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Adam and Eve were happy in the Garden of Eden, where God provided for all of their needs. God gave them only one rule: do not eat from the tree in the middle of the garden. The serpent came to Eve, tempted her with lies, and convinced her to eat from the tree. Then, Eve gave some of the fruit to Adam, and he also ate it. They both realized their sin and guilt for disobeying God at that point. For the first time, people experienced shame. Because of their sin, God banished Adam and Eve from the garden.

When teaching this lesson, emphasise that God loves us and makes rules that will help us be healthy and happy. Satan wants bad things to happen to us, so he tempts us to disobey God.

Bible verses used in this episode:

• Genesis 2:15-17 and 3:1-24
• James 4:7

Outline:

1. God told Adam not to eat fruit from the dangerous tree, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. (Genesis 2:15-17)
2. Adam and Eve listen to the Snake and experience temptation, sin and shame. (Genesis 3:1-7)
3. God speaks with Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3:8-13)
4. The consequences of their disobedience. (Genesis 3:14-24)

Tips for teaching children:

• Explain the words “temptation” and “sin”
• When you talk about the snake, wrap a chenille wire around your finger to form a “snake”. Alternatively, roll Play-Doh to form a snake.
• Try this activity to help children understand the idea of choosing between right and wrong. Provide two paper plates for each child. Help them draw a sad face on one and a happy face on the other. Describe a situation the children might find themselves in and state a dilemma and choice. Children should hold up the corresponding plate.
  
  

Tips for teaching adults:

• Bake two batches of your favourite cookies and bring them to class. One batch of cookies will be normal, but the other batch should be made with salt instead of sugar. When they take a bite, they will know how awful it tastes and will not eat it. This is your cue to introduce the class today to the Fall of Man. Tell the class that something may look good and desirable, but actually, it is not. This is the nature of sin. It promises life but ultimately brings death. Don’t forget to offer the class the good cookies afterwards.
• Ask the class to read Genesis 2:15-24 and discuss the following questions:
  • In what ways has God shown that he loves and cares for his creation and Adam and Eve?
  • “Has he shown his love and care for you in a similar way? Explain.”
• 1 John 2:15-16 is drawing upon the story in Genesis 3. Read this and then discuss:
  • What connections do you see between 1 John 2:16 and Genesis 3:6?
  • In what ways can we identify with Eve’s situation?
  • In what ways can we relate to 1 John 2:16?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: The Fall of Man

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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After spending six days creating the world, God considered the seventh day a special day to rest. God did not rest because He was tired; He did not become exhausted or run out of energy. God’s work of creation was perfect, and the seventh day was a day to reflect on what He had completed.

God also wants us to rest and consider His work and how He takes care of us.

Bible verses used in this episode:

• Genesis 1:1 and 2:1-3
• Isaiah 40:28-29 God does not become weary or run out of energy.
• Psalm 19:1-4 God rested, knowing the creation itself would point people to Him.
• Exodus 20:8-11 God later commanded His people to remember this seventh day as a day of rest.
• Psalm 23:1-2 As our shepherd, God provides safety, peace and rest.
• Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest.
• Psalm 148:7-13 A Psalm of reflection on God’s creation

Outline:

1. God created our world (Genesis 1:1)
2. God rested (Genesis 2:1-3)

Tips for teaching children:

• Spend time relaxing and reflecting on God and what He has done (play calming music, breathe deeply)
• Serve food (like ice cream) and savour each bite. Talk about the flavours and textures and how each bite makes you feel. Use this as a lead-in to taking time to think about things instead of just rushing through.

Tips for teaching adults:

• I would ask these questions in an adult class:
  • What do we learn about God in this text?
  • What do we learn about ourselves?
  • How has your life and work over the past 6 days blessed others?”
  • If resting on day 7 suggests that God is now present and ruling over his creation, then how can your life and work show that you believe God is in control and present in his world?
• Organise a day out on Saturday as a class to have a picnic and enjoy the day together. Spend some time thinking of ways you can re-organise your life so that you can enjoy more moments like these. Conclude your day together by thanking God for his care over his creation and that he has given you the opportunity to bless others through your work and life.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Day 7-God Rested

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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On the last day of creation, God created animals. After this, it was finally time for God to create man and woman. There was something special about this last creature of creation. God created man and woman in His “own image.” As seen in Adam and Eve, people are distinct from animals and have a have a special relationship and partnership with God.

