Character of God - Eternal

CHARACTER OF GOD - HE IS ETERNAL On white board, write out the answers below, leaving out multiple letters so kids can see them when they come in. Beginning with 3rd Graders, invite kids to answer what the word is, and kids loved coming forward and writing in the missing letters with the markers! We’ve been talking since we came back from Christmas about the answers you’ve learned to the question Who is God? Last week Ms. Valerie talked about God being the Creator. He is YOUR creator too. You learned other answers to Who is God: (here I used the eternity symbol – no letters )Eternal just holy everywhere all-powerful three Persons in One love Today we’re going to think more about what it means that God is eternal. But first, let’s talk about this word eternal. Let me use it in a sentence, and let’s see what you think the word means: The first day of summer vacation, Jason said – I wish summer vacation never ended I wish it was eternal! Okay – what do you think Jason meant? Another word for eternal is ever-lasting. Or, we could say lasts forever. If your AWANA book teaches you that God is eternal or everlasting, do we believe the book or should we do some digging? I need some helpers to find some places in the Bible where God tells us about this. (have children read passages) So here on the white board, I’ve divided the board into 2 parts. You can see this long line that has a dot at the beginning and a dot at the end. I’m going to write on this side “has a beginning and an end” On the other side, I have a circle, and I’m going to write the words “has NO beginning and No end”. Objects: Rock Plastic flower CD Wooden bowl Driver’s License God You and I and all that we have around us are a part of time. That’s what it means to be “finite”. If God created time, then he is outside of time, and doesn’t get old, can be present in all times at the same time! Perhaps for some of you, it would be helpful to think of God (the eternal circle) as surrounding the line as God is all around time. But what difference does it make that God is everlasting? • He doesn’t get old and worn out • He sees the beginning from the end – I can trust Him to do the best for me • God was not created – He created everything else! • God will never die so we don’t have to be afraid of anything • God is bigger than time, so when he tells us not to be anxious, he knows in the end, it will be okay • We have hope of living with God eternally.