GOD CREATED THE WORLD

Transcription

1 GOD CREATED THE WORLD ATIO RE N C LEADER BIBLE STUDY Have you ever stood on a beach on a clear night and looked LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING God created the world from nothing. BIBLE PASSAGE up at the sky? It s awe-inspiring to see billions of stars spread out across the heavens. Anyone could ask, Where did it all come from? A new generation of aggressive atheists maintain that time, space, matter, and energy that is, LIFE POINT People can praise Genesis 1:1 2:3 everything that exists in the physical universe was the God for creating the WEEKLY BIBLE VERSE result of a gigantic cosmic accident. The problem is, however, world. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 (CSB) their argument violates the most basic concept of logic. Genesis 1 gives the only reasonable answer as to how the universe came into being: God created the heavens and the earth. The Hebrew word translated created is bara, which means specially created from nothing. It is used only one other time (v. 27). By the infinite power of His Word, the Lord called everything into existence.. Genesis 1 2 outlines the six-day progression God followed to create everything. On day one God called forth light, establishing days and nights. On day two He made the sky. The third day he called the land earth and the waters seas. Plants and trees also appeared. On day four God made the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the fifth day He filled the seas with life and the land with birds, each reproducing their kind. On day six God made other animals and specially created (again bara) mankind in His image. He said man and woman would rule over the animals and the earth and declared it all very good. Finally, by day seven, God had completed His work, and He rested. Why do you think atheists are so adamant to deny the existence of a Creator? How does it matter that we are made in God s image?

2 BIBLE STORY God Created the World In the beginning there was nothing. Then God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was dark, and it did not have any shape. God said, Let there be light, and immediately, there was light. God called the light day and the dark night. God saw that the light was good. That was the first day. On the second day, God said, Let the waters separate, and the waters spread apart. God called the space in between the waters sky. Then God said, Let the waters under the sky gather together, and let the dry ground appear. God called the ground earth and the waters sea. God saw that the earth and seas were good. Then God said, Let the earth produce plants and trees that have seeds, and there were plants and trees. God saw that it was good. That was the third day. On the fourth day God said, Let there be lights in the sky to separate day from night. God made the sun to shine during the day and the moon and stars to shine at night. God saw that it was good. The next day God said, Let the water be filled with creatures and let the sky be filled with birds. Immediately, creatures filled the seas, and birds filled the sky. God saw that it was good. That was the fifth day. On the sixth day God said, Let the earth be filled with animals, and livestock and creatures filled the earth. God saw that it was good. God said, Let Us make man in REVIEW QUESTIONS What did God create the world from? (nothing) How did God create the world? (He spoke.) How many days did it take God to create the world? (six) What did God say after He saw all He had created? (It was very good.) What did God do on the seventh day? (rested) What did God say about the seventh day? (It was holy.) Our image and according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature on the earth. So God created man in His own image. He created a man and a woman. God saw that all He had created was very good. By the seventh day God had completed His work. God said that the seventh day was holy, and He rested. B A S E D O N G E N E S I S 1:1 2 : 3 E L E M E N TA R Y 4

3 Grades 1-3 Index cards, pen Print the namesof 10 Old Testament books on separate index cards. Guidelines for Game: rock smashes crocodile (like scissors) tree (like paper) covers rock crocodile snaps tree (scissors cut paper) PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Place the Old Testament cards faceup in order on a table. Guide kids to scramble them (still faceup). Lead kids to shut their eyes or turn their backs to the table. Ask a child to remove one card from the pile and scatter the cards again. Lead kids to discover which card is missing and to find the book in their Bibles. Add the card back to the pile. Allow the first child who found the Bible book to remove the next card. Continue playing until everyone has chance to find a book in the Bible. INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY Invite kids to find a partner and play Rock, Tree, Crocodile like the game Rock, Paper, Scissors. Lead kids to put their hands on their hips to represent rock, arms out in the air to represent tree, and arms in front to open and close like a crocodile s mouth for crocodile. Explain that tree is the same as paper and crocodile is like scissors. Encourage kids to say, Rock, Tree, Crocodile and then make one of the poses. Lead kids who lose to stand in place while kids who win find new partners. Play several rounds. Play again as time allows. Explain how today s Bible story is about God creating rocks, trees, and crocodiles. Show God Created the World: Introduction video. Pray and ask God to guide the Bible camp leaders as they plan for the next camp. 5 GOD S MOST IMPORTANT CREATION

