Our good Creator wants a relationship with us.

SCRIPTURE | Genesis 1:1–2:7

CENTRAL TRUTH

Everything God created is good because God is good. This key truth helps frame everything else we believe about God. If the Lord is truly good—and He is—then we can trust Him; we can follow Him; and we can believe His Word.

Key question

SINCE EVERYTHING GOD CREATED IS GOOD, WHAT DOES THIS HELP US KNOW ABOUT HIM?

Keep in Mind

Students may struggle with the following questions: How can God really be good when so much is wrong in the world? How can He be good when He lets bad things happen to good people? How can God be good while wars rage on, leaving orphans in their path? Life just makes no sense sometimes, right? But God is infinitely good even when things here on earth aren’t. Here’s where we get it wrong: Something horrible happens—maybe a death or a divorce or a betrayal—and we shift our eyes to the God who is supposed to be in control. We wonder where He is. We blame Him for not intervening, and we question His goodness. But God’s character doesn’t change based on our circumstances or the circumstances in the world. He is good despite them.

APPLICATION

WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU TO LIVE LIKE YOU’RE MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE THIS WEEK?

THE WIN

FOR THE STUDENT: When students seek goodness, they’ll strive to do what is best for God’s kingdom and for others—in other words, they’ll live selflessly. They’ll show kindness to those who may not deserve it because God did so for us. And they’ll forgive others because God has forgiven us of so much. When they live in a way that imitates God, they show the world what God is like.

FOR THE LEADER: We get to point students to God’s goodness. And we do this even in our own struggles. When we cling to God’s goodness during trials, we exhibit trust in God, who is sovereign over our circumstances and unchanged by them.