We invite all who participate in the Lord’s Supper to do so in the love and peace of Jesus Christ.

We share in Communion as an expression of blessing, healing, peace, and community.

In preparation let’s sing from Community of Christ Sings (select one):

515 “In these Moments We Remember”

516 “Coming Together for Wine and for Bread”

521 “Let Us Break Bread Together”

525 “Small Is the Table”

528 “Eat This Bread”

Blessing and serving the bread and wine.

Thoughts for Children

This Lenten activity continues through the season of Lent.

You will need:

Copy paper
Glue sticks
Last week’s papers cut into thin strips

Before this meeting, cut the paper used last week into small strips.

Throughout Lent, participants will build a piece of art that reflects their Lenten journey. Be prepared to collect the progressing artwork each week. Make certain to have extra pieces of artwork in various stages of completion for participants who miss a week or two.

Say: Today is the second Sunday in Lent. Lent is a time when we prepare for Easter by intentionally taking time to grow our relationship with God. We can deepen our relationship with God in many ways, but three are especially important during Lent: fasting, praying, and almsgiving. Last week we talked about fasting.

Ask: Does anyone remember what fasting is?

Say: This week, we are going to talk about prayer. There are many ways to pray. No matter how you pray, it is important to create safe space around you or within you where you can spend time with God. Today, we are going to create a visual reminder of a safe space so we can remember how important it is.

Last week you brainstormed things you could fast from during Lent and then colored over those things. I took your papers and cut them into fine strips. We are going to glue these fine strips on a new piece of paper in the shape of a nest. You get to decide what your nest looks like and how many strips of paper you need to make it.

While participants are using glue sticks and paper strips to create nests on their papers, talk about ways we can create space for God.

Say: Once you have created your nest, write your name on the back of your paper and hand it to me. I will keep the papers until next week, when we continue to add to our art.

This week, see how you intentionally can create space in your life for God.

Sermon Helps

Exploring the Scripture

The phrase “hoping against hope,” which is sometimes used to suggest clinging on even when all seems hopeless, originates from verse 18 of today’s scripture passage and is central to its message. In Abraham, we meet an extraordinary person who had faith in a God who promised the impossible and then did it. God declared to Abraham, “I have made you the father of many nations” (v.17). Such a promise would be challenging for anyone to grasp and accept. But, with Abraham, who was almost 100 years old and whose wife Sarah was barren, it would have been beyond belief. Yet, we are told Abraham “did not waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised” (vv. 20–21).

Paul presents Abraham as the Father of All Believers. Abraham inherited the promise made to him by God, not because he adhered to the law, but because of solid and consistent faith—in the face of much evidence to the contrary—that what God promised would come to pass. Abraham believed in hope, a hope that saw beyond the circumstances to find rest on the promises and ability of God.

Paul’s intent is not to place Abraham on a pedestal. He does not imply Abraham was a perfect person who never doubted. What is portrayed is a man whose attitude was consistently one of faith and hope in the promise of God.

In the opening chapter of Romans, Paul describes a human race that has ignored, dishonored, and failed to worship God. In contrast, in Romans chapter 4, we find Abraham, one who is called to undo humankind’s sin by believing in God as creator and life-giver (v. 17) and by trusting in God’s promises (v. 19). However, we must recognize that it is through Jesus Christ, not Abraham, that humankind is saved.

While the focus is on Abraham in this chapter, Paul concludes that Jesus, who was crucified because of human evil, was raised for our justification—that we might become one with God through our faith. If our goal is justification, then Abraham provides a worthy signpost towards it, but it is only in Jesus that the goal is reached. As theologian Tom Wright explains, “Abraham believed that God would give life where there was none. Christians believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. In both cases, it can only be a recognition that God is God, that our life and the life of the world are in God’s hand, that God has already begun the new creation and invites us to trust God to carry it through to the end.”

