Welcome

• Thank kids for coming.
• Just for fun, have kids shake hands with four friends using the back of their hands.
• Make announcements.
• Introduce new kids.
• Celebrate birthdays by having kids sing the words “happy birthday” like opera singers.
• Collect the offering.

Introduce the Lesson

            Say: Today we’re going to learn that God is creative. He made everything and said it was good.

Share

• Tell kids about something you made that you’re proud of.
• Have kids form pairs. Ask kids to share about something they made that they’re proud of.
• After partners have discussed, ask two or three kids to share with the whole group what they talked about with their partners.

Summarize

            Open a Bible to Genesis 1, and say: Being creative is fun! We all have creativity in us because God is creative and made us in his image. Let’s find out more about what the Bible says about that. The Bible isn’t an ordinary book; it’s God’s special book. The Bible is one way God shows us his heart and how we can reflect him. God is here right now, ready to talk to you. Let’s hear what he has to say as we pray.

            Pray, praising God for his creativity.

Tip 

• Don’t have internet in your classroom? That’s okay! You can choose your own worship songs from our Best Of Dig In Music DVD here.

Sing Songs to God

            Sing the three songs in any order.

Create

            Say: Today we’re going to discover that God is creative. God is so creative that he made the whole world!

            Distribute shapes, trying to give shapes of the same color or pattern to kids of different ages. Then have kids find three other people who are “cut from the same cloth” as they are. That means they’ll find kids with different shapes but the same color or pattern of paper. When they find the three other kids, they’ll form a group of four.

            Assign each group one of the following parts of creation (it’s okay if you don’t cover them all or if you repeat some):

• land and seas (Genesis 1:9-10)
• plants (Genesis 1:11-12)
• sun, moon, and stars (Genesis 1:14-18)
• fish (Genesis 1:20-22)
• birds (Genesis 1:20-22)
• animals (Genesis 1:24-25)

            Give each group a Bible and a bag of objects, and set out craft supplies to share. Say: You’re going to use the items in your bag to make a display of your group’s part of creation. You can also use craft supplies if you want, but you have to use every item in your bag in a creative way. God is creative, so you’re creative, too!  Work with your group, and make sure everyone is involved in creating. Ready? Go!

            Direct kids to read their passages first; then allow about five minutes for groups to make their creations. Then have groups show everyone else what they made.

            Say: Wow, God is creative! He made the skies, the land and seas, and everything in the skies, on the land, and in the sea. That’s amazing! But you know, you were pretty creative when you made your displays. That’s because there’s something very special about the way God made his last creation: people.

            Read Genesis 1:26-27.

            Ask: • What do you think it means to be made in God’s image?

            • What’s something about you that you think reflects who God is? Give your own example first, such as that you love kids and you know God loves people, too, or that you like to garden and that reflects God’s creation of flowers and plants. Have kids each tell a partner, and then ask a few kids to share with the whole group.

            Say: We’re learning that God is creative. And since you were made in his image, you’re creative, too! I got to see a little bit of who God is when I watched you creating your displays.

            I’m so glad I get to see God’s creativity in each of you.

Cut It Out

            Say: We’re made in God’s image, but we’re not God. It’s like when you look at a picture of yourself or look in the mirror. You see someone who looks like you, but it’s not exactly you.

            Being made in God’s image means we can see in ourselves and our friends little human-sized glimpses of what God is like.

            Let’s explore what it means to be made in God’s image. Earlier, you formed groups with people who were “cut from the same cloth” as you. They had different shapes, but I used the same paper to make all the shapes for your group. Being made in God’s image is kind of like that. We’re all cut from the same cloth—God’s image.

            Give each child an “In His Image” handout and a pen. Have kids write their flaws or shortcomings around the edges of the square. Younger kids can scribble to represent that they’re not perfect. Let kids know that no one else will see what they write.

            Then have kids each cut out the shape of a person from the paper, cutting the person only out of the printed square (so it doesn’t include the things they wrote). Older kids will need to help preschoolers.

            Say: Because we’re human—and we’re not God—we all have flaws and shortcomings. But the fact that we’re created in God’s image means that deep down within us, we’re cut from the same cloth as God. We share some of his amazing qualities! Point to one of the words written on your paper person. Pause. Now turn to a partner and tell how you’ve seen that quality in someone else. Pause while partners share. God is creative, and you’re creative!

