All Hands on Deck
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All Hands on Deck
After the creation of humanity, God declared it “supremely good.” (Genesis 1:31) Just five chapters later, God “regretted making human beings on the earth, and he was heartbroken.” (Genesis 6:6) God decides to destroy this part of creation. The images of God here convey sorrow more than anger. God is heartbroken and disappointed. But there was Noah, whom God approved of. Noah was a good man who walked with God. So when God decides to destroy humanity, Noah and his family are spared. Although disappointed with human beings, God acts mercifully in choosing not to completely rid the earth of humans. The story of Noah in the Bible isn’t the only account of an ancient God tells Noah to build an ark. After God instructs Noah to build an ark, Noah must decide whether to trust God enough to follow God’s instructions. “Noah did everything exactly as God commanded him.” (Genesis 6:22) Noah trusted and obeyed God.
Dive Deeper Together
Read Genesis 6:13-22 together in the Deep Blue Kids Bible, as well as “did you know?” on page 9. OR Read “Noah Builds the Ark”: God told Noah that the world would be flooded because of all the violence, and instructed Noah to build a wooden ark. God told Noah how to make the ark. Noah would need to include places for animals to live and sleep. Noah was also going to need to cover it with tar inside and out. God told Noah to bring his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives into the ark. Then Noah was told to bring a pair of all creatures. This included two of every kind of bird, livestock, and all crawling creatures. Noah was even to take two of all kinds of food for all on the ark. Noah did everything God told him to do.
Grow Stronger Together
Build an ark together using building blocks or LEGO® bricks. Invite your child to tell the story to you as you all build the ark. Ask your child how they think the ark should have looked.
Pray Together
Share joys and concerns, and then say this prayer: Dear God, help us to trust you when you call us to move in ways that may not always make sense to everyone else. Amen.
June 5 Unit 1: The Rainbow Promise
BV: Genesis 9:17—
This is the symbol of the covenant that I have set up between me and all creatures on earth.
AP: We can trust
God’s promises.
Noah Builds the Ark (Genesis 6:13-22) This month your child’s class will collect offerings for the Nepal Mission Project led by Heifer International. Please consider donating. The games in the Deep Blue Adventures app are awesome! Check them out here: https://itunes.apple. com/us/app/deep-blue-adventures
Jump In
All Hands on Deck
Last week we read about God instructing Noah to build an ark. Noah obeyed God and now, as the story continues, it is time to fill the ark with passengers. Eight people would board the ark—Noah, his wife, his three sons, and his son’s wives. People were far outnumbered by animals. We traditionally envision two of each kind of animal on the ark, but God instructs Noah to take seven pairs of each clean animal and one pair of each unclean animal. Used here, the terms “clean” and “unclean” refer to animals used for sacrifice. When God told Noah to load the animals onto the ark, God said the rain would begin in seven days and last for 40 days and 40 nights. Noah’s family spent more than the 40 days and nights on the ark. Including the time it took for the waters to recede, Noah and his family were on the ark for about a year. After informing Noah of the plan to flood the earth, God makes a covenant with Noah. The covenant God makes is a promise of God’s faithfulness.
Dive Deeper Together
Read Genesis 7:1-16 together in the Deep Blue Kids Bible, as well as “did you know?” on page 10. OR Read “Two of Every Kind”: God told Noah it was time to load up the ark. Noah was to take his family into the ark with the different animals. God told Noah to take seven pairs of each of the clean animals and one pair of each unclean animal onto the ark, then in seven days there would be rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. Noah did as God said. When everyone had entered the ark—Noah and his wife, his sons Shem and Ham and Japheth and their wives, and all the creatures—the flood began. It rained upon the earth for forty days and forty nights, just like God had said.
Grow Stronger Together
Play a game together this week. Invite everyone to seek out the pairs in your home. Gather the pairs of socks, the pairs of pants, the salt and pepper shakers, and any other pairs to one spot in your home. Ask your child what Noah must have been feeling when the creatures gathered in pairs to get in the ark.
Pray Together
Share joys and concerns, and then say this prayer: Dear God, help us to be faithful when you call us to action. Amen.
June 12 Unit 1: The Rainbow Promise
BV: Genesis 9:17—
This is the symbol of the covenant that I have set up between me and all creatures on earth.
AP: We can trust
God’s promises.
