Exploring the Bible
In 2021, St Paul’s Kids will be following along with the book ‘Exploring the Bible: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids’ by David Murray. Each week there will be a memory verse and a summary video to accompany the week’s reading.
Expedition 30 | Two Houses
Monday 2 August 2021
Snapshot verse
Matthew 7:24
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on a solid rock” says Jesus in Matthew 7:24
Summary
One of the reasons the Sermon on the Mount is so interesting and enjoyable is that Jesus uses so many pictures, images, and stories to illustrate his teaching. As he finishes his sermon, he uses the pictures of door-knocking, road travel, fruit trees, and house-building. He uses these pictures to call us to enter is kingdom and live a kingdom life.
Expedition 29 | Heavenly Treasure
Monday 26 July 2021
Snapshot verse
Matthew 6:33
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”
Summary
This is a long sermon isn’t it? But because Jesus was preaching the Sermon on the Mount, I’m sure it wasn’t boring. In this part he teaches us about money and worry. He also tells us what we should seek first in our travels.
Expedition 28 | Enemies
Monday 19 July 2021
Snapshot verse
Matthew 5:48
“Therefore, be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Summary
Sometimes, explorers can encounter enemies in their travels. But in this part of Jesus’ sermon, we’ll discover that Jesus has a very unusual way of dealing with enemies.
Expedition 27 | A church on the mountain
Monday 12 July 2021
Snapshot verse
Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Summary
Jesus’ most famous sermon is his Sermon on the Mount. Let’s stop on that hillside for a while and listen to his wonderful preaching. We begin with the Beatitudes, which describe the blessed character of the citizens in Christ’s kingdom. After that we will look at the conduct of these citizens, how they are to live in this world.
Expedition 26 | A Temple and a river
Monday 5 July 2021
Snapshot verse
Luke 2:52
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
Summary
The Bible describes one important event in Jesus’ childhood- the time he visited the temple when he was twelve years old. The next time we see Jesus, he is about thirty years old and is being baptised by John the Baptist in the river Jordan just before beginning his public ministry. Let’s look at both of these events.
Expedition 25 | A strange place
Monday 28 June 2021
Snapshot verse
Matthew 1:21
“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins”
Summary
We’ve traveled many miles and many years in our journey through the Old Testament. We’ve explored many thick forests of biblical history. But we’ve also enjoyed many bright and beautiful views of a coming King. Now, after such a long wait, we’re about to meet the King. God has given us four books about his life – the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Try to think of these four books as four different cameras that look at Jesus’ life from four different angles. Over the next few weeks we will be reviewing the most important points in Jesus’ life using each of these four cameras. We start with the birth of this King and the unusual palace he was born in.
Expedition 24 | The growing Excitement
Monday 21 June 2021
Snapshot verse
Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of God is on me because the Lord God has chosen and sent me to proclaim the good news to the poor and broken heart.”
Summary
As we finish our travels through the Old Testament, we learn even more about God’s promised King. In addition to Isaiah, we hear from Jeremiah, Jonah and Zechariah. They all increase our excitement and leave us on the edge of our seats, longing to see this long-awaited King. Who is he, and when will he come?
Expedition 23 | Looking into The Distance
Monday 14 June 2021
Snapshot verse
Isaiah 9:6
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Summary
We’re coming to the end of our exploration of the Old Testament. We’ve seen that God promised a special King who would deliver his people and defeat their enemies. Thus far we’ve been disappointed. But we mustn’t give up hope of arriving at that destination. The prophets didn’t. These were men whom God raised up and sent to his people to call them from their sins and to keep them hoping and looking for a great King and a great kingdom. Let’s explore the Prophets together and discover some of their wonderful promises.
Expedition 22 | Love Songs
Monday 7 June 2021
Snapshot verse
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son so that everyone who trusts in him will not perish but will have eternal life.”
Summary
I have many happy memories of family vacations when I was young. I can still remember the ones we used to sing in the car and where we were going when we sang them. Songs stick in our minds and help us to remember. Perhaps that’s why God gave us the Song of Solomon or, as some Bibles entitle it, the “Song of Songs” (Song of Solomon 1:1). It’s the best song ever because it describes the best love ever. It describes the love between a husband and a wife, but that man-woman love is also a picture or symbol of the love between God and Israel (Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 3:14) and between Christ and his church (Ephesians 5:23,25).
Expedition 21 | The Dangerous Detour
Monday 31 may 2021
Snapshot verse
Ecclesiastes 12:1
“Remember your Creator when you are young, before the days of trouble come and the years catch up with you.”
Summary
In addition to Proverbs, Solomon wrote two other books – Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes tells us of a time when Solomon, despite being so wise, chose the path of sinful folly and ended up desperately unhappy. It’s a book to warn us against following him down this road.