Outdoor Object Lesson 86: Red and Green

Key Text

"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also." John 14:3 (WEB)

Lesson

What is red and green all over? It probably did not take you long to guess Christmas. These two colors are often considered the official colors of the holiday. But other colors are popular too. Blue, gold, silver, and white can be seen adorning nearly every home and shop at Christmas. Red and green still seem to dominate all others. It hasn’t always been that way. Until the early 20th century many colors were used in decorations as much as any other. But red and green slowly came to prominence with time.

In colder climates in Europe and North America, the dark green holly plant with its bright red berries are a familiar and welcome sight. They are one of few plants that grow in the cold months and stick out against the snow. Holly is able to grow even in winter because it is an evergreen. It can tolerate temperatures as low as 20 degrees F (-6 degrees C).1 Holly has long been a symbol of hope of coming spring. So the holly branch has been associated with the Christmas season for centuries. The holly branch helped to make red and green the most popular Christmas colors.

This hope is mirrored in the hope of the Christmas story in which the birth of Jesus symbolized the coming hope of his mission. The birth of Jesus did not in itself bring salvation. Jesus still had to grow up. He had to complete his ministry and train disciples to carry his message to the world. Then he had to choose to go to the cross and die for our sins. But the birth of the Messiah brought hope. It was a sign that God was in the process of carrying out his promise. It was a symbol of hope.

God is now in the process of carrying out another promise. He is working to prepare a place for you and me so that he can come again and take us to live with him for eternity. As Jesus promised in the key text, he will come again and take us back to heaven with him. Christmas is the celebration of the first advent of Jesus and a reminder that Jesus fulfilled God's promise of a redeemer to save the world. When you look at the red and green decorations this Christmas season, let them remind you that like the holly is a promise of the coming spring, so Christmas is a promise of a savior that is coming a second time.

Questions

What is your favorite Christmas color?
What else does Christmas give us hope for?
Why has Jesus not returned yet?
How long will it be to Jesus comes back?

Sources
1. "AMERICAN HOLLY," University of Kentucky, Department of Horticulture online, last updated December 7, 2018, from http://www.uky.edu/hort/American-Holly.


Written by David F. Garner

Outdoor Object Lesson 84: Almonds For You

Key Text

“Moreover God’s word came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” Then God said to me, “You have seen well; for I watch over my word to perform it.”” Jeremiah‬ ‭1:11-12‬ ‭(WEB‬‬ paraphrased)

Lesson

Almonds are a spectacular nut. They offer great health benefits. They are high in vitamins E and B2, protein, fiber, and healthy fats. They offer a high level of antioxidants and are beneficial for the cardiovascular system.1 These nuts have a mild taste that is great alone and with many other foods. They make a great nut butter. They can even be used to make a tasteful milk substitute.

They grow on trees and are native to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean region. They grow well in warm regions such as California which produces 80% of the world's almonds. Although almonds are normally called a nut they are technically a seed which grows inside a hard fruit covering called a drupe. There are two varieties of almonds, sweet and bitter. As you likely guessed the sweet almond is the one that is eaten as a nut. The bitter almond variety is used to produce oil.2 The most striking aspect of the almond tree is the flowers. When in full bloom they are beautiful with five white to light pink petals. They have a rich fragrance that smells of honey butter.

In the Bible, almonds are mentioned several times. In Genesis 43:11 Jacob tells his sons to take almonds with them into Egypt as one of the best foods of the land. These are to be a present to Joseph, probably because the almond was not a native to the region of Egypt. In Exodus 25:33-34 Moses was directed to decorate parts of the candlestick for the wilderness Tabernacle with carvings resembling branches and blossoms of the almond tree. Aaron's rod yielded almond blossoms and ripe almonds to prove he was God’s choice for high priest (Numbers 17:8). The most unusual mention of almonds is in the key text where Jeremiah sees an almond branch in vision. It is an odd verse the first time it is read. God asks Jeremiah "What do you see?" and Jeremiah says, "the branch of an almond tree." Then God seems to congratulate him on his powers of observation then completely change the subject.

While God may seem absent minded at first, when reading the verse in context, it makes more sense. Throughout the chapter of Jeremiah 1 God repeatedly asks Jeremiah what he sees in vision, then makes an important statement. God uses these images as symbols. He is trying to help Jeremiah understand the crucial points of His message. Almond buds are usually the first to appear after the long winter. They usually start growing in late January before winter is completely gone.2 The Hebrew word for almond (shaked) means the tree that "hastens to awake." Here God is emphasizing his hast to fulfill his promises to his people. God would not delay in fulfillment of his gracious and divine promise. His message is the same to us today. Look at the bare branch of the almond tree, watch as I fulfill my promises in your life and make them bloom into a beautiful flower and bear delicious fruit.

Questions

What is your favorite nut?

What can you do when you read something in the Bible, like the key text, that doesn't make any sense?

Is it significant that God compares the fulfillment of his promises to a flower that blooms towards the end of winter?

What promises has God given for your life that he has yet to fulfill?


Sources
1. Joe Leech, "9 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Almonds," Healthline online, last modified September 6, 2018, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-proven-benefits-of-almonds.

2. Melissa Petruzzello, "Almond," Encyclopædia Britannica online, last modified September 20, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/plant/almond.