            Ask: • How does it change the way you think about yourself to know you were made in God’s image?

            • How might it change the way you treat other people when you think about the fact that they’re made in God’s image?

            Have kids throw away the scraps from their handouts, keeping the people.

            Say: The more we get to know God, the more he’ll bring out his image in us. As our friendship with God grows, those things that aren’t a reflection of God get smaller. God can grow his awesome qualities in us! He’ll help us treat others like they were made in his image, too.

            Today we’re going to focus on how God is creative and helps us be creative. But if you keep coming back, we’re going to spend the next year getting to know God better and asking him to shape us more and more into his image.

            Let’s pray about that.

            Pray: Dear God, thank you that you are creative. Thank you that you made us in your image so we’re creative, too! Help us reflect your image more and more all the time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Tips

• This Bible Experience is specifically designed for video calls, pre-recorded videos, or parent-led lessons for a wide age-range of kids.
• If you’re leading this as a video, tell families to pause when you ask questions so they can discuss them. Tell families as you start the video what supplies they’ll need so they can gather them before they begin.
• For additional activities that adapt easily to an at-home setting, click “view” to preview the content of each activity block and choose only those that include a ▲ symbol in the highlighted summary description:
  • Opening
  • Music Video
  • Talk About Video
  • High-Energy Game (using whatever supplies kids have around)
  • Life Application Wrap-Up
  • Take-Home page (for families to do at home)

Create

            Say: Today we’re going to discover that God is creative. God is so creative that he made the whole world! Today we’re going to use creativity to explore what God made.

            You’ll need some random items, so everyone in the family grab one or two items. Anything you want from around the house! You need at least six items, so grab more if you have a small family!

            Allow time for families to gather their props.

           Say: As we explore each part of creation, you have to use at least one of your props to try to recreate or display it. You might have some very random items, so be creative! You can also go get extra supplies if you want, but you have to at least one prop in a creative way each time. God is creative, so you’re creative, too!  Work with your family, and make sure everyone is involved in brainstorming and creating. Ready?

            Read the following passages one at a time, allowing time (or having families pause the video) after each one for families to make creative displays. (If you’re teaching via live video call, have families show off their displays!)

• land and seas (Genesis 1:9-10)
• plants (Genesis 1:11-12)
• sun, moon, and stars (Genesis 1:14-18)
• fish (Genesis 1:20-22)
• birds (Genesis 1:20-22)
• animals (Genesis 1:24-25)

            Say: Wow, God is creative! He made the skies, the land and seas, and everything in the skies, on the land, and in the sea. That’s amazing! But you know, you were pretty creative when you made your displays. That’s because there’s something very special about the way God made his last creation: people.

            Read Genesis 1:26-27.

            Ask: • What do you think it means to be made in God’s image?

            • What’s something about you that you think reflects who God is? Give your own example first, such as that you love kids and you know God loves people, too, or that you like to garden and that reflects God’s creation of flowers and plants.

            Say: We’re learning that God is creative. And since you were made in his image, you’re creative, too! I got to see a little bit of who God is when I watched you creating your displays.

            I’m so glad I get to see God’s creativity in each of you.

Cut It Out

            Say: We’re made in God’s image, but we’re not God. It’s like when you look at a picture of yourself or look in the mirror. You see someone who looks like you, but it’s not exactly you.

            Being made in God’s image means we can see in ourselves and our friends little human-sized glimpses of what God is like.

            Let’s explore what it means to be made in God’s image. Sometimes when two people are similar, people say they’re “cut from the same cloth.” If you think about God as the cloth, we’re all cut from the same cloth. Being made in God’s image is kind of like that. We’re all cut from the same cloth—God’s image.

            To show you what I mean, you’ll need a piece of paper, markers or crayons, and scissors.

            First, draw a square in the middle of your paper. You should have space to write in the square, and around it. Pause.

            Say: Now, let’s think of words that describe God and write them inside the square. If you don’t know how to write, have a grown-up help write your words. I’ll call out some words, but you can add your family’s ideas, too.

            Share some ideas:

• creative
• giving
• hopeful
• bold
• welcoming
• comforting
• selfless
• strong
• wise
• humble
• friend
• kind
• loyal
• joyful

            Say: Awesome! What an amazing God we have! Now, we all have some flaws or shortcomings. Write those outside the square. Again, a grown-up can help if you need to. Or, you can just draw scribbles to show that you have flaws. Allow time.

