Lesson: God made YOU special! Genesis 1:26-27

God made everything…that’s a basic and simple principle that most of us likely recognize and appreciate already. It is also a theme that students learn early on in Bible studies. However, sometimes we become complacent for these details and take for granted how unique and special each creature is…including and especially people! As God’s unique and wonderful creations, we have special and critical responsibilities. This lesson explores the creation and unique aspects of human beings, and how we as people are precious to God.
Lesson focus: God made people extra special; we are His crowning creation and are made to love and serve our master creator.
Passage: Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 2:7, 18-25; Psalm 139
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th Grade (adaptable older or younger)
Materials Needed: Post-it notes, ink pads, card stock paper; pipe cleaners; balloons and decorative materials.
Optional: Adam and Eve Coloring Page and Days of Creation Coloring Book
Lesson Opening: Who am I? Begin the lesson by writing the names of several different animals on post-it notes. Put an animal on each student’s back without them seeing it. Then, have children walk around to try to figure out what animal they have. Here’s the catch: there is no talking allowed in this game. Students are to shrug at another to ask what animal they have. The responder can act out the animal or make its noise, but the guesser can only speak to make an educated guess at what creature they have. Once they have figured out their animal, students are to act like it around the room. This one can get noisy!
Note: for younger students who may not be able to read, take turns playing charades or pictionary, whispering the animal into each kid’s ear for them to draw or act out.
Discuss with children what was strange or challenging about that game. What makes humans so very unique and different from animals? For one thing, we can speak! It’s much easier to communicate when we can use our words. But that isn’t the only thing God gave us that makes us special. He created us in very amazing and wonderful ways.

“God Made You Special” Bible Lesson

After the animal game, have children brainstorm ways that people are unique. Discuss characteristics that make us special, as well as how we are each unique. Reflect on the story of creation and how God made everything around us. He saved the very best thing for last when He made people:
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” -Genesis 1:26-28

What do we see here? God made us special because He modeled us after HIM! No other animal is like that. God put people in charge of everything else on earth. Note that this means we need to take care of those other things. But it also means everyone is made after God. Think of your least favorite person (everyone has one, unfortunately…). If you could, does it sound fun to do something unkind to that person? Well, they are made after God, too! We are literally inspired by God:

Then the Lord God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. -Genesis 2:7

Mankind is a direct result of God– His own air and desire. God took plain old dirt and made a person! But one person wasn’t quite enough…

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs[g] and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. -Genesis 2:18-22

God put people in charge of animals and even let Adam name them. But we need more than just pets, so God gave Adam a companion. God created us to need other people. Whether it’s a spouse or just a friend, we are wired to depend on one another.
And guess what else is neat? We are all unique people, too! Give children paper and ink pads and have everyone make some fingerprint art. Look at fingerprints and hand prints. No two people have the same exact fingerprints! Isn’t that awesome? God is so great…He knows just how many hairs are on your head, and He knows more about you than you even know because He made you…

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. -Psalm 139:13-16

God made us and placed us here on earth. He loves us because we are His creation. That’s that! We are His children. When you make something, it is especially yours. That is how our heavenly Father feels about us. He made us…we are His.

Making Someone Special Craft

Offer a few craft option possibilities for children. Practice making some creations of their own, starting with a simple demonstration of how to make a “person” out of pipe cleaners! Then make a fun “head” using a blown-up balloon and decorative materials like paper, markers, and googly eyes. Younger students may also want to continue with more elaborate finger printing, too. Older students can use card stock paper to make a “certificate” depicting what makes them special and unique.
Close with prayer and reminder of God’s work in our lives. Thank God for making us so special and unique, and pray for success in doing His will.