Abraham's Covenant, God's Promises,
and Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream of the Future

A Video Workshop

Summary

Students will watch and compare two videos, one about God's promises to Abraham and the other about the promises of God that Martin Luther King Jr. foresaw as coming true "one day" in his "I Have a Dream" speech. Students will conclude with their own dreams for the future.

Scripture Reference:

Genesis 15:1-6.

Supplies List:

• YouTube video "God's Promise for Abraham" (Saddleback Kids)
• YouTube video of MLK "I Have a Dream" speech
• A computer/cellphone that can connect to YouTube and also connect to a large screen. See tips and techniques here.
• Popcorn

Advanced Preparation Requirements:

• Have the video ready to go. (Make sure your internet hookup is adequate.)
• Pop the popcorn.

Lesson

Opening:

Greet the children and introduce yourself. Explain what they'll be doing today and what you hope they will learn.

Bible Study:

Explain that a "dream" is sometimes called a "vision," and give an example of a dream/vision for your own life.

Ask students to share a dream/vision for the following:

• a Dream for your own life
• a Dream for our Sunday School class
• a Dream for our country/world

Ask: What do you think God's dream/vision is for your life? For the world?
(Jesus often described this vision of "what should be and will be" as the Kingdom of God.)

Say: What's the difference between our hopes and dreams, and God's?   (God has the power to make them come true!  In that way, God's dreams are actually PROMISES, or what the Bible calls "a Covenant" -- an unbreakable promise between God and his people.)

Say: Let's See What God's Promise to Abram was!

Show the Abraham Video

Discuss the video:

1. What promises did God make to Abraham?
2. Why was it important for God to promise Abraham that he would have many children?  What would these children of Abraham DO?   Who would they one day become? How would they change the world?
3. Are you one of Abraham's children?
   (Yes, we are all children of Abraham -- children called to worship God, live godly lives, and tell others about the wonderful promise of God to always love us.  The Bible calls this family a "Kingdom of Priests." Jesus called this vision "The Kingdom of God.")
4. Jesus reminded us of this covenant between God and Abraham and Abraham's children that God takes care of his children and does not abandon them, that God forgives his children and blesses them, and that one day the entire world would know they are so loved.

Prepare to Show the "I Have a Dream" Video Clip

Say: The movie you are about to see is a real tv broadcast from 1963. It shows one of the most famous speeches in history, Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech which took place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.  Dr. King and thousands of people had marched in Washington for the dream and promise of equality, an end to racism, and a peaceful world.

As you listen to it, listen for the vision of the future Rev King expresses -- the promises of a new world  that God will one day bring about.

Watch the MLK "I Watch MLK "I Have a Dream" speech

Discussion After Speech:

Fill in these blanks from the speech:

Tip: Write these on the board ahead of time, or on a handout. Consider watching the video a second time so children can find the answers to fill in the blanks.

1. I have a dream that one day the former sons of slaves and sons of former slave owners will: _______________________________________ (be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood).
2. I have a dream.... that the heat of injustice and sweltering with the heat of oppression will be _______________________  (transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice).
3. I have a dream that little Black boys and Black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as ______________________ (sisters and brothers).
4. I have a dream... the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and ______________________________ (all flesh shall see it together).

How similar are these dreams and promises to life in the Kingdom of God which Jesus spoke about all the time?

What are some of YOUR dreams for your life, our world? the problems people are facing?

How can we help God make these dreams come true?

Closing:

End with a prayer that has students joining hands as as one family, Abraham's children.

Quotes from MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech pertinent to this lesson and video clip:

I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day down in Alabama with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right down in Alabama little Black boys and Black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

A lesson written by member Scotter, with improvements from the Rotation.org Content Team.