“Hoping against hope, he believed…” (v.18). God had promised Abraham he would become the father of many nations. Indeed, this was impossible. Jesus told his disciples he would be killed and rise again on the third day. Indeed, this was impossible. Unless you believe in a God of the impossible, that is.

Central Ideas

Abraham inherited the promise made to him by God, not because he adhered to the law, but because of solid and consistent faith.
Abraham believed in the hope that sees beyond circumstances to find rest on the promises and ability of God.
If our goal is to become one with God, then Abraham provides a worthy signpost towards this goal, but it is only through Christ the goal will be reached.

Questions for the Speaker

Think of a time when you clung to hope when all seemed hopeless. How did your faith in God help you through that time?
What do you hope for right now, and what part does faith play in this hope?
Abraham believed in hope. Who are the people in your life you would consider believers in hope?
Jesus was raised for our justification. What do you understand by this?

Lessons

Adult Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

Romans 4:13–25

Lesson Focus

Faith is God’s Blessing.

Objectives

The learners will…

explore the text of Romans 4:13–25.
discuss Paul’s counsel about faith.
review Abraham’s faithful responses.
create a plan to bring people into the fellowship to help them recognize the faith that God implanted in them.

Supplies

Self-Survey questions (Gather section)
Pens or pencils
Bibles or printed handouts of Romans 4:13–25 for each class member
Community of Christ Sings (CCS)

Note to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Romans 4:13–25 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: New Testament (with focus on the Letters), pp. 53–54, available through Herald House.

Gather

After welcoming attendees, distribute copies of the self-survey (below) and pencils or pens as needed. Inform them that this is only for themselves and won’t be shared. Invite them to keep and use the survey page to make notes of anything explored today they want to remember. Allow 2–3 minutes to complete the self-survey.

Distribute Bibles or printed copies of the Romans text. Invite class members to consider their responses to the survey, listening for insights related to survey questions as you read Romans 4:13–25. Invite them to follow along silently as you read.

Self-Survey

True or False:

In the book of Genesis, the people were given the covenantal law before God revealed a promise to Abram (Abraham) about descendants.
The “law” makes our agency central.
Faith precedes and shapes our obedience.
Going out on our own to plan new ways of “being the church” shows a lack of faith.
For the Apostle Paul, the object of faith is the God who has the power to conquer death.

Engage

A common brainteaser asks the question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Reading this text from Romans looks at a similar type of brainteaser but instead of posing it as a question, states it as an answer or fact.

Several years before Paul penned this letter, Jews had been ordered to leave Rome. By the time Paul wrote, there is evidence that the edict that banned the Jews from Rome had been lifted. During the intervening years, Gentile Christians would have become more prominent in the newly forming church community. This may have led to tensions and conflicts as Jews returned to rejoin the fellowship.

In this letter, Paul laid out the case that both groups of believers—Jews and Gentiles—were heirs of Abraham: the one by being physical descendants, and the other by being “children” of Abraham in a metaphorical way.

According to the text in Romans, which came first to Abraham, the law or faith? (The promise about Abraham’s descendants is in Genesis chapter 15; the law comes in chapter 17.)
Why might Paul have stressed this point?
If the law had come first, what difference would that have made to Gentile Christians?
Ian S. Markham stated that Paul, in reflecting on Abraham’s experience, declares: “…faith in the promise is God’s primary expectation of humanity” (Feasting on the Word, Year B, Volume 2). What might that imply today?

Respond

We often remember Abraham’s story thinking that his belief in God’s promise—that he would be the father of many nations (not a single nation)—was a bit shaky. After all, he knew how old he was. He knew Sarah was long past the age to conceive. He had even tried to create an heir by a slave to bear him a child. That may not seem like the actions of someone who had faith that God would accomplish what had been promised. Paul wrote in verses 19–20 “He did not weaken in faith…No distrust made him waver.”

