Seeing God's World · Lesson 9
God's Design for Family
Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Ephesians 6:1-4; Psalm 68:5-6 Old Testament PrincipleObedience
Before Israel entered the Promised Land, Moses told parents to love God with all their hearts and to talk about His words at home all day long. Later Paul wrote to children, "Obey your parents in the Lord." God designed the family, and families grow strong when they build on His Word.
God designed the family. Children honor and obey their parents in the Lord, and parents teach God's Word at home, because God's way is good.
- CreationGod made it (this lesson)
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother.”
Ephesians 6:1-2 BSB
Christ Connection · Better than
Jesus, God's Son, grew up in a family and "was obedient" to Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:51). He obeyed His Father perfectly, even to the cross, for children and parents who don't. Through Him, everyone who believes is given the right to become a child of God (John 1:12), so no one who trusts Jesus is ever without a family.
Luke 2:51-52; John 1:12; Ephesians 3:14-15
The Big Story · Creation
In creation, God made the first family. Sin has broken many families, but God is a Father to the fatherless, and through Jesus He brings people into His forever family.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Doorpost reminders
- Theo’s Workshop (build challenge): Built to hold
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Triangle tower
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
God made my family.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Right away, Color the family
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Moses told families to talk about God at home all day long, and Paul told children, "Obey your parents in the Lord." God designed families, and He loves every family.
Memory verse
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”
Adapted from Ephesians 6:1-2
Start here
Ask, "If you could hang one Bible verse on your front door, what would it be?" Say, "God told families to do something like that! Let's find out why."
Bible story 6 min
God's people walked in the desert for forty years. Now they were close to their new land.
Moses was very old. He talked to all the families. "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God. Love Him with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength."
Then Moses said to moms and dads, "Keep God's words in your hearts. Teach them to your kids. Talk about them at home. Talk about them on walks. Talk about them at bed time and when you get up. Write them on your doors!"
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Right away or argue? 8 min
- Read short scenes ("Mom says turn off the game," "Dad says brush your teeth"). Volunteers act out arguing, then act out obeying right away.
- Ask, "Which one honors God?"
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
God told families through Moses to keep His words on their hearts and talk about them all day at home. Paul told children, "Obey your parents in the Lord," and told fathers to teach their children about the Lord. God designed the family, and honoring parents includes our words and attitudes, even when they can't hear us.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: God's design for family, Doorpost signs
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, online and on screens, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
God designed the family, a husband and wife for life who receive children as a gift and teach God's Word at home, with children who honor and obey in the Lord. Our culture treats family as whatever we decide and parents as obstacles. Sin breaks many families, but God is a Father to the fatherless, and His design is still good.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Design and grace, Doorposts
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, online and on screens, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Obedience
The same principle in other Bible stories.
With Building BricksThe Wise and Foolish BuildersMatthew 7:24-29; Luke 6:46-49Jesus told about two builders. The wise one built on the rock and his house stood through the storm. Jesus says those who hear His words and do them are like the wise builder.New TestamentObedience
Kings and ProphetsThe Walls of JerichoJoshua 6:1-27; Joshua 2:1-21God told Israel to march around Jericho for seven days, and when they trusted and obeyed, God made the walls fall down flat.Old TestamentObedience
Kings and ProphetsGod Calls Samuel1 Samuel 3:1-21When God's word was rare in Israel, God called the boy Samuel by name, and Samuel learned to say, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."Old TestamentObedience
Jesus the KingJesus Is BaptizedMatthew 3:1-17Jesus came to John to be baptized in the Jordan River, and God the Father said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," as the Spirit came down like a dove.New TestamentObedience
In the BeginningGod Calls MosesExodus 2:1-3:15; Exodus 4:1-17God saw His suffering people and came down to rescue them, and He called Moses to go, promising, "I will be with you."Old TestamentObedience