The Good News of a Savior

OBJECTIVE

The objective for this module is to demonstrate God's Goodness. Out of His Goodness, He 1) created us from nothing, 2) formed us in His image and likeness, 3) sustained us, and 4) saved us. Each week will focus on one of these critical points. This week, we want to convey the good news of a savior.

We were in need of salvation. We want to begin introducing the idea of the Fall and how our Lord Jesus Christ was the bridge that connected us back to God. The First Good News of God's plan to save us is revealed in Genesis 3:15. We can use these references to demonstrate mankind's initial separation from God and the subsequent Good News that was the herald of our salvation.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

Please review the previous week's lesson. (5 minutes)

Show the children a spoiled or disfigured fruit. Speak to them about how corruption happens to all things on Earth; buildings, cars, food, trees. Then tell them that this corruption that we see now around us, like the fruit, is not how God made life for us in the beginning. Explain to them that in the Garden of Eden, life was perfect for Adam and Eve and they experienced no pain or sadness. But when they decided to disobey God and separate themselves from Him by eating from the Tree, death, corruption, sickness and sin entered into the world.

Although these horrible things will always exist in this world, God did not leave us without hope because he established another kingdom for us, just like the Garden of Eden, in heaven. From the very beginning our Lord told us that he would not abandon us and that he would have victory over Satan.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Memory Verse - "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (Genesis 3:15)

Servants can use this picture to explain this verse to the children. Jesus is in St. Mary's womb and through her, He is "bruising" the head of the serpent. This is symbolic of our Lord's victory over Satan which granted us salvation.

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 5 Minutes

We have used the Hook and Scripture to introduce the idea of corruption and the first mention of God's plan to redeem us in Genesis 3. Now we will expand on the Fall and God's revelation of His plan for us.

Disobedience & the Separation (The Fall)

When God created Adam and Eve in the Garden they had everything they needed. God created them with free will, to do whatever they want, unlike a robot or iPad which follows commands only. He did this because He is love and wants His creation to love Him from their own free will.

When Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge after God commanded them not to they created a barrier between God and Mankind. It is important to emphasize that this separation came as a result of our own disobedience and not by God being harsh. We separated ourselves from Him and He, from the abundance of His love and mercy for us, reunited us with God.

Cain and Abel

After Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden for eating from the tree, Cain was born and soon after Abel was born. Cain worked in the fields and Abel watched over the sheep. One day Cain and Abel both brought their offering to God. Abel's offering made God happy because it was from his heart. However, God wasn't pleased with Cain's offering because it did not come from his heart. Cain became jealous and frustrated. God warned Cain to be more like Abel and not get angry, but to have control over his emotions. Cain didn't listen and killed his only brother Abel. This is one example of corruption in the bible.

The First Mention of the Good News (Genesis 3:15)

Called the Protoevengalion

In this verse we hear the first good news. God tells us that there will be separation between the serpent and the woman. "The Holy Bible is proclaiming the bitter struggle, between the devil and man, that ends up in man's victory through the sacrifice of the Lord Christ (the woman's seed), though some men would perish, when they become victims".

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes

  • How did death, corruption, sickness and sin enter into the world?
  • What is the first good news called?
  • What is the first good news?
  • How are we saved now?

LIFE APPLICATION - 2 Minutes

God brought us the greatest gift of all, salvation. We should live every day remembering this.

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Materials

  • clothes pin
  • green paper
  • stickers/beads/red paper circles
  • glue

SERVANT RESOURCES

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

This week, let's try to remember that God gave us salvation, we now live every day for Him.