Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 8 “Satan Deceives Eve”

Featured Passage: Genesis 2-3


Adam and Eve were happy in the garden that God had created for them. Their lives were blessed with delicious foods that God had ordained for them to eat. They were surrounded by beauty, and they had meaningful work taking care of the garden and the animals. In the midst of the garden were two treesthe tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God told Adam that they could eat of the tree of life, but not of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Satan, the enemy, convinced Eve to disobey God, and God forced them to leave the garden.

 

Discuss:

  • Explain to your child that Satan, whose name means adversary, was an angel who became evil and rebelled against God. He is called a serpent several times in the Bible.
  • Point out that Satan deceived Eve. Explain what deceived means.
  • Ask your child how Adam and Eve felt after they had disobeyed God.
  • Show how Adam and Eve’s lives were worse after disobeying God.
  • Discuss how obedience leads to blessings and disobedience to curses.

 

Memory Challenge:

Genesis 1:27

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

 

More to Do!

  • Draw a picture of the Garden of Eden and talk about elements of the picture.
  • Play a “Truth or Error” game with your child. Make a statement concerning a point covered in the lesson and ask them if it is the truth or an error.  

Examples are:

    • Truth or Error.  Human beings are distant cousins of apes.
    • Truth or Error.  Only a man and a woman can start a family.
    • Truth or Error.  Men and women are just alike; their gender doesn’t matter.
    • Truth or Error.  God made the woman from man.

 


Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 8 “Satan Deceives Eve”

Featured Passage: Genesis 2-3


Adam and Eve were happy in the garden that God had created for them.Their lives were blessed with delicious foods that God had ordained for them to eat. They were surrounded by beauty, and they had meaningful work taking care of the garden and the animals. In the midst of the garden were two treesthe tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God told Adam that they could eat of the tree of life, but not of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Satan, the adversary, convinced Eve to disobey God, and God forced them to leave the garden.

 

Discuss:

  • Explain to your child that Satan, whose name means adversary, was an angel who became evil and rebelled against God. He is called a serpent several times in the Scriptures.
  • Point out that Satan deceived Eve. Explain what deceived means.
  • Ask how Adam and Eve felt after they had disobeyed God.
  • Show your child how Adam’s and Eve’s lives were worse after disobeying God.
  • Discuss how obedience leads to blessings and disobedience to curses.

 

Memory Challenge:

Genesis 1:27  

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

 

More to Do!

  • Draw a picture of the Garden of Eden and talk about elements of the picture.
  • Play a “Truth or Error” game with your child. Make a statement concerning a point covered in the lesson and ask them if it is the truth or an error.  

Examples are:

  • Truth or Error.  Human beings are distant cousins of apes.
  • Truth or Error.  Only a man and a woman can start a family.
  • Truth or Error.  Men and women are just alike; their gender doesn’t matter.
  • Truth or Error.  God made the woman from man.

Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 8 “The Two Trees”

Featured Passage: Genesis 2–3:6; 1 John 2:16


God created the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, and placed them in a beautiful garden filled with beautiful plants and trees. However, God placed two trees that had special significance in the midst of the garden, and He gave Adam special instructions about them. The name of one tree was the tree of life and the name of the other was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God told Adam that he could eat of the tree of life, but he was not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because in the day he ate of it, he would die. The instructions about the trees and the consequences for disobedience were clearly stated. God gave mankind free will to choose, but He wants us to choose to do as He says. The two trees were used to test whether mankind would obey God.

 

Discuss:

  • Remind your child that these were literal trees in a literal garden even though they symbolized choosing the way that leads to life or the way to death.
  • Discuss the implications for the way of “knowledge of good and evil”. How do we see “good and evil” played out in our society today?
  • Examine Eve’s excuse for disobeying God. Note how the lust of the eyes and the pride of life played a part in her decision.
  • God often tests His people with trying or tempting situations. Ask your child why they think God does this. Be sure to inject that making choices builds character.
  • Discuss the two trees – that there are always two choices, God’s way and the wrong way. Note that both trees looked good but only one was good.

