For the 9:45 Fourth Grade Sunday School Class of Jersey Baptist Church
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Welcome, Fourth Graders, to your very own blog (blog = web log), where we can talk about what's happening in Fourth Grade Sunday School. I will try to add several posts each week about what's coming up, and you can ask questions or comment on any post you would like. Just put your name and comment in the form after the posting you want, and click on "Post." That's it! If you have questions or problems, please send me email at tjcook@earthlink.net. If you have a comment you would like to add to the blog and have problems using this page, just email it to me and I will add it for you. Please use and enjoy this page...it's just for you! |
Sat, 12 Jan 2013
Jan 12, 2013, 00:23
[home/SS2012]
The Israelites had just left Egypt, but more was still in store to show them the power of God. Pharoah changed his mind yet again and chased after his ex-slaves with all the chariots of Egypt, but God stopped them with a pillar of fire just before they got to the Israelites, who were camped on the shore of the Red Sea.
Meanwhile God told Moses to hold his hand over the water of the Red Sea. Still another miracle took place as the waters parted and the Israelites walked across the sea on dry land.
When God removed his pillar of fire and the Egyptians tried to follow through the sea, God told Moses to stretch out his hand again. The walls of water collapsed, drowning all the Egptian army.
We will learn more about how God took care of the Israelites this Sunday. It’s a great story—you won’t want to miss it, and you’ll want to invite a friend.
Tom and Sydney Cook
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Crossing the Red Sea
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Mon, 31 Dec 2012
Dec 31, 2012, 14:13
[home/SS2012]
Starting a new calendar year, we return to the children of Israel in Egypt. Next Sunday is the story of the Passover, the tenth and worst of the Egyptian plagues, which will finally convince the Pharaoh to obey God’s command to “Let My people go!” The firstborn son of each Egyptian family would die, including the Pharaoh’s own son.
God told Moses to prepare the children of Israel, and to tell them to place the blood of a freshly killed lamb over the doorpost of their homes. When God’s angel of death saw the blood, he would pass over that house. This is the event that Jews continue to celebrate each spring until this day. It resulted in Pharaoh telling the children of Israel to get out of Egypt, and the Egyptian people giving them gold and silver and other riches to get rid of them. They had all seen enough of God’s power!
We will talk Sunday about the Passover Seder, and how it helps Jews today remember how God brought them out of slavery to the land He had promised them, with a strong and mightly arm.
You’ll want to join us and share some Matzoh as we learn more about this great event in history. Bring a friend along!
Tom and Sydney Cook
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The Passover
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Wed, 26 Dec 2012
Dec 26, 2012, 16:30
[home/SS2012]
We conclude our Christmas unit next Sunday with the story of the visit of the Magi, or Wise Men, to the newborn King. We know very little about these visitors. We know that they brought three gifts, but not how many visitors there actually were. But they had learned from studying God’s creation that a new king would be born in Israel, and they traveled a long distance to worship Him and bring Him gifts.
The gifts were expensive and significant. Gold was a present for a king. Frankincense was a present for a priest. And myrrh, used to anoint a dead body, foretold Jesus’ sacrifice.
We will take a look at some real gold, frankincense, and myrrh Sunday, and make our own video of the Wise Men’s visit. You’ll want to be there to join with us…and bring along a friend!
Tom and Sydney Cook
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Wise Men from the East
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Mon, 17 Dec 2012
Dec 17, 2012, 22:43
[home/SS2012]
Next Sunday is our celebration of Jesus’ birth. We will look at the familiar story of the Nativity in some new ways, and have a birthday party with games and refreshments as we remember the night the Son of God was born. Come join us, and bring a friend!
Tom and Sydney Cook
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Happy Birthday, Jesus!
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Mon, 10 Dec 2012
Dec 10, 2012, 21:15
[home/SS2012]
We pause in the story of Moses and the Exodus to learn about the birth of Jesus. We find many more angels on earth around this event than anywhere else in the Bible. Angels appeared to Zachariah, to Mary, to Joseph, and to the shepherds (this time a multitude of angels!).
God had promised from the beginning to bless the world through His people, Israel. Prophets like Isaiah and Micah had foretold where the Messiah would be born and what He would be like. Many other prophecies in the Old Testament had prepared the world for the coming of the Messiah, the “Anointed One,” who would save His people from their sins. Now it was finally the time for the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, known as “Immanuel’ (which means God with us.)
Join us this Sunday as we begin our celebration of Jesus’ birth. Bring a friend to join the fun!
Tom and Sydney Cook
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Angels Everywhere!
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Mon, 03 Dec 2012
Dec 03, 2012, 23:09
[home/SS2012]
Moses obeyed God and journeyed to Egypt, where he went before Pharoah and announced that God said “Let my people go” to worship on the mountain where God had appeared in a burning bush. Pharoah said “no” … he said he did not know this God named Yahweh (“I am who I am” ), and would not obey Him.
God proceeded to show Pharoah and the Egyptians who the One True God really is, as He brought plague after plague to punish them. Moses gave Pharoah every chance to repent and obey God, but Pharoah’s heart was hardened. Through blood, boils, frogs, gnats, lice, hail, darkness, disease, and locusts, Pharoah continued to say “no.”
Join us Sunday as we learn more about the Egyptian plagues God used to rescue His people, the Israelites, from slavery. Invite a friend to join us!
Tom and Sydney Cook
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Let My People Go!