Two of Every Kind (Genesis 7:1-16) This month your child’s class will collect offerings for the Nepal Mission Project led by Heifer International. Please consider donating. The games in the Deep Blue Adventures app are awesome! Check them out here: https://itunes.apple. com/us/app/deep-blue-adventures
Jump In
All Hands on Deck
As the waters begin to recede, Noah sends out a succession of four birds–one raven and a dove three times–to determine the condition of the earth. Ancient mariners used the practice of releasing birds while sailing to test whether they were close to land. Other ancient flood stories also include accounts of birds being released. Even though Noah monitored the receding of the waters by sending out the raven and the dove, this information is ultimately not what determines when Noah, his family, and the animals will leave the ark. Just as God told Noah to build the ark and to load the ark, God tells Noah when to disembark. Noah continued to trust God and obey God’s instructions. The covenant God made with Noah–and with us–promised God’s faithfulness.
Dive Deeper Together
Read Genesis 8:1-19 together in the Deep Blue Kids Bible. OR Read “Sending Out the Dove”: God did not forget Noah. God sent a wind over the earth, and the water receded. The ark came to rest on a mountain. Noah opened a window and sent out a raven. The raven flew back and forth until the waters had dried up over the land. Then Noah sent out a dove to see if the waters on the fertile land had dried up, but the dove found no place to rest and returned to the ark. Seven days later, Noah sent the dove out again. This time the dove returned with a torn olive leaf in its beak. Seven days later, Noah sent the dove out again and it did not return. Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. It was time to open the door of the ark. Noah saw the land had dried up. God spoke to Noah telling him to go out from the ark and to bring all his family and all the creatures so they could populate the earth again.
Grow Stronger Together
Go birdwatching together this week. What birds do you see? Tell your child the stories of Noah’s ark while you look for doves and ravens.
Pray Together
Share joys and concerns, and then say this prayer: Dear God, thank you for being faithful. Help us to be faithful, too. Amen.
June 19 Unit 1: The Rainbow Promise
BV: Genesis 9:17—
This is the symbol of the covenant that I have set up between me and all creatures on earth.
AP: We can trust
God’s promises.
Sending Out the Dove (Genesis 8:1-19) This month your child’s class will collect offerings for the Nepal Mission Project led by Heifer International. Please consider donating. The games in the Deep Blue Adventures app are awesome! Check them out here: https://itunes.apple. com/us/app/deep-blue-adventures
Jump In
All Hands on Deck
After the flood, God made a promise to Noah and to every living creature that there will never again be a flood to destroy the earth. In the events leading up to God instructing Noah to build the ark, God had grieved over the wickedness of humankind and decided to destroy this part of God’s creation. Humankind had not changed during the flood experience. Humans were still imperfect creatures. God’s choice to make a covenant indicates God’s commitment to the future of a less than perfect world. Even though human beings have faults, God continues to place confidence in them.God uses the rainbow to mark the covenant established with Noah and all living creatures. God did not create the rainbow for this purpose, but gave it a new significance for the future. The rainbow serves as a reminder to God of God’s commitment to humankind. The rainbow also reminds God’s people of God’s constant and neverending faithfulness.
Dive Deeper Together
Read Genesis 8:20–9:17 together in the Deep Blue Kids Bible, as well as “Life Preserver: What is a covenant?” on page 11. OR Read “The Rainbow Promise”: Noah built an altar to the Lord and the Lord thought, “I promise to never hurt the earth.” God blessed Noah and his sons, telling them to be fertile. God set up a covenant with Noah and his sons and their descendants and with every living being. God set up a covenant promising to never again allow all life to be cut off by floodwaters. A symbol of this covenant is a rainbow in the clouds. The bow will be in the clouds and upon seeing the bow, God and Noah will remembered the covenant.
Grow Stronger Together
Using contruction paper of many colors, scissors, glue, and cotton balls, make a 3D rainbow together. Cut red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and pruple construction paper into 1-inch strips. Bend the ends of each color strip about an inch to create a horseshoe shape. Glue the ends of each strip to a full sheet of construction paper lining the colors up in rainbow order. Cover each end of the strips with a “cloud” cotton ball.
Pray Together
Share joys and concerns, and then say this prayer: Dear God, thank you for your covenant and for the rainbow. Amen.
June 26 Unit 1: The Rainbow Promise
BV: Genesis 9:17—
This is the symbol of the covenant that I have set up between me and all creatures on earth.
AP: We can trust
God’s promises.
