Superbook

Lesson:

God's plan for our salvation.

Extras

• Character Profiles

  • Adam

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    Adam

    

    Could you imagine being all alone with the entire beautiful world yours to explore? For a while, that was Adam’s life. Adam was the very first human being, His name means ‘human being’ or ‘mankind’. You can dive deeper into Adam's story here.

    • Bible References

      • Genesis 3:23
      • Genesis 2:7
      • Genesis 2:8
      • Genesis 2:20
      • Romans 5:12
      • 2 Corinthians 5:19

  • Eve

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    Eve

    

    There was a first man, and, you guessed it, there was also a first woman. No helper or companion was suitable for Adam among the creatures God made, so God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam. You can read more about the world's first surgery and about Eve as well here.

    • Bible References

      • Genesis 3:20
      • Genesis 2:22
      • Genesis 2:23
      • Genesis 3:20
      • Romans 5:12
      • 2 Corinthians 5:19

  • The Serpent

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    The Serpent

    

    Talk about a crafty critter, the serpent in the Garden of Eden was quite the manipulative animal. The questions that he asked Eve made her question God's dominion over her and everything around her. You can read more about this sneaky snake here.

    • Bible References

      • Genesis 3:1
      • Genesis 3:1
      • Genesis 3:14-15

  • Abraham

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    Abraham

    

    Abraham lived in the city of Ur (sounds like I’m clearing my throat). God told Abraham that he would become the father of a great nation. Abraham trusted God and was obedient to Him and after 25 years, God’s promise was fulfilled through the birth of Isaac. God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his Isaac - this interaction pointed to how God would provide His only Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Click here to see how Jesus' life and sacrifice can benefit you!

    • Bible References

      • Genesis 15:6
      • 2 Chronicles 20:7
      • James 2:23
      • Hebrews 11:8-19
      • Genesis 23:17-20

  • Sarah

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    Sarah

    

    Abram wasn’t the only person in this story who got a name change. Sarah was Abraham’s wife (Genesis 11:29). Sarah helped her husband show hospitality to the three visitors who came to tell them that they would have a son (Gen 18:6). She later gave birth to her son Isaac when she was 90 years old, 25 years after God’s Promise.

    • Bible References

      • Hebrews 11:11
      • Genesis 11:29
      • Genesis 20:12
      • Genesis 17:15
      • Genesis 18:6
      • Genesis 18:12
      • Genesis 16:1-3
      • Hebrews 11:11
      • Genesis 23:1-2

  • Isaac

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    Isaac

    

    Isaac, whose name means ‘he laughs’ was the only son of Abraham and Sarah. God blessed Isaac and he became a wealthy man. He was a man of peace and when the jealous Philistines filled up his wells, he avoided conflict. Instead of fighting them, he just moved and dug new wells. Isaac died at the age of 180 years, after Jacob had returned with his family from Mesopotamia.

    • Bible References

      • Genesis 26:23-25
      • Genesis 22
      • Genesis 23:1
      • Genesis 24
      • Genesis 26:1
      • Genesis 26:10-11
      • Genesis 26:23-25
      • Genesis 35:27-29

  • Jacob

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    Jacob

    

    Jacob wanted to show his favoritism to Joseph (Genesis:37:3). He presented Joseph with a coat of many colors. This increased sibling rivalry. Because Joseph's brothers hated him, they sold him into slavery. Jacob was grieved for many years. When Jacob sent his sons to Egypt for food, they discovered that Joseph had become the Governor of Egypt. In the end, Jacob's family was restored. Before passing, Jacob blessed each of his sons and their families. Jacob's sons became the leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel (Genesis:49:1-28).

    • Bible References

      • Genesis 35:15
      • Genesis 37:3
      • Genesis 49:1-28
      • Genesis 43:14
      • Genesis 45:28
      • Genesis 25:23
      • Genesis 25:29-34
      • Genesis 32:28
      • Genesis 35:11-12
      • Genesis 37:3-4
      • Genesis 37:34-35
      • Genesis 45:28
      • Genesis 45:18
      • Genesis 46:2-4
      • Genesis 46:30

  • Moses

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    Moses

    

    At God's direction, Moses lead the Israelites out of the slavery they suffered in Egypt. After their dramatic escape through the Red Sea, the real adventure of trusting God's provision started. As the leader of the Israelites, Moses faced many challenges, some of the biggest take place upon his arrival to Mount Sinai.

