Overview Creation The Garden of Eden The First Sin Cain and Abel The Tower of Babel God's Promises to Abram Sarah is Promised a Child The Sacrifice of Isaac Hagar & Ishmael Isaac & Rebekah Esau & Jacob Jacob's Dream Jacob gets Two Wives Jacob Wrestles Joseph, his Colourful Coat, and his Dreams Joseph's Brothers Forgiven

Bible Texts:

Genesis 2, Genesis 3

 

Children's Bible Story sources:

"The Garden of Eden," DK Children's Illustrated Bible, p.20

"Adam and Eve" and "The First Sin," Spark Story Bible, p.8 & 14

"God Creates Man and Woman" and "The Forbidden Fruit," DK Children's Everyday Bible, p.12 & 13

"Something Bad, Something Sad," The Early Reader's Bible, p. 11

"The Beginning: A Perfect Home," The Jesus Storybook Bible, p.18

 

Children's Story Resources

 

No, David! by David Shannon

David is a mischievous little boy who constantly goes against his mother’s rules. Each time David does something wrong, his mother responds with “No, David!”. David reaches for the cookie jar, comes into the house covered in mud, plays roughly in the bath tub with too many toys, runs down the street naked, makes lots of noise with pots and pans, plays with his food, and chews with his mouth open. David’s mother finally tells him to go to his room. David then jumps on his bed and becomes rowdy in his own bedroom. He also picks his nose, refuses to put his toys away, and plays baseball in the house. What are the consequences of David's behavior? Does his behavior mean he isn't loved?
How these stories are connected: Every child does things that disappoint others. Correction; every person does things that are a disappointment. David, Eve, Adam, all of us....Does our behavior mean we aren't loved? These stories help all of us see that we all make mistakes and stumble as we find our way. Even as we stumble, willfully or not, we are always loved.

 

Questions about No, David!:

     What kinds of things was David doing?

     Why did David's mother tell him "No, David!"

     How did David feel about that?

     What happened at the end of the story?

 

Questions about the Bible story:

     Why do you think Adam and Eve ate that fruit?

     What happened when they did?

     Why do you think that happened?

 

Questions about our lives:

     What things do you think God doesn't want you to do? Why not?

     What things do you think God wants you to do? Why?

 

Prayer

Holy God, please help us with the things that are hard for us. (Have the children name the things that are hard for them.) Thank you, God, for our parents, for being the best God we could have, and for keeping us safe. Amen.

 

Hands On

At the center of the garden were two trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Make a painting of these two trees. How will you make them difference from each other?