4 Creation Genesis 1:1-2:4 Kids will understand: The account of creation. That in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. He then took time to enjoy His creation. That the closer we look at creation, the more we are amazed at our Creator! Oct. 7 2012 1
activity - skit Parker Woods is a character who will be carried through the quarter. The skits have an outdoors setting where Parker battles the elements while introducing and/or demonstrating the park element in some way. Parker should be dressed in outdoor gear to the hilt with plenty of camping supplies around him. He is well meaning and serious in wanting to show the kids the ropes about safe and enjoyable camping in the park, but he often runs into some kind of humorous difficulty. actor Parker s gear large rock Parker: Well hello! My name is Parker Woods and I love the outdoors. I m always ready to hike and camp, especially here at Agape National Park! I know we just met, but I feel comfortable already around you! I ll let you in on a little secret about where I got my name, Parker Woods. Ever since I can remember, my parents were always going hiking or camping, even when I was just a baby! It wasn t a question of IF we were going camping on the weekend, it was a question of WHERE! The question they always asked each other was, Do you wanna camp in the park or in the woods behind our house? So, when I was born, they decided to name me PARK - ER WOODS. Get it? (slaps leg and cackles) Oh yeah, my daddy still gets a kick out of telling me that one. I m just glad they didn t name me tent or canteen! (slaps leg again and laughs) Well anyway, it s real good meetin ya. We re gonna get to be good buddies during the next few months. I like to give you some tips about camping and Agape National Park. Remember Parker s tip for today always, and I mean always, take time to enjoy God s creation! Then, after you do thank the Creator! Yep, God is amazing! Tip #2 Be thankful your parents named you what they did not after a piece of camping gear! (laughs and slaps leg) This reminds me of our Bible story for today. It s all about how God created the heavens and the earth. Some silly people say there was a big ol bang that happened boom, here we are but don t you believe it for one second! God created it all in six days and then He took the time to enjoy what He had done! Object Lesson Place a pile of Legos on one end of table, play dough in the middle and Tinkertoys on the other end of the table. Choose 3 boys and 3 girls to come up to the table. The boys will stand on one side of the table and the girls on the opposite side. Each boy and girl pair will have one of the building materials between them. Legos 2 cans of play dough Tinkertoys table timer PowerPoint slides 2
Okay, each boy and girl pair will MAKE something, anything out of the building material in front of you. Work separately. You have one minute. At the end of one minute the kids will share what they made. Take the building materials away. We re going to do this one more time! You have 30 seconds this time to CREATE something, anything. At the end of 30 seconds, the kids will share what they created. Oh, it doesn t look like you came up with anything this time! Why not? You didn t have anything to work with, did you? Show the PowerPoint slides. The Bible says in Genesis that in the beginning God CREATED not MADE the heavens and the earth. You see, God didn t assemble parts to create the earth, the sun and the moon. He spoke them into existence from nothing, just like you had on your table the second time. In other words, He started from scratch. We can only make or assemble things from material and objects that God created! God is the one and only awesome Creator who we serve and adore! He is the only One who can create something from nothing! Bible Account - Video Watch the provided video called God Created. The children will be introduced to the sequence that God created everything we know. He spoke and it came to be! Can you say the word and create something? How about if you practiced? God Created VIDEO Game Beforehand, prepare the following items. There should be 2 items representing each day of creation. Day 1. Black material and a small flashlight Day 2. Cotton balls glued on stiff paper to make a cloud and a jar of water Day 3. Baggie of dirt and an artificial plant (leaf) Day 4. Cut out of the sun and a star Day 5. Toy or stuffed fish and a bird Day 6. Stuffed animal, figure of a man (Ken doll or G.I.Joe) Day 7. Picture of a church, smiley face Gather and/or make the items above that represent the 7 days of creation. Mix them up and place in a large box. Put down a masking tape line at one end of the room for a stand-behind line. Place the box containing the items at the other end of the room. Divide the class into two teams and show the PowerPoint slide. At the signal, one player from each team runs to the box and hunts for an object that represents the first day of creation (black material or the small flashlight). The first person to locate one of the objects and return it to their team is the winner and should be asked one of the questions below. After each round, return the objects to the box. Repeat this procedure for the seven days of creation. small flashlight black material cotton balls jar of water leaf baggie of dirt toy birds toy fish sun star stuffed animal figurine smiley face picture of a church large box masking tape PowerPoint slide 3
