We can easily convince ourselves that our plans are better than God’s plans. When we blindly turn away from what God has instructed, we separate ourselves from God and hurt our relationship with him. That’s what Adam and Eve did, and sin entered the world through their choice to disobey God. This lesson will help teenagers discover how God’s good creation was tarnished by sin—and how our choices determine how well we can resist temptation.
Lesson Objectives
- WHAT: When Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s instruction, sin entered in the world and humanity was separated from God.
- WHY: Teenagers face all kinds of temptation, but Jesus wants to help them make wise choices and avoid Satan’s traps.
- HOW: Students can recognize that there are consequences for their choices—and that trusting in God’s plans will always be the best way.
Primary Scripture: Genesis 3:1-13
Secondary Scriptures: James 1:12-15
Today’s Scripture is almost like watching a car wreck in slow motion. Join me as we watch Adam and Eve totally wreck this “very good” thing God had created.
1. Giving in to temptation is a choice
Imagine that your biggest temptation is pepperoni pizza. Why would you have a tough time resisting that temptation if you hung out in pizzerias every day?
The Bible doesn’t say if that was the first time Eve had gone close to the tree she was supposed to avoid—do you think it was the first time? Why or why not?
How can a series of small choices put you in the position where you’re too weak to resist temptation? Share an example from your life, if you’re willing.
Do you believe temptation is a sin? Why or why not?
As Eve listened to the serpent, she was convinced. The tree was beautiful. The fruit was delicious. She wanted it. She weighed her option of eating it or not eating it, and she chose to sink her teeth into the very fruit God had instructed her not to eat. The sin wasn’t that she was tempted; the sin was giving in to the temptation. Temptation isn’t a sin—the Bible tells us that even Jesus was tempted. It’s something we all deal with, even after we become followers of Jesus. But we must decide if we will reject and resist the temptation, or give in to it.
2. Our actions are shaped by our trust decisions
Share your definition or description of the word trust?
Tell us about someone you deeply trust—and how that person has earned your trust.
How do you decide which people to trust—and which ones to not trust?
How did the serpent twist the truth in the first few verses of our passage?
How do you know if you really, truly trust Jesus?
Even though God had perfectly shown his love and protection, Adam and Eve chose to put their trust in the crafty serpent—they chose to believe his lie. Satan’s lie was the same lie that he tries to tell you: You can sin and get away with it; consequences do not apply to you; God is withholding good things from you. Adam and Eve both chose to sin and disobey God. And their choice to trust the serpent instead of trusting God resulted in destructive decisions and separation from God.
3. Sin separates us from God’s best
When Adam and Eve’s “eyes were opened,” they felt shame because they were naked. Suddenly, Adam and Eve experienced things they hadn’t dealt with before. They felt shame. Now they were separated from God—and they hid from God.
The serpent tempted Eve by claiming she would “be like God, knowing both good and evil”—what are some ways we try to “be like God,” too?
Why do we sometimes make bad choices when we feel ashamed or embarrassed?
How do we “hide from God” when we feel ashamed?
If you’ve ever been in a situation where you felt like hiding was the best option to avoid consequences, how did that all work out?
Look at verses 8-13. Why do you think God asked Adam and Eve a series of questions to which he already knew the answers?
BGroup Questions
- If you feel trapped in a specific temptation, what are your options—what can you do?
- How do you trust Jesus to help you resist this particular temptation—and other temptations you face?
- Think of someone in your life that you trust enough to honestly share your struggles with—how can that person help you deal with temptation?
TAKE ACTION: Memorize this Scripture this week! “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away” (James 1:14).
**Leaders, leave 3-5 minutes for prayer at the end of your group time.
Youth Small Group Series
To fully understand the story of Scripture, we need to start at the beginning. Genesis gives us that window into God’s loving care for his creation and the freedom he gives his children is abundantly clear from the beginning. But Satan had plans to exploit that freedom and replace it with chains. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection reflect God’s full-circle plan to make things right after sin entered the world. When we approach Scripture and human history as a story, it helps us more clearly grasp what God has done and what God is doing today. This series will focus on God’s originally perfect plan, how humanity went off course, and how God is making things right again.