Bible verses used in this episode:
Genesis 1:24-31; 2:7, 18-25

Other helpful verses about animals:

• They belong to God: Job 12:7-10; Psalm 50:10-11
• Praise God for His care of creation. Psalm 145
• Used to describe peace. Isaiah 11:6-9
• Kindness towards animals. Exodus 23:5; Proverbs 12:10; Proverbs 27:23
• Examples of truths. Job 12:7-10; Job 35:11; Proverbs 30:24-31; Matthew 10:29-31; James 3:7-10
• God knows us. Psalm 139:13-16

Outline:

1. God created animals (Genesis 1:24-25)
2. God created people (Genesis 1:26-27)
3. God blessed what he created (Genesis 1:28-31)

Tips for teaching children:

• Play a game where one child makes an animal sound, and the other children guess the animal.
• Show illustrations of the human body. This might include the skeleton, muscles, etc.
• Talk about how amazing God’s creation of the human body is. Take a pulse or listen to a heartbeat.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Psalm 8 is a beautiful reflection on Genesis 1. I suggest asking one person to read verses 1-2, another to read verses 3-8, and then the first reader to read the last verse. Ask the class to discuss the relationship between God, humans, and animals. How does this make you feel? How can you exercise your care over the creation in a way that honours God and reflects his wisdom?
• Project: Organise a project to clean up and beautify a park. This project can include children. Beautifying a park may involve picking up rubbish, clearing out dead plants, removing dead limbs, and planting new things appropriate to the park. Afterwards, meet somewhere and reflect on this project in light of Genesis 1:26-31. Ask the group, “ How were we partnering with God in taking care of his creation?”
• Research the prayer of St. Basil the Great, (influential 4th-century Christian leader, teacher and preacher) and his prayer about animals.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Day 6- God Created Animals and People

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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God filled the oceans with all sorts of creatures on the fifth day. He also created birds on this day. Not only did He create these creatures, He made them with the ability to reproduce.

Bible verses used in this episode:

• Genesis 1:20-23
• Jesus said diversity in the Kingdom of God is like fish in a net (Matthew 13:47)
• Jesus compared following Him to fishing for men (Matthew 4:19)
• Jesus miraculously used two fish and five loaves to feed a crowd of over 5,000 people (John 6:1-15)
• God knows every bird (Psalm 50:11a)
• God protects us like a mother bird protects her chicks (Psalm 91:4)
• People who trust God will rise up like eagles (Isaiah 40:31a)

Outline:

1. The creation story is found in Genesis chapters 1 and 2
2. God created creatures if the sea and birds. (Genesis 1:20-23)

Tips for teaching children:

• Make a craft with feathers or shells.
• Young children can learn to draw a simple fish shape
• Decorate boiled eggs

Tips for teaching adults:

• For a fun exercise, ask the class to google the question, “What are names of the birds mentioned in the Bible?” I think everyone will be surprised at the various bird species named in the Bible.
• Guide the class into reading the following texts: Luke 12:6-7; Matthew 6:26-28; Deuteronomy 22:6-7. Each of these texts teaches us something about the life of the follower of God. Lead the class in a discussion by asking the class, “What can we learn from the birds about our life as God’s people from these texts?” and “How are birds used to teach us about our life with God?”

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Day 5-God Created Birds & Fish

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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Before the fourth day, there was a type of light, but on this day, God created the sun to give a bright light that was called day. He also created the stars and moon we see in the night sky. Because of this, there could be seasons and time as we know it today.

Bible verses used in this episode:

• Genesis 1:14-19
• Psalm 19:1-2
• Deuteronomy 4:19
• Psalm 84:11
• Job 9:9-10
• Psalm 147:4-5
• Philippians 2:14-16

Outline:

1. The creation story is found in Genesis chapters 1 and 2
2. God created the sun, moon and stars. (Genesis 1:14-19)

Tips for teaching children:

• Take the children outside to stargaze at night or notice sunlight and shadows during the day.
• Young children can practice drawing circles for the sun and moon and then master the skill of drawing stars.
• Make crafts using black paper and star stickers or glitter.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Begin the class by mentioning these fun facts about the sun:
  • The sun is about 100 times wider than the earth.
  • It takes light 8 ½ minutes to travel from the sun to the earth. When you look at the sun you are seeing what it looked liked 8 ½ minutes ago.
  • The hottest part of the sun is its core – 15 million0 C (27 million F.). It’s surface (photosphere) is a balmy 5,5000 C (10,000 F). The big mystery is that its atmosphere (corona) gets hotter the further away from the sun and can reach temps around 2 million0 C (3.5 million F).
• Choose four people to read the following texts, Psalm 50:1-2; Psalm 84:11; Isa.60:19-20 and Malachi 4:2. Lead a discussion around the question, “What are some analogies between God and the sun?”
• Organise a trip outside either during the day or during the night. Have the group look up at the sky and ask them to think about God. While they are looking at the sky, read Psalm 8 and Psalm 136:1-9. Ask the class the following questions: What word best describes what you are experiencing: awe, humility, wonder, love, being special? Why? How does the sun, moon or stars remind us of God’s love? Lead the class in prayer praising and thanking God for his wisdom, power, love, and goodness.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Day 4-God Created Sun, Moon, & Stars

