Lesson 6
God the Father – Provider and
Preserver
What does God
our heavenly
Father do to take
care of us?
What does our heavenly Father do to
provide for us?
Matthew 6:25-27
Therefore I tell you, do not worry
about your life, what you will eat or
drink; or about your body, what you
will wear. Is not life more important
than food, and the body more
important than clothes? Look at the
birds of the air; they do not sow or
reap or store away in barns, and yet
your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable
than they? Who of you by worrying
can add a single hour to his life?
food and drink
What does our heavenly Father do to
provide for us?
Matthew 6:28-30
And why do you worry about
clothes? See how the lilies of the
field grow. They do not labor or
spin. Yet I tell you that not even
Solomon in all his splendor was
dressed like one of these. If that is
how God clothes the grass of the
field, which is here today and
tomorrow is thrown into the fire,
will he not much more clothe you,
O you of little faith?
clothing
What does our heavenly Father do to
provide for us?
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all
grace abound to you, so
that in all things at all
times, having all that you
need, you will abound in
every good work.
all we need always
Key Point #1
God our heavenly Father
provides us with all that we
need every day.
How does God provide for us?
John 6:3-13
John 6:3-13
Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his
disciples. The Jewish Passover Feast was near. When Jesus looked
up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip,
“Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this
only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough
bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew,
Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small
barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so
many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of
grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of
them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to
those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with
the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his
disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be
wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the
pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
How does God provide for us?
John 6:3-13
The Miracle of
Feeding 5,000
sometimes by miracles
How does God provide for us?
Psalm 104:14
He makes grass
grow for the cattle,
and plants for man
to cultivate—
bringing forth food
from the earth…
usually by making
things grow
Key Point #2
While God can provide for
us through miracles, he
usually does so just by
making things grow.
Evaluate…
If God were to withdraw his
preserving hand for even a
moment, the world would
disappear into oblivion.
Agree or Disagree?
If we remember that God
provides our clothing, we won’t
complain if the clothing our
parents buy for us is not exactly
what we want.
Estimate…
…how many pounds of food each
of us eats during the year. Then
how many tons of food would God
need to provide for the members of
this class during our lifetimes?
What does just thinking about this
teach us about God’s preserving
love?
If you compare your home and
standard of living with that of a
king who lived in ancient times,
who would come out better? Who
would have the better home and the
most conveniences? What might
thinking about this impress on us as
to how richly God preserves us?
What does our heavenly Father do to
protect us?
Psalm 121:1-8
Psalm 121:1-8
A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from? My help comes
from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches
over you will not slumber; indeed, he who
watches over Israel will neither slumber nor
sleep. The LORD watches over you— the LORD
is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not
harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The
LORD will keep you from all harm— he will
watch over your life; the LORD will watch over
your coming and going both now and
forevermore.
What does our heavenly Father do to
protect us?
Psalm 121:1-8
watches over us
What does our heavenly Father do to
protect us?
Psalm 50:15
…and call upon
me in the day of
trouble; I will
deliver you, and
you will honor
me.
delivers us from
trouble
What does our heavenly Father do to
protect us?
Romans 8:28
And we know that
in all things God
works for the good
of those who love
him, who have
been called
according to his
purpose.
makes trouble work
for our good
Key Point #3
God protects us by
constantly watching over us
to deliver us from trouble or
to make it work for our
good.
How does God use angels to protect
us?
Psalm 91:10-11
…then no harm will
befall you, no disaster
will come near your
tent. For he will
command his angels
concerning you to
guard you in all your
ways…
sends
angels to guard us
How does God use angels to protect us?
Revelation 5:11-12
Then I looked and heard the
voice of many angels,
numbering thousands upon
thousands, and ten thousand
times ten thousand. They
encircled the throne and the
living creatures and the elders.
In a loud voice they sang:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was
slain, to receive power and
wealth and wisdom and
strength and honor and glory
and praise!”
sends
many
angels to guard us
How does God use angels to protect
us?
Psalm 103:20
Praise the
LORD, you his
angels, you
mighty ones who
sends
many
do his bidding,
mighty
who obey his
angels to guard us
word.
Key Point #4
One of the main ways that
God protects us is by the
many and mighty angels
he sends to guard us.
Can anyone tell of a time when
it seemed very obvious that God
used his angels, unseen by you,
to protect you from harm?
Lesson 6
God my heavenly Father takes
care of me by preserving and
protecting me.
(divine providence)
Vocabulary…
“providence”
God’s continued work of
taking care of our earthly
needs
Vocabulary…
“angel”
Messenger; servant of
God who protects His
people