(All material is original to the author with the exception of songs and activities which have been borrowed from various sources. All studies are free for public use.)
The Consequences of Sin
Scripture Reference: Genesis 6:8
Related Scripture References: Genesis 6-8, Exodus 20:7-17
(Compiled and written by Martin W. Wiles)
Objectives: To teach children that sin has consequences.
Say: Today we continue our theme “Great Stories from the Bible.” Some of these you may have heard before in Sunday School or when your parents read you Bible stories. Today we are going to study the story of Noah and the flood.
Say: (Teacher needs to have this verse written on paper and displayed where children can easily see it.) Let’s say our memory verse together. But Noah found favor with the LORD. (Genesis 6:8 NLT)
Bible Story Time:
Be prepared to tell the children the story of Noah and the flood.
We don’t know for sure how long after Adam and Eve that Noah lived or how many people were on the earth, but there were probably a lot of them. God wanted to have a relationship with them just like he did with Adam and Eve before they sinned, but they were disobeying him just as Adam and Eve had. They were so sinful that God was sorry he had created people on the earth. Everything the people thought about and did was evil and wicked. Since God is holy, he had no choice but to destroy the world and everything and everyone that lived on it.
But as God looked over the earth at all the people who were acting wickedly, he discovered one man who was trying to live by his commands. His name was Noah. The Bible says he found favor with God. This means he pleased God by the way he lived. Noah had a wife, three sons, and three daughters-in-law. The Bible doesn’t say that Noah’s family was obeying God, but if God destroyed them too there would be no way for Noah to have other children and re-populate the earth.
God told Noah and his family to build a huge boat that we call an ark. It was the length of one and a half football fields and as tall as a four story building. Then God told him to bring some of the animals in so they too could re-populate the earth after the flood was over. Some think there could have been as many as 45,000 animals in the ark. We don’t know exactly how Noah got the animals to come to him, but God made sure they got on the boat.
The rain lasted for 40 days. Even after it stopped, the water level stayed above the highest mountain peaks for 150 days. Imagine how the ark must have smelled with all those animals on it. Finally, the land was dry enough for Noah and his family to leave the ark. One of the first things he did after leaving the ark was to build an altar to God and thank him for saving him and his family. God put a rainbow in the sky as a promise to Noah and us that he would never destroy the earth by flood again. Just as sin has bad consequences, obedience has good consequences.
Ask: What does this story teach about the consequences of sin? (Have children think about how things may have been different had people not been so wicked. Help them see that even though Noah and his family were saved, they still were inconvenienced because of other’s sins. Let them talk about things Noah and his family may have endured before and during the flood because of other people’s sins.)
Ask: (Spend at least 10 to 15 minutes on this section. Children need to think about obedience and disobedience. Reinforce what the Bible defines as sin: anything that causes us to miss God’s mark, stray from his path, or walk crooked when we should walk straight. Before asking questions, use the following illustrations to help them understand the concept of sin. Missing the mark- shooting a rifle or arrow at a target but consistently missing. Straying from the path- losing sight of the path continually. Walking crookedly- not being able to walk a straight line. All of these illustrations will help them understand the concept of sin.)
• What do you think is an example of a sin? Be prepared to give them some examples of sin if they can’t think of any and to explain to them why God considers those things sinful. Sharing the 10 Commandments with them would be a good place to start (Exodus 20:7-17). Let them talk about ways breaking the Ten Commandments could hurt others.
• Why do you think God doesn’t want us to sin? Sin hurts us (Mention substances we can put in our body that will harm it. God says our body is where he lives.), others (Explain that sin is not a private matter. Our sins harm others. The entire world was being destroyed because of sin when the world hadn’t actually done anything wrong, just the people living in it. Select a few of the Ten Commandments and talk about how breaking these commands might hurt others as well as you. For example, stealing takes something from someone that they worked hard to get.), and our relationship with God.
• Now that we’ve talked about the consequences of sin, can you think of any consequences you’ve had to endure because you sinned?
Transition
Remind the children that even though God loves us he doesn’t love it when we disobey. Sin separates us from him and makes him sad. He wants us to do what’s right like Noah and his family did. All sins are bad, but some sins have serious consequences. God wants us to love him so much that we will always obey him. Let’s sing again the song we sang last week that reminds us to be careful to obey.
Song:
O Be Careful, Little Eyes
O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little ears what you hear
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little hands what you do
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little feet where you go
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little mouth what you say
O be careful little mouth what you say
There's a Father up above
And He's looking down in love
So, be careful little mouth what you say
Activity Break: (15 minutes)
Game: Follow Me
Lead kids in this fun game to learn more about God.
*Say: The Bible says that God is light. And God wants us to follow him.
Form pairs. Have partners tie together one of their legs so their duo becomes three-legged. Turn the light off and close the curtains to make the room dark. Have each pair chase the light of a flashlight as you shine it.
After playing this game for a while, have children sit in a circle.
*Ask: How did you help each other follow the light? How can you help each other follow God?
*Say: We can help each other follow God by praying for each other and by coming to church together. Let's pray and ask God to help us follow him.
Wrap Up:
Let children draw and color scenes related to Noah, the Ark, and the flood.
Take Away:
• Go around the room and let each child tell one thing they learned from the story of Noah and the Ark.
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