Scholar Jeff Paschal asks: “Could it be that Paul is looking at Abraham’s faith…as strong and unwavering, not because he never doubts, not because he never tries to take matters into his own hands, but because Abraham actually does trust in God’s promises enough to take risks and step out in faith.” (David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word, Year B, Volume 2, 2008), 67)

Discuss:

How might this interpretation help us see that:
“God is calling forth a courageous church that takes risks and trusts, rather than living the spiritually immobile life of simply trying not to make any mistakes.” (Jeff Paschal) and that
“The challenges and opportunities are momentous. Will you remain hesitant in the shadows of your fears, insecurities, and competing loyalties? Or will you move forward in the light of your divinely instilled call and vision?” (Doctrine and Covenants 164:9e)
It has been said that only God can create faith because it is a gift. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
What opportunities might the church community have to nurture the stirrings of faith in seekers and newly baptized or confirmed believers?

Invite class members to revisit the self-survey, editing their answers based on today’s discussions. (If they ask, the answers are 1-F, 2-T, 3-T, 4-F, 5-T.

Send

Encourage participants to form groups of two or three.

Ask them to formulate one idea about how to invite others into the fellowship of the congregation. Remind them of this part of the mission prayer: “Grant me courage to risk something new.”
Ask them to envision what that might be in the context of your congregation. Provide enough time so that each group can share their ideas.

Bless

Sing or read together “With a Steadfast Faith” CCS 649.

Read the Enduring Principle: Developing Disciples to Serve from Sharing in Community of Christ, 4th Edition, 2018, p 23.

Develop Disciples to Serve—Equip individuals for Christ’s mission

We are poised to equip men, women, and children to be true and living expressions of the life, ministry, and continuing presence of Christ in the world.

Youth Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

Romans 4:13–25

Lesson Focus

Have faith in God’s promises.

Objectives

The learners will…

explore what it means to have faith by remembering the story of God’s covenant with Abraham and Sarah as it relates to today’s scripture passage.
contemplate their faith in statements that are hard to believe.
consider praying the Mission Prayer as a personal act of courage and faith.

Supplies

Blindfold
Small treat
Bible, International Children’s Bible, if available
Paper and pens or pencils

Note to Teacher

Gather

Ask for a brave volunteer to join you at the front of the room. Place a blindfold over the student’s eyes. Ask the volunteer: Are you nervous? Ask the rest of the class: Do you think they are nervous? How can you tell? Next, tell the volunteer to open their mouth wide. Again ask: Are you nervous now? Then place the treat on their tongue. Allow them to take the blindfold off and ask the following discussion questions:

How did it feel to blindly follow directions?
Would you have followed the same directions if a stranger was giving the commands?
How do you know when it’s safe to follow someone’s directions and when you shouldn’t?
What does it mean to have faith?

Today’s lesson is about having faith in God despite what seemed like ridiculous instructions from God.

Engage

The scripture text for today is in the book of Romans; it references a story that was written hundreds of years earlier in the Old Testament. To understand today’s scripture passage, we need to understand the story of Abraham and Sarah.

Invite the students to talk about what they know about Abraham and Sarah. Then, provide missing details in this synopsis:

The story of God’s promise to Abram and Sarai (God later changed their names to Abraham and Sarah) is found in Genesis chapters 15 to 17. God made a covenant with Abram saying that he and Sarai would become the father and mother of many nations and their descendants would number more than all the stars in the sky. Then God changed their names. God’s agreement with them would extend to all their descendants. The problem was that Abraham and Sarah were very old (in their late 90s) and were childless. Trusting God’s promise would be difficult. The agreement made was that every male would be circumcised as a sign of this trust in God’s promise. Abraham believed God and did as he had promised having all the males in his household circumcised, including himself.

Abraham and Sarah had a son, Isaac, born to them the following year. Through Isaac’s descendants God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah was fulfilled. In fact, the descendants of Abraham include those who belong to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jesus is a descendant of Abraham.

Read Romans 4:13–25 from the International Children’s Bible, if available.

It was not through the law that Abraham and Sarah received the promise that they’d be parents of an entire nation. It was through what?
What is God’s promise to us?
How might we show faith in God?

