UNIT 1 Session 2 Use Week of: Preschool WORSHIP OVERVIEW SESSION TITLE: God Created People BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 1:26 2:25 MAIN POINT: God created people in His own image. UNIT KEY PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 8:6 UNIT BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why did God create the world? God created the world for His glory. LARGE GROUP WORSHIP (15 20 MINUTES) PAGE 20 SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 22 LARGE GROUP CLOSING (10+ MINUTES) PAGE 24 Leader BIBLE STUDY On the sixth day of creation, God created man in His own image. God formed the man out of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (Gen. 2:7) Man was set apart as different from the rest of God s creation. God did not breathe into the animals. He skillfully formed man out of dust as a potter forms a pot out of clay. (See Isa. 64:8.) God sustained the man. He planted a garden in Eden 16 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 1 Session 2
and put the man there to work it and keep it. (Gen. 2:8,15) Then God gave the man a command. God told the man, You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Then God explained the consequences, For on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die (Gen. 2:17). Then God made woman from the man s rib. She was a suitable helper for him. Both man and woman were created in God s image. The first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, lived in the garden and enjoyed God s friendship. We know Adam and Eve did not keep the command God gave, and their disobedience brought sin into the world. For that reason, God sent His Son, Jesus the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15) and the exact expression of His nature (Heb. 1:3). God the Son became fully man, acting as the second Adam, to bring life to those who are in Him. (See 1 Cor. 15:45-49.) As you teach preschoolers this week, help them understand that being made in God s image means we are made like Him, or patterned after Him. God does not have a physical body; He is Spirit, and He has given each of us a spirit. God gives people the ability to think and to feel emotions and to make choices. He gives us the ability to understand right and wrong. Emphasize that God made people different than anything else He created. God created people in His own image (Gen. 1:26) and for His glory (Isa. 43:7). Additional suggestions for specific groups are available at gospelproject.com/kids/dditional-resources. For free training and session-by-session help, visit http://www.ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject. God the Creator 17
The BIBLE STORY God Created People Genesis 1:26 2:25 God had created the world! He made the sun, the sky, plants and trees, and many kinds of animals. But God was not finished yet! The next thing God created was the most special of all. On Day 6 of creation, God made people. God made a man out of the dust on the ground. He made the man come to life, and the man s name was Adam. God made people different than anything else He made. God made people in His own image. God also made a garden, and He put Adam in the garden. God gave Adam a job. He told Adam to work in the garden and take care of it. God gave Adam food from the trees so he could eat. The food looked so good. God told Adam that he could eat from any of the trees in the garden, except for one. In the garden was a tree called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned Adam, If you eat from that tree, you will die. Now God was not done creating. He looked at Adam. Adam was all alone. It is not good for the man to be alone, God said. So God decided to make a helper for Adam. God brought to Adam the animals He had created, and Adam gave the animals special names. But these animals did not make good helpers for Adam. So God made Adam fall fast asleep. God took one of Adam s ribs, and He created a woman. When Adam woke up and saw the woman, he was happy! The woman was a perfect helper for Adam; she was his wife. Adam named his wife Eve. God gave Adam and Eve good things. He put them in 18 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 1 Session 2
charge of the animals and gave them whatever they needed. God looked at everything He had made, and it was very good! God had made everything He planned to make. So on Day 7 of creation, God rested from His work. Christ Connection: God created people in His own image. Adam was like God in some ways, but he was not exactly like God. God sent His Son, Jesus, to show us exactly what God is like. (Colossians 1:15) Jesus is exactly like God because He is God. (Hebrews 1:3) God the Creator 19
Large Group WORSHIP (15 20 minutes) SESSION TITLE: God Created People BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 1:26 2:25 MAIN POINT: God created people in His own image. UNIT KEY PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 8:6 UNIT BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why did God create the world? God created the world for His glory. God Makes Everything song Wiggle Song song Creation Days (enhanced CD) Bible Bible Story Picture Slide or Poster Main Point Slide or Poster Giant Timeline or Big Story Circle God Created People video index card marker Bible Key Passage Slide or Poster There is Only One song Welcome and worship with song Welcome children to worship by playing God Makes Everything. Greet children with a smile. When all the children have arrived, sing an action song such as Wiggle Song to engage them and help them feel welcomed. Watch or tell the Bible story Print and display Creation Days. Invite preschoolers to put the days of creation in the correct order. Review what God created on each day. SAY God made many things in six days, but He was not finished creating just yet. God was about to make the most special creation of all. Let s find out what else God made on the sixth day. Open your Bible to Genesis 1. Tell the Bible story in your own words, using the script provided, or watch the video. SAY The most special thing God created was people. God created people in His own image, including you and me! Being made in God s image is what makes us special! Practice the key passage and a Bible skill Write the number 1 on an index card and place it in your Bible at the key passage, 1 Corinthians 8:6. Invite a few 20 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 1 Session 2
