Genesis 13

Lesson Aim

To understand that an easy choice is not always the best choice

Hook 1: Packets of sweets

Show a small, medium and large packet of sweets.  Which would you choose if you could eat them all up?  Why is the large packet not the best choice? (The children should be able to tell you about tooth decay and a balanced diet)

Then tell the story of Abraham and Lot.

Hook 2: Money

Show a £5 note.  Tell the children that you found this outside the post office.  What should you do?  What is the right choice?  What is the wrong choice? Is it hard to make this choice?  Why?

Hook 3: Adverts

Have some different adverts (glossy pages from children’s magazines or a TV magazine).  Ask the children what they are selling.  Do they tempt you to buy things?  Do you nag your parents to buy them?  Why are some of these not the best choices to make?

Hook 4: Questions

Have you ever been in a shop and been allowed to choose which box of chocolates (Easter egg / toy) you want. How do you decide which one to pick?

The man in our story today was able to make an even greater choice than this. The man called Lot was to make a choice which would affect the rest of his life.

Story Tips

You should briefly mention the consequences of Lot’s decision (Genesis 19 v 23 – 26). It is enough to say that Lot went to live next to two wicked cities where the people constantly did wrong, evil things and disobeyed God. Lot could not ignore these people and they led him to sin against God.

Application

Lot saw the better land, and he was greedy.  He thought that he would get richer.  But in the end this was a bad choice because he was tempted to live among the wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah.  What easy choices are you tempted to make that aren’t good choices?