The Rainbow Promise (Genesis 8:20–9:17) This month your child’s class will collect offerings for the Nepal Mission Project led by Heifer International. Please consider donating. The games in the Deep Blue Adventures app are awesome! Check them out here: https://itunes.apple. com/us/app/deep-blue-adventures
All Hands on Deck
After the creation of humanity, God declared it “supremely good.” (Genesis 1:31) Just five chapters later, God “regretted making human beings on the earth, and he was heartbroken.” (Genesis 6:6) God decides to destroy this part of creation. The images of God here convey sorrow more than anger. God is heartbroken and disappointed. But there was Noah, whom God approved of. Noah was a good man who walked with God. So when God decides to destroy humanity, Noah and his family are spared. Although disappointed with human beings, God acts mercifully in choosing not to completely rid the earth of humans. The story of Noah in the Bible isn’t the only account of an ancient God tells Noah to build an ark. After God instructs Noah to build an ark, Noah must decide whether to trust God enough to follow God’s instructions. “Noah did everything exactly as God commanded him.” (Genesis 6:22) Noah trusted and obeyed God.
Dive Deeper Together
Read Genesis 6:13-22 together in the Deep Blue Kids Bible, as well as “did you know?” on page 9. OR Read “Noah Builds the Ark”: God told Noah that the world would be flooded because of all the violence, and instructed Noah to build a wooden ark. God told Noah how to make the ark. Noah would need to include places for animals to live and sleep. Noah was also going to need to cover it with tar inside and out. God told Noah to bring his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives into the ark. Then Noah was told to bring a pair of all creatures. This included two of every kind of bird, livestock, and all crawling creatures. Noah was even to take two of all kinds of food for all on the ark. Noah did everything God told him to do.
Grow Stronger Together
Build an ark together using building blocks or LEGO® bricks. Invite your child to tell the story to you as you all build the ark. Ask your child how they think the ark should have looked.
Pray Together
Share joys and concerns, and then say this prayer: Dear God, help us to trust you when you call us to move in ways that may not always make sense to everyone else. Amen.
June 5 Unit 1: The Rainbow Promise
BV: Genesis 9:17—
This is the symbol of the covenant that I have set up between me and all creatures on earth.
AP: We can trust
God’s promises.
Noah Builds the Ark (Genesis 6:13-22) This month your child’s class will collect offerings for the Nepal Mission Project led by Heifer International. Please consider donating. The games in the Deep Blue Adventures app are awesome! Check them out here: https://itunes.apple. com/us/app/deep-blue-adventures
Jump In
All Hands on Deck
Last week we read about God instructing Noah to build an ark. Noah obeyed God and now, as the story continues, it is time to fill the ark with passengers. Eight people would board the ark—Noah, his wife, his three sons, and his son’s wives. People were far outnumbered by animals. We traditionally envision two of each kind of animal on the ark, but God instructs Noah to take seven pairs of each clean animal and one pair of each unclean animal. Used here, the terms “clean” and “unclean” refer to animals used for sacrifice. When God told Noah to load the animals onto the ark, God said the rain would begin in seven days and last for 40 days and 40 nights. Noah’s family spent more than the 40 days and nights on the ark. Including the time it took for the waters to recede, Noah and his family were on the ark for about a year. After informing Noah of the plan to flood the earth, God makes a covenant with Noah. The covenant God makes is a promise of God’s faithfulness.
Dive Deeper Together
Read Genesis 7:1-16 together in the Deep Blue Kids Bible, as well as “did you know?” on page 10. OR Read “Two of Every Kind”: God told Noah it was time to load up the ark. Noah was to take his family into the ark with the different animals. God told Noah to take seven pairs of each of the clean animals and one pair of each unclean animal onto the ark, then in seven days there would be rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. Noah did as God said. When everyone had entered the ark—Noah and his wife, his sons Shem and Ham and Japheth and their wives, and all the creatures—the flood began. It rained upon the earth for forty days and forty nights, just like God had said.
Grow Stronger Together
Play a game together this week. Invite everyone to seek out the pairs in your home. Gather the pairs of socks, the pairs of pants, the salt and pepper shakers, and any other pairs to one spot in your home. Ask your child what Noah must have been feeling when the creatures gathered in pairs to get in the ark.
Pray Together
Share joys and concerns, and then say this prayer: Dear God, help us to be faithful when you call us to action. Amen.
June 12 Unit 1: The Rainbow Promise
BV: Genesis 9:17—
This is the symbol of the covenant that I have set up between me and all creatures on earth.
AP: We can trust
God’s promises.
