[From Chapter 2 of the Teacher’s Guide]

We do know this: we will be like him,
for we shall see him as he really is!  (1 John 3:2b)

The Book we’re going to teach—Book with a capital ‘B’—starts In the Beginning and goes to Forever After.
But as we know, the Story starts long before Genesis 1:1.

It starts with the inexhaustible, superabundant, never-ending goodness of our creator God.
And His magnanimous compulsion to liberally share that goodness. Almost as if He just couldn’t keep it to Himself.
It is God’s heart and purpose that ties His Book together from beginning to end. His heart is worth looking for and following through the Book.
Before the foundations of the world, God had an Amazing Vision. Looking far into eternity, He could see millions of people in His own image:

• Sharing His glory
• Blessed with every blessing in the universe
• Marked with His own name
• Filled with His own Spirit
• Praising His beloved Lamb
• Gathered around His shining throne
• Right there close to His heart
• Reigning forever and ever!

If anyone else were writing the Story, we would say it sounds too good to be true.
But this is God’s account.
It’s His Dream.
And since He is the God of the Universe—He can make it come true.

Every detail of His project was meticulously designed.
He pictured each one of us, and imagined all the rich kindness He would bestow on each and every one.
He took great joy in planning all the goodness and grace He would lavish on us.

And oh yes. He counted the cost… the uncountable, immeasurable cost.
But God didn’t flinch.
He didn’t hesitate.
He deemed us worth every penny.

And went ahead with the Plan.
And documented it in this Book.

There is just no other God like the God of the Bible.
He is on a mission to show us His glory—all His combined goodness—starting with this short Book and continuing into eternity.
It’s our privilege to guide our kids through the Story, introducing them to this amazing God, drawing them to His heart, training them to recognize His goodness—through history, today, and as far as they can see into the future.

Our children will also serve him;
future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
They will hear about everything he has done.  (Psalm 22:30-31)

Let this be recorded for future generations
so that a people not yet born will praise the Lord…
You are always the same
You will live forever…
Their children’s children will thrive in your presence.  (Psalm 102:18, 27, 28b)