 

Memory Challenge:

Deuteronomy 30:1920

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days….”


Second Thoughts: Know Your Foundation!

By Thomas White, Student at Living Ed – Charlotte 

“The world I grew up in was a very different world than the one you’re growing up in.” – Mr. Gerald Weston 

As the first semester of the infant Living Education program drew to a close, Mr. Gerald Weston presented us with the opportunity to hear him give an “icebreaker,” a “This is My Life” speech, as he focused the Assembly on an overview of the experiences that have led him to where he is today.  In doing so, he emphasized to us the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with our Creator, one built upon fundamental truths that we must diligently prove to ourselves.

Mr. Weston began by reminding us that although he was raised in a “very different world”, it is nonetheless true that, no matter the time period in which we live, “in one sense, we’re all the same. … We grow up, we fall in love, we get married and have children, and eventually, we get old and we die.” I found this quite comforting, as it reminded me that despite the increasing degradation of Satan’s world, God continues to make sure that His people have the same opportunities to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. As Mr. Weston made a point of how close the entire planet came to total annihilation during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, it hammered in the humbling realization that God truly does want each of us in His family; were it not for His protection, none of us would be here.

“Employers don’t pay you what you need; they pay you what you’re worth. … If you want $20 an hour, you probably have to make about $50 an hour for your employer.”

As Mr. Weston delved into the background of his parents (“one very pragmatic…and one more of a dreamer”), his childhood (“I moved eleven times in my first thirteen years”), and his experiences in the Worldwide Church of God (“I worked on the custodian crew…and as a proofreader in the letter-answering department”), I was particularly struck by the “awakening” he experienced as a boy living in South Dakota, when he realized that he could be paid for shoveling snow. Armed with only a tiny, fold-up army shovel, he proceeded to make fifty cents by clearing the driveways of neighbors, roughly the equivalent of today’s twenty dollars. He used these experiences to stress that too many entitled individuals believe that they should be paid “what they think they need, as opposed to what they’re worth. … If you provide a service, if you work hard, you don’t have to worry about how much you’re going to get paid.”

“We have to know what our foundation is. Something that’s helped me through difficult times…is to have a strong, internal, mental…spiritual foundation.”

Mr. Weston concluded by telling us how he was able to persevere through the apostasy that wracked the Worldwide Church of God in the ’90s. As he did so, he brought out the importance of keeping our spiritual foundation secure, telling us how crucial it is “to know that God exists…and to know that you know that you know that you know that He exists. [To know] that the Bible is His word…not just a nice book, but it is the word of God, and in its original writings is infallible…to know what it actually says, because when you know what it actually says, from there, with God’s help, you can find where you ought to be.”

What Mr. Weston said shortly thereafter was particularly moving, to me. “You need to have the habit of prayer, study, fasting, meditation. … It’s a constant battle when you get down on your knees to try to pray,” he said, describing how our minds can often be far away from our prayers, even when we’re in the middle of them. “…but you know, what I’ve learned is that if you keep fighting that fight, it will work out. Because maybe you won’t have an effective prayer every single day, but you will have those effective prayers.” As someone who often struggles with keeping his head firmly in his prayers, Mr. Weston’s advice served as both inspiration and encouragement to me.

Mr. Weston summed everything up by quoting the foundational scripture that is Hebrews 11:6, which reads, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” If we can live by this verse, knowing our foundation and diligently maintaining a relationship with God, then, in Mr. Weston’s own words, “I think you’re going to find that life will turn out pretty well for you, just as it certainly has for me, in so many ways.”

