LESSON THEME: God Makes Rules
In Genesis 2:15-17, God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to work and take care of it, giving him freedom to eat from every tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God clearly warned that eating from this forbidden tree would result in death. This command was not restrictive but protective, as God knew what was best for His creation. The Garden of Eden was a perfect place where Adam and Eve enjoyed a close relationship with God and had everything they needed for a wonderful life.
In Genesis 3:1-24, we witness the fall of mankind through Satan’s deception. The serpent, who was actually the devil in disguise, approached Eve with cunning questions designed to make her doubt God’s goodness and truthfulness. Through temptation, both Adam and Eve chose to disobey God’s single rule, bringing sin, shame, and death into the world. However, even in judgment, God showed mercy by promising a future deliverer who would defeat Satan. This story teaches us that God’s rules are given out of love to protect us, and that Satan still tries to tempt us today, but God is always stronger.
WELCOME ACTIVITY 6:00-6:15 p.m.
Apple Mosaic Craft
Items Needed
- Apple outline template (printed on cardstock)
- Colored construction paper pieces (pre-cut)
- Glue
As children arrive, they can create an apple mosaic by gluing small colored paper pieces inside an apple template. Let them know that in today’s story we are going to talk about how Satan used a piece of fruit to trick Eve.
WORSHIP JESUS THRU MUSIC: 6:20-6:30 p.m.
Worship Jesus Thru Music
WORSHIP JESUS THRU PRAYER: 6:30-6:40 p.m.
WHISPER A PRAYER SONG & FORM CIRCLE
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time.
BIBLE STORY & CRAFT 6:40-7:00 p.m.
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? (Genesis)
Question 2: Is this in the Old Testament or New Testament? (Old Testament)
A long time ago, God made the very first people. They were named Adam and Eve. They lived in the most beautiful garden called Eden. This garden had everything they needed! Yummy fruits, pretty flowers, and friendly animals. Best of all, God would come and walk with them every day because He loved them so much.
God gave Adam and Eve just one rule. He said, “You can eat fruit from any tree in this garden except one. Do not eat from the tree in the middle of the garden. If you eat from that tree, you will die.” God made this rule because He loved them and wanted to keep them safe.
But there was a sneaky snake in the garden. This snake was really the devil pretending to be a snake. The devil doesn’t like God and wants to trick people into doing bad things.
The snake slithered up to Eve and asked, “Did God really say you can’t eat from any tree?” Eve said, “We can eat from all the trees except the one in the middle. God said we’ll die if we eat from that one.”
But the tricky snake lied to her! He said, “You won’t die! God just doesn’t want you to be as smart as Him!” The snake made the fruit look really, really good.
Eve looked at the fruit. She wanted it more and more. Finally, she picked it and took a bite. Then she gave some to Adam, and he ate it too.
Right away, Adam and Eve felt very sad and ashamed. They had disobeyed God! They tried to hide from God when He came. But God knew what they had done.
God was sad that they disobeyed, but He still loved them. He had to give them consequences for their bad choice. They had to leave the beautiful garden. But God was kind. He promised that someday He would send someone to defeat the devil.
Recap Questions:
- Why did God give Adam and Eve a rule about the tree? (To keep them safe because He loved them)
- Who was the snake really? (The devil/Satan)
- When someone tells you to do something you know is wrong, what should you do? (Say no and choose to obey God)
- How can we remember that God’s rules help us? (Remember that God loves us and wants what’s best for us)
Prayer: “Dear God, thank You for loving us so much that You give us rules to keep us safe. Help us choose to obey You even when it’s hard. We know Your way is always best for us. Amen.”
Noodle Snake Craft
Click here for details.
SNACK TIME: 7:00-7:10 p.m.
ITEMS NEEDED
Coloring Page
Crayons
Snack
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks.
A coloring sheet will be available for kids to color while they eat their snack.
CLOSING GAME: Garden Treasure Hunt 7:10-7:25 p.m.
Items Needed:
- Paper fruits hidden around room
Description: Children search for “good fruits” hidden around the classroom while avoiding the one “forbidden fruit” (the apple).
Note: You can also use toy fruits if you have them available.
DISMISSAL 7:25-7:30 p.m.
Prepare for dismissal. Send each parent home with a take home sheet.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Genesis 2:15-17 (KJV) “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Genesis 3:1-24 (KJV) “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that when ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”