    • Bible References

      • Exodus 3:12
      • Exodus 16:18-20
      • Exodus 2:1-10
      • Exodus 3:12
      • Exodus 16
      • Exodus 18
      • Exodus 19:6
      • Exodus 20
      • Numbers 20:1-13
      • Deuteronomy 33:1-29
      • Deuteronomy 34:1-8

  • Ruth

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    Ruth

    

    Ruth was a Moabitess, who married into the Hebrew family of Elimelech and Naomi. Naomi decides that it is time to return to her homeland of Israel and Ruth insists on returning with Naomi.

    • Bible References

      • Ruth 1:16
      • Ruth 1:16
      • Leviticus 25:25
      • Deuteronomy 25:5
      • Ruth 4:17

  • Boaz

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    Boaz

    

    Boaz was related to Naomi and he ended up marrying Ruth.

    • Bible References

      • Ruth 4:9
      • Ruth 4:5
      • Matthew 1:5
      • Ruth 2:4

  • David (Adult)

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    David (Adult)

    

    David was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons. During his life, he was a shepherd, musician, poet, soldier and king. He was a pretty busy fellow, for real. When Saul was rejected as King of Israel by God for his rebellion and disobedience, Samuel was sent to anoint the young boy, David, to eventually replace Saul. David did not actually take the throne and serve as king until later. In the meantime, David remained a shepherd and also began to serve King Saul. David played his harp and the music helped to calm the troubled ruler when he was tormented by an evil spirit. David also served as the king’s armor bearer (1 Samuel:16:1).

    • Bible References

      • Acts 13:22
      • 1 Samuel 13:14
      • 2 Samuel 7:29

  • Mary (Young)

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    Mary (Young)

    

    Mary was a young, devout Jewish girl, and a descendant of David. She was engaged to Joseph of Nazareth, when she was visited by the angel Gabriel. That's when she learned that she was to be the mother of God’s Son, the Messiah. Could you imagine getting that message? I would freak out. You can find out how Mary responded by clicking here.

    • Bible References

      • Luke 1:38
      • Matthew 1:16
      • Luke 1:46-55
      • Luke 2:35
      • John 19:25-27
      • Acts 1:14

  • Joseph

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    Joseph

    

    Of the people in my database, he is one of my favorites. He didn’t HAVE to be Jesus’ earthly father, but he CHOSE to obey what God said. He was a descendant of David and the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He was a man of integrity who held strong beliefs and always tried to do what is right. Learn more about Joseph and The First Christmas story here.

    • Bible References

      • Matthew 1:24
      • Matthew 1:16
      • Luke 3:23
      • Matthew 2:21
      • Luke 4:22
      • John 1:45
      • John 6:42
      • Matthew 13:55
      • Mark 6:3
      • Matthew 13:55
      • Mark 6:3

  • Gabriel

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    Gabriel

    

    Whoa. Gabriel is an awesome angel. His name means “strong man of God” or “God is my warrior”. He is one of only two angels named in the Bible - the other is Michael. Gabriel appears in both the Old and New Testaments and he is mentioned four times in the Bible; each time he brings an amazing message from God. You can dive deeper into the Christmas story here.

    • Bible References

      • Luke 1:19
      • Daniel 8:15-16
      • Daniel 9:21-22
      • Daniel 10:18
      • Luke 1:19
      • Daniel 8:18
      • Daniel 9:23
      • Daniel 10:19
      • Luke 1:19
      • Luke 1:28
      • Luke 1:20
      • Luke 1:13
      • Luke 2:10

  • Baby Jesus

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    Baby Jesus

    

    There is no man, woman, or child who has ever lived that is more important than Jesus. Jesus is the human-divine Son of God born of the Virgin Mary. When Jesus was born, God’s promise of a Savior was fulfilled. You can dive deeper into the Christmas story here. If you'd like to know Jesus as your Savior, check this out!

    • Bible References

      • John 14:6
      • John 1:45
      • Luke 2:41-52
      • Matthew 3:13-17
      • John 19:20
      • Acts 1:6-11
      • 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
      • Romans 5:11
      • Genesis 3:15
      • Isaiah 7:14
      • Mark 14:61-62
      • Mark 2:10
      • Acts 7:56
      • Mark 1:11
      • John 1:1-18
      • John 6:69
      • 1 Corinthians 12:3
      • John 20:28
      • John 14:3
      • Acts 1:8-11

• Adventure Guide

  • 

    Gizmo's Bible Adventures - Your New Journey with God

  • 

    The Promise of a Child - Family Discussion Guide

• Q & A

  • Did sin forever destroy God's dream for the world and His people?

