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Garden of Eden
Sunday School Lesson
Photo: yimmy149 Flickr
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Just saying the words 'Garden of Eden' sends my mind to a tropical paradise filled with friendly animals, fresh clean water, amazing plants, and the most delicious fruit I can imagine. I've often wondered what kind of place that must have been.
Imagine - Adam and Even didn't have to worry about any thing in the
Garden of Eden. God supplied their every need.
But, just like today, we often want something we shouldn't want. That is exactly what happened to Eve. Even though the serpent was smooth taking, Eve could have resisted, but instead she gave into temptation.
Let's see what happens in the Sunday school lesson - Garden of Eden.
Garden of Eden - Sunday School Lesson
The Garden of Eden must have been a sight to see. Words couldn't possibly describe what it looked like. Adam and Eve didn't even have to work for their food. God supplied it all. He supplied food, water, and companionship for Adam, Eve and all the animals. God even walked and talked with them.
What more could they want?
Temptation is a bad thing. It is hard to overcome, but no matter how hard, we must walk away and always do the right thing.
Lucifer
Temptation didn't just start with Adam and Eve though.
Begin your Sunday school lesson by telling the kids a bit about Lucifer who became Satan and just how much danger temptation can cause.
One day, we are not told exactly when, an angel named Lucifer wanted to take over heaven and all things that God had made. He even tried to turn the other angels against God. Some of the angels listened to Lucifer.
God was stronger than Lucifer though and God cast Lucifer and all the angles that were doing what Lucifer said, out of heaven. Lucifer should have known that he couldn't over throw God. Even he gave into the temptation to be ruler of everything.
Where did that get him?
Let the kids answer and see what kind of answers they give you. Some kids may not even want to say the words. They may just point down and that's okay as long as they know the answer.
Temptation
Talk a little bit about temptation. Temptation is anything that makes us want something we shouldn't or desire to do something that is wrong. It's anything that can cause us to do something that is not right or not wise.
Adam and Eve
Adam and Even had it all, but what did they do? They gave into temptation. Let's see what happened.
Lucifer became Satan after he was tossed out of heaven, but that didn't stop him. He wanted to win more than ever and tried to deceive Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden.
And guess what.
It worked.
Satan disguised himself as a serpent and slithered his way into the Garden of Eden.
The serpent found Even and began his plan to tempt her to do something that was wrong. What was it?
He wanted her to eat of the fruit off the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This was the one tree in the whole garden she and Adam were not allowed to eat from, but did she stand firm for God or did she give into temptation?
Wait for answers.
She gave in.
First, think about this for a minute. If a creepy snake began talking to you, wouldn't you think something was up? Second, Eve had all of the other fruit and food in the garden, why was the fruit from this tree so important for her to eat?
Because she was told not too.
As children, you are given rules to abide by. These rules are set by God and by your parents or guardians. These rules were made to protect you and to guide you.
How often have you been tempted to do the opposite of those rules?
Let's look at a few rules you may be tempted to break.
- going to bed when told
- staying up later than told
- telling a lie to get out of trouble
- being jealous of what others have
- taking cookies or sweets when told not to
Try to think of several circumstances that may work well with your age children.
How Should You React to Temptation?
First, remember, temptation is never good. Second, before giving in, stop long enough to pray to ask God to help you not go along with whatever you're facing.
Last, pray each day that God will help you when situations like this arise because they
will arise.
What Do We Learn?
After Adam and Eve ate the fruit, God cast them out of the Garden of Eden. Not only that, but now they would have to work for their food. God wouldn't supplying them with every thing as he had before. They had to till the ground and plant food. It was hard work.
Do you want to know what else?
Adam and Eve could have lived forever in the Garden of Eden, but now after giving in to temptation, they will grow old and die.
Why would they want to give up everything for a single bite?
Answer that question with another...Why do you do the things that you do when you know they are wrong?
Satan tempts us every day just as he did Adam and Eve.
It may be small things like taking someone's ball or hair bow, or it could be something big like stealing a car or robbing a bank.
Satan does all he can to tempt us into doing wrong things. The next time you are faced with a temptation like Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden, remember to pray for God's help.
And guess what.
He will help you.
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