4 Grades 4-6 PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Describe the stories and topics kids will find in each Old Testament Book of Law. Call attention to the cards on the wall. Guide kids to stand about four feet from the wall and bounce their balls on the floor, attempting to hit the Genesis card. When a player hits the Genesis card, she will find Genesis in her Bible, then return to the game and attempt to hit the Exodus card. Continue the sequence. The first player to successfully hit all five cards and locate the respective books wins the game. INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY Lead kids to form a circle. Stand in the center with the beach ball. Toss the ball to any player, who will read the phrase nearest his right index finger. The players on his left and right should shout out something that fits the category. The first person to name something will take your place in the center of the circle. Keep the pace playful and quick. After everyone participates, comment that God created everything kids mentioned in the game. marker tape index cards On separate cards write Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Randomly tape the cards to a wall. Vary the distance of the cards from the floor with no card higher than 3 feet from the floor. super bounce balls Option: For larger groups, create multiple sets of cards on different walls. beach ball marker masking tape Write 1 idea per tape strip: insect, something in space, mammal, reptile, sea creature, farm animal, type of weather, vegetable, fruit, bird. Randomly tape the strips on the ball. ELEMENTARY 6

5 Grades 1-3 STUDY THE BIBLE Teaching Picture 1 Kids Activity Pages Bibles basket scissors blue, green, red, yellow, orange, pink, purple, and brown paper Cut into 3-inch squares (at least 1 square per child). Place the squares in a basket. 3-inch square of black paper pencils 1. BIBLE STORY Lead kids to sit in a circle. Pass the basket around the circle and guide kids to choose one color square. Hold up a black square and explain that today s Bible story tells how God created the world from nothing. Explain that God created many differentcolored things. For example, God used the color yellow when He created the sun, a bird, or a flower. Guide kids to listen to the story and hold up their color squares if they match the colors of things God created. Open your Bible to Genesis 1 and tell the Bible story. 2. WEEKLY VERSE Guide the kids to find Genesis 1:1 in their Bibles. Read aloud the verse together. Lead kids to work together to lay the colored squares on the floor to make the first letter of each word of the verse. Invite kids to say the verse from memory as they look at the letters on the floor. Remind boys and girls that God created everything that exists. Guide each child to pick up a different colored square than what he held during the Bible story. 3. REVIEW Invite each child to share one thing God created that is the same color as her paper square. Lead kids to switch color squares with friends. Guide each child to share two things God created that is the same color as her new paper square. Display the Teaching Picture. Talk about any specific items the kids mentioned earlier. Ask review questions, leading kids who know the answer to wave their squares. 4. LIFE ACTION Lead kids to complete Creation Code on their Kids Activity Pages. Remind kids that God created the world in six days. Guide kids to name six facts from the Bible story. Offer suggestions, such as God created the world out of nothing, God spoke the world into existence, God rested on the seventh day, and so forth. Encourage kids to name six things they can praise God for in His creation. Offer suggestions, such as oceans, trees, food, animals, stars, people, and so forth. Explain that God loves and cares about His greatest creation, people. He sent Jesus to die on the cross so that people could have life forever with God. Lead the kids to pray and thank God for the world He created. 7 Unit 1 SeSSion 1

6 Grades BIBLE STORY Display the Teaching Picture and explain that when God created the world, He did so in perfect order. Before He created life, He ensured everything was in place to support life. Encourage kids to find Genesis 1 and follow along as you tell the Bible story. During the Bible story lead kids to clip each index card to the string in order. Conclude by commenting that kids may hear many theories about how the world was created, but what they really need to know about the origin of the universe is this: (one word at a time, reverse the cards on the clothesline) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2. WEEKLY VERSE Lead kids to form a circle. Guide kids to find Genesis 1:1 in their Bibles and read the verse silently. Guide kids to close their Bibles and say the verse with you. Substitute one jumping jack for In and lead kids to say the remainder of the verse. The person to your left will do a jumping jack and substitute another motion for the. The group will say the remainder of the verse. Continue the pattern until kids substitute all words with motions. Tell kids that God created the universe from nothing. That is one reason why He deserves our respect and honor! 3. REVIEW Remove the cards from the clothesline while leading volunteers to drop them into a bucket. Allow volunteers to take turns choosing two cards from the bucket. Ask the group: Which came first? Encourage everyone to shout out the answer at once. Guide kids to refer to Genesis 1 to check their answers. 4. LIFE ACTION Form several small groups. Lead each group to huddle and identify something God created that begins with the first letter of each person s first name. The first team to do so and shout out the results wins the round. Lead kids to form different small groups and repeat with kids naming parts of creation beginning with the first letter of each child s last name. Reform groups and play a third time, using the second letter of kids first names. Read aloud Genesis 1:26. Mention that Jesus was present at creation. Because He imagined, created, and controls the universe, kids can trust Him completely! Encourage kids to pray silently, thanking God for the incredible things He created. Teaching Picture 1 Bibles 8 clothespins 2 chairs index cards Print the following words, each on a separate card: sun, moon, stars, land, birds, fish, land animals, people string Tie string to 2 chairs to create a clothesline. bucket pencils ELEMENTARY 8

