- Pray, talk with my wife, and think about a lesson that would work for a wide range of ages (from K-7th grade!). I picked cooking tortillas as a physical example of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
- Read the relevant passage. I already knew the main story was in Ex 12.
- Read about the Passover in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE). I later realized that the Biblehub page also contains several other articles on the Passover.
- I thought about discussing yeast, since its lack is very important for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Yeast isn't listed, but I realize the KJV word used is leaven. I read through that article. A number of cross-references there (Exodus 12:15, 19; Exodus 13:7 Leviticus 2:11 Deuteronomy 16:4 Matthew 13:33; Matthew 16:6-12 Mark 8:15; Luke 12:1; Luke 13:21) provided some helpful background reading.
- I decided to instead emphasize the connection between Israel's command to be ready to leave at any time and Jesus' command to be ready for his return. I Googled for "parable of the ten virgins" as one of the passages I knew on the subject and found it in Matt 25.
- Focusing on the last verse, Matt 25:13, the enhanced Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge provided me with a number of helpful cross-references.
- Reading through those helped me refine the list of verses I wanted to use. The final result of my study is below. Here's a link to in the theWord format; here are installation instructions.
- I copied and pasted this to Word, changed all the colors to black and white, printed, then sliced the paper up to hand out verses and recipes to the kids.
Tortillas, 1/4 recipe: (makes about 8-10 tortillas)
1 cup flour
1/4 cup + 1/2 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp oil
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Ex 12:11-12 11 “These are your instructions for eating this meal: Be fully dressed,1 wear your sandals, and carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the meal with urgency, for this is the LORD’s Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the LORD!
Optional: Ex 12:14-16 14 “This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the LORD. This is a law for all time. 15 For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast. On the first day of the festival, remove every trace of yeast from your homes. Anyone who eats bread made with yeast during the seven days of the festival will be cut off from the community of Israel. 16 On the first day of the festival and again on the seventh day, all the people must observe an official day for holy assembly. No work of any kind may be done on these days except in the preparation of food.
Ex 12:17-20 17 “Celebrate this Festival of Unleavened Bread, for it will remind you that I brought your forces out of the land of Egypt on this very day. This festival will be a permanent law for you; celebrate this day from generation to generation. 18 The bread you eat must be made without yeast from the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month until the evening of the twenty-first day of that month. 19 During those seven days, there must be no trace of yeast in your homes. Anyone who eats anything made with yeast during this week will be cut off from the community of Israel. These regulations apply both to the foreigners living among you and to the native-born Israelites. 20 During those days you must not eat anything made with yeast. Wherever you live, eat only bread made without yeast.”
Ac 1:9-11 9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
The wise and foolish virgins: Mat 25:13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
Optional: Jesus' return in Mat 24:37-44 37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.
40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.
42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
Mark 13:34-37 34 “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. 35 You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. 36 Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 37 I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”
