Welly Church Kids Lessons

Kids · 4-8 · Lesson 7

God Keeps His Promise to Sarah

Genesis 18:1-15; Genesis 21:1-7; Genesis 17:15-19

God kept His promise even after a long wait.

Teach the lesson

Goal: Children retell the promise to Sarah and say that God kept it after a long wait.

Pick how long you want to teach. The plan updates to fit.

Short · 25 minutes
  1. 3 min
    Connect

    Use the opening prompt from the Teach Now card.

  2. 8 min
    Read

    Read Genesis 18:10-14 and 21:1-7, pausing at Promise, Laughter, Birth, and Joy.

    Ask: What exactly did God promise Sarah?

  3. 5 min
    Understand

    Build a four-part path: God promised, Sarah waited, Isaac was born, the family rejoiced.

    Ask: Why did the promise seem difficult to believe? · Which words in Genesis 21 show that God kept His word?

  4. 6 min
    Do

    Complete the Promise and Waiting Path activity.

    Activity: Promise and Waiting Path

    Printable: K1-L07-P01-promise-waiting-path

  5. 3 min
    Respond

    Repeat the take-home line and close in prayer.

    Ask: What is one patient response we can practise?

Standard · 35 minutes

  1. 4 min
    Connect

    Use the opening prompt and invite two or three brief responses.

  2. 4 min
    Context

    Introduce the passage setting, speaker or main characters, and genre in age-appropriate language.

  3. 8 min
    Read and observe

    Read Genesis 18:10-14 and 21:1-7, pausing at Promise, Laughter, Birth, and Joy.

    Ask: What exactly did God promise Sarah? · Why did the promise seem difficult to believe?

  4. 7 min
    Discuss

    Build a four-part path: God promised, Sarah waited, Isaac was born, the family rejoiced.

    Ask: Which words in Genesis 21 show that God kept His word? · What is one patient response we can practise?

  5. 8 min
    Activity

    Complete the Promise and Waiting Path activity and review what it demonstrates.

    Activity: Promise and Waiting Path

    Printable: K1-L07-P01-promise-waiting-path

  6. 4 min
    Respond

    Review the objective, repeat the take-home line, and pray.

Extended · 45 minutes
  1. 4 min
    Connect

    Use the opening prompt and identify the question the lesson will answer.

  2. 6 min
    Context

    Locate the passage in the whole-Bible story and explain its literary setting.

  3. 9 min
    Read closely

    Read Genesis 18:10-14 and 21:1-7, pausing at Promise, Laughter, Birth, and Joy.

    Ask: What exactly did God promise Sarah? · Why did the promise seem difficult to believe?

  4. 8 min
    Interpret

    Build a four-part path: God promised, Sarah waited, Isaac was born, the family rejoiced.

    Ask: Which words in Genesis 21 show that God kept His word? · What is one patient response we can practise?

  5. 7 min
    Activity one

    Complete the Promise and Waiting Path activity.

    Activity: Promise and Waiting Path

    Printable: K1-L07-P01-promise-waiting-path

  6. 7 min
    Activity two

    Complete the Patient Waiting Practice activity and compare the results.

    Activity: Patient Waiting Practice

  7. 4 min
    Respond and assess

    Use one quiz item orally, repeat the take-home line, and pray.

Close the class

Memory verse: Genesis 21:1

Prayer: Thank God for His faithfulness and ask for patient trust.

Take-home line: God kept His promise to Sarah even after a long wait.

More help: full script, questions, and printables

A word-for-word way to run the lesson, plus every question, activity, and printable.

Teach now

Children retell the promise to Sarah and say that God kept it after a long wait.

Read
Genesis 18:10-14; 21:1-7
Opening
Ask: What is something small that is hard to wait for, such as a turn or a special day?
Say
  • God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son.
  • The promise seemed impossible to Sarah, and she laughed.
  • God asked whether anything was too hard for Him.
  • Isaac was born at the time God had said, and Sarah rejoiced.
Ask
  • What did God promise?
  • Why did Sarah laugh?
  • What happened after the long wait?
  • What can patient trust look like this week?
Do
Use the Promise and Waiting Path to place four events in order.
Close
Pray: Faithful God, help us trust You and wait with patience.
Materials
  • Bible
  • Promise and Waiting Path or four blank cards

Discussion questions

  • What exactly did God promise Sarah?
    Simple answer: She would have a son.
    Going deeper: Find the appointed-time language.
  • Why did the promise seem difficult to believe?
    Simple answer: Abraham and Sarah were old.
    Going deeper: Explain why difficulty does not change what God had promised.
  • Which words in Genesis 21 show that God kept His word?
    Simple answer: The Lord did as He had said.
    Going deeper: Compare promise and fulfilment phrases.
  • What is one patient response we can practise?
    Simple answer: Wait without grabbing or complaining.
    Going deeper: Distinguish patient trust from pretending disappointment is not real.

Activities

Promise and Waiting Path · 8 min

Materials: Four event cards; Floor or table space

  1. Place the promise card first.
  2. Add a waiting card with several footsteps.
  3. Add the Isaac is born card.
  4. Add the joy card and retell the story.

Low-resource option: Draw four boxes on a board and let children point.

Patient Waiting Practice · 8 min

Materials: One shared object; Timer if available

  1. Explain a short turn-taking task.
  2. Let each child wait for a brief turn.
  3. Name one helpful waiting action.
  4. Connect ordinary waiting to patient character, not to earning a reward.

Low-resource option: Use a verbal turn-taking game.

Printables

Prepare before class (optional, about 25 minutes)

Passage context

God’s promise of offspring has been repeated since Genesis 12. Genesis 18 announces an appointed time, and Genesis 21 records the birth of Isaac. The narrative is about a particular covenant promise, not a general promise that every desired child or outcome will be given.

  • The visitors announce a specific time for Sarah to have a son.
  • Sarah laughs privately, and the Lord addresses the laughter directly.
  • Genesis 21 repeats that the Lord did as He had promised and at the time He had spoken.
  • Keep the lesson concrete: promise, waiting, fulfilment, joy.
  • Do not shame Sarah for finding the promise difficult; the narrative still records God’s faithfulness.
  • Use the name Isaac only as the child’s name; detailed wordplay about laughter is optional for older children.

Keep it faithful

  • Do not promise that God will give every family a baby or answer every request on the timetable they want.
  • Do not imply that infertility, pregnancy loss, or delayed answers are caused by weak faith.
  • Do not ask children to discuss private family fertility or loss experiences.

Questions children may ask

Why did Sarah have to wait so long?
Will God give me anything I wait for?

Every child can join in

  • Show the sequence visually.
  • Allow pointing, drawing, or one-word responses.
  • Give one direction at a time.
  • Participation must not require loud noise, touch, or public performance.
  • Read all Scripture aloud.
  • Use pictures, objects, or gesture-supported retelling.
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