*Books mentioned:
“Ike’s Bluff: President Eisenhower’s Secret Battle to Save the World” Evan Thomas

Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 7 “The Creation of Mankind”

Featured Passage: Genesis 2:4–20


God restored the earth creating the perfect environment for mankind. God always starts things out small, so He created one man, Adam, as the beginning of His family. God made Adam from the dust of the earth to look like Him and breathed life into him. God placed Adam in Eden, a beautiful garden created just for him, and told him to maintain the garden. Every beautiful tree and seed-bearing plant was in Eden. It was a beautiful beginning for mankind. Contrary to what evolutionists teach, God created a literal Adam and Eve who were placed in a physical garden, and from these two human beings came all the people who have ever lived.

 

Discuss:

  • Help your child understand that Adam was the beginning of God’s plan to have a family.
  • Ask your child what job God gave to Adam.
  • Talk about the beautiful garden and the animals.
  • Ask your child what kind of animal they would like for a pet if it were possible. (Use this as an opportunity to talk about the wonderful world tomorrow.)
  • Talk about the close bond and loving relationship that Adam had with God.

 

Memory Challenge:

Genesis 1:27  

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”


Children’s Bible Program – Level 2: Lesson 7 “God Creates Adam”

Featured Passage: Genesis 2:4–20


God restored the earth creating the perfect environment for mankind. God always starts things out small, so He created one man, Adam, as the beginning of His family. God made Adam from the dust of the earth to look like Him and breathed life into him. God placed Adam in Eden, a beautiful garden created just for him, and told him to maintain the garden. Every beautiful tree and seed-bearing plant was in Eden.

It was a beautiful beginning for mankind. Contrary to what evolutionists teach, God created a literal Adam and Eve who were placed in a physical garden, and from these two human beings came all the people who have ever lived.

 

Discuss:

  • Help your child to understand that Adam was the beginning of God’s plan to have a family.
  • Ask your child what job God gave to Adam.
  • Talk about the beautiful garden and the animals. Ask your child what kind of animal they would like for a pet if it were possible. (Use this as an opportunity to talk about the wonderful world tomorrow.)
  • Talk about the close bond and loving relationship that Adam had with God.

 

Memory Challenge:

Genesis 1:27

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” 


Children’s Bible Program – Level 1: Lesson 7 “The First Family”

Featured Passage: Genesis 1:26–28; 2:24


God created the first man, Adam, and later created his companion for life, Eve. The family was created by God for the good of mankind. God ordained the family to produce godly offspring (Malachi 2:15), thus allowing mankind to participate in God’s plan to have many sons and daughters born into His family. As stated previously, God starts things small, and He started with one family—one man and one woman, Adam and Eve. All human beings who have ever lived are descended from Adam and Eve.

 

Discuss:

  • Explain to your child what a family is. Emphasize that a family begins with one man and one woman. You may want to take this opportunity to explain the roles of the father, mother, and children in the family.
  • Ask your child who created the family and who was the first family on earth.
  • Talk about God’s plan to have a big family with children, human beings, who look like Him. Tell your child that God wants them to be a part of His family.
  • Express to your child that God was a father to Adam and Eve, that He loved them, and that He taught them what they needed to know to live a happy life.

 

Memory Challenge:

Genesis 1:27

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”


Second Thoughts: The CCC’s of Editorial

“God doesn’t expect anything of you that He will not give you the support to be able to accomplish.” – Mr. Wallace Smith

“Content, Clarity, Credibility, Consistency, Creativity, and Care” – simply put, these six C’s represent, in a nutshell, the responsibilities of the Living Church of God Editorial Department. Everyone involved in the department must bear the weight of these responsibilities, and all that they imply.

Mr. Wallace Smith, and student worker Thomas White

One of the things that struck me from Mr. Smith’s assembly, is how much everyone must rely upon one another in order to achieve their goals as a department, and as part of the work of God. No person who writes an article, or who prepares a telecast, or who composes a new booklet is exempt from needing support, or reassessment from others during the process. It seems that in God’s work He readily provides the necessary support, and valuable prospective from others for the preparation and publication of content.