Note: If you d like to divide the group into more teams, then duplicate the items for another box or add an item (or two) to the original box for each day. There should be the same number of items in the box for each day as there are teams. Questions and Answers What is the difference between making and creating? (Creating is from nothing. Making is assembling from something.) What happened on day 1 of creation? (God created the world, light and darkness.) What happened on day 2 of creation? (God created the sky divided the water into 2 parts with space in between.) What happened on day 3 of creation? (God created the seas, dry land, vegetation.) Name some things that are vegetation. (trees, flowers, grass, vines) What happened on day 4 of creation? (God created the sun, moon and stars.) What happened on day 5 of creation? (God created water creatures and birds.) What happened on day 6 of creation? (God created man and land animals.) What happened on day 7 of creation? (God enjoyed His work! He started the Sabbath.) At first, what was the world covered with? (darkness and water) Who did God put in charge of His creation? (man, us) True or False. God got worn out from creating and had to rest on day 7. (God never gets tired or has to sleep.) What does the word rest actually mean for day 7? (to enjoy God enjoyed His creation.) Craft We ve learned about God s amazing work in creating the heavens and the earth. It was a masterpiece! Now it s your turn to make your own masterpiece of God s creation! Beforehand, use a ruler and black marker to draw 6 section lines on each pizza board (one for each child). Give each child a pizza board. On the side that is not sectioned off, they will draw a huge smiling face. This will depict Day 7 when God enjoyed what He had created. Then, they will work on the side of the board that is sectioned. Number the sections 1-6. Using the supplies you have provided, the kids will draw/ create something on each section that depicts what God created that day. It s okay if what they create is 3-D. Show the PowerPoint slide from the previous game so they have a guide for each day. pizza boards ruler black marker craft supplies cotton balls stickers markers play dough scraps of material PowerPoint slide (from previous game) 4
What do you think about how God created things? How did everything come to pass? (God spoke it.) Do you think God had a favorite day? Which and why? Why do you think God created in this order? Do you think God enjoyed doing this? Why? Puppets Note: these puppets will be used in several lessons throughout the quarter. Make or locate 2 small hats that look like ranger hats and 2 badges. 2 generic puppets Ranger: Trainee: Ranger: Trainee: Ranger: Trainee: Ranger: Trainee: Ranger: Trainee: Ranger: Trainee: Good morning, trainee! Good morning, ranger sir! What are we going to learn today about being a park ranger at Agape National Park? The first thing we re going to do is take a walk and then take another one again tonight! (looks surprised) We re going to take a walk? But I could do that on my own. No, this is no ordinary walk. I call it creation trail! This is a creation walk! The first thing you need to do as a ranger is to appreciate God s creation and what He has entrusted us to take care of. Ohhh, I think I understand! But, why are we going on two walks? Night and day? Because God made the night and day and each one is special. There are only certain species of animals that come out at night, plus there is a full moon tonight to enjoy! You have to see all of this to really appreciate what our Creator did! That makes sense. When do we start? Well, just as soon as you can get back here with a full canteen and your hiking boots! And, uh you better bring some bug spray, too. Bug spray? Yes, mosquitos are one of God s creation, too! I m not quite sure what He had in mind there (laughs) but I m sure He had a reason! We want to appreciate them, but we don t want them to snack on us while we do it! (laughs) Okay, ranger one can of bug spray coming right up. I ll be back in a flash! 5
