Lesson 2: The First Sin

Distribute name tags and snacks. Choose one of the following activities to do together while children eat their snack.

“Hi everyone! This is our second week of club. I am so glad that you are here this week! I would love to hear how your week went.”

Collect prayer requests from the students. The leader or a student can pray for the entire group, or a leader can pair up students and invite them to pray for one another.

• “Have you ever done something you knew you weren’t supposed to do?”
• “How did it feel afterward?”

Encourage students to share their experiences. Validate their feelings and emphasize that we all make mistakes, but God loves us and provides a way back to him through Jesus. Consider sharing your own story with students. This will set the stage for discussing the story of The Fall.

Materials: A ball or simple object to pass around.

Instructions: Create a simple rule, like “Pass the ball to the right, but don’t say the word ‘ball.'” Begin playing and change the rule midway (e.g., “Now pass it to the left and say the person’s name instead”).

“Was it easy to follow the rules?”
“How did you feel when the rule changed?”
“What happens when we break a rule?”

“Some rules are easy to follow and others can be difficult. Today in our story we are going to hear about a rule that God gave to Adam and Eve and how they handled following God’s instructions for them.”

Welcome the students to Crossroads and tell them you are glad they came this week.

Set expectations for students using the 3 R’s of Respect:

Feel free to choose one, two, or even all of these ideas to start Large Group!

(Consider asking students to praise God for something he has done in their life or for who he is. You may need to give them some examples: God, I praise you for your love, goodness, forgiveness, etc.).

Tell kids that closing their eyes and folding their hands together can help keep them focused and not distract those around them.

Recap last week’s lesson.
“Last week we talked about how God made everything good, and he made people in his image to have a relationship with him.

Adam and Eve were created in God’s image, and are special from everything else God created.

God gave them a perfect home in the Garden of Eden, and filled it with everything they needed. He gave them responsibility to take care of the garden and rule over the animals.

God walked with Adam and Eve, showing that he wanted to be close to them, and he gave them one command: not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16-17). This was a way for them to show trust and obedience.”

Goal: Help kids experience the flow of the Genesis 3 story and understand how sin led to separation from God.

Instructions: Create a walk-through with “story stations” around your room or hallway. Each station represents a key moment in the Genesis 3 story. Kids will move from one to the next, hearing the story and participating in simple actions at each one.

• Visual/Props: Picture of a beautiful garden
• Teaching Point: God created a perfect place and wanted a close relationship with people.
• Say: “God made a beautiful garden called Eden. It had everything Adam and Eve needed—trees, food, animals, and peace. But the most special part? God walked and talked with them. He loved being with them, and there was no sin, no pain, no sadness. Everything was very good.”
• Action: Have kids “pretend to walk with God” through the garden and pick imaginary fruit.
• Say: “Imagine having a best friend who came over every day just to hang out. That’s what life with God was like in the garden!”

• Visual/Props: Tree with a “Do Not Eat” sign
• Say: “God told Adam and Eve they could eat from any tree—except one. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He gave this rule not to be mean, but because he loved them and wanted to protect them. Following God’s rule meant they trusted him.”
• Action: Ask: “What rules do you have at home?” Remind them that rules help keep us safe.
• Say: “Have your parents ever told you not to touch something hot or cross the street without looking? Rules are there to keep you safe. God’s rule was like that.”

• Action: Let one kid pretend to be the snake and whisper a lie like “God didn’t mean it!”
  Then ask, “Was that true or false?”
• Say: “Have you ever wanted to do something even though you knew it was wrong? That’s temptation. It tries to make us believe that bad things are good and that good things are bad.”