7 Grades 1-3 Choice 1 pictures of nature items or names of nature items printed on cards six paper bags labeled 1-6 Choice 2 index cards (2 per child) markers clear or colored tape filler such as rice, beans, or small paper clips LIVE IT OUT CHOICE 1: CREATION RELAY Make sure you have at least one card that represents something created on each of the six days of creation. Mark a starting line on one end of the play area; line up the numbered bags at the other end of the area. Guide kids to line up at the starting line. Mix the picture/word cards and turn them face down at the start line. On your cue, the first child picks a card, runs to the bags, and drop the card in correct numbered bag (for the day it was created). The child runs back and tags the next child in line. After all the kids have sorted the cards, look at end bag and talk about the items that were created on that day. Say the Life Point and talk about ways people can care for the world God created. Invite kids to find the verse in the first chapter of Genesis that explains when God created each item. Emphasize that God made the world in six days and that He made it out of nothing. CHOICE 2: CREATION SHAKER Explain that kids can worship God and thank Him for the world that He created. Lead kids to think of ways they can praise God for His creation. Distribute two index cards to each child. Lead kids to decorate one side of each card with words and phrases that glorify and praise God, write the words of Genesis 1:1, or draw pictures of things God created. Guide each child to stack his cards with the blank sides touching. Lead kids to tape three sides of the cards, leaving one short side open. Guide kids to fill the opening on the cards with one tablespoon of filling and hold the shaker with the untaped side up. Lead kids to push the two long taped sides together so that the opposite corners on the top, untaped side touch. This will prevent the filled cards from lying flat and help the shaker to work. Assist kids in taping the last side together. Encourage kids to shake the cards in a rhythmic pattern as they say the verse or sing a praise song. WRAP UP Remind kids to give their Family Talk Time pages to their parents. 9 Unit 1 SeSSion 1

8 Grades 4-6 CHOICE 1: SPELL THE ANSWER Distribute Kids Activity Pages and markers. Guide kids to locate Psalm 104 in their Bibles and complete How Doodle You Do? by drawing illustrations of the creations mentioned in the psalm. After a few minutes invite kids to tell about their drawings. Comment that a major theme in the psalm is God s precise planning to ensure His creations are cared for and have what they need to live in a specific environment (verses 10-11, 14, 17-20, 27). Spread the letter tiles on a table or the floor. Guide kids to sit around the tiles. Ask a review question. Kids can work together to find letters and spell the answer to the question. Form smaller groups of kids if necessary. After kids have spelled the answer, talk about it. Ask another question for kids to spell the answer. Talk about the Life Point and lead kids to spell take care. CHOICE 2: INCREDIBLE! OUTSTANDING! AMAZING! Comment that the point of the creation story is not only to teach people what God created but also to help them recognize that only the one true God could create the universe from nothing. Distribute Kids Activity Pages and markers. Guide kids to complete No Comment. Debrief by inviting a volunteer to read her main idea light bulb statement. On the count of three, guide all kids to say the comments written in the corresponding speech bubble. Direct kids to form a circle for a variation of Duck, Duck, Goose. The person designated It will walk around the circle, tap players on the shoulder, and say either: Incredible! or Outstanding! Each person tapped will respond to Incredible! by shouting: Designer ; or to Outstanding! by shouting: Creator! When It taps someone on the shoulder and says: Amazing! the race begins. The two players will race around the circle to the empty slot. Call for the winner of the race to name proof that God is an amazing Creator. Repeat with a new It as time permits. Choice 1 Kids Activity Pages letter tiles Choice 2 Kids Activity Pages markers or pencils clear floor space for an active game WRAP UP Remind kids to give the Family Talk Time pages to their parents. ELEMENTARY 10

9 SESSION 1 God Created the World In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. GENESIS 1:1 CSB God created a wonderful world! Write the first letter of each of God ' s creations to discover what people can do. IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM 2017 LifeWay BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE GRADES 1 3 2

