The Old Promise

• 1 Kings 1:1 (NASB)

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We just learned with our kids last Sunday that the word "testament" means promise. And, we asked the kids: why do we have an old promise and a new promise in the bible? To be sure, entire theology courses--if not entire seminaries--are dedicated to answering this question.

To break it down for the 1st-5th graders...this is what we came up with:

The Old Way (Promise) is hard.
The New Way (Promise) is Jesus.

After reading about Solomon's temple prayer and the admonition of God after, it is clear--the old way is hard. Over and over again the children of Israel were distracted and fell away from following after God's statutes and laws. Before we judge them too harshly, we have to acknowledge our own weakness, our own distractions, our own frailty; to follow after God and keep his commandments is a very difficult thing.

The Old Way is hard.

The New Way is Jesus.

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