• Visual/Props: Apple, leaf cutouts
• Say: “Eve listened to the serpent and ate the fruit. Then Adam did the same. They felt sorry for what they had done right away. Before this moment, Adam and Eve had never been afraid or felt bad. But sin broke their perfect friendship with God. It changed everything.”
• Action: Give kids leaf cutouts and say, “They tried to cover their sin, but that didn’t fix the problem.” Let kids hold the leaf in front of them, pretending to hide—just like Adam and Eve did.
• Say: “Have you ever done something wrong and then felt like hiding? That’s what sin does. It makes us want to hide from God.”

• Visual/Props: Footprints leading away, a hiding spot (sheet, box, etc.)
• Say: “When God came walking in the garden, Adam and Eve didn’t run to him like before. Instead, they hid. God asked, “Where are you?” not because he didn’t know, but because he wanted them to come back to him. But instead of telling the truth, they blamed others.”
• Action: Have kids hide and then come out when called. Ask: “Why do you think they hid?”
• Say: “Have you ever tried to blame someone else to stay out of trouble? God wants us to be honest with Him—even when we mess up.”

• Visual/Props: Exit sign or leaving a garden
• Say: “God still loved Adam and Eve, but sin had broken the trust between them. God is holy, which means he cannot be near sin. So Adam and Eve had to leave the garden. An angel guarded the way back in, but God did not give up on them. He promised that one day, someone would come to defeat the serpent and fix everything.”
• Action: Have kids take a big step, pretending they are taking a step out of a huge gate or doorway. Ask: “How do you think they felt?”
  Talk about how this was sad, but not the end of the story—God already had a rescue plan.
• Say: “It’s like when you get separated from your parents at the store—it feels scary and wrong. Sin separates us from God, but he had a rescue plan.”

• “What changed after Adam and Eve sinned?”
• “Why do you think sin separates us from God?”
• “What did God promise to do later to fix this problem?” (Hint toward Jesus)

“Even though this story has a sad part—people being separated from God—it’s not the end. God had a plan from the very beginning. Jesus would come to take away sin and bring us back to God.”

How to Play:

• One child is the “serpent” and hides the fruit while holding the snake or rope.
• The other players, “Adam and Eve,” must search for the hidden fruit.
• The serpent gives misleading clues or distractions while they search.

Connection to the Lesson: This game shows how temptation can be tricky and deceptive, just like the serpent in the Garden. It gives kids a chance to talk about how sin can seem harmless or even fun at first, but leads us away from God’s truth.

How to Play:

• Set up an obstacle course.
• One leader acts as “God” and gives commands.
• Kids must navigate the course while following every command exactly.
• If a player disobeys or misses a command, they must start over.

Connection to the Lesson: This activity illustrates that God’s instructions are for our good and protection. Just like Adam and Eve disobeyed in the garden, this game helps kids understand the value of listening and trusting God’s voice.

How to Play:

• One child plays “God” and counts while others hide.
• As players are found, they must share one way they can obey God (e.g., being kind, telling the truth).
• Continue until all players are found.

Connection to the Lesson: Just like Adam and Eve tried to hide after they sinned, this game reminds kids that God doesn’t give up on us—He seeks us with love and invites us back to Himself.

How to Play:

• Split into teams.
• The first player in each team holds the “blame” (the ball).
• Players pass it down the line, saying, “It’s not my fault, it’s yours!”
• The last player runs to the front, and the relay repeats.

Connection to the Lesson: After sinning, Adam and Eve blamed each other and the serpent. This game opens up a discussion about why it’s important to admit when we’ve done something wrong and take responsibility for our choices.

How to Play:

• Divide kids into two teams.
• One team tries to toss “fruit” into a basket (symbolizing giving in to temptation).
• The other team guards the basket but cannot touch the fruit.
• After time is up, teams switch roles.

Connection to the Lesson: This fun and active game reminds kids how temptation tries to pull us in, but with God’s help, we can stand strong and say “no.”

How to Play:

• Divide into teams.
• Each team picks one player to be “Adam” or “Eve.”
• The rest of the team has a time limit to attach as many “leaves” as possible to that teammate.
• Team with the most leaves wins.

