Image: The Ark Passes Over the Jordan (cropped), James Tissot, c. 1896-1902, Public Domain
Every once in a while, my adult kids will share some far-fetched idea they had as a tween about the way the world works, or about what something in the Bible means. Some of their childish outlooks on life are pretty funny. Funny-strange, not funny-ha-ha (though sometimes they are humorous). My first thought is always that I had no idea!
One strange idea that I’ve noticed kids sometimes have is that God created a perfect world with perfect people, and then he was surprised by their sin. Sometimes tweens think God was left scrambling for a plan of salvation. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Bible Investigators: Creation is a puzzle-based Bible study for 8-12 year olds that will teach your kids about God’s plan of salvation in the context of the doctrine of Creation. In fact, your kids will learn all about Creation in six fun units.
What is God’s Plan of Salvation?
The Bible begins by telling us about God’s Creation of the earth and his people. Then, it outlines his good gifts for humanity–the Creation mandate and Creation ordinances. Right after that, we read about the Fall, when Adam and Eve sinned and broke their relationship with God as a result.
The introduction of sin to our world was not a surprise to God. In fact, he had a plan for our salvation all along.
In Section 6 of Bible Investigators: Creation, your kids will learn about God’s great plan for salvation.
1) To Disobey God Is to Sin
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” – Genesis 2:16-17, ESV
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” – John 14:15, ESV
First, your kids will remember what they learned from section four: that God is good, holy, and perfect, and what they have learned about the greatest commandments, which are to love God and love our neighbors. They will remember that breaking either of God’s two rules for us is sin–and sin separates us from God. Your Bible investigators will uncover how sin entered the world, and discover the difference between physical and spiritual death. Your children will also learn about the tree of life, and learn about the new Jerusalem.
2) Adam and Eve Sinned–And So Have I
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. – Genesis 3:1-7, ESV
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… – Romans 3:23, ESV
Your kids will explore the mystery of serpents, pre-Fall. Then, they will learn what it means to twist God’s Word. Adam and Eve believed a lie, and then they lied to hide their own sin. We, also, rebel against God when we break his Law. Just like Adam and Eve, we cannot hide from God, and our sin has dire consequences. Your kids will uncover clues in Scripture that will help them consider the reality of sin. They will study the Ten Commandments and the greatest commandments. And, they will be encouraged to turn to Jesus in belief and repentance.
3) Jesus Paid for Our Sin
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:4-9, ESV
Your kids will consider God’s role as the holy and just Judge, and they’ll learn that Jesus was our substitute–he paid the penalty for our sin. They will uncover clues in the Bible about how and why God the Son paid the penalty for the sins of his people. Your Bible investigators will also take a look at some important salvation vocabulary, and will be encouraged again to ask God to help them believe in Jesus, confess their belief, and repent of their sin.
4) Believe in Jesus and Confess Belief
…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. – Romans 10:9-10, ESV
In this last of the 30 lessons in Bible Investigators: Creation, your kids will learn about passages in the Bible that speak about the cross, forgiveness, and salvation. They will uncover what it means to have faith in Jesus, and discover what to do if they have questions. They’ll learn some very important theological vocabulary related to salvation. Then, they’ll wrap up their study on the doctrine of Creation with reminders about what they’ve learned in their Bible study, and a recap of what it means to be a faithful Bible investigator!
Each section, or unit, of Bible Investigators: Creation has four to six lessons, each with teaching, notebooking boxes, and three Bible verse puzzles. The book makes a great six-week unit study on the doctrine of Creation!
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Puzzle-Based Independent Bible Study for Kids!
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2, ESV
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- Observe: They pay attention to what they’re reading.
- Interpret: They figure out what the Bible means in that section.
- Apply: They decide how the truth of God’s Word impacts their life today.
There are a great many truths in life to be found—some interesting, some boring, and some that really matter. You can be the kind of investigator who spends time puzzling out important truth so that you can know all the knowable knowledge that God has given us. That’s right. God, the Creator of the Universe, gave you a great big letter from him to explore and study so that you can discover the truths that really matter to your life!”
Bible Investigators: Creation, (The Good Book Company, 2024), page 7
The Bible Investigators: Creation Bible study for kids, written by Danika Cooley and published by The Good Book Company, is 272-pages of learning, puzzles, and fun activities designed to help your kids become amazing independent Bible investigators–observing, interpreting, and applying God’s Word as they learn what the Bible teaches on a particular subject.
Bible Puzzles for Kids
Middle grade kids, aged 8-12, love puzzles. After all, their brains are just built for figuring things out and memorizing facts. Puzzles are a wonderful way to help kids develop logic skills and retain important information. And, the book is written in a fun, conversational tone your children are sure to love!
What types of puzzles and activities will you find in Bible Investigators?
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- Word Searches
- Crosswords
- Rebus Puzzles
- Dot-to-Dots
- Logic Puzzles
- Missing Letter Puzzles
- Cryptograms
- Word Sudoku
- Mazes
- How-to-Draw Pages
- Matching Pairs
- Word Scrambles
- Journal Pages
Every child is sure to find activities they’ll love!
Elementary-aged kids need hands-on middle grade resources that engage them and equip them to process important truths.
Bible Investigators is the perfect resource to teach your kids about an important biblical doctrine, while helping them apply God’s Word to their lives today.
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