Is Any Thing Too Hard For the Lord? – Genesis 18-23

Gathered in this post are resources to help you teach your family not only the stories of the people in the Old Testament but also the doctrine and principles found in the study block for the Come, Follow Me reading of Genesis 18-23. There are resources for children, youth, and adults. Every resource linked to is free! Most links are to church websites or websites approved for further gospel study. Choose on thing a day to do with your family or a couple to do for family home evening. Enjoy!

Everyone

Video – Abraham & Sarah – A beloved Bible story of love, obedience, and sacrifice. “Abraham & Sarah” is sure to take you on an emotional journey as you follow Abraham and Sarah through their high points in life, as well as the low points. Made in collaboration with Book of Mormon Central (29:30 minutes)

Video – Akedah (The Binding) – (Genesis 22:1-18) A video of Abraham offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice unto the Lord. (12:57 minutes)

Video – For God So Loved the World – Give thanks for the Lord Jesus Christ: His life, His atoning sacrifice, and His Resurrection. John 3:16 (4:48 minutes)

Video – Substance of Faith – Bible video (6:21 minutes)

Primary Children

Video – Abraham and Isaac – Old Testament Stories

Video – Abraham and the Sacrifice of Isaac – Old Testament Scripture Reader

I can trust God to keep His promises. The Lord fulfills His promises, even when they seem impossible. Genesis 18:9-14; 21:1-7

Activity – I Can Trust God – Coloring page

Activity – Abraham and Sarah Made Covenants – Some information and a hero card about Abraham and Sarah. 

Article – What Should I Do When I Feel Discouraged? – Answers from and apostle, Jeffrey R. Holland

Story – Abraham and Sarah – Illustrated scripture story from The Friend

Abraham obeyed the Lord. Genesis 22:1-14

Activity – Abraham Obeyed the Lord – Color and put the wheel together.

Activity – Abraham and Isaac – Dot-to-dot

Heavenly Father sent His Son, who sacrificed Himself for us. Genesis 22:1-14

Activity – Article of Faith 3 – Understand and memorize the third article of faith.

Activity – Jesus Christ Is My Savior and Redeemer – A short message about how Jesus died to save us, and a connect-the-dots coloring activity of Mary at the empty tomb.

Activity – Jesus Christ Is My Savior – Look up scriptures listed on pieces of fruit, and place them on the tree. The fruit represents the blessings we receive because of the Atonement.

I can flee wickedness. Genesis 19:15-26

Activity/Article – An Unshakable Foundation – Henry B. Eyring teaches that choosing the right creates the solid ground under our faith. Includes three simple activities.

Article – Decide Right Now – Thomas S. Monson shares a story about choosing the right. Includes a short activity about choices.

Sunday School – Youth and Adults

Article – The Patriarchs: Who They Were and Why It Matters – “Why do three men who lived thousands of years ago matter today?” Well, the key to that answer lies in the eternal covenants and promised blessings God gave them.

Video – The Bible Story of Hagar – Book of Mormon Central (5:09 minutes)

The Lord fulfills His promises in His own time. Genesis 18:9-14; 21:1-7

Article – Claim the Exceeding Great and Precious Promises – The Lord makes generous promises, and He certifies that He will not vary from these promises.

Article – With God, Nothing Shall Be Impossible – To teach His people, the Lord employs the unlikely.

Video – Inspiring Short: The Miracle of the Ordinary | Lawrence E. Corbridge – “How can you believe in extraordinary things such as angels and gold plates and your divine potential? Easy, just look around and believe. BYU Inspiring Shorts (3 minutes)

Video – Three Holy Men Visit Abraham – Book of Mormon Central (7:40 minutes)

The Lord commands us to flee wickedness. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we should flee wickedness and not look back. Genesis 19:12-29

Article – Remember Lot’s Wife – To all such of every generation, I call out, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the “high priest of good things to come.”

Video – Leave the Party – John’s life may have been very different had he not had the courage to leave a party one evening in Japan. (6:26 minutes)

Video – Dare to Stand Alone – Thomas S. Monson shares an experience he had in the Navy when he had to stand alone and reminds us that “we are never alone when we stand with our Father in Heaven.” (4:20 minutes)

Video – Enemy Territory – Boyd K. Packer shares an experience in which he was protected during World War II by listening to a prompting from the Spirit and promises youth that they will be protected if they “heed the promptings that come from the Holy Ghost.” (3:38 minutes)

Video – Lot and His Family – Book of Mormon Central (7:29 minutes)

Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac is a similitude of God and His Son. Genesis 22:1-19

Article – Sacrifice, a Fruit of Righteousness – Abraham’s example teaches us that when we put the Lord first, blessings follow.

Article – Old Testament Symbols – Some symbols can be interpreted in different ways. It is important to remember that correct interpretations of symbols will build upon what has been clearly taught by other scriptures and our Church leaders.

Video – The Abrahamic Sacrifice is Restored – Book of Mormon Central (8:57 minutes)

Video – Why Did God Ask Abraham to Sacrifice Isaac? – Book of Mormon Central (4:23 minutes)

Adults

Article – Abraham—A Model of Faith and Righteousness – Old Testament Institute Manual

Article – The Abrahamic Test – BYU Religious Studies Center

Article – Elements of Sacrifice in Abraham’s Time and Our Own – BYU Religious Studies Center

Podcast – Audio Roundtable: Genesis 18-23 – from The Interpreter Foundation

Podcast – Follow Him: Genesis 18-23 part 1 (video link) – How do the ancient Near Eastern traditions regarding hospitality affect the story of Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah? Dr. Daniel Peterson explains how Abraham, Lot, and Sarah learn to trust the Lord and wrangle some of the more difficult passages regarding Sodom and Gomorrah. Find the audio of the episode here.

Podcast – Follow Him: Genesis 18-23 part 2 (video link) – Dr. Peterson continues to discuss Genesis 18-23 and the impossible choices Sarah, Hagar, Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac make as they heed the Lord’s commands, wrestle with identifiable human emotions, and reap considerable blessings. Find the audio of the episode here.

Video – Come Follow Up: Genesis 18-23 – Host Ben Lomu and special guests take a deeper dive into concepts and doctrines from the Old Testament that correlate with the weekly Come, Follow Me resource. Now expanded to a hour-long format, Come Follow Up complements your personal and family scripture study. BYUtv (55:16 minutes)

Video – Discussions on the Old Testament: Abraham: A Man of Faith and Righteousness – Review Abraham’s many acts and declarations of faith in the Lord, including his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac at the Lord’s command. BYUtv (27:14 minutes)

Video – Come, Follow Me Insights: Genesis 18-23 – This is a packed episode with many insights into the lives of Abraham, Sarah, Lot, Hagar, and Isaac. Join with Taylor and Tyler in this fascinating episode. (1:09:11 minutes)

Video – Did Abraham Lie? – In both Genesis 12 and Genesis 20, Abraham’s wife Sarah told the local king that she was only Abraham’s sister, not his wife. Again in Genesis 26, Abraham’s son Isaac faced the same dilemma with his wife Rebekah. This similar situation played out three different times, and each one can bring up perplexing questions. Did Abraham ask Sarah to lie about being his wife? Why would God allow for Sarah and Rebekah to be treated like that? Book of Mormon Central (6 minutes)