Several years before Paul wrote this letter, the Jewish people had been ordered to leave Rome. By the time Paul wrote, there is evidence that the edict that banned the Jewish community from Rome had been lifted. During the intervening years, Gentile Christians would have become more prominent in the newly forming church community. This may have led to tensions and conflicts as Jews returned to rejoin the fellowship.

Respond

Begin a discussion about what it means to believe something that seems difficult to believe by sharing some of these “Hard to Believe Facts.” Invite the students to share some that they have heard. Discuss which ones they have trouble believing and why believing in some things can be difficult.

Squirrels cause the most power outages in the United States. May to June and October to November are prime times of year for “squirrel attacks” on power lines.
You can tell the outside temperature by counting a cricket’s chirps. If you count how many times a cricket chirps in 15 seconds and then add 37, you’ll get the approximate current temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
Children of identical twins are genetic siblings (half siblings), not cousins.
Costco sells enough toilet paper per year (about one billion rolls) to wrap around the world 1,200 times.
The tiniest snail ever discovered can fit through a needle’s eye. The Angustopila dominikae snail, discovered in 2014, are just 0.03 inches (or 0.86 millimeters) tall. Ten of them could fit in the eye of a needle at one time.
The fastest growing plant on Earth grows so fast, it’s measured in miles per hour. Bamboo can shoot up 35 inches every day at a rate of 0.00002 miles per hour, according to Guinness World Records.

—Adapted from bestlifeonline.com/crazy-interesting-facts/

Verses 19–20 state: “Abraham thought about all this. But his faith in God did not become weak. He never doubted that God would keep [God’s] promise. Abraham never stopped believing. He grew stronger in his faith and gave praise to God.”

Why do you think Abraham believed God?
How much of believing depends on who is telling us or where the information originates? Why does that matter?

Send

Praying the Mission Prayer is a prayer of faith. When we pray, we’re asking God to guide us where God’s Spirit is at work so we can become part of that work. It’s a prayer asking for courage to risk and act for God. While we can easily slip into a memorized repeat of this prayer, it is primarily a prayer of courage and faith.

Imagine Abraham and Sarah also praying a version of the Mission Prayer. It might go something like this:

God, where is your Spirit leading today?

Help us be alert and ready to respond.

Give us courage to trust you and give us faith to respond.

Help us become a blessing of your love and peace for the descendants which you’ve promised us.

Amen.

Spend a couple of minutes composing a mission prayer for your life. What would your prayer be?

Bless

For those who are comfortable, invite class members to share their created mission prayers to end the class time.

Children’s Lesson

Focus Scripture Passage

Romans 4:13–25

Lesson Focus

Have faith—like Abraham and Sarah—in God’s promise.

Objectives

The learners will…

read and learn about the story of Abraham and Sarah.
participate in a faith simulation.
create praying hands with faith prayers.

Supplies

Small treat
Blindfolds (enough for half the class)
Bible or Lectionary Story Bible, Year B, by Ralph Milton, illustrated by Margaret Kyle (Wood Lake Publishing, 2008, ISBN 9781551455648); and Lectionary Story Bible, Year A, by Ralph Milton, illustrated by Margaret Kyle (Wood Lake Publishing, 2007, ISBN 9781551455471)
Chairs (enough for half the class)
Colored construction paper (1 paper per child)
Markers
Bible

Notes to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Romans 4:13-25 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: New Testament (with focus on the Letters), pp. 54–54, available through Herald House.

Gather

Ask for a brave volunteer to join you at the front of the room. Place a blindfold over the child’s eyes. Ask the child: Are you nervous? Ask the rest of the class: Do you think they are nervous? How can you tell? Then tell the child to stick out their tongue. Again ask: Are you nervous? Place the treat in their hand and invite them to taste it. (Note: Be sensitive to any food allergies.) Allow them to take the blindfold off and ask the following discussion questions:

How did it feel to blindly follow directions?
Would you have followed the same directions if a stranger—instead of me—was giving the commands?
How do you know when it’s safe to follow someone’s directions and when you shouldn’t?

