Topic 1 – Names
I chose this as my picture because my name means “Oath to God.” God gave and changed names based on their meaning. Like Elohim, God the creator, or Abraham, father of many. Which is very true because Abraham did end up having a lot of kids. Names showed a person’s character, or what their heart was like. I learned that when we get named is an important part of our life. If God didn’t pick that name out for us, we would be way different people.
Topic 2 – Covenant
I chose pinky promise as my picture because it’s like a little covenant and I used to always do that when I was younger. A covenant is a deal or a promise. There are all different kinds of covenants. One of them is to obey, it doesn’t sound like a covenant but it is. If we obey, we get a blessing. Another one is a disobeying covenant, this is where if you disobey you get a consequence. There is one called a conditional covenant, a conditional covenant means that if you do this, then I do this. It’s almost like a trade-off. Another one is an unconditional covenant. This is where you don’t need to do something to get something out of it. It’s like a gift, It’s free. This connects to my life because I and everyone else in this world had an unconditional covenant from God. He sent his son to die for us and save our sins. He didn’t need to do that, it was a true gift.
Topic 3 – Call
I chose this picture because both of my Uncles had the call from God to go serve in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and Turkey. God still calls his people today. Listen for the Holy Spirit, talk to Christain friends, and Trust and obey God. Some examples other than my uncles are Mr. Ippel and the Guerinks. God asked Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to follow his call to a different land. He promises to make them a great nation. I learned that when God calls you, you should take that call.
Topic 4 – Sinai Law
I chose this picture because it is just like the Sinai law, if you don’t follow it or use it, there will be consequences. The law corners every area of life. The 10 commandments are a covenant with God. I will be your God, but part of being my people is to obey my commands. God’s commands are meant to protect us not smother us. Some of today’s gods are electronics, relationships, grades, people, friends, money, social media, sports, etc. I learned that I need to follow God’s commands not my own, and I need to put my other gods beside me and listen to God.
Topic 5 – Salute to the King
I chose this picture because in the Bible everyone did as they saw fit, and in today’s world people always have the name brand and people want to be cool and popular so they get the name brand too. Like I said before people did as they saw fit, so if people weren’t following the rules more people didn’t follow the rules. There was a cycle of judges in the bible. It would go well, then people would start sinning, enemies would start coming, then they would cry to God, and last of all God would send a new judge, but then they asked for a king so they could be like other nations. I learned that we don’t always need to do as we see fit, we need to do what God tells us. It doesn’t matter how we dress, look, laugh, talk. It just needs to be pleasing to the Lord. We need to do what God sees fit.
Topic 6 – Symbol of a Lamp
I chose this picture because the light of street lights guide our way just like David “the lamp.” David was a man after God’s own heart even though he made many mistakes. David’s line eventually leads to Jesus who is the ultimate light of the world. I learned that Jesus is the ultimate light, the son. Both literally the sun and the son of God. All the other lights in the world are the artificial lights like a lamp or a street light. Artificial lights are the lights we use more often/the things that lead us away. The sun is the only true light, and we need to use it way more often.
Topic 7 – Something is rotten
I chose this picture because some use their technologies like gods. They don’t notice it but it happens. Israel had one lousy king after another. God sends prophets to talk to the people. Elijah was at Mt. Caramel and showed his people that his God was more powerful than Baal. A question that God asks us is, How long will you waver between Me and your other gods, Choose this day who you will serve. I learned that I need to choose God as my god, not tech, not grades, not friends, God.
Topic 8 – A Savior
I chose this picture because the grape juice represents Jesus’ blood, and the bread represents Jesus’ skin. All together it represents Jesus as our sacrifice. The people couldn’t keep the Sinai covenant so God offered a new one. The covenant would be written on their hearts and not need sacrifices since Jesus was the sacrifice. Jeremiah gave the new covenant that was based on God’s grace and forgiveness. I learned that God gave us his sacrifice was not needed. He didn’t have to do that. But He loves us so He did. God forgave us and sent us the light of the world.
