‘I’m God’s Masterpiece’ Childrens Lesson on Genesis 1:26-27

BIG IDEA: I’M NOT TRASH, I’M GOD’S MASTERPIECE

AIM: The ‘I am God’s Masterpiece’ Childrens Lesson on Genesis 1:26-27 is aimed at helping children to see the value in themselves and others and to see how important they are to God.

Icebreaker Question: What do you love about you?

INTRO VIDEO: You could show the ‘Bonnie makes Forky’ trailer video to set the scene for this lesson.

Explain: Bonnie made her very own Forky character and he came alive! God created us out of the dust of the earth and out of a human rib… He breathed His life into us! How incredible is that?!

SONG IDEAS:

1. ‘Who You Say I Am’ by Hillsong Kids or Yancy
2. ‘Royalty’ by Hillsong Kids 
3. ‘Not Forgotten’ by Hillsong Kids

GAME IDEAS:

1. Sporks. (regular/widescreen) Play the game Spoons (see instructions here) yet use Sporks instead of spoons.
2. Toy Races. (regular/widescreen) Children choose a toy that they can use to race with – it could be a toy car or aeroplane. They place them at the start line and let them go. The player whose toy passes the line first, or travels the furthest is the winner.
3. Messy Masterpieces. (regular/widescreen) You will need finger paints and a large white pad for each team. Played like charades but with paints. Children must run to the leader and find out what the first object they must paint is. Once a team member has guessed what the item is, they can run and find out the next one. This continues until the winning team discovers all the items on the leader’s list.

BIG VERSE: I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14.

Download Bible verse cards here.

(regular/widescreen)

You may also want to use this fun skit to introduce today’s theme.

 

SET the Scene

Before reading Genesis 2 you’ll need to explain to the children that in Genesis 1:26-27 God creates the world, and He also creates people. It happens on the sixth day.

VIDEO IDEAS:

1. ‘God’s Story: God Made People’ by Crossroads Kids Club
2. ‘Adam and Eve’ by Fishnet Bible Stories
3. ‘Adam and Eve (Genesis 2-3)’ by Saddleback Kids
4. ‘The Story of Adam and Eve’ by Kids on the Move

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. What was the name of the first man God made?
2. How did God create Adam? (v7 – from the dust, breathed life into him)
3. Why did God make a helper for Adam? (v18 – it was not good for man to be alone)
4. Were the animals good as Adam’s helper? (no)
5. Who named all the animals? (v19-20  Adam)
6. How did God create the woman? (v21 – from Adam’s rib while he was sleeping)

 

SPOT the Simple Meaning:

1) GOD CREATED ME 

You will need some large paper and a marker.

Say: The Bible story shows us that we are made in God’s image. He made us to be a reflection of who He is. I’d love to know who you think I am. I’m going to draw a picture of myself on this paper. Now, the picture isn’t me, but it might (hopefully) look a little like me. Then I’m going to label it with the things that you think describe who I am. [Get the kids to give you feedback about your character, personality, likes and dislikes].

You know, my picture might not be a masterpiece, but God says that He created us and we are His handiwork – His masterpiece! Now, we might not look like Him (I’m pretty sure He doesn’t have the same hair color as me!) but He made me to have the same abilities as He does – to love, to be kind, to create and to have fun! All the good things!

2) I’M CREATED TO DO GOOD WORKS

You will need a selection of different toys.

Say: The Bible verse Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we aren’t just God’s masterpiece – His handiwork – to look good but never do anything. He created us to do the good things He planned for us to do in the world. God gives us new life in Jesus so that we might make a difference in the world and share the good news with others!

Now, we are human beings and not human doings. God loves us for who we are not just what we can do. We are the work of His hands. He loved Adam and Eve way before they started doing anything. Yet we get the amazing privilege to do good in the world! What good things do you think we can do? [Get feedback]

[Hold up one of the toys] What are these toys used for? [Get feedback for each one] That’s right! Toys are for playing with and to be enjoyed by children. That’s their purpose and why they were made. The toys in Toy Story love to played with by children. Gabby Gabby in Toy Story 3 is desperate to be loved by a child.

Just like these toys we were created for God to enjoy. The most amazing thing is that unlike Gabby Gabby, who did everything she could to be loved by a child, we are already loved by our Father God! He loves to watch us and sing over us. Zephaniah 3:10 says, “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” God takes pleasure over His handiwork. That’s why, in the beginning, every time He created something He said it was good and when He created humans, Genesis 1 tells us He said we were “very good”.

Our purpose is to live a life that is pleasing to God. We were made for Him to enjoy. That means we live by faith and obey Him. We do what He calls us to do. Are you living a life that is pleasing to God? Are you doing all you can to trust in Him and obey Him?

 

SEARCH the Scriptures:

TRASH TREASURES. (regular/widescreen) Children must rummage through some (clean) trash cans filled with shredded paper to find the Bible verses about being precious to God. Remind the children that Forky in Toy Story 3 thought he was just trash, yet he was loved by a child. We are not trash but we are God’s masterpiece – His handiwork!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What is the most precious thing you own?
2. Who are the most precious people to you in your life?
3. If you could create any masterpiece, what type of masterpiece would you like to create?
4. How do you know God made you?
5. How does it feel to know you are God’s masterpiece?
6. What do you think God was feeling when He made you?
7. What difference does it make to know God created people and He made you?

 

SENSE How You Feel:

How does it feel to know God made you?

Encourage the children to think about their answer to this question as they do one or more of the activities below.

1. Wooden Spoon or Spork People. Children could transform their own spork into a little friend to remind themselves they were made by God and in His image.
2. Fill in/Color the 5-7s and 8-11s  booklet.
3. Paint. Write the words ‘I am God’s Masterpiece’ on a canvas and have your kids paint all over it! Or create a group canvas and encourage all your kids to place their painted hands on the canvas.
4. Mirror craft. Print and cut out the mirror. Decorate it with markers, sequins, gems and aluminium foil.
5. Paint Palette mobile. Print the template BW / Color ) and cut out the individual pieces. Thread some cotton through each piece. Attach each cotton to the main paint palette piece.Hang the paint palette by the thread and watch the other pieces dangle from it.
6. Mould: Use the playdough or clay to mould your own clay people.
7. Construct: Create the scene of the Garden of Eden with lego and place Adam and Eve (lego men) inside. Re-enact the story with lego.
8. Sensory: Place some different dolls and some toys on the sensory table for children to play with and enjoy.
9. Games: if you have a games area the game Operation would be brilliant for this lesson.
10. Check out the ‘I’m God’s Masterpiece’ Pinterest board.

 

SEEK God:

1. Mirror Prayers. You will need a large full length mirror or some small mirrors. Pass around a mirror or have it in the corner or somewhere children can go and look at it. Encourage them to write or draw on post it notes messages of thanks to God for making them the way they are made.
2. HandPrint Prayers. You will need a large canvas, paint and painting materials and cleaning materials. You will want a huge canvas that says ‘We are God’s Masterpiece’ on it. Have the children put their hand in paint and place it on the canvas as they pray and thank God for making them His masterpiece.