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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On the third day of creation, God separated land and sea and caused dry land to appear. God also created vegetation on the third day. The creation must have begun to take on beauty and majesty. The creation of our world was done in an orderly fashion, leading up to its completion. God was building a beautiful, healthy place that would eventually be ready for humanity.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Genesis 1:9-13

Romans 1:20

Soil: Luke 8:4–15

Rock: Psalm 18:2 and Matthew 16:16-18

Rock and Sand: Matthew 7:24-27

Grass and Flowers: Isaiah 40:8

Trees and Fruit: Psalms 1:1-3 and Galatians 5:22-23

Vine and Branches: John 15:5

Outline:

1. The creation story is found in Genesis chapters 1 and 2
2. God formed land and created plants (Genesis 1:9-13)

Tips for teaching children:

• Both adults and children can try to list as many words as possible concerning first land and then plants. If you wish you could divide the children into teams and make it a contest.
• Eat fruit or vegetable snacks.
• Make a collage or mosaic picture using seeds and plant parts.
• Make a sand candle.
• Plant a seed and check back to see if it grew.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Organise a class project to clean up and beautify a local park. If possible, include children in this project. This project may involve picking up rubbish, clearing out dead plants, removing dead limbs, and/or planting new things appropriate to the park. Lead a discussion on our role as stewards of the land God has given us. Include in the discussion reflecting on how important it is to take care of the land and how important the land is to us. NOTE: You may have to get permission from the city council to do this project or parts of it.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: On Day 3 God Created Land & Plants

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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As this day began, we find that water covered the entire earth. On this second day of creation, God separated the water so that sky appeared above the seas. For the first time ever, the Earth would have experienced things associated with sky and water: clouds, wind, waves, etc.

Bible verses used in this episode:

• Genesis 1:6-8
• Job chapter 37 (God has complete power over all aspects of weather.)
• Mark 4:37-41 (Jesus can command the weather.)
• John 4:14 (Following Jesus is like drinking from never-ending springs of water.)
• Acts 1:9-11 (The resurrected Jesus ascended into clouds, and one day, He will return in the same way.)

Outline:

1. The creation story is found in Genesis chapters 1 and 2
2. On the second day, God separated water so there was water and sky (Genesis 1:6-8)

Tips for teaching children:

• Challenge the children to list as many words as possible about water and air.
• Write (or have children write) “God made the clouds” on blue paper. Young children can glue cotton wool to the paper.
• Collect weather reports and share them with the children.
• Make a mobile with paper clouds.
• Have children tape streamers or ribbon to a stick and wave them in the breeze.
• Fly a kite.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Have the class members go outside and look up at the sky. Ask the group to describe what they see (prompt them by asking about the sky's colour, apparent shape, expanse, etc.). Read Job 22:14 and reflect on the following:
  • What does this text mean?
  • How does this make them feel?
  • What does it say about God?
• Read and reflect upon Psalm 8. How does the psalmist feel about God and about himself when he observes the creation? What can we learn from the creation about God’s relationship to us?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Day 2-God Created Sky & Water

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

Send us a Text Message.

God created our world. Until this time, the earth was “formless and empty.” Darkness was everywhere. There is so much we cannot comprehend about how our world came into existence, but in Genesis, God reveals what He wants us to know: He created.

On the first day of creation, God spoke, and light appeared. This was not the sun’s light because the sun was not created until the fourth day. This was a special light from a source only God knew.

When teaching, emphasise that nothing—not even light—existed until God created it on the first day of creation.

Bible verses used in this episode:

• Genesis 1: 1-5
• 1 John 1:5-9
• John 8:12
• Psalm 119:105
• Matthew 5:14-16
• Psalm 27:1

Outline:

1. The creation story is found in Genesis chapters 1 and 2
2. God created light on the first day of creation (Genesis 1:1-5)

Tips for teaching children:

• Talk about this first day of creation within the context of the entire creation week.
• Help the children find Genesis 1:1 in their bibles.
• Look up other verses in the bible that mention light.
• Explore light using various experiments and methods like a prism, magnifying glass, blacklights, fairy lights, lamps, etc.
• Sing This Little Light of Mine

Tips for teaching adults:

• Make a plan for your class to go on a field trip to watch the early morning change from darkness to light. As you are experiencing the change from a time of darkness to a time of light, lead the class in reflecting upon the experience. You might ask the following to help get them thinking:
  • What do you see?
  • How does moving from darkness to light make you feel?
  • What does this tell you about God?
• Ask the group to think of texts in the Bible that talk about light and darkness and read the texts that come to mind. Conclude this experience by reading Romans 13:11-13.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Day 1- God Created Light

Scriptures quoted from the International Children’s Bible®, copyright ©1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Tommy Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org