Intro:
When we read stories or books, the chapters can seem like pieces of a puzzle that the author is putting together for us in order to create the bigger picture. When the puzzle is complete, we understand the full story and can see how all of the pieces were working together to lead us to the overall meaning. Sometimes, it’s easy to see the Bible as a lot of separate stories. But, actually, the Bible is ONE BIG TRUE STORY. We can think of it like a puzzle—all of the pieces work together to tell God’s story. The puzzle we have will help us understand how all of the pieces fit together to explain the big picture of the Bible and it’s recurring theme:
The Bible is the unfolding story of God’s plan to send his son, Jesus Christ, to save the world from the consequences of their sin and restore humans to enjoy a special love relationship with God.
{Teacher Note: Download the Teacher Graphics needed for the following presentation at the link below. Print one copy of each on card stock. Laminate if desired for durability. When presenting, tape graphics to board or wall in sequential L>>R fashion in order to assist students as they learn the progressive storyline order}.
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/13Jwf4lwzKbRwjFj6oy7U5eCetMaij73c
Puzzle Piece 1: God Creates
The very beginning of the Bible tells us the main character of our story puzzle.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
The Bible begins with God and His very good creation of the entire universe. Specifically, God created Adam and Eve perfectly and put them in His perfect place. But, the story isn’t about God’s creation; it’s about God! And God is not only the main character in the story, He is also the author! God is the one who is putting these puzzle pieces together for us so that we can know HIS story.
Puzzle Piece 2: Man Sins
Although God’s creation was very good, the people He created doubted that God knew or wanted what was best for them, and as a result, they did something that would change the course of the world forever.
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:6
Adam and Eve chose to put themselves in charge and disobey God. In other words, they sinned. And this sin not only damaged Adam and Eve’s perfect relationship with the Creator, but it also ushered the consequences of sin into the world for all of us.
Puzzle Piece 3: God Promises
Although sin had messed up God’s perfect creation and humankind’s relationship with Him, God never left his people. Part of God’s plan was to choose Abraham and his family to be the beginning of a very special people. God promised Abraham that through his people, the Israelites, the whole world would learn about God and His plan to make a way for them to have a relationship with Him again. In other words, God made a promise (or covenant) with Abraham to bless him and his descendants.
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-3
Puzzle Piece 4: God Hints
God continued to help His people by giving them ways to have a relationship with Him, such as providing the Law, the tabernacle, the Passover lamb, and the Promised Land. These ideas in the Old Testament all “hint” at a final solution that will be fulfilled in the New Testament. Since God’s people kept trying to do things their own way, they needed a way to be restored to God. They needed a Hero to rescue them.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. Galatians 3:13
Puzzle Piece 5: God Speaks
In the Old Testament, God spoke to His special people through His special messengers, the prophets. These prophets told God’s people about His discipline for their sin, as well as His unfolding plan of hope for their future. Specifically, God spoke through his prophets to inform His people about a coming Savior.
I will might you a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. Isaiah 49:5-6
This brings us to an interesting point in the Bible – the end of the Old Testament. Even though the “puzzle” wasn’t yet complete, the Old Testament ends waiting for the Hero that was to come.
Puzzle Piece 6: Jesus Fulfills
Although God had been putting the pieces of His story puzzle together over thousands of years, when the time was perfect, the Hero that God had promised entered the story as the Savior of the world.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
Jesus was the promised One, the One God’s people were waiting for, and the One the whole earth needed.
• He lived a life of perfect obedience and righteousness that no one else could live.
• He then took the punishment for our disobedience when he died in our place.
• Three days later when he was raised to life, he proved he defeated sin and death for all of us!
Puzzle Piece 7: Jesus Recreates
Jesus’ birth and resurrection were not the end of God’s story. Even though the puzzle seems almost complete, there is still one piece missing. God’s promises aren’t finished yet. Although our sins can be forgiven and our relationship with God can be restored, we still live in a world that is broken by sin.
BUT GOD promises to make everything right—to restore it to the way He created it to be in the beginning.
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13
You see, when Jesus comes back, He will make all things right. Those who trust in Jesus and follow Him with their lives will live with God in heaven for eternity. This is what Revelation 21 is talking about.
Have a student read these verses out loud:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more [. . . .] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4 ESV)
Jesus is the hero of the entire story. Through Him the story of our lives can end where it all began – enjoying a special love relationship with God as we submit to Him. We’ll enjoy that relationship in His presence, in a new heaven and a new earth that will no longer have any pain or death, and we’ll finally stop trying to do things our own way and simply enjoy God both now and for all of eternity.
So now that we’ve added all of the individual pieces of our puzzle, our story puzzle is complete and looks like this:
Remember…
The Bible is the unfolding story of God’s plan to send his son, Jesus Christ, to save the world from the consequences of their sin and restore humans to a special love relationship with Himself.
{Note to Teacher}
Realistic goals for students and their memorization of the Gospel story vary depending on age and ability. Suggestions follow:
Younger Elementary Students: Students will be able to identify the point/title of each graphic, the appropriate order, and the corresponding memory verses.
Older Elementary Students: Students will be able to identify the point of each individual graphic, the appropriate order, share the corresponding content from the script, and recite the memory verse.