    God’s dream was for us to live in a garden where we wouldn't have to work. Do you think God was caught off guard when Adam and Eve sinned? Absolutely not: sin messed everything up, but God already had a plan to bring people back to Him! Throughout history, He has unfolded that plan to restore His dream. In Genesis 3:15, God tells the Serpent (Satan): “And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike His heel.”
    
    Have you ever watched a game or a contest where it seemed like a person or team was going to be defeated—but the outcome was totally different? This is what it must have looked like as God’s plan took shape. In this verse, the word hostile means to oppose something, to be unfriendly, or to be enemies. God is saying that Eve’s children and their descendants (offspring) will be enemies of the serpent—Satan, the devil. This verse is a signpost pointing to Jesus—the promised child! This verse is a prophecy that Jesus would be victorious over the devil and it all began with His promise in the Garden of Eden. Someday Satan will be struck in the head and lose the battle!
    
    Years later, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to inform Mary that she would supernaturally become pregnant and give birth to a baby boy; not just any baby—God’s Son, the promised Savior of the world! “The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35; Luke 1:30-33).
    
    God promised a child in the garden and the promise remained until God’s perfect timing revealed it to the world. Galatians 4:4 says: “But when the right time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.” Through an angel God’s glorious plan was revealed to Mary; through angels, the miraculous birth of the promised child was proclaimed! (Luke 2:8-14).
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • Genesis 3:15

  • Because sin entered the world, do we need to fear death?

    Sin entered into the world through Adam and Eve when they sinned. Instead of giving up on them, God provided animal skins as a covering for their sins. (Genesis 3:21). This was the first instance of God providing a sacrificial way to cover human’s sin. Throughout the Old Testament, blood sacrifices covered but did not erase the sin. God’s judgement was not satisfied. This is true for all sacrifices to cover human sins. Jesus, the promised child, the Savior of the world changed everything on the cross. (Hebrews 10:1-18). He died to defeat Satan and conquer sin and death for us! Paul praised God for Jesus’ selfless act of love in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57: “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
    
    He later writes in Hebrews 2:14–15: “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”
    
    The Apostle Paul was not finished on this subject! In Romans 16:20, he says: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” Note that before God came to the rescue, Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame and guilt with fig leaves. (Genesis 3:7). No matter how we attempt to cover our sins it falls short of satisfying God's requirements. Whether it is in the form of good deeds, giving, or service in the church; It’s simply unacceptable to God. There is no man-made solution to sin. We must be forgiven and cleansed by Jesus’ blood. (1 John 1:9). Through Christ we have the ultimate victory over Satan. Galatians 1:4 says: “Jesus gave His life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.” Colossians 1:13 says, “For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.” We are not left hanging or in limbo. The victory is complete; through the promised child Jesus, we are now part of God’s glorious Kingdom and no one can remove us!
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • Genesis 3:21

  • Will God fulfill all of His promises today?

    God promised a child in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:14-15). That promise was fulfilled with the birth of Christ. (Luke 2:1-36). This wasn’t the only promise God made. His promises are throughout the Bible and none have expired! When we read a promise in the Bible, we can count on it and stand on it no matter how much time has passed. Psalm 145:13 says, “For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The LORD always keeps His promises; He is gracious in all He does.” Generation to generation, God is not only willing but also able to do what He declares! Hebrews 10:23 says: “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.” We can fully trust that Jesus will forgive us now and return to Earth for us at the proper time. We can trust Him to keep us for all eternity. Our hope and joy is based on God’s promises in Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says: “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for His glory.”
    
    Every promise we have from God is secure in Christ. What peace and joy we have knowing this. When Elizabeth met with Mary after Gabriel spoke to her about the birth of Jesus, she said: “You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said.” (Luke 1:45).
    
    When we trust in what God has promised, we are blessed! In Romans 4:21, the Apostle Paul said about Abraham: “He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises.” As impossible as things seemed for Abraham to have a child in his old age, He believed God would do as He promised. The man (Jesus) who visited Abraham said: “Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” (Genesis 18:14). Isaac was indeed born at the appointed time. God is faithful to keep His promises; all we must do is believe!
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 2 Corinthians 1:20

  • Does Satan always appear in the same form so that I can be ready for his tricks and temptations?

