Adam and Eve

Do you have a cookie jar at your house? (Place the cookie jar open in the middle of the group of children, and remind them not to touch it.) When I was young, we always had a cookie jar. Sometimes I would come home from school to find my mother baking cookies. I remember she would tell me, "Don't eat any of these cookies before dinner; you’ll spoil your appetite." That was quite a temptation. Does anyone know what the word “temptation” means? (Pause). Temptation happens when something or someone makes you desire to do something that you’re not supposed to do. But God is always there to help us do the right thing. 

My cookie story reminds me of a game we used to play in school: "Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?" We sat in a circle and said a rhyme. Sing along with me if you know it:

Accuser: Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?
[Child’s name] stole the cookies from the cookie jar.
[Child’s name]: Who, me?
Accuser: Yes, you!
[Child’s name]: Not me!
Accuser: Then who?
[Child’s name]: [Another child’s name] stole the cookies from the cookie jar.

Lead kids in saying the rhyme several times.

You know, that must be the oldest game in the world--a similar version of it started in the Garden of Eden. That was a beautiful garden that God gave the first two humans, Adam and Eve. Gold told them they could eat anything they wanted, except for the fruit from one tree. But when Adam and Eve were tempted by the fruit, they disobeyed God and ate it. Then they both blamed it on someone else, like in the cookie jar game. Adam blamed it on Eve, and Eve blamed it on the snake who helped convince her to eat it.

Tell about a time your parents told you to do something and you did the right thing. (Pause.) Tell about a time someone blamed you for doing something wrong, but they did it! 

God wanted Adam and Eve to do the right thing. God wants us to do the right thing, too. And God helps us do the right thing.

Dear God, thank You that You help us do the right thing. Thank You for giving us the power to choose the right way. In Jesus' name, amen.