Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mr. Womack.

And I'm really excited to be working with you today.

I've just got a feeling that we're going to do absolutely brilliantly.

Today's lesson is called The Story of Abraham and Sarah, and it's from the unit The Bible: What Does It Say About God's Promises? By the end of the lesson today, you will be able to explain why the covenant with Abraham is still important to Christians today.

Let's get started.

Here are the keywords that we're going to be using.

We're going to practise saying them together first though.

I'm going to say them, and then you are going to say them.

Here we go.

Descendants.

Descendants.

People who can trace their roots back to previous generations.

Faith.

Faith.

Trust and confidence.

Perseverance.

Perseverance.

That means keeping going and not giving up.

Covenant.

Covenant.

And that means a solemn promise.

Keep your eyes peeled because we're going to keep using these keywords as we go through the different learning and activities together.

Here is the lesson outline.

In the first part of the lesson, we're going to look at what did God promise about Abraham and Sarah.

And in the second part of the lesson, we're going to look at how do Christians understand the story.

So we're going to begin with what did God promise Abraham and Sarah.

Here's Aisha.

Aisha explains why stories are used in Religious education.

She says, "Stories can help us understand different worldviews.

In Religious education, we listen to important stories and think about the deeper meaning of these stories to different people.

We can also look at the difference the stories make to people today." In this lesson, we will be using a story about Abraham and Sarah to help us understand Christian worldviews.

Aisha and Jacob are talking about waiting.

Aisha says, "I love going on holiday with my family.

I can't wait for the day when we set off.

The days before the holiday seem to go very slowly while I am waiting for the big day." Jacob says, "I get really excited for my birthday.

On the night before, I can't get to sleep because I want the morning to come quickly." Perhaps you've had to wait for different things too.

Can you think of other times when you have had to wait? Pause the video now whilst you have a think about this little question.

God made a covenant with Abraham.

He promised Abraham that his children and grandchildren would become a great nation.

God promised that Abraham's descendants would live in the land that God had given them.

Here's Tia.

Tia has a Christian worldview.

She attends a Methodist church.

Tia says, "Abraham and his wife Sarah were very old.

They did not have any children.

They must have been very surprised that God made promises about what would happen to their children and grandchildren." And here's Fergus.

Fergus has a Christian worldview.

He attends an Anglican church.

Fergus says, "I think it must have been hard for Abraham to have faith in God to keep his covenant.

It looked impossible that he would be the father of a great nation.

The story of Abraham and Sarah is about perseverance.

They were waiting and hoping for the child that was promised to them." Let's just take a moment to check our understanding with a quick multiple choice question.

What was surprising about God's promise to Abraham and Sarah? Is the answer a, Abraham and Sarah had faith in God? Is it b, Abraham and Sarah lived in the promised land? Or was it c, Abraham and Sarah did not have any children? You're going to need to pause the video now whilst you think which of these is the correct answer.

The correct answer is c, Abraham and Sarah did not have any children.

Well done if you got that one correct.

It's time to listen to the story of Abraham and Sarah now.

Long, long ago, under a night sky sprinkled with stars, God made a mighty promise to a man named Abraham.

"Look up," God said, "and count the stars, if you can.

That's how many children will come from your family." But as time passed, no child came.

Abraham grew older, and so did his wife Sarah.

Could God's promise really come true? One afternoon, while the sun was still hot, Abraham sat by the door of his tent.

Suddenly, three travellers appeared, their shadows stretching long in the heat.

As soon as he saw them, Abraham ran out to greet them and bowed low.

"Please, come and rest beneath these trees.

Let me bring you some cool water and a meal." The three men replied, "Thank you.

We accept your kind invitation." Abraham hurried back into his tent and called to Sarah.

"Quick, use our best flour and bake some fresh bread.

Prepare some food for our guests." Soon, the delicious aroma of a feast filled the air.

Abraham brought out the meal and served the food.

He gave these three strangers the best he had to offer.

As they ate, one of the visitors spoke.

"Where is your wife Sarah?" "She's inside the tent," Abraham replied.

"Nine months from now, I will come back, and your wife Sarah will have a son," the stranger said.

Inside the tent, Sarah listened quietly.

At first, she blinked, thinking she must have misheard.

But when the word sank in, she couldn't help herself.

She laughed, a laughed that bubbled up from the sheer impossibility of it all.

"Me, have a baby, at my age? That's impossible." The stranger turned to Abraham.

"Why did Sarah laugh? Is anything too hard for God? I promise you, nine months from now, she will hold a son in her arms." Let's pause there for a moment and check our understanding with a true or false question.

Sarah believed that she would have a son.

Is the answer true or false, and why? Pause the video now whilst you think.

Is the answer true or false? The answer is false.

Sarah laughed when she heard what the visitors said.

She did not believe she would be able to have a son.

Well done if you got that answer correct.

Well, let's get back to the story.

And just as God promised, nine months later, Sarah held a baby boy in her arms. They named him Isaac, which means laughter, because joy and laughter had filled their hearts.

Sarah said, "Who would believe that I would have a child in my old age? God has made me laugh with joy.

And everyone who hears this story will laugh with me too." And that's how God kept his promise, bringing joy, laughter, and a little baby named Isaac into Abraham and Sarah's lives.

What a fantastic story.

I love the tale of Abraham, and Sarah, and little baby Isaac.

Here's Tia.

Tia explains the meaning of Isaac's name.

"Sarah and Abraham were delighted when Isaac was born.

The name Isaac means laughter.

