GRADE 8 CRE THE BIBLE – ABRAHAMIC COVENANT Notes
ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
Subject: CRE — Topic: The Bible
Age: 13 (Kenyan students)
A covenant is like a promise or agreement between two people. In the Bible, God makes special covenants with people. The Abrahamic Covenant is God’s promise to Abraham and his family.
Who was Abraham?
Abraham (first called Abram) lived many years ago. God chose him because of his faith. Abraham is called a father of faith by Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Main promises in the Abrahamic Covenant
- 🌍 Land: God promised Abraham the land of Canaan (a home for his family).
- 👨👩👧👦 Descendants: Abraham would have many children—“as many as the stars” or the sand on the seashore (think of Kenya’s beaches).
- 💝 Blessing to all nations: Through Abraham’s family, God would bless all people of the world.
Signs and important events
- Call of Abraham (Genesis 12): God told Abraham to leave his home and go to a new land.
- God’s promise confirmed (Genesis 15): God promised descendants and made a formal covenant with Abraham.
- Circumcision (Genesis 17): This was the sign (physical mark) of the covenant for Abraham and his male descendants.
- Test of faith (Genesis 22): Abraham was tested when God asked him to offer his son; Abraham trusted God. God did not allow harm and praised his faith.
“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you.” — Genesis 12:2 (simple paraphrase)
Why the covenant matters for Christians
The Abrahamic Covenant shows that God keeps promises. Christians believe Jesus continues God’s plan to bless all nations through Abraham’s family. It teaches us about faith, obedience and God’s faithfulness.
Read Genesis 12, 15 and 17 in the Bible for the story of the covenant.
🌟 ➜ 👨👩👧👦 ➜ 🌍
(Promise → Many descendants → Blessing to the world)
Short classroom activities
- Group discussion: What does a promise from someone important mean to you? How does God’s promise give people hope?
- Drawing: Draw a family tree for Abraham (use stars or dots to show many descendants).
- Role play: Act out God calling Abraham to go to a new land. Discuss how it felt to leave home.
Short quiz (answers below)
- Which book of the Bible tells the Abrahamic Covenant? (a) Exodus (b) Genesis (c) Psalms
- What was the sign of the covenant given to Abraham? (a) Rainbow (b) Circumcision (c) Temple
- One promise God gave Abraham was: (a) Many descendants (b) Eternal riches now (c) A magic lamp
1 — (b) Genesis. 2 — (b) Circumcision. 3 — (a) Many descendants.