Today’s lesson is about having faith in God despite what seemed like ridiculous instructions from God.

Engage

The scripture for today is in the book of Romans, which is in the New Testament. However, it refers to a story that was written hundreds of years earlier in the Old Testament. To understand today’s passage, we need to understand the story of Abraham and Sarah from the Old Testament.

Note: The story of Abraham and Sarah is found in Genesis chapters 15 to 17. You can also find it in the Lectionary Story Bible as follows:

Year A: pp. 80–81, 128–12, 133–134, and 142–144

Year B: pp. 80–81

Alternatively, you can provide a short synopsis filling in details as appropriate:

The story of God’s promise to Abram and Sarai (God later changed their names to Abraham and Sarah) is found in Genesis chapters 15 to 17. God made a covenant with Abram saying that he and Sarai would become the father and mother of many nations and their descendants would number more than all the stars in the sky. Then God changed their names. God’s agreement with them would extend to all their descendants. The problem was that Abraham and Sarah were very old (in their late 90s) and were childless. Trusting God’s promise would be difficult.

Abraham and Sarah had a son, Isaac, born to them the following year. Through Isaac’s descendants God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah was fulfilled. In fact, the descendants of Abraham include those who belong to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jesus is a descendant of Abraham.

Tell the story of Abraham and Sarah. Discuss the following questions as you progress through the story:

How did Abram and Sarai show faith in God?
Is it easy to just pack up your things and leave without knowing where you’re going?
Have you ever followed someone without knowing where you were going?
Why was it so unbelievable that Sarah and Abraham would have a baby at their age?
How did Abraham and Sarah show faith in God?

Respond

Abraham and Sarah had to trust that God’s promises would eventually come true. They had to put all their faith in God and listen to the commands they’d been given, even when things seemed unrealistic or too difficult.

Note: This segment of the lesson may work better in a room other than your normal meeting space; someplace where the children are less familiar.

Faith Walk

Form partners. One partner gets blind folded and spun around several times. The other partner moves to the other end of the room; they must give their partner instructions about where to walk around the room ensuring the blindfolded partner doesn’t run into anything. As the blindfolded partners near the other side of the room, tell them that when you give the command, they should sit down. As you are explaining this, quickly and quietly invite the other partner to bring out a chair and position it so that the blindfolded partners will be able to sit in it. When ready, give the command to sit down. Once safely seated, remove the blindfold.

To the blindfolded partners: How did it feel to not know where you are going or what was going to happen?
To the other partners: Was it difficult to explain where to navigate? Did your partner always listen intently and follow your instructions?
When the blindfolded partner was told to sit, they had to have faith that there was a chair. Faith is believing in something we cannot see. When do you trust or believe something you can’t see?

Just like some of you had to listen to instructions to know what to do and where to go, we must listen to God. We must have faith and trust that God knows what is best. Faith is not being able to see but trusting the One who can.

—adapted from betterbibleteachers.com

The scripture for today references Abraham and Sarah’s faith in God. Read Romans 4:13-19 from the Lectionary Story Bible, Year B.

What is God’s promise to us?
How might we show faith in God?

Send

Fold a piece of construction paper in half hamburger style. Place the child’s left hand with the pinkie on the folded edge, fingers together facing up. Trace around their hand with a marker. Cut out their hand, ensuring that where their pinkie meets the folded edge doesn’t get cut. It should create praying hands that fold like the picture.

On the front of the hands, write “My Praying Hands.” On the inside have older children write their own prayer of faith. For younger children, have them draw a prayer picture, write prayer statements for them, or have pre-printed statements for them to glue inside their praying hands. For example: As your precious child, I will have faith in you, God.

Bless

Ask the children to repeat after you: “I will have faith in you, God.” Explain that they should repeat that phrase every time you point at them. Read the following prayer:

God, thank you for all the beautiful blessings in this world. I am truly amazed and do not understand the intricacies of your creation.