            Then have each person cut out the shape of a person from the paper, cutting the person only out of the printed square (so it doesn’t include the flaws they wrote). Grown-ups will need to help preschoolers.

            Say: Because we’re human—and we’re not God—we all have flaws and shortcomings. But the fact that we’re created in God’s image means that deep down within us, we’re cut from the same cloth as God. We share some of his amazing qualities! Point to one of the words written on your paper person. Pause. Now turn to a partner and tell how you’ve seen that quality in someone else. Pause while partners share. God is creative, and you’re creative!

            Ask: • How does it change the way you think about yourself to know you were made in God’s image?

            • How might it change the way you treat other people when you think about the fact that they’re made in God’s image?

            Have kids throw away the scraps from their papers, keeping the people.

            Say: The more we get to know God, the more he’ll bring out his image in us. As our friendship with God grows, those things that aren’t a reflection of God get smaller. God can grow his awesome qualities in us! He’ll help us treat others like they were made in his image, too.

            Today we’re going to focus on how God is creative and helps us be creative. But if you keep coming back, we’re going to spend the next year getting to know God better and asking him to shape us more and more into his image.

            Let’s pray about that.

            Pray: Dear God, thank you that you are creative. Thank you that you made us in your image so we’re creative, too! Help us reflect your image more and more all the time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Tip:

• Don’t have internet in your classroom? That’s okay! You can download the videos before class using the “download” button at the link provided, or purchase DVDs here.

Discuss and Watch “Dominic’s Story”

            Say: Today we’re learning that God is creative. God made us, and he did a great job of it! God made us to be creative, too. That means we can make great and exciting things.

            Tell about something you make that you think is great or exciting.

            Ask: • What’s something you like to make that you think is great?

            Say: Let’s meet a boy who loves making things, and he likes to use his talents to share about God’s love.

            Watch “Dominic’s Story.”

            Ask: • What was the coolest thing you saw Dominic make?

            • Dominic liked to use his creativity, or ability to make things, to share about God’s love. What can you make to share God’s love?

            Say: Dominic loves using his creativity. Whenever Dominic creates something, it shows that he was made by God because God is so creative. We can be creative, too, because God made us that way!

Not available for this age level.

Play a Song

            Ask: • Have you ever played an instrument? What did you play?

            Say: I’ve brought unusual instruments for us to play today. Show kids the rulers. Did you know that rulers can sing? Well, they can with your creative help!

• Demonstrate first by placing a ruler on the edge of a table or seat of a chair. Hold the ruler firmly to the table about 2 inches from the edge of the table with several inches hanging over the edge of the table.
• With your other hand, push down on the end of the ruler that’s hanging over the table, and then release the ruler. It’ll cause a vibration and make a sound.

• Slide the ruler forward or backward, and then press and release it again. You’ll notice that this time, the pitch is higher if you move the ruler forward and lower if you move it back.
• Use the inch or centimeter markings to find different notes as you demonstrate.
• Form mixed-age pairs and give each pair a ruler.
• Invite kids to experiment and try to make the rulers play different notes. They can even try to play simple songs they know like “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” “Hot Cross Buns,” or “Are You Sleeping?”

Make Up a Song

Say: It’s fun to try to play songs we know. But now let’s create new ones! I’ll give you three minutes to create a song; then you’ll have a chance to play it for all of us.

• Have kids make up songs with their rulers. If they’d like, they can mark the rulers with dry-erase markers to help them remember where to move the rulers for each note.
• After three minutes, ask for willing kids who’d like to play their songs for the group. Lead kids in clapping and cheering for their friends after they play.

Talk About It

            Say: God created the world from nothing, but we used rulers to create our songs. We used our creativity to create something new. God is creative. We see his creativity in nature, and we can hear it, too!

            Ask: • Tell about a time you heard God’s creativity. Share an example from your own life to begin. Perhaps it was a bird tweeting when you were going for a walk or a person singing at your church.

            Say: We hear God’s musical creativity when birds sing, but we also hear it through the people God made. We hear God’s creativity through songs that composers wrote a long time ago or songs that our favorite musicians make today. God is creative, and he’s created us to make beautiful things, too—including music.