    Satan appeared as a serpent in the garden to Eve. But, that is only one of many forms or disguises He uses. The world has crafted a picture of the devil in a red suit with horns and carrying a pitchfork. Because of this image, we can always know when he is near so we can be on alert for his tricks, traps and temptations, right? Wrong! He is not limited to any physical shape or image. Satan is crafty; he fashions himself into many forms and most effectively influences and works through other people.
    
    We see an example of this in the Bible when Peter tries to rebuke Jesus for telling His disciples that He will suffer and die on the cross. Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to Me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” (Matthew 16:23) Peter was not thinking as He should. Satan had influenced his mind and Peter became a source of temptation to lure Jesus away from God’s plan and will. Satan very creatively and effectively will often use people we least expect to lead us down the wrong path and into disobedience of God’s Word and will. We are caught with our guard down, often without warning. That is why we are warned in 1 Peter 5:8: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” The verse doesn’t say that he is a lion, or even appears as a lion; he prowls around like one. He is hungry and watching for those who are unprepared or careless, making them vulnerable in a moment of weakness. So, it won't do us any good to be on the lookout for a hungry lion or a little horned man in a red suit.
    
    Satan appeared as a Serpent in the garden and talked to Eve. He deceived her by twisting God’s Word. Satan asked if God really said they could not eat fruit from all the trees in the garden. Eve corrected him saying that they could eat from all but the tree in the middle of the garden. Satan knows God’s Word inside out. He will twist and manipulate it to confuse and deceive us. We must know God’s Word and what is accurate and true. The Bible in this passage describes the serpent as shrewd, sneaky, or crafty. We must be on the lookout for his traps! (Genesis 3:1-4). The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:14: But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” The devil twists scripture; he knows it and appears to be speaking or leading us into truth but, in reality, he is leading us down a harmful path away from God and into sin. Satan told Eve that she would NOT die if she ate the fruit. This was a lie! God clearly warned Adam that they would surely die if they ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:17).
    
    The Bible calls Satan the father of lies and that there is no truth in him! (John 8:44).
    Yes, the devil comes in many ways and in many forms to tempt and trick us into disobedience. It is up to us to be alert and ask the Holy Spirit to help us stand strong. The Spirit in us is greater than the spirit who lives in the world! (1 John 4:4).
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 2 Corinthians 11:14

  • Does God still inspire us with creativity and ideas?

    It happens, there are times we just can't come up with a fresh, creative idea. It seems like every idea we have has been previously used and even overused. Maybe we are struggling with a solution to a problem but are out of ideas; God can help!
    
    Chris experienced writer’s block as he was under pressure to come up with a new song for the youth Christmas service. Superbook swooped in to give Chris the inspiration he was looking for.
    
    God doesn’t change, what He did in the Bible, He will do again for us as we patiently “lean” on Him. (Proverbs 3:5).
    
    God is the Creator. He created the universe, our world and everything in it. He made all things from NOTHING. Now that is creativity! He is the one who will inspire us and empower us to do great things when we ask! (Nehemiah 9:6, Revelation 4:11; Isaiah 45:18; Genesis 1:1-25).
    
    God inspires us by His Spirit to reveal even the deep things of God! (1 Corinthians 2:10). His Spirit teaches us to pray when we don’t know what to pray. When our minds are blank He will lead us to pray in a way that is pleasing to God and in agreement with His will. (Romans 8:26).
    
    In the book of Daniel, all of the king’s wise men could not tell the king what he had dreamed or the interpretation of it. Daniel prayed and asked God to reveal this secret thing to him. God answered Daniel’s prayer and told him what only the king could know. (Daniel 2: 1-23). Daniel took no credit for this; He knew he was helpless in his own wisdom and power. He glorified God for His divine inspiration. “Daniel replied, “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed. “While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen. And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.” (Daniel 2: 27-30).
    
    Like Daniel’s humble example, we must always remember to give God the credit for His inspiration!
    
    The Holy Spirit inspires us with the proper words to speak at the right time. (Luke 12:12; Matthew 10:19).
    
    The Bible is filled with examples of God inspiring His prophets with the Words to speak when they were paralyzed with fear. Moses was terrified to go before Pharaoh and demand that God’s people were set free. (Exodus 4:11-12). God called His young prophet Jeremiah to speak to kings and nations saying: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.” (Jeremiah 1:9).
    The Holy Spirit inspired ordinary men to write the Bible. Every word is God breathed so it is in total agreement even though several men wrote it over a period of time of more than a thousand years! Each Word came from God, not man. (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16).
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 2 Peter 1:21