Lesson Overview: Today’s culture has tak-en the very clear view of God’s will for every believer and shattered it. This lesson series will attempt to put the pieces back together. This lesson will be intro-ductory in nature. We will learn important information about Ephesians 2:10, but this lesson can be shorter. Be sure not to skim over the introduction to the series at the end. In this lesson, we will see

1. The Definition and Context of God’s Masterpiece2. God’s Will for Our Lives3. Introduction to the Masterpieces

An airplane will be the key illustration. If funds permit, give each student a Styrofoam airplane as they leave class as a reminder of the lesson.

Lesson Procedure:

Let’s Move: Begin the class with Airplane Showdown. Allow each student to make one paper airplane. They will compete in three events. Distance- farthest flight wins. Accuracy- draw a target on the floor (or use masking tape), the student closest wins. Stunts- Plane that does the fanciest trick wins. Have candy or a prize ready for the winner.

God’s MasterpieceGoals:Students will understand that God views His children as mas-terpieces with a plan. They will also be intro-duced to the se-ries.

Materials:Blank Paper and Pens

To the Lesson: We see ourselves as many things. We see our-selves as brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, athletes, band members, nerds, jocks, punks, cowboys, church members, and the list goes on. While our view of ourselves can change depending on which group we are with or in what room we stand, God has a very different, unchanging view of us. In this lesson, we will see how God views His children and what that means for us.

I. Read Ephesians 2:10 and ask the students, “How are we described in this verse?” We are called God’s workmanship. Others translate the word workmanship as “handiwork” or “masterpiece.” There are two things we should know about this verse: deeper meaning and context.

a. This verse was originally written in Greek. Sometimes looking at the original word gives us a deeper understand-ing of the word. The word for workmanship, handiwork, or masterpiece is taken from the Greek word for the word meaning “to make.” A first grader’s translation would be, “we are God’s perfectly made thing.”

i. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 and ask the students, “What was made when we were saved?” This verse tells us that we were made into a new crea-ture or creation.

ii. When we are saved, we still have our sinful bod-ies. They will be with us until death or the Lord’s return. But in addition to our sinful bodies, we also have a perfect spirit created in us by God. We be-come a masterpiece of God. We become one of God’s “perfectly made things.” Without this new creation, all we have is a sinful dying body. This is what the Bible means when it describes the lost as “dead in sin” and the saved as “alive in Christ.”

b. The context of a passage is the events, situations, or setting surrounding the passage. We need to know who is speaking and to whom they are speaking. Paul the Apostle is speaking. That is the easy part. But to whom?

i. We know he is speaking to the Ephesians, but Masterpieces Lesson 1 Page 2

which Ephesians? This is important because it tells us exactly what kind of person is a masterpiece of God. Read Ephesians 2:1,5, and 10 and ask the stu-dents, “to what kind of people was Paul speaking?” He was speaking to a group of people who used to be dead in sin, but who are made alive with Christ. He is speaking to saved people.

ii. This is important because the world teaches that everyone is a masterpiece of God. It is true that God made each person unique, but not every person is a masterpiece. One of you could paint a picture before this lesson ends. It would be unique, but would it be a masterpiece? No. Only a person who has accepted Jesus Christ as their savior is counted in Ephesians 2:10. If you are not this kind of person, now is the time to correct it. Admit you are a sinner, accept Christ’s payment for your sin on the cross, and make Him master of your life.

II. Read again Ephesians 2:10 and ask the students, “Why were we made into masterpieces?” We were perfectly made by God for a very distinct purpose. We are to fulfill God’s will in our lives.

a. God has a plan set apart for us from the moment we are saved. He has a whole list of good works that He planned in advance for us to do. One thing we need to understand is that God never forces anyone to do anything. When He “plans” something for us, He hopes that we will do it. He will never force us. God’s masterpiece for our lives is not a fully painted picture. It is a paint-by-numbers picture. He sets the design, draws the lines, and gives us a color scheme. He then says, “If you follow the instructions, you will finish with the most beautiful painting.” This implies that if we do not use the correct colors or go outside the lines, we will finish with a painting of our own design.

b. How many people in this room would like to know the will of God? Most people would give anything to know God’s will. So much anxiety is created because they misunderstand a very simple Biblical concept.

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i. There are two parts to God’s will. There is the Broad Will and the Specific Will. People struggle with God and live in doubt and fear of God because they only seek His Specific Will in their lives. It is true that God has a unique plan for every believer, but one rule is shown throughout the Bible. God’s Specific Will only occurs inside God’s Broad Will.

ii. Consider this: An airplane has rudders on the tail and wings. They move and turn the plane onto its unique flight path. What happens if the pilot turns the rudders while the plane is sitting still? Nothing happens. The very specific flight plan can only be found if the plane is in motion. God’s Specific Will can be seen as the rudders and God’s Broad Will can be seen as the propellers. If we are not do-ing the basic things that move us closer to God, we should not expect to be used in a very unique, world changing way. So many people struggle with the steering wheel on a grounded plane.

III. (As you begin this point, take the large picture and begin tearing it into 5 pieces. Each point below will be a piece of the picture.)Something has happened in the last few genera-tions. In generations past, the idea of God’s Broad Will for a person’s life was built in to the culture. On behalf of America and present day culture, let me say, “I’m sorry.” Society has changed the idea of what constitutes a good person. Through television, music, books, psychology, and public education, the idea of God’s Masterpiece has been shattered. For the remainder of this lesson series, we will attempt to put these pieces back together. Beware of this one thing: These topics may seem simple, elementary, and common sense, but they are the building blocks of a life that is pleasing to the Lord. If a feeling of boredom or superiority begins to grow in your heart, realize that Satan is lying to you. He has made change in our culture, not through radical changes, but through tearing small pieces from the back bone of God’s plan for believers.

a. (Tear the first piece)We will begin with the family. The building block of any society is the family. God has a very different view of the role of kids in a family. Too often, no

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difference can be seen between “church kids” and kids who do not go to church.

b. (Tear the second piece) After we learn to be good fam-ily members, God expects us to know what is expected of Church members. We rob God of so much when teens join the church, but do not become church “members” until they become adults.

c. (Tear the next piece) After we master family and church, God expects us to deal with our relationships in a certain way. While we have so many relationships in our lives, we will focus on dating relationships.

d. (Tear the next piece) The final two lessons will focus on our duties as an individual. God expects every believer to have the ability to defend the faith. This means we are to not just suppose to know what we believe, but why we believe it.

e. (Drop the last piece on the floor) Finally, God expects each of His children to make the most lasting difference a person can make in the world: leading a person to Christ.

Conclusion: (Begin taping the pieces back together as you conclude) How many verses in the Bible tell a person God’s Specific Will? The answer is zero. However, the Bible is filled with tips, tricks, and commands to lead us to God’s Broad Will. This series only touches on a few. Do you see yourself as a perfectly made thing of God’s? Are you one? If you are not saved, this series is not for you. Before this applies to you, you need to accept Christ as your Sav-ior. If you are saved, however, God has a very specific plan for you. But, you can only reach that goal if you are seeking His Broad Will in your life. Come with us as we put the pieces of God’s plan for His Masterpiece back together.to grow in your heart, realize that Satan is lying to you. He has made change in our culture, not through radical changes, but through tearing small pieces from the back bone of God’s plan for believers.

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