Examine

            Set out the can of corn and the five items from the list provided.

            Say: There’s something all these items have in common. Your job is to put on your detective hats, examine the items, and determine what they have in common.

            Allow several minutes for kids to study the items and hypothesize in mixed-age groups. Then ask for some theories. It’s unlikely anyone will figure it out.

            Say: The answer will surprise you. All these items have corn as an ingredient!

            Ask: • Which item is hardest to believe comes from corn?

            • Which is easiest to believe?

            Hold up the can of corn. Say: Before you knew the answer to our riddle, if I’d asked you what this was made of, you would’ve said corn.

            Hold up one of the items kids found hardest to believe. Say: But this…this just doesn’t seem like it’s made of corn, does it? All these things look different and perform different functions. Even though they’re all made of corn, you shouldn’t eat any of them for dinner…besides the canned corn! And yet, even though they’re all different, they’re all made with one of the same ingredients.

            We’re learning that God is creative and that we’re made in his image. But if we’re all made in his image, why are we all different? We look different on the outside, and our personalities are really different! Let’s dig in and see how God is like an ingredient in each of us.

Run a Race

            Say: We’re going to have a race. Your goal is to be the first one across the room and back. But you have to choose whether you’ll use your right leg but no left leg or arms, your left leg but no right leg or arms, or your arms but no legs.

            Have kids line up along one side of the room, and then start the race. As kids finish (or find it impossible), gather them back together.

            Ask: • Why was it hard to run a race using just one leg or only your arms?

            • Suppose you had to choose whether to keep your eyes, ears, hands, or feet. Which would you choose?

            • What would you not be able to do when you lost the other three parts?

            Say: The Bible talks about this very issue: Is one part of the body more important than others? It’s the idea that God is too big to fit his whole image into one person. So we each are like different parts of a body, called the body of Christ. We each show a different part of who God is so that together, we can see a fuller picture of God. Let’s look at the Bible verses that talk about that.

Dig Deeper

            Say: As I read, I need your help demonstrating it in a Hokey Pokey kind of way. Every time I name a body part, stick out that part of your body. And if I say “body,” jump your whole body forward! (Kids will need a lot of space to jump forward.)

            Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-21 and 27-30.

            Ask: • According to these passages, why do you think God made us all different?

            Say: Your hand is a part of you. But it doesn’t show all of you! In the same way, every one of us is an important part that makes up the body of Christ, which reflects God’s image. And that doesn’t mean we each look like God on the outside. It means our hearts each reflect a different part of who God is.

Reflect Light

            Say: Let’s see one more example of how we each reflect a different part of God.

• Have kids form mixed-age pairs.
• Give each pair a CD and a flashlight. (If needed, pairs can take turns with the flashlights.)
• Turn off the lights.
• Have the younger partner shine the flashlight on the bottom of the CD, while the older partner angles the CD to reflect the light on the wall or floor. It should create a rainbow.

            Ask: • What did you notice about the light you reflected?

            Say: Light is made up of different colors. We can see that when the sun shines through the rain and makes a rainbow. And we saw it when you reflected light off your CD. Every color reflects a different part of the light. But if we had only one of those colors, we wouldn’t see the full aspect of light!

            Ask: • How does that remind you of the way God made us all different?

            Say: God made us all different, like the different colors. When we come together, our hearts can reflect what God is like because we’re made in his image. And God is creative, so our creativity is one way to reflect his image.

Tips

• The game supplies listed are suggestions. Feel free to use whatever you have at your church, but offer a wide variety for kids to choose from for creating their own game.
• You can purchase downloadable music and other items to enhance your DIG IN program here.

Create and Play an Original Game

            Say: We’re learning that God created our world and everything in it. When you look around, it’s easy to see that God is creative! God made us in his image, and that means God put some creativity in us, too. For this game, you get to use your creativity as you make up the rules and then play!

• Help kids brainstorm and create their new game by
  • choosing a game they already know to be the “backbone” of their new game. They can creatively change the familiar game into something new and high-energy. Give ideas such as Tag, Hopscotch, volleyball, soccer, card sorting, or jump-rope games.
  • combining two well-known games into one, such as adding a Tag element to soccer or jump-rope blended into Hopscotch.
  • letting older kids take the lead and think of ways to incorporate some of the younger kids’ ideas.
• Allow a few minutes for kids to nail down the rules of their game, decide on what game supplies they’ll need from the mix, and form teams (if necessary).
• Give a signal to start the game, and allow kids to play their own game, making any tweaks they’d like to make after each round.
• If you’d like, play upbeat music while kids play.

