(MS) Week 2: Very Good

Scripture: Genesis 2:4-25

Main Theme: Human Identity, Work, & Relationships

Big Idea: God made us on purpose for real relationships—with Him, others, and the world.

Introduction:

What’s something you’ve made that you’re really proud of? (Let students share—art, music, a LEGO set, a TikTok, etc.)

We love creating because we’re made by a creative God.

But have you ever wondered why God made people?

Or what makes you valuable?

Today, we’re going to see how God made humans and called them “very good”—and what that means for who you are, what you do, and how you relate to others.

Tension:

Why does it matter how and why people were made?

With so many voices telling us who we should be, what makes us valuable, or how we should treat others, it’s easy to get confused. Genesis 2 zooms in on God’s purpose for people—let’s see what He says.

Big Idea:

God made us on purpose for real relationships—with Him, others, and the world.

Truth:

Recap of Last Week (Genesis 1:1–2:3)

Last week, we explored how God created everything from nothing. He brought order, beauty, and purpose out of chaos just by speaking.

Everything God made was good, and when He made people—male and female in His image—He called them “very good.”

God gave humans a special job: to care for and rule over creation, reflecting His creativity and leadership.

God also set a rhythm of work and rest, showing us that both matter to Him.

Historical & Geographical Notes

Genesis 2 gives us a closer look at the creation of people, almost like zooming in on Day 6 from Genesis 1.

The Garden of Eden is described as a real place, with rivers (Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, Euphrates) that connect to real geography in the ancient Near East. This roots the story in history, not just myth.

The Hebrew words used for “formed” (like a potter shaping clay) and “breath” (God’s own spirit) show how personal and intentional God’s creation of people is.

Walk Through Genesis 2:4–25

Read Genesis 2:4

Genesis 2:4 ESV

4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

v.4: This section is a new beginning, zooming in on how God made people.

Read Genesis 2:5-14

Genesis 2:5–14 ESV

5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush. 14 And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

v.5–9: The world was empty and wild. God forms man from the dust and breathes His spirit into him—people are both earthly and spiritual. God plants a beautiful, good garden and puts man there to care for it. Two special trees are in the garden: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

v.10–14: A river flows from Eden, splitting into four real rivers. Eden is described as a real place, not a fairy tale.

Read Genesis 2:15-25

Genesis 2:15–25 ESV

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

v.15–17: God gives Adam a job—work and care for the garden. God gives a clear command: eat from any tree except one. Disobedience brings death.

v.18–23: God says it’s not good for man to be alone. Adam names the animals, but none are the right partner. God creates woman from Adam’s rib, and Adam celebrates her as his perfect match.

v.24–25: The first marriage. Adam and Eve are united, and there’s no shame—just peace and trust.

Key Points

1. Made on Purpose

• God formed people personally and breathed His spirit into them.

• You are not an accident—you are God’s creation, made with intention and value, rooted in real history.

2. Made for Real Relationships

• God made people for relationship—with Him, with each other, and with the world.

• Adam and Eve’s relationship shows God’s design for unity, trust, and openness.

• Naming the animals and caring for the garden show our calling to value and care for God’s world and each other.

3. Work and Purpose Are Good

• Work was part of God’s good plan, not a punishment.

• Even ordinary tasks matter to God and are ways to serve Him and care for others.

Application:

So how does this apply to you MS students this week? Why does it matter at all and what can we walk away with from our time today?

You matter because God made you on purpose.

You were made for real relationships.

Landing:

God is a creative, intentional, and personal God.

He made you on purpose, for a purpose.

He calls you “very good.”

You are made for relationship—with Him and with others.

Big Idea (again):

God made us on purpose for real relationships—with Him, others, and the world.

Pray:

Pray and ask God to help students:

• Believe they are made on purpose and deeply loved by Him.

• Build real, healthy relationships—with God, with others, and in how they care for the world.

• See the value in their everyday work and responsibilities as part of God’s good plan.

• Live with openness and trust, knowing God’s design for them is “very good.”