 “I’ve experienced the blessings of having someone who it’s their job to take a look…just to make sure we’re not missing something”

Clarity resides as an essential component in the creation of content for publication. As Mr. Smith described, in the work of God, we aim to communicate a very specific message to a wide variety of audiences. In this endeavor, we must do our upmost to prepare the message in such a way that others will comprehend it. As Mr. Smith explained, “sometimes what we say isn’t what other people hear.” Again, this must be why the organized review process in Editorial is so essential for the operation of the department. Editorial must take seriously their responsibility to proclaim the message, without making an “uncertain sound” (1 Corinthians 14:8).

 

“We just want to make sure things are correct…all of us, we need that kind of review.”

The Apostle Paul did seemingly everything humanly possible to be sure the message he preached was credible. He did not want to put burdens in people’s way, striving to make sure what he preached was acceptable to his audience without changing the content of the message itself. In the same way, the Editorial department takes seriously the need for “Logos, Pathos, and Ethos” in all their writing and publication. This includes making sure that sources used are accurate, and credible, and that presentation is professional.

Of course, this aspect cannot be achieved without review, and constructive feedback from others. Just like in every other part of the work, the Editorial department relies on teamwork, mutual effort, and unity to accomplish their goals and responsibilities. Do we recognize the necessity of correction, review, and encouragement in our own lives? What a wonderful blessing that God has set up a structure of support for His people as we strive to do His great work!

Living Education-Charlotte 2019-20

We are now accepting applications for the 2019–2020 “Living Education Charlotte” program. Seven young men and seven young women will be accepted, as we begin the second year. This is a focused experience, emphasizing the building blocks of a Godly, Christian life. Students learn in the classroom with other young adults, guided by our faculty. They also learn through our “Work-Study” program, working alongside Headquarters staff in various capacities. A major part of the experience is the interaction with other students as they study together, work together, and socialize together, building friendships that will last a lifetime. If you are a young adult, at least 18 years of age, and have a passion to learn more about God’s way of life with others who share the same goals and values, then apply now. For more information, go to lcgeducation.org.

Children’s Bible Program – Level 3: Lesson 6 “The Re-Creation: Days 1-7”

Featured Passages: Genesis 1:1–2:3; Psalm 104:5–9, 30; Isaiah 45:18


Genesis 1:1 describes God creating everything in the visible universe. He created everything in a harmonious and beautiful state. But Genesis 1:2 describes the earth as a very hostile and uninhabitable place. So, what happened between verses 1 and 2? This is a period of time, possibly millions of years. During this time Lucifer rebelled against God, and his name was changed to Satan. The destruction on the earth was a result of Satan’s war with God. The seven days of re-creation was God “cleaning up” the mess! Thankfully, God rehabilitated the earth, making it suitable for human life again. He restored the earth’s beautiful atmosphere, He made the land appear, He caused the plants to grow, created the birds and fish, and finally, land animals and the first humans. Then, God created the Sabbath on the seventh day of creation by resting in it, setting mankind an example to do the same.

 

Discuss:

  • Explain that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” in Genesis 1:1 is referring to God creating the physical universe in a state of beauty and harmony.
  • Explain that “create” in Genesis 1:1 literally means “create” (out of nothing).
  • Help your child grasp that a lot of time could have transpired between verses 1 and 2 of Genesis.
  • Explain that when Genesis 1:2 says the heavens and the earth were in a state of destruction and chaos, it means they “became” that way because of Satan’s rebellion.
  • The word “was” in Genesis 1:2 comes from the Hebrew word meaning “to become, to come to pass.”
  • The words “without form and void” in Genesis 1:2 come from Hebrew words meaning in a state of confusion or emptiness.
  • Isaiah 45:18 says God “did not create (the earth) in vain” (in a state of confusion or emptiness) so it had to become that way.
  • Explain that after Satan’s rebellion damaged the surface of the earth, God “renewed it” (Psalm 104:30) in the “re-creation week” to make it habitable for human beings.
  • Ask your child why God re-created the surface of the earth. Remind him/her of the importance of the human family to God.