LESSON 1 CONNECTIONS 1.Husband tells wife, “Please bring me my most important book.” What do you think that book might have been? (What is the most important book you own?) The Bible.

LESSON 1 CONNECTIONS 2.Why would he call the Bible his most important book? The Bible is God’s Holy Word, which tells us who He is and how we are saved.

LESSON 1 CONNECTIONS 3.What do we know about the author of the Bible that makes it special? The Bible had many writers but only one author: God.

LESSON 1 CONNECTIONS 4.What is the term we use for God’s giving me the very thoughts and words they should write? Verbal inspiration.

Old Testament Books of the Bible – Part 1 Genesis1 & 2 Samuel Exodus1 & 2 Kings Leviticus1 & 2 Chronicles Numbers DeuteronomyEzra Nehemiah JoshuaEsther Judges Ruth

LESSON 2 CONNECTIONS 1.What are the two great teachings of the Bible? Law & Gospel

LESSON 2 CONNECTIONS 2.Why is each of those teachings important to us? The law S.O.S. = Shows us Our Sins The gospel S.O.S. = Shows us Our Savior

LESSON 2 CONNECTIONS 3.If God originally wrote his law in human hearts, why was it necessary later for God to give people the law in written form? Sin clouds people’s hearts, making the law unclear. With the 10 Commandments, God makes sure we understand his law clearly.

LESSON 2 CONNECTIONS 4.What did Jesus do for us so that we could have forgiveness of sins? Jesus obeyed God’s law perfectly, and he died on the cross to pay for our sins.

Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

THE 1 ST COMMANDMENT: FEAR GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS Faith Foundations Course One Lesson 3

FEAR GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS What does it mean to FEAR God above all things?

ONLY ONE GOD 1.Recall the Bible story of the golden calf in Exodus 32:1-4. What false claim did the people make about that calf? It was one of the gods who had rescued them from slavery in Egypt.

ONLY ONE GOD 2.How did such worship dishonor God? They were giving credit to an idol (a statue or image of a false god) for something God had done. This is called idolatry.

ONLY ONE GOD 3.Why does God deserve to be worshiped? God created and provides for all things. He saved us for eternal life.

ONLY ONE GOD 4.When Melinda went to Japan, she saw some idols that people worshiped. She said, “I’m sure glad people don’t worship idols in our country.” What would you say to Melinda? Some people worship statues or crystals. Others put money, pleasures, or members of their family above God.

ONLY ONE GOD 5.In the story of the three men in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:1-18), King Nebuchadnezzar had told the people that whenever they heard the sound of the special music, they should bow down to a statue that he had made of himself. What wouldn’t the three men do that? The one true God had told them not to worship anyone or anything else.

ONLY ONE GOD 6.Read Matthew 4:10. What is one way to fear God above all things? To worship and serve him alone.

ONLY ONE GOD 7.Seth’s dad has to work on Sunday mornings. His church offers a Thursday night service, but Seth’s dad says he’s too tired after work on Thursdays to attend. What is Seth’s dad putting above God? He’s putting his job, perhaps his rest, and perhaps his money above God.

KEY POINT #1 To fear God means to worship him alone.

GOD’S WAY IS RIGHT 8.Recall the Bible story of Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel 6:1-10). How did Daniel show that he feared God more than the king? Daniel still prayed to God, even though the king made it illegal.

GOD’S WAY IS RIGHT 9.If we had been in Daniel’s place, why might we have been tempted to go along with the king’s command? To save our lives.

GOD’S WAY IS RIGHT 10.Evaluate this statement: If Daniel had obeyed the king, he would have been guilty of putting himself above God. By obeying the king, Daniel would have shown that his own safety and life were more important to him than God.

GOD’S WAY IS RIGHT 11.Sometimes Chad tells lies at home so that he won’t get into trouble: “I didn’t take the last cookie…I didn’t know it was my turn to empty the dishwasher…I wouldn’t have hit her if she hadn’t hit me first.” What is Chad putting above God? Chad is putting himself and his own well- being above God.

GOD’S WAY IS RIGHT 12.Read Proverbs 23:26. How can we fear God as Daniel did? We can obey God by keeping to his ways.

KEY POINT #2 To fear God means to obey him.

OUR LIVES HONOR GOD 13a. Recall the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:1-9). What did Joseph say to Potiphar’s wife when she tempted him to sin with her? (verse 9) “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

OUR LIVES HONOR GOD 13b. Psalm 33:8 tells us that we fear God by revering him. To revere means to consider someone worthy of profound respect, awe, and affection. Explain how Joseph’s words to Potiphar’s wife show that he revered God. Joseph respected God too much to disobey him.

OUR LIVES HONOR GOD 14.What great things has God done out of love for us? God has richly blessed us with all our earthly blessings, the gift of faith, and the promise of heaven through Jesus.

OUR LIVES HONOR GOD 15.Like Joseph, we don’t want to disobey God. Why not? We have great respect for him because of what he’s done for us.

OUR LIVES HONOR GOD 16.How does respect for God influence the choices you make in the following situations? a. Your family devotions after dinner begin at the same time your favorite show comes on TV. You listen attentively to the devotion. You can tape the show and watch it later.

OUR LIVES HONOR GOD 16.How does respect for God influence the choices you make in the following situations? b. You’re really hungry, but your mom told you not to eat the cookies she just finished baking. You respect your mother’s wishes. By doing so, you are respecting and obeying God, who gave you your parents.

KEY POINT #3 To fear God means to respect him above all things.

What does it mean to FEAR God? 1.To fear God means to worship him alone. 2.To fear God means to obey him. 3.To fear God means to respect him above all things. SUMMARY To fear God above all things means to worship, obey, and respect him above all things.