repair
WELCOME TO WEEK 1
Have you ever broken something that was important to you or someone else? What did you do? How did you fix the mistake? Sometimes we are able to fix what we have broken and other times we can not. Sometimes we may break something small and other times we break something big, like someones trust. We all make mistakes and God can fix the damage we may have caused. This week we will see how God has a plan to restore what Adam and Eve broke in the Garden of Eden.
BIBLE STORY
What are some things you would describe as being perfect? Listen to the following scenarios and decide if it is something that would sound perfect to you by giving a thumbs up or thumbs down.
-a walk on the beach
-finding $100
-swimming with dolphins
-eating a pineapple cake
-drinking a fruity smoothie
-swimming with sharks
-reading a book on the beach
-living on a deserted island for a year
-going fishing with your grandpa
-eating ice cream on a hot day
-going snorkeling with colorful fish
There are many things we may think would make for the perfect day. Then there are things we know could go wrong that would ruin our perfect day. Adam and Eve were given a perfect garden to live in, but they began to doubt if God was keeping something else good from them. They were deceived by the devil and then everything changed. Everything would not continue to be perfect the way God planned. But, God had a way to fix the problem Adam and Eve made. Let’s see this week how God can fix our mistakes just as he fixed what Adam and Eve broke.
Read or listen to the story Genesis 1:26-30, 3:1-15
What did God make man to be like? (God’s image, his likeness)
What purpose did God give man at creation? (To rule over the animals, be fruitful and multiply)
What question did the serpent ask the woman about the fruit on the trees? (If God told her not to eat the fruit from any tree)
What did the serpent tell the woman would happen if she did eat from the tree in the middle of the garden? (She would not die, she would be like God, her eyes would be open to good and evil)
After Eve and Adam ate the fruit, what did they first notice? (They were naked)
What happened when they heard God walking through the garden? (They were afraid and hid)
Who did Adam and Eve blame their mistake on? (Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent)
What did God tell the serpent would happen? (It would be cursed above all other livestock, crawl on its belly and eat dust, He would put enmity between it and the woman, its offspring and hers, “he will crush your head and you will strike his heel”)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Adam and Eve sinned because they disobeyed God and ate from the forbidden tree. This broke the relationship between man and God and they could no longer stay in the Garden in God’s presence because of sin. God wants to be in relationship with us so he sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we may be restored to a full relationship with God. Even though Adam and Eve made a mistake, God was able to fix what they had broken.
Activity
Play this game of Eden Pictionary. Use the clues given to draw a picture of something that happened in the story or something that was in the Garden of Eden. God made the world to be perfect, but he allowed Adam and Eve to choose love. God knew that they would make a mistake but he already had a plan for them. Love can not be forced but chosen. God lets us choose to love Him and He loves us even though we make big mistakes sometimes.
Materials: printed Pictionary cards, whiteboard or posterboard, markers
Alternate
Build a Lego car but leave off the wheel. Tell kids this car is not working because it is broken. Give them time to discover what is broken about the car and then ask them to fix it. You can make this activity harder by constructing the Lego car incorrectly and then having them figure out how to reconstruct the car in the correct manner. Adam and Eve made a huge mistake and it ruined the Garden of Eden for them. But God had a plan to repair their mistake and fix the broken world.
Materials: building car Legos
Independent activity:
Match the top half of the animal with its correct missing half. Cut out the missing parts from the bottom of the page and glue them onto the missing part of the animal. God can make us whole from the sins we have committed. God wants to take our messes and clean them up.
Materials: printed activity sheet, scissors, glue
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Create a cereal box puppet show for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Use a cereal box as your stage and background decorated with trees and foliage. Then cut out and decorate Adam and Eve and place on a craft stick. After puppet show stage is complete, have your child retell the story of Adam and Eve using the puppets. Use the following website as a reference.
Materials: Medium Cereal Boxes , People-Shaped Craft Sticks, Chenille Stems, Tiny Wiggle Eyes, Scissors, Ruler, Construction Paper, Paint, Paper Glue (Rubber Cement), Colored Pencils and Markers
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Where did Adam and Eve first live?
What did God tell them they must not eat of in the Garden?
How did the snake deceive Eve into eating the fruit?
What are some lies we sometimes believe are good for us but actually are not?
How can we guard ourselves against Satan’s lies?
What was God’s plan to fix what Adam and Eve broke?
How does God fix our mistakes today?
Does having God fix our mistakes mean we will never suffer the consequences of our mistakes?
Practical Application at Home
We live in a sinful world where bad things happen all around us every day. God sees and knows all that is going on in the world and has a plan to fix and restore all that has been broken. We can help God by showing His love and compassion to others. We can show forgiveness to those who have wronged us, give comfort to those who are hurting, and help those who are in need. This week think of ways you can show God’s love to others by being the hands and feet of Jesus. God does not want the brokenness to continue but He has a plan to fix our broken world.
Make a list of things you can do this week to help others in need or who are broken. Think about your classmates at school, church or teammates and write down several things you can do this week for them. Keep your tasks simple and something you can easily accomplish.
Materials: sheet of paper, pencil
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Donate to a local food shelter or toy drive this Christmas season. As a family, volunteer together or pick out toys you think another child your age might enjoy.