Connection to the Lesson: Just like Adam and Eve tried to cover their sin with leaves, this game helps kids understand that our own efforts aren’t enough. Only Jesus can take away our sin and make us right with God.

“Even when Adam and Eve sinned, God did not stop loving them. He gave them clothes to cover their shame, and he made a promise that one day, someone would come to defeat the serpent and fix what was broken. That someone is Jesus!”

Give each child a heart cutout and invite them to either:

• Draw a picture of one way God showed his love to Adam and Eve in the story, or
• Write a phrase or sentence, like:
  • “God gave them clothes.”
  • “God didn’t leave them.”
  • “God made a promise.”
  • “God still loved them.”

While students are working on their hearts, ask:

• “What do you think God felt when Adam and Eve sinned?”
• “What did God do to show he still cared about them?”
• “How did he give them hope?”

Instructions:

• Write or draw simple “sins” (e.g., lying, disobeying) on the board.
• Then talk about how sin separates us from God.
• Explain to the children that when we bring these sins to Jesus, he forgives us.
• Invite a child to erase each one as you say: “Jesus took the punishment for that sin. Now it’s gone!” Emphasize the way our sins are “wiped” away in the same way.

Close by saying: “When we trust Jesus and turn away from our sin, God forgives us and makes our friendship with him new.”

If you have enough time or have older kids this extra discussion may help connect the lesson more to daily life. Discuss how blaming others doesn’t fix the problem but admitting our mistakes can bring us closer to God.

• “When you blamed someone else in the game, did it fix the problem?”
• “How did it feel to blame someone else?”

“Blaming others might feel easier in the moment, but it doesn’t make the problem go away. It also doesn’t help the person we blamed, and it can hurt our friendships or family relationships.”

• “What do you think happens when we admit we did something wrong?”
• “Have you ever felt better after saying ‘I’m sorry’ to someone?”

“When we admit our mistakes, it helps us fix the problem. It shows others we are being honest, and it helps us feel better too. Most importantly, it makes our relationship with God stronger.

When Adam and Eve blamed each other, it didn’t undo what they had done. But even though they made a big mistake, God still loved them and took care of them. He gave them clothes and promised to send a Savior to fix what sin had broken.

God loves us just as much! When we tell him about our mistakes, he forgives us. He sent Jesus to take the punishment for all our sins so that we can always be close to him.”

• “Have you ever felt like God was far from you because of something you did?”
• “How does it feel to know God still loves you and wants to bring you back to him?”
• “What can you do this week to thank God for his love?”

Go through the Gospel Hand with students (Printout 4). Teaching them the key parts of the Gospel. The Gospel Hand is a simple and memorable way to help students understand and share the message of the Gospel using their five fingers. Each finger represents a key part of the Gospel message, with motions to help them remember.

1. Thumb – God created us to be with him.

• Motion: Point your thumb toward your chest and then upward toward heaven.

2. Pointer Finger – Our Sin Separates Us

• Motion: Spread thumb and pointer finger apart from each other.

3. Middle Finger – Sins Cannot be Removed by Good Works.

• Motion: Using your other hand try to pull on your pointer finger and middle finger (like you are trying to remove them from your hand).

4. Ring Finger – Paying the Price for Sin, Jesus Died and Rose Again!

• Motion: Rub your ring finger and thumb together (like you want money)
• Alternative motion: stretch out your arms, making a cross.

5. Pinky Finger – Everyone Who Trust in Jesus Alone has Eternal Life.

• Motion: Holding your pinky finger up making a circle in the air.
• Alternative Motion: Point using your pinky finger to everyone around you.

“This week, if you make a mistake, try to admit it right away instead of blaming someone else. Remember, God loves you and is always ready to forgive you!”

Thank God for his forgiveness and love. Invite students to silently confess anything they feel sorry for and ask God for help to follow him. End with a group prayer thanking Jesus for making a way back to God.