Written by David F. Garner
Photo credit: LinArt via www.pixabay.com

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 46: Lizzardly Promise

Key Verse

“A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing,” Psalm 68:5-6a (WEB)

Lesson

When I say lizard do you picture an iguana? If so, you are correct, iguanas are in fact, one of the most popular lizards. They make fantastic pets, they are low maintenance and entertaining.¹ Iguanas are amazing creatures. They live in warm habitats because they are cold blooded reptiles. This means they cannot make their own body heat and must lay in the sun to stay warm. They often live in deserts and tropical regions. They can be found in the Americas, Australia, and on many islands. The marine iguana of the Galapagos Islands even spends part of its time underwater.⁴

Iguanas come in many sizes and colors. They can be as small as 5 inches (12.7 cm) and as long as 7 feet (213 cm). The blue iguana can grow up to 30 lbs. (13.6 kg).² They can be many colors including grey, tan, brown, black, and green.¹ There is even an iguana that is pink!³ Some iguanas change their color slightly to improve heat absorption or when stressed.¹

Iguanas are often herbivores meaning they eat only vegetation such as leaves, flowers, or algae. Some eat animals such as worms, crickets, or small rodents. Iguanas are social creatures and spend a lot of time laying around in the sun. Males are very territorial so it is a good idea never to get to close to them in the wild.² Iguanas are interesting creatures. The marine iguana sneezes on a regular basis to expel saltwater from its nostrils.⁴ Green iguanas are so tough they can drop from a branch as high as 40 feet (12 meters), hit the ground and survive.²

Iguanas are amazing creatures and great pets, but they make poor parents. The mother lays her eggs in a burrow in a warm place. She will lay between 5 and 20 eggs. When she does this the father is long gone. The mother will then cover the burrow and walk away. Upon hatching the baby iguanas will be completely on their own in the world. They must fend for themselves for the next three years until they are grown. Many will not make it to adulthood. 

Thankfully, we have a Father who has promised never to leave us (Deut. 31:6). In the key verse, we heard that God is a father to the fatherless. He provides family for the lonely. God is the champion of the weak and oppressed. He despises actions that hurt others. Our parents may fail us because of sin. Like the iguana babies we may feel alone. The good news is that God longs to be your Father and has promised to always be by your side no matter where you go or what you do!

Questions

Have you ever had a pet lizard?

What do you think about the Iguana leaving its young before they are born?

How does it make you feel that God wants to be our Father?

Do you believe God when He promises never to leave you?

Sources

1. "Iguanas." Pet Iguana Care .org, accessed February 03, 2017, http://petiguanacare.org/.

2. Bradford, Alina, "Iguana Fact,” Live Science, June 11, 2015, accessed February 3, 2017, http://www.livescience.com/51153-iguanas.html.

3. Bryner, Jeanna. "Rare Pink Iguana Eluded Darwin and Others." Live Science. January 05, 2009. Accessed February 3, 2017. http://www.livescience.com/9608-rare-pink-iguana-eluded-darwin.html.

4. National Geographic Society. "Marine Iguanas." National Geographic. Accessed February 03, 2017. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/marine-iguana/.

Written by David F. Garner

Pictured above is an Easter Water Dragon

Photo Credit: picman2 via www.pixabay.com

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 20: Rainbow Promise

Key Verse

When I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. Genesis 9:13-16 WEB

Lesson

What is the symbol seen in the sky after a rainstorm? A rainbow of course. A rainbow is a beautiful phenomenon. The word describes what we see. A bow is the shape of the arch of colors that appear after it rains – in other words a rainbow. Whenever it rains or there is water in the atmosphere, light is separated into all the colors of the spectrum of visible light. The sun must be behind you to be able to see one. The sunlight reflects off the droplets of water and separates the light into colors.²

After God sent a flood over the earth to cleans it, he chose the rainbow as a symbol of the covenant between him and us. God promised not to destroy the world again through a flood. He chose the rainbow because it appears when the rain threatens to overwhelm. However, the rain never does completely overwhelm, it passes away and we see the rainbow as a reminder of God’s promise to not let the rain flood the whole earth again.¹

Rainbows are not always seen high in the sky after it rains. They can be seen in the mist from falling water, or when water droplets accumulate in the air. Rainbows can be made from other sources of light too such as streetlights or flashlights. Rainbows can even be seen at night caused from moonlight.²

Wherever we see a rainbow we are reminded of God’s promise in Genesis 9:13-16 to each one of us not to flood the earth again. God said the promise is between him and you personally. This is incredible because each of us see our very own rainbow. When we see a rainbow, the light is reflected at a very specific angle. So even when two people are looking at a rainbow in the same direction, they see light reflected off of different water droplets. The rainbows they see may be close to each other, but are not the same. So no two people look at the same rainbow.³ God made a promise to you and he makes a rainbow just for you to look at. The rainbow is a constant reminder that God keeps all his promises.

Questions

Do you believe God keeps his promises?

How do you feel now that you know God makes a rainbow only you can see?

What other promises has God made in his word for us?

Sources

¹ http://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/genesis/9.htm

² http://eo.ucar.edu/rainbows/

³ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/31/facts-about-rainbows_n_3779801.html