10 God's most important creation CREATION LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING God created the world from nothing. FAMILY TALK TIME THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE Parents, today your child studied the creation of the world. God spoke every created thing into existence, except people. God formed the first man and woman with His own hands and breathed life into them. We are truly made in God s image! LIVE IT OUT Help your child praise God for His creation. Read together Psalm 104, David s psalm of praise to God for His creation. Help your child write his own praise for God s creation. DAILY BIBLE READING Sunday: Genesis 1:1 Monday: Luke 4:18 Tuesday: Genesis 1:27 Wednesday: Genesis 2:3 Thursday: John 12:8 Friday: Genesis 2:22 Saturday: Psalm 29:11 God Created the World GENESIS 1:1 2:3 In the beginning there was nothing. Then God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was dark, and it did not have any shape. God said, Let there be light, and immediately, there was light. God called the light day and the dark night. God saw that the light was good. That was the first day. On the second day, God said, Let the water separate, and the waters spread apart. God called the space in between the waters sky. Then God said, Let the waters under the sky gather together, and let the dry ground appear. God called the ground earth and the waters sea. God saw that the earth and seas were good. Then God said, Let the earth produce plants and trees that have seeds, and there were plants and trees. God saw that it was good. That was the third day. On the fourth day God said, Let there be lights in the sky to separate day from night. God made the sun to shine during the day and the moon and stars to shine at night. God saw that it was good. The next day God said, Let the water be filled with creatures and let the sky be filled with birds. Immediately, creatures filled the seas, and birds filled the sky. God saw that it was good. That was the fifth day. On the sixth day God said, Let the earth be filled with animals, and livestock and creatures filled the earth. God saw that it was good. God said, Let Us make man in Our image and according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature on the earth. So God created man in His own image. He created a man and a woman. God saw that all He had created was very good. By the seventh day God had completed His work. God said that the seventh day was holy, and He rested. LIFE POINT: People can praise God for creating the world LifeWay

11 SESSION 1 God Created the World Decide what s the most important idea and write it in the light bulb. Then in the speech bubble, write a personal comment, like Awesome! or That makes me grin so hard my mouth hurts! Nehemiah 9:6 Someone forgot to comment on these excellent Bible verses about our awesome Creator! Psalm 104:24 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. GENESIS 1:1 CSB Psalm 33:6-9 Job 26:7 Proverbs 30:4 Psalm 90:2 IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM P salm 104 is a song of praise to the world ' s Master Designer. Read it and draw some doodles of God ' s creations mentioned in the psalm LifeWay BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE GRADES 4 6 2

12 God's most important creation CREATION LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING God created the world from nothing. FAMILY TALK TIME THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE Parents, today your child studied the creation of the world. God spoke every created thing into existence, except people. God formed the first man and woman with His own hands and breathed life into them. We are truly made in God s image! LIVE IT OUT Help your child praise God for His creation. Read together Psalm 104, David s psalm of praise to God for His creation. Help your child write his own praise for God s creation. DAILY BIBLE READING Sunday: Genesis 1:1 Monday: Luke 4:18 Tuesday: Genesis 1:27 Wednesday: Genesis 2:3 Thursday: John 12:8 Friday: Genesis 2:22 Saturday: Psalm 29:11 God Created the World GENESIS 1:1 2:3 In the beginning there was nothing. Then God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was dark, and it did not have any shape. God said, Let there be light, and immediately, there was light. God called the light day and the dark night. God saw that the light was good. That was the first day. On the second day, God said, Let the water separate, and the waters spread apart. God called the space in between the waters sky. Then God said, Let the waters under the sky gather together, and let the dry ground appear. God called the ground earth and the waters sea. God saw that the earth and seas were good. Then God said, Let the earth produce plants and trees that have seeds, and there were plants and trees. God saw that it was good. That was the third day. On the fourth day God said, Let there be lights in the sky to separate day from night. God made the sun to shine during the day and the moon and stars to shine at night. God saw that it was good. The next day God said, Let the water be filled with creatures and let the sky be filled with birds. Immediately, creatures filled the seas, and birds filled the sky. God saw that it was good. That was the fifth day. On the sixth day God said, Let the earth be filled with animals, and livestock and creatures filled the earth. God saw that it was good. God said, Let Us make man in Our image and according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature on the earth. So God created man in His own image. He created a man and a woman. God saw that all He had created was very good. By the seventh day God had completed His work. God said that the seventh day was holy, and He rested. LIFE POINT: People can praise God for creating the world LifeWay

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