Two of Every Kind (Genesis 7:1-16) This month your child’s class will collect offerings for the Nepal Mission Project led by Heifer International. Please consider donating. The games in the Deep Blue Adventures app are awesome! Check them out here: https://itunes.apple. com/us/app/deep-blue-adventures
Jump In
All Hands on Deck
As the waters begin to recede, Noah sends out a succession of four birds–one raven and a dove three times–to determine the condition of the earth. Ancient mariners used the practice of releasing birds while sailing to test whether they were close to land. Other ancient flood stories also include accounts of birds being released. Even though Noah monitored the receding of the waters by sending out the raven and the dove, this information is ultimately not what determines when Noah, his family, and the animals will leave the ark. Just as God told Noah to build the ark and to load the ark, God tells Noah when to disembark. Noah continued to trust God and obey God’s instructions. The covenant God made with Noah–and with us–promised God’s faithfulness.
Dive Deeper Together
Read Genesis 8:1-19 together in the Deep Blue Kids Bible. OR Read “Sending Out the Dove”: God did not forget Noah. God sent a wind over the earth, and the water receded. The ark came to rest on a mountain. Noah opened a window and sent out a raven. The raven flew back and forth until the waters had dried up over the land. Then Noah sent out a dove to see if the waters on the fertile land had dried up, but the dove found no place to rest and returned to the ark. Seven days later, Noah sent the dove out again. This time the dove returned with a torn olive leaf in its beak. Seven days later, Noah sent the dove out again and it did not return. Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. It was time to open the door of the ark. Noah saw the land had dried up. God spoke to Noah telling him to go out from the ark and to bring all his family and all the creatures so they could populate the earth again.
Grow Stronger Together
Go birdwatching together this week. What birds do you see? Tell your child the stories of Noah’s ark while you look for doves and ravens.
Pray Together
Share joys and concerns, and then say this prayer: Dear God, thank you for being faithful. Help us to be faithful, too. Amen.
June 19 Unit 1: The Rainbow Promise
BV: Genesis 9:17—
This is the symbol of the covenant that I have set up between me and all creatures on earth.
AP: We can trust
God’s promises.
Sending Out the Dove (Genesis 8:1-19) This month your child’s class will collect offerings for the Nepal Mission Project led by Heifer International. Please consider donating. The games in the Deep Blue Adventures app are awesome! Check them out here: https://itunes.apple. com/us/app/deep-blue-adventures
Jump In
All Hands on Deck
After the flood, God made a promise to Noah and to every living creature that there will never again be a flood to destroy the earth. In the events leading up to God instructing Noah to build the ark, God had grieved over the wickedness of humankind and decided to destroy this part of God’s creation. Humankind had not changed during the flood experience. Humans were still imperfect creatures. God’s choice to make a covenant indicates God’s commitment to the future of a less than perfect world. Even though human beings have faults, God continues to place confidence in them.God uses the rainbow to mark the covenant established with Noah and all living creatures. God did not create the rainbow for this purpose, but gave it a new significance for the future. The rainbow serves as a reminder to God of God’s commitment to humankind. The rainbow also reminds God’s people of God’s constant and neverending faithfulness.
Dive Deeper Together
Read Genesis 8:20–9:17 together in the Deep Blue Kids Bible, as well as “Life Preserver: What is a covenant?” on page 11. OR Read “The Rainbow Promise”: Noah built an altar to the Lord and the Lord thought, “I promise to never hurt the earth.” God blessed Noah and his sons, telling them to be fertile. God set up a covenant with Noah and his sons and their descendants and with every living being. God set up a covenant promising to never again allow all life to be cut off by floodwaters. A symbol of this covenant is a rainbow in the clouds. The bow will be in the clouds and upon seeing the bow, God and Noah will remembered the covenant.
Grow Stronger Together
Using contruction paper of many colors, scissors, glue, and cotton balls, make a 3D rainbow together. Cut red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and pruple construction paper into 1-inch strips. Bend the ends of each color strip about an inch to create a horseshoe shape. Glue the ends of each strip to a full sheet of construction paper lining the colors up in rainbow order. Cover each end of the strips with a “cloud” cotton ball.
Pray Together
Share joys and concerns, and then say this prayer: Dear God, thank you for your covenant and for the rainbow. Amen.
June 26 Unit 1: The Rainbow Promise
BV: Genesis 9:17—
This is the symbol of the covenant that I have set up between me and all creatures on earth.
AP: We can trust
God’s promises.
The Rainbow Promise (Genesis 8:20–9:17) This month your child’s class will collect offerings for the Nepal Mission Project led by Heifer International. Please consider donating. The games in the Deep Blue Adventures app are awesome! Check them out here: https://itunes.apple. com/us/app/deep-blue-adventures
