Online Session 01 - Creation

 
 
 
 
 

VIEW THIS SESSION ONLINE!

Click the button to view this Narratology session right on your screen! (You can also click, click away on any of the links.)

 
 
 

Original Video(s)

 
 

List of Online Links and Other Embedded Content

 
 

God of Wonders Video

 
 
 

Check-In Storytimes!

Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:7b—3:24)

Online link to a Bible reading here.

Readers: Narrator, Serpent, Woman, Man, God

 

Narrator: God created the earth and the heavens, the sun and moon, the land and seas, and animals of the land, sea, and sky. But God’s creation was not yet complete. None of these things were the kind of companion God was seeking. So, God formed a man from the dust of the ground. God breathed into the man’s nose, and the man became alive. God put the man in a beautiful garden called, “Eden.” God told the man that he could eat of every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If he did, he would die. The man stayed far away from that tree. Then God gave the man the responsibility of caring for everything that walked, swam, and flew on, under, and over the earth. The man named each one, but the man was still very much alone.  God decided to create a partner for the man. God made the man sleep a very deep sleep. Then God took a rib from the man and made a woman to be his equal. From that day forward people were created to love and be loved. In those days, the man and woman walked on the earth naked. But they weren’t ashamed. One day, while she was walking in the garden, the woman came across a crafty, slippery serpent. He slunk up to the woman and his silver tongue began to craft some trickery.

Serpent: Did God say not to eat from the trees in the garden?

Woman: God said we may eat from any tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If we eat of that tree, we will die.

Serpent: You will not die. You will be awake and alive in a way you never have before! Your eyes will be opened and you will see things only God sees. You will know good and evil.

Narrator: The woman looked at the tree long and hard.

Woman: What harm could it do? The fruit looks delicious, and I will see what only God sees.

Narrator: So, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to the man, who also ate it. Both of their eyes were opened, and for the first time in their lives, they could see evil. They could see that the choice they made was dark. Suddenly, they knew shame. They were ashamed that they were naked. They were naked because they wore no clothes. They were naked because their sin exposed them in a way they could not have imagined. They sewed fig leaves together to cover their shame, but they could not cover the shame of their sin. In the evening, when the breeze blew softly, they heard God walking in the garden. They hid because they were ashamed.

God: Where are you?

Man: I heard you walking in the garden, and I hid because I was afraid. I was naked and exposed.

God: Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I told you not to eat?

Man: She made me do it.

Woman: This serpent made me do it. He tricked me, and I ate.

God: (to the serpent) Because you have done this, you will be cursed among all the animals. You will crawl on your belly to remind you of your trickery! You will hunt the man, and the man will hunt you.

God: (to the woman) As for you, you will have terrible pain in childbirth. The beautiful gift of creation that once was yours will become like a curse to you. You will create, but it will bring you pain.

God: (to the man) As for you, you will have to work hard for everything you earn. You will toil in the fields for your food. You will hunt dangerous animals for your food. Everything you gain will come because you work for it, with sweat, blood, and tears.

Narrator: God was terribly grieved by what the woman and man had done. But God could not help loving them. God knew that there was another tree in the garden, the tree of life, that had the power and potential to make them live forever. What a terrible curse it would have been for the man and woman to live forever in their state of shame! God banished them from the garden to protect them from themselves. God placed cherubim and a flaming sword to protect the tree and to protect the people. From that day on, the woman and man struggled to survive. But they did survive, and the human race flourished.

 

Kid Story: What does shame feel like? Where does it live in your body? How do you know it’s shame? What does it feel like to have that shame erased, lifted, or forgiven?

 

Noah (Genesis 6:5-22; 8:6-12; 9:8-17)

Online link to this Bible passage here.

Readers: Narrator, God

 

Narrator: Early in human history, people had a very hard time navigating life – community, relationships, stewardship of the earth and all that’s in it. God could sense the evil in their hearts, and it upset God greatly. God regretted making humans. So, God decided to do something about it. God decided to destroy people and wipe the animals from the face of the earth.

God: I will get you, my pretties. And your little dogs, too.

Narrator: But there was this one man that God couldn’t get out of God’s mind.

God: This Noah… I can’t get him out of my mind.

Narrator: Noah was smart, brave, and kind. Exactly what God had hoped all humans would become. God decided not to destroy Noah.

God: I am going to destroy all people and animals. They are violent, selfish, and destructive. But I like you, Noah. Go make an ark out of cypress wood, make rooms in the ark big enough for a pair of all the animals. Let me know when you’re done, because I’m going to send a flood like this world has never seen before! The flood will wipe out everything. But you can survive it if you follow my instructions. Store enough food to last a long, long time. You’ll be ok.

Narrator: Noah did just as God asked. When the rains came, Noah gathered two of every kind of animal into the ark. It rained 40 days and 40 nights, and soon there was nothing left on the earth but water and the ark. Noah wanted to know if there was dry land anywhere. So, he sent out a dove, but it returned shortly. Seven days later, Noah sent out the dove again. This time it returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf. There was land somewhere! When he sent out the dove seven days after that, the dove never returned. He knew the dove had found shelter on the land. Since God had had a few months to cool off, God decided never again to destroy all humanity by flood. To show God’s commitment, God made a covenant with Noah.

God: I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants, and with every creature that lives. Never again will I destroy all living things by flood.

Narrator: God put a bow in the sky as a sign of God’s covenant.

God: Every time you see this bow, be reminded of my covenant with you.

Narrator: Noah and his family lived a long time on the new, fertile land. They often looked to the skies for the bow, and were reminded regularly of God’s covenant.

 

Kid Story: Tell of a time you saw a sign of God’s presence or promise in your life.

Other Information for This Session

THIS MONTH'S MENTOR MEETING OPTIONS

Activity #1: Movie
Watch the movie The Lorax. What does the movie say about protecting creation? What can you do to protect the earth?

Activity #2: Zoo
Go to a zoo. Talk about the animals you see, the food they eat, the environments they live in. Tell stories of your favorite things about God’s creation.

Activity #3: Create Your Own
Discuss with your teacher or mentor what kinds of things you enjoy doing. Decide on an activity that you complete together this month.

CHECK-IN QUESTIONS

Instagram/Phone Check-in: Adam and Eve (See above for Check-In Storytimes!)

What did Adam and Eve do to upset God?
What were the consequences for their sin?
Do you think God still loved them? Why or why not?

Instagram/Phone Check-in: Noah (See above for Check-In Storytimes!)

When God got angry at people for sinning, what did God do?
How did God establish a covenant with Noah?

 

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