Talk About It

            Ask: • What was fun about creating a game?

            • What do you think worked best in the game?

            • What do you like about using the creativity God gave you?

            Say: The Bible says that as God created our world and looked over all he was making, he kept seeing that “it was good.” God was pleased with his creation. That sounds like God was enjoying creating, maybe even having some fun like you did in creating your own game. God is creative and shared that awesome part of himself with us, so we’re creative, too!

Tip

• You can purchase downloadable music and other items to enhance your DIG IN program here.

Play a Version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey

            Say: We’ve learned about how God made the world and all of us. Even just looking around this room and seeing all the different faces God has made makes it easy to see that God isn’t just any creator—God is creative! In our next game, you’ll get to be creative, too.

• Form mixed-age teams of three, and have each team gather by a set of facial features on the floor.
• Have kids take turns choosing a facial feature and making a tape loop to place on the back of the piece.
• When a facial feature is ready, a child will close his or her eyes, spin quickly three times, and try to put the piece on the face outline. (Younger kids may be tempted to peek, so it may work best to use blindfolds.)
• Team members can call out to guide their friend as he or she goes toward the face outline to place the facial feature.
• Teams are done when their faces each have two eyes, eyebrows, ears, a mouth, and a nose.
• Give a signal to start the game. If you’d like, play upbeat music while kids play.
• For a silly second round, have kids choose their facial features with eyes closed to see what the faces look like at the end.

Talk About It

            Ask: • Even though everyone was working with facial features that looked the same, why did the faces end up looking different?

            • What do you think the world would be like if we were all exactly the same?

            • What’s something you like about the way God made you? Share an example of your own—it can be a physical attribute, such as your eye color, or something about your personality, such as a kind heart.

            Say: We all have eyes, ears, things we’re good at, things we like—but all those things are different for each person. You’re all one-of-a-kind proof that God is creative, and you showed in our game that you’re creative, too!

Make Mirror Frames

            Say: God is creative, so you’re creative! Let’s use our creativity!

            Show kids the sample craft you made. Set out supplies to share, and have kids follow these instructions to make mirror frames.

• Cut a large rectangle out of cardboard or card stock. (It should be slightly bigger than your face.)
• Cut out the inside of the rectangle, leaving a roughly 1-inch frame.
• Cover the frame with fun colors and patterns of duct tape. (Younger kids will need help tearing duct tape, so leaders can rip several pieces and hang them from the table for kids to use.)
• Add stickers, gems, and other decorations.
• Somewhere on the frame, write “Masterpiece.”

Take Selfies

            Read Ephesians 2:10. Say: When you get home, you can tape this frame on your mirror. Whenever you look at your reflection, the frame can be a reminder that God is creative and he showed his creativity in how he made you—his masterpiece!

• Have kids take turns holding their frames up to a mirror and looking at their reflections.
• Alternatively, the frames can be used for fun selfies! Kids can hold their frames in front of their faces and take group selfies.

Talk About It

            Ask: • What did you do to make your frame creative?

            • What’s something creative about the way God made you?

            Say: God is creative, and he’s so creative that he made each of us different! But even though we’re all different, we’re all his masterpieces. That’s because we’re made in his image. Thanks for using your God-given creativity to make such fun frames!

            Have kids take their frames home and hang them on their mirrors or use them for selfies with friends and family as a reminder that God is creative and made them creatively.

Make Prayers

• Set out craft supplies.
• Tell kids to think of something about themselves they want to thank God for. For example, “I’m thankful God made me good at encouraging other people.”
• Encourage kids to use the supplies and be creative in making items that reflect their thanks.
• It’s okay if younger kids’ supplies don’t resemble anything you can recognize.

Pray

            Have kids hold up their craft prayers as an offering to God.

            Pray: Dear God, thank you that you are creative. We’re so glad you made us creatively…and you made us in your image! Thank you for all the wonderful ways you made us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

            Thank kids for coming, and encourage them to come back next week.

            Distribute a copy of the “Dig In @ Home” handout to kids as they leave, or email it to parents during the week.