How Evil and All Bad Things Dear Lord, please use this study to warn the children
that their sin, like Adam’s sin, separates them from you and they need
your forgiveness in order to live forever with you. Choose activities that fit the children’s
current needs and opportunities. 1.
An older child or teacher reads or tells by
memory about Adam and Eve’s disobedience, Genesis chapter 3. It tells how Satan, using the body of a serpent, tempted
Adam and Eve to disobey God. Since God is holy, he had to send them
away from his presence and let them die.
Satan appeared to Eve in the Garden of Eden as a serpentine
dragon,
“perfect in beauty.” Ezekiel 28:12-13 and Revelation 12:9
After telling the story, ask these
questions. [Answers appear after each question] ·
How
did Eve know that God did not want her to eat the fruit? [Genesis
3:3] ·
What lies did Satan tell to make Eve want to eat the
fruit? [Verses 4-5] ·
Why did Adam eat the fruit? [6] ·
Whom did Adam and Eve blame for their disobedience? [12-13] ·
What did God tell Satan that a woman's child would do to
him? [15] ·
What did God say would be Eve’s punishment? [16] ·
What did God say would be Adam’s punishment? [17] ·
Why did Adam and Eve have to leave the presence of God in
the garden? [22-24] 2.
Dramatize parts of the story of the original sin of
mankind, from Genesis 3. ·
Arrange with
the leader of the main congregational worship for the children to
present this brief drama to the adults. You do not have to use all the
parts. ·
Use part of
your time with the children to prepare the drama. ·
Let older
children help younger ones to prepare. ·
Older
children or adults play these parts: Younger children play these parts: Narrator
Tell the first part of the story
from Genesis 3:1-6. Then say, Animals
Move like an animal, one or more children at
the same time. Adam
Point to each ‘animal’ and ask anyone, Narrator
“Satan took on the body of a serpent. Hear what he said.” Serpent
Hiss loudly, and hold the fruit toward Eve.
Then say, Eve
“Oh! What a beautiful serpent!” Serpent
Hiss loudly. Then say, Eve
“The fruit looks delicious. I am curious. I want to learn
what sin is like. I do not care what God said. I will disobey him and
eat whatever I want to eat!” Eve
Pretend to take the fruit, eat part of it, and
then give it to Adam. Say, Adam
“Eve, God said not to eat it. But I will disobey, if you
will. Serpent
Laugh and hiss. Say, Narrator
Tell the second part of the story
from Genesis 3:7-13. Then say, Adam
“Eve! What have we done? We disobeyed God! Now I feel
naked!” Eve
“Here are some large fig leaves. I will sew them together
to make us clothes.” Voice of God (italics)
“Adam! Adam! Where are you? Adam
“I was afraid because I was naked. So I hid.” Voice of God “Who
told you that you were naked? Did you eat the forbidden fruit?” Adam
“Eve gave it to me.” Eve
“The Serpent lied to me. He said that the fruit would be
good for us!” Narrator
Tell the third part of the story from
Genesis 3:14-24. Then say, Voice of God “Serpent,
you will crawl in the dust; a descendant of Eve will crush you. Angel
Wave the sword toward Adam and say, Narrator
Thank everyone who helped with the drama, and
thank the adults for listening. 3.
If the children dramatize this story for
the adults, then let the children also ask the adults the questions
that are listed under #1 above. 4.
Illustration: a child has a large sack tied with cord
on his back. The child goes to different people and asks, “How can I
get rid of this painful load of sin?” Another child with a knife explains, “This Sword of the
Lord is the Word of God. 5.
Let the children draw a picture of a snake or a fruit.
Let them show their pictures to the adults during the
next worship time and explain that this illustrates how Satan tempts
us. See the picture at the end of this lesson. 6.
Let
smaller children memorize Romans 3:23; older ones memorize Romans 5:12. 7.
Ask the children, “In what ways do people choose to
disobey God today?” Discuss the answers 8.
Let
three children each recite one of the verses from Psalm 53:1-3. 9.
Let an older child pray: “Dear Lord, we have disobeyed you many times. We became slaves of Satan. We thank you for sending Jesus, a descendant of Eve, to crush the enemy’s head and free us.”
More detailed dramas to act out, dealing with Adam and
Eve’s disobedience to God. Adam
Names the Animals, from the Angel’s Viewpoint, 5 minutes The
Old Dragon Defiles the First Family, from Angels’ Viewpoint, 5 minutes Adam and Eve Mar God’s Image, in verse, 8 minutes
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