What do you know about God? He knows everything about you! He is the One who gave you life.
God loves you and wants you to know him, too! He has a special plan for your life.
In the beginning, God made everything. He made the earth, sun, moon, and stars. He made all of the plants and animals, too.
God also made Adam and Eve. They were the first man and woman. God said everything he made was good.
God gave Adam and Eve a rule to protect them. God's enemy, Satan, told them to break the rule.
Adam and Eve listened to Satan. They broke God's rule. They sinned against God.
God gave people laws so they would know how to live. These laws helped people make wise choices and live better lives, but people still chose to disobey God.
They sinned against God and one another. They needed help. God still loved them, and he had a plan.
God sent his Son, Jesus, to earth. He was born to Mary and Joseph in a stable.
Angels appeared and told shepherds that Jesus had been born. The shepherds went to worship him.
As Jesus grew up, he became wise and strong.
Jesus loved his Father, God, in heaven. He loved to talk about him with others.
Jesus was baptized. God spoke from heaven. He said that he was pleased with his Son, Jesus.
Then Satan tempted Jesus. Satan told Jesus to disobey God, but Jesus obeyed God. He never sinned.
Jesus chose twelve men to follow him. These men went everywhere with Jesus. They were called his disciples.
Jesus taught his disciples about God. He taught them to love God and to love others. Many others came to hear Jesus teach.
Jesus was on a boat with his disciples. He was asleep. There was a big storm. The disciples were afraid!
They asked Jesus to help. Jesus told the storm to stop, and it did!
A man named Jairus came to Jesus. Jairus was an important man in his town. His little girl was dying. He begged Jesus to come help him.
When Jesus got to his house, people said that the girl had died. Jesus went in and said, "Little girl, get up!" She did!
A man came to Jesus and asked him to help his son. His son had an evil spirit inside of him. The evil spirit made the boy shake and roll on the ground.
Jesus told the evil spirit to leave. It did! Jesus did many good things, but the religious leaders were angry with him. They did not believe that he was the Son of God.
The religious leaders told lies about Jesus. They had him killed on a cross.
On the cross, Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them!" Then he gave a loud cry and died.
Jesus' body was put in a tomb. The tomb was like a cave. Some of Jesus' followers went to see his body.
When they arrived, his body was gone! An angel told them, "He is alive!"
Jesus met his disciples on a mountain. He said it was time for him to return to his Father in heaven. He told them to go and tell everyone about God.
Jesus said his Father would send the Spirit of God to live in them. Then Jesus went to heaven. He will return someday.
Jesus' followers waited for the Spirit of God to come. The Spirit of God came and gave them power. Jesus' followers began telling everyone about him!
The Spirit of God lives inside all people who love and choose to follow Jesus. The Spirit of God helps us know and obey God. God loves you very much, but sin separates us from God. Sin is anything we think, say, or do that does not please God. God sent his Son, Jesus, to take the punishment we deserve for our sins.
Jesus died so our sins can be forgiven and we can become children of God. He is in heaven today. He will come back. Then he will take all of God's children to live in heaven, too!
You can pray this prayer:
"Dear Jesus, l believe God sent you to save me by taking the punishment that l deserve. Please forgive me of my sin. Come into my life. Help me to follow your ways. Thank you for answering my prayer. In your name l pray, Amen."
Source: www.onehope.net