volunteers to come up one at a time and open your Bible to the key passage. SAY Our key passage tells us there is only one God. No one is like Him. God created people in His own image to show what He is like. Adam was like God in some ways, but he was not exactly like God. God sent Jesus, to show us exactly what God is like. Jesus is exactly like God because He is God the Son. Sing the key passage song together. Learn the big picture question and answer SAY Do you remember the answer to our big picture question from last time, Why did God create the world? God created the world for His glory. God created people in His own image to give Him glory. People point to how awesome God is. God gets glory when we remember how awesome He is! Respond through song and prayer SAY Let s sing to worship God and give Him glory. Sing God Makes Everything and All Things as preschoolers move with the music. Prepare for prayer by singing All We Like Sheep. You may also collect an offering. SAY God, You are the Creator. You made everything to show Your glory. You made each and every one of the children and grown-ups in this room in Your own image to show us what You are like. Help us to show how awesome You are in everything we do! Transition to small groups Big Picture Question Slide or Poster Main Point Slide or Poster God Makes Everything song All Things song All We Like Sheep song offering basket countdown video (optional) God the Creator 21
Small Group ACTIVITIES (25 30 minutes) SESSION TITLE: God Created People BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 1:26 2:25 MAIN POINT: God created people in His own image. UNIT KEY PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 8:6 UNIT BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why did God create the world? God created the world for His glory. LOW PREP yelllow paper blue paper tape Suggested items: chocolate/vanilla ice cream dolls/trains play outside/watch television dog/cat contact paper permanent marker scissors construction paper tape yarn googly eyes Make choices Post yellow and blue sheets of paper at either end of the room. Explain to preschoolers that if they like the first thing you say better, they should go to the yellow paper. If they like the second thing better, they should go to the blue paper. Use the items in the margin or create your own. SAY God created people in His own image. Making choices is one of the ways we are like God. These were easy choices, but sometimes choices are hard to make. Sometimes we make wrong choices. God never makes wrong choices. Jesus always makes right choices too because He is God. Decorate faces Use a permanent marker to draw an oval on 9-inch pieces of contact paper for each preschooler. Tape the ovals to the table, sticky side up. Guide children to create faces using yarn, googly eyes, and construction paper. Attach the ovals to construction paper to seal in the decorations. SAY Each face you decorated is different. None of us are exactly alike, but all of us are made in God s image. God created people in His own image. 22 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 1 Session 2
Listen and move to music Gather instrumental music with different rhythms and beats. Play a clip of each song. Encourage preschoolers to move to the music as it plays. Ask preschoolers if the music makes them feel happy, sad, or another emotion. SAY Music can change our feelings. Feeling emotion is one of the ways we are like God. God has feelings too. God created people in His own image. Jesus always feels the same as God because He is God. Jesus is happy when God is happy. Jesus is sad when God is sad. Do the hokey-pokey Form a circle. Lead kids in doing the hokey-pokey. If you are unfamiliar with how to play, watch a tutorial online. SAY God does not have a physical body like us, but God created people in His own image. When Jesus came to earth, He had a physical body like us. Jesus is exactly like God because He is God. Investigate fingerprints Assist preschoolers in making fingerprints on their paper. Provide magnifying glasses for preschoolers to examine their fingerprints and compare them with their friends. SAY Everyone s fingerprint is unique. No two are alike. God made each of us special, but what makes us most special is being made in God s image. God created people in His own image. Transition to large group closing instrumental music MP3 player or CD player LOW PREP magnifying glasses paper washable ink pad wipes for cleanup countdown video (optional) God the Creator 23
Large Group CLOSING (10+ minutes) SESSION TITLE: God Created People BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 1:26 2:25 MAIN POINT: God created people in His own image. UNIT KEY PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 8:6 UNIT BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why did God create the world? God created the world for His glory. Bible Giant Timeline or Big Story Circle Bible Story Picture Slide or Poster Big Picture Question Slide or Poster Main Point Slide or Poster There Is Only One song God Makes Everything song Review Invite children to help clean up small group teaching areas. SAY You all are very good helpers. Cleaning up everything by myself would be hard. God saw that Adam was by himself. God said it was not good for him to be alone, so God created Eve to be a helper for Adam. Point to the giant timeline or big story circle as you review today s Bible story. Ask the following review questions: 1. On what day did God make people? (sixth day) 2. What did God use to make Adam? (dust from the ground) 3. What did God use to make Eve? (Adam s rib) 4. What did God do on the seventh day of creation? (God rested from His work.) 5. Why did God create the world? God created the world for His glory. SAY All of God s creation shows how awesome He is, but people are the most special of His creation. God created people in His own image. People are like God in some ways, but Jesus shows us exactly what God is like because He is God. Sing the key passage song or unit theme song. 24 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 1 Session 2
Pray Invite preschoolers to share any prayer requests they have. SAY God, thank You for creating us. Thank You for making us in Your own image. Help us to live in a way that gives You glory and shows the world what You are like. When we mess up and don t show what You are like, remind us that You sent Jesus to show everyone exactly what You are like. Missions story If your preschool ministry is participating in a missions activity, discuss the activity, the reasons for it, and your group s progress. If you are not participating in a missions activity, talk about the importance of talking to our friends and family about God. Explain that all people are created in God s image, so all people are important to God. God wants everyone to hear the good news about Jesus. You may also show the Following God missions video. SAY God wants everyone to know that Jesus is His Son. God wants His people to tell everyone about Jesus. Sometimes that means going to a far away place like Chile, but, most of the time, it means obeying God and loving others right where we are. Everyone needs to hear that Jesus is God s Son! Will you tell them? Sample fruits Post and allergy alert before class. Provide an assortment of fruits for preschoolers to sample. Talk about how God gave Adam food from the trees so he could eat. Remind boys and girls that God told Adam he could eat from every tree except one. Following God missions video Allergy Alert various fruits God the Creator 25