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Mon, 26 Nov 2012
Nov 26, 2012, 19:58
[home/SS2012/Joseph_Part_2]
After Jacob (Israel) and his family travel to Egypt, the Israelites remain there for 430 years. During this time the original family of 73 grows in number until there are 600,000 men (plus women and children). A new Pharaoh comes to power who does not know Joseph. The Israelites are made slaves, building the treasure cities of Egypt.
Pharaoh is afraid of the Israelites; although they are slaves, there are so many of them that they could form an army and threaten his kingdom. He plots against them, finally ordering every Israelite boy to be thrown into the Nile.
One family, Amram and Jochobed, defy the order and hide their newborn son for three months. When he became too big to hide, Jochobed and big sister Miriam place the baby in a waterproof basket and leave him floating in the Nile where Pharaoh’s daughter might find him. God blesses their plan, and the baby is found by Pharaoh’s daughter and brought up as her own son. She names him “Moses.”
Moses knows his heritage, however, and as a 40-year-old man he kills an Egyptian for beating an Israelite slave. Moses escapes into the Midian desert to the east of Egypt, where he marries and becomes a shepherd. Another 40 years pass.
One day while keeping the sheep, Moses noticed a strage sight on Mount Sinai…a bush which was on fire, but not burning up. God speaks to Moses from the bush, and charges him with delivering the Israelites from Egyptian captivity and leading them back to the land God had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Reluctantly, Moses sets out with help from his brother Aaron to accomplish this mission.
Join us this Sunday, and bring a friend! It would be great to see you!
Tom and Sydney Cook
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Moses Birth and Calling
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Wed, 21 Nov 2012
Nov 21, 2012, 00:43
[home/SS2012]
God has now set the stage to bring Jacob and his family to Egypt. Joseph has gone on ahead and become the second in command of the nation of Egypt, and the famine foretold in the Pharoah’s dreams extends into Canaan where Jacob and his remaining sons are still living.
The family of Jacob needs food, and Egypt is the only place to find it. Ten of the brothers head to Egypt, leaving Benjamin, the youngest, with their father.
When they arrive in Egypt, they meet with Joseph, although they do not recognize him. Joseph knows them, however, and decides to test them to see if they have changed since selling him into slavery. He finally sends them home with the food they need, but keeps Simeon as a hostage.
Jacob is distressed at losing another son, and refuses to allow the nine boys to return to Egypt for more food until they are close to starvation. They tell Jacob that they must take Benjamin with them this time, since Joseph had demanded it.
Finally arriving in Egypt again, Joseph greets them royally and feasts with them, finally revealing himself as their long-lost brother. Pharoah is happy that Joseph is reunited with his family, and sends for Jacob and the rest of the camp. Now they are all in Egypt, where they will remain until they are later taken into slavery and are finally led back to the promised land by Moses.
Joseph points out to his brothers that, while they meant evil in selling him into slavery, God meant it for good and used the events to save Jacob, his family, and many others from starvation.
Join us this week, and invite a friend! You won’t want to miss it.
Tom and Sydney Cook
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Joseph Part 2
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Mon, 12 Nov 2012
Nov 12, 2012, 19:38
[home/SS2012]
Joseph was one of twelve brothers, sons of Jacob. He was Jacob’s favorite son, and was given a special coat as a result. The coat, plus his dreams that his brothers would bow down to him, made his brothers hate him. They plotted to kill him, but instead sold him to slave traders who took him to Egypt.
In Egypt Joseph had many adventures, winding up in an Egyptian jail. Even there God blessed him as Joseph did his best to follow God and show himself honest, faithful, and hard-working. Finally his God-given ability to interpret dreams paid off as Pharoah was troubled with dreams no one else could interpet. Joseph described how God would send seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
Pharoah was impressed with Joseph so much that Joseph was made second-in-command of Egypt, in charge of managing the food supply for the next forteen years.
Come be with us this Sunday as we learn more about the exciting story of Joseph. Also, remember this is the Sunday we need all of our decorated Thanksgiving bags returned, preferably with food to be shared with needy families for their Thanksgiving meal. You’ll want to be there—along with a friend!
Tom and Sydney Cook
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Joseph, Part 1
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Mon, 05 Nov 2012
Nov 05, 2012, 17:13
[home/SS2012]
After Jacob fled to Haran to stay with Rebekah’s cousins, he got married and stayed there several yesrs. He worked for his uncle Laban and became very wealthy, as God blessed him. Finally, after he had eleven sons and a daughter, God told him it was time to return home.
Jacob packed up all his family and possessions and headed south to Canaan. He was afraid that Esau might still be mad at him, so he sent many gifts of livestock ahead to his brother. He divided his family and possessions into two groups, in case something happened to one of them.
As Jacob slept alone north of the Jabbock River, an angel from heaven appeared and began to wrestle with him. After the wrestling match, the angel told him God had changed his name to Israel. Along with the name change came a change of Jacob’s heart, as he never acted deceitfully again as far as we know.
Esau met Jacob and hugged him, and the two brothers were no longer enemies. Jacob set up his home in Shechem, in the land God had promised to give him.
We’d love to see you in our class Sunday as we take a closer look at this great story. It would be a great week to invite a friend!
Tom and Sydney Cook
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Jacob’s Name Changed
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Top SS2006 SS2007 SS2008 SS2009 SS2010 SS2011 SS2012Recent Posts
- Crossing the Red Sea
- The Passover
- Wise Men from the East
- Happy Birthday, Jesus!
- Angels Everywhere!
- Let My People Go!
- Moses Birth and Calling
- Joseph Part 2
- Joseph, Part 1
- Jacob's Name Changed