Computer and/or Music Workshop Lesson Idea for the near-sacrifice of Isaac

The "near-sacrifice" of Isaac is treated in-depth in the Abraham and Sarah software (Sunday Software). Animated story, discussion questions, music video.  A lesson plan using the software is part of the Writing Team's Abraham and Isaac God Will Provide lesson set.

Abraham and Sarah software is now FREE to supporting members and their congregations. Learn more.

The centerpiece of that section of the software is a music video that has received rave reviews for its thoughtful treatment of this potentially disturbing story, and the way we visually and lyrically share the theological connection between Isaac's "near sacrifice" to the sacrifice of God's Son.

For a Music Workshop:

The lyrics and music video can be viewed within the context of the software, or they can be excerpted by copying the quicktime movie (.mov) file off of the software (you have my permission as long as you don't upload or publish it). The lyrics in the program are presented interactively and have extra questions with them.

Here is a copy of the lyrics to the original song: "O Father Abraham"

Verse 1:

O Father Abraham -what would you have done?
O Father Abraham -would you've killed your son?
Did you believe enough in this God of visions?
What was in your heart at the moment of decision?

Verse 2:

O Father Abraham - what did Sarah say?
About her favorite son - on that faithful day?
Did she question, did she wonder why?
Did Isaac curse this test - did God hear his cry?

Verse 3:

O Father Abraham - see this sacrifice
Reveals the heart of God - it foretells the Christ
One world stopping, a new one just begun
No more death in the offering of the son

O Father Abraham .... O Father Abraham....

Video Idea: The Jesus Film Project

The free 8 minute film "Jesus - The Beginning" from the Jesus Film Project, has about two-and-a-half excellent minutes of the Abraham and Isaac sacrifice story --describing how it fits into the overall arc of the Bible's story and presages the coming sacrifice of the Messiah.

You can certainly show the entire 8 minutes. The Abraham and Isaac material is at 2:50 to 5:10.

You can view it on YouTube, https://youtu.be/kCgcQ9PrSik

Or you can view and download it for free from the Jesus Film website: https://www.jesusfilm.org/watc...ng.html/english.html

Superbook - Episode 2 - The Test: Abraham and Isaac

This is a nicely done animated retelling of the Abraham & Isaac "near sacrifice" story. Like of all the Superbook videos, this one has two children who are transported into the story. Their observations and questions provide a nice point of view.

It also includes the story of the Giving of the Covenant and the Angelic Visitors (Sarah laughs).

View it in full at Superbook's site (requires free registration) http://us-en.superbook.cbn.com...lter=full_episodes#X

Or you can watch it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/xAFMg09bido

Our Writing Team lesson set Abraham and Isaac: God Will Provide includes a complete detailed lesson using this video, free for our Supporting Members! Not a member yet? Join today!

This 4-minute video from Crossroads Kids' Club ties together stories and explores the idea of the sacrificial lamb in a kid-friendly fashion and includes the near-sacrifice of Isaac.

God's Story: Preparing for Jesus from Crossroads Kids' Club on Vimeo.

"Throughout the Bible, God prepared us for his son, Jesus, the one who rescued us from all the wrong things in the world. We see examples of this in the story of Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19), the Passover (Exodus 12:1-30), the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 53), and the Last Supper (Luke 22)."

Free Bible illustrations by Richard Gunther, contributed to freeBibleimages.org, and licensed for non-commercial teaching use. https://www.freebibleimages.or...ns/rg-abraham-isaac/

To see all of his illustrations organized by Bible story go to https://www.freebibleimages.or...tors/richardgunther/

Here is a one page storybook of Abraham and Isaac: http://www.lambsongs.co.nz/One...nd%20Isaac%20col.pdf

Don't miss: many of Richard Gunther's Bible illustrations have been formatted by author Jill Kemp as FREE printable Bible storybooks for younger children and preschoolers at http://www.lambsongs.co.nz/One...0Bible%20Stories.htm (NEW Testament stories) and http://www.lambsongs.co.nz/one..._old%20testament.htm (OLD Testament stories).

Abraham gives God everything

I posted suggestions for a preschool VBS morning of activities related to the near-sacrifice of Isaac. Some of those suggestions can be adapted for older children.

The retelling of the story “Abraham Doesn’t Understand” is particularly good. [From The Family Story Bible, by Ralph Milton]

The BibleStoryGuy's retelling of this challenging story is also very good for all ages: God Will Provide the Lamb.

Newsroom Drama lesson for the Near-sacrifice of Isaac

God’s Covenant With Abraham: Near-sacrifice of Isaac Newsroom Workshop is part of Creative Carol's complete lesson set. Students will experience the scripture by participating in a “News Show” to hear the characters of the story describe the almost-sacrifice of Isaac.

Video Lesson for the Near-sacrifice of Isaac

God’s Covenant With Abraham And Sarah Video Workshop in Creative Carol's lesson set includes discussion of the near-sacrifice of Isaac, which is part of this video that covers the entire story.

Carol has this comment about the video: "This is an animated video that has a narrator whom we see on occasion. This narrator calls us “the discovery team.” As you will see sometimes this narrator can act pretty silly."

COMPLETE LESSON SET: The Binding of Isaac

From First Congregational UCC, Red Oak, Iowa

Summary of lesson set:

• Background Material for Leaders
• Storytelling - tell the story and raise big questions
• Art Workshop - Collages of our Favorite Things - with a reflection on what it would feel like to sacrifice some of them
• Drama Workshop - contemporary skit (may be best performed (or recorded) by older students for younger students)