Isaac's name shows how happy they were.

It is also a reminder of how Sarah laughed when she was told she would have a son." Aisha and Jacob are talking about their names.

Aisha says, "My name means alive and well.

Maybe my mom chose it because she was so happy to have a healthy baby after all the time she spent waiting for me to arrive.

I share my name with a wife of the Prophet." Jacob says, "I like my name.

It means the one who follows.

I am named after my granddad and I'm glad we share the same name.

Does your name have a special meaning or story? Perhaps you want to pause the video whilst do you have a think and discuss if your name has a special meaning or story.

Well, now you've had those thoughts and discussions, let's pause for a moment and check our understanding with a quick multiple choice question.

What is the meaning of the name Isaac? Does it mean a, laughter, b, follower, or c, leader? You're going to need to pause the video now whilst you think which of these is the correct answer.

The correct answer is a.

The meaning of the name Isaac means laughter.

Well done if you got that answer correct.

Well, it's time for a task now.

Put these pictures from the story in order.

Complete the speech bubble to show how Abraham and Sarah are feeling.

You're going to need to pause the video now whilst your work to complete this task.

Well done for completing that task.

This is the order that your pictures should be in.

And you might have said something like this in your speech bubble.

We are so surprised and happy to have a new baby.

God has kept his promise to give us a son.

We called him Isaac because he has brought joy and laughter to our lives.

Well done for working really hard to complete that task.

That completes the first part of our lesson about what did God promise Abraham and Sarah.

We're now moving on to the second part of our lesson, how do Christians understand the story.

So let's begin.

Here's Tia again.

Tia is thinking about the deeper meaning of the story of Abraham and Sarah.

She says, "I love the part of the story where they name Isaac laughter.

It is such a joyful name.

My name means happiness and joy.

It helps me to imagine how my parents felt when I arrived safely as a new baby.

I think Abraham and Sarah must have felt even happier after all their years of waiting." And here's Fergus.

Fergus is thinking about the importance of names too.

He says, "my name means strong.

I try hard to live up to my name.

Abraham means father of many.

His name came with the promise that he would have many descendants.

Abraham must have had a strong faith to live up to his name and believe that he would be the father of a great nation." So let's pause there for a moment and consider, what is the meaning of the name Abraham? Is the answer a, friend of many, b, father of many, or c, leader of many.

Pause the video now whilst you think which of these is the right answer.

The correct answer is b.

The name Abraham means father of many.

Well done if you got that one right.

Tia explains what she learns from the story.

She says, "I can understand why Sarah laughed at the message the visitors gave to Abraham.

She had waited for so long for a baby she had given up hope.

I find perseverance hard.

I feel like giving up when things get difficult.

Sarah's story reminds me not to give up.

Life can surprise you." Fergus explains what he learns from the story.

"The story of Abraham is all about a covenant.

A covenant is a promise that lasts a long time, so it is not easy to keep.

The message from the visitors reminded Abraham and Sarah to keep having faith.

The waiting was nearly over.

God would soon keep his promise to give them a son." Let's take a moment to consider a true or false question.

All promises are easy to make and keep.

Is the answer true or false, and why? Pause the video whilst you consider which of these is the correct option.

The correct answer is false.

Some promises are not easy to make or keep.

A covenant is a promise that lasts a long time and might be difficult to keep.

Really well done if you got the right answer.

Fergus is thinking about the deeper meaning of the story.

Fergus says, "The covenant with Abraham is very meaningful for Christians and Jews.

It shows that God takes time and that waiting can be important.

Nowadays, everything is very quick.

We have instant coffee and fast food.

Abraham and Sarah had faith and perseverance over many, many years.

I believe that faith in God should be more like a long journey than a quick sprint." Let's take a moment to consider a quick question.

Who remembers and tells the story of Abraham and Sarah? Is the answer a, only Jews, b, Jews and Christians, or c, only Christians? Pause the video now whilst you think which of these is the correct answer.

The correct answer is b.

Jews and Christians remember and retell the story of Abraham and Sarah.

Well done if you got that one right.

It's time for a task now.

Here's Aisha and Jacob.

Aisha and Jacob are thinking about how Christians understand the story of Abraham and Sarah.

Who do you think has the best answer and why? Aisha says, "The story is about the covenant.

It reminds Christians to have faith that God can be trusted and keep his promises." Jacob says, "The story is about waiting for something important.

Waiting teaches Christians to show perseverance and keep praying to God, just as Abraham and Sarah did." You're going to need to pause the video now while you think who has the best answer, Aisha or Jacob, and why.

I look forward to seeing what you put.

Well done for completing that task.

Here are some examples of what you might have said.

You might have said, I think that Aisha had the best answer because she explained that the story is about the covenant.

The covenant is a promise that is important to Christians and Jews, or I think Jacob had the best answer because Christians can learn perseverance while they are waiting for something important.

They might pray to God every day while they are waiting.

Well done for working really hard to complete that task.

That brings us to the end of today's lesson.

So let's summarise what we've learned together.

We found out that God made a covenant with Abraham, as he did with Noah.

God promised that Abraham would have many descendants to live in the promised land.

God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, even though they were very old.

They had to show perseverance because they waited a long time for Isaac to be born.

Jews and Christians remember and retell this story today.

And finally, many Christians will interpret this story in terms of the importance of faith in and waiting for God.

It's been a pleasure working and learning with you today.

Well done for all your hard work and effort.

And I look forward to working with you again soon.

Bye for now.