Message (show slide #1) God s masterpiece! Have you ever heard of a masterpiece? (show slide #2) Definition of masterpiece: an outstanding work of art the greatest work of an artist PowerPoint slides hammer chef s hat picture of yourself (show slide #3) The masterpiece could be a painter s prize work. Hold up the hammer. It could be a house or piece of furniture that a carpenter built. Put on the chef s hat. It could be a fine meal or a dish that a chef made. A masterpiece could be a model or a Lego project you labored over for hours! It could be a project for school or a play or a poem you have written. It could even be a website or web page you have constructed. Masterpieces can be found in many forms. Creation is God s masterpiece! But guess what, He didn t use a hammer, brush, oven, computer, pencil or any kind of building materials. How did He create His masterpiece then? (show slide #4) God spoke! Have you ever heard the saying, That goes without saying? That means that something is so obvious and clear that there s no reason to say any words. In God s case, if He didn t say it we wouldn t be here! Yes, God over and over said, Let there be and it immediately was! He spoke light, space and sky, oceans and dry land, plants, the sun, moon and stars, birds and fish, animals and people into being. Yes, He spoke it into being in six days! Have you ever said, I could do that with my hands tied behind my back!? It means that a task is super easy a piece of cake, right? That s what God did well, He didn t tie His hands behind His back, but He didn t use them! Creation was voice activated! Yes, He just spoke and it happened. Unbelievable! But, that s our Creator God. (show slide #5) So why did He speak us into existence? Look up and read Ephesians 2:10 (NLT), For we are God s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Hold up a picture of yourself. Yes, I am God s masterpiece! And you are, too! Did you know that God created you once and then creates you brand new again when you receive Christ as your Savior? That s pretty cool! Now you are free to serve and worship God and to do all the works and great things He destined you to do! Your Creator has a plan for you a purpose. Never let anyone tell you differently! You re a valuable creation in God s image and He loves you and enjoys you as His special creation! He breathed His very breath into you and brought you to life! How totally epic is that? 6
Look up and read Acts 17:24-27, He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn t live in man-made temples, and human hands can t serve his needs for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. God made everything and everything exists by Him and for Him! No, He does not NEED anything from us. What could we give the One who spoke things into existence? BUT, He WANTS something from us. He wants us to seek Him and to worship and serve Him! Yes, God is bigger than anything we can see or not see, but He still wants to enjoy us and to have a relationship with us! That s why we exist. That s why we were created! Object Lesson Beforehand, inflate the beach ball globe and place it in a large dark garbage bag hidden from kids. I ve learned a lot about God s creation, haven t you? I m amazed at God s handiwork! You know, sometimes we can get caught up in our own little world, in day-to-day living and lose perspective of just how BIG God is. He has given us many blessings that we enjoy on earth. But people can easily focus on these things instead of the Creator. Things like, (show PowerPoint of car) a car, (show slide of a home) a nice home, (show slide of some money), or money. You know, we can possess a lot of stuff. But, it still will most likely all fit in a (show slide of a moving van) moving van! And guess what We don t really own it anyway! PowerPoint slides large trash bag globe or inflatable of the earth Now, in comparison, let s see how big God is and what God owns! Show the slide of Isaiah 66:1. Whoa, baby! The sky, space, and the world earth and everything it contains like even us and our possessions! Take the inflated ball out of the bag. This is how big God is. Hold the ball out in the palm of your hand. He holds the earth and all that is around it in His hand! And, get this, the verse tells us that God sits in heaven and props up His feet on earth! Pull up a chair, sit down and prop your feet up on the ball as a footrest. Earth is God s footstool! Now that puts things in perspective, doesn t it? That gives us a glimpse of just how big and awesome our Creator is! 7
Game Form groups of about 6 kids in each group. It s not necessary that all groups be identical in size. The groups will line up together at one end of the room. At the other end of the room should be a piece of white poster board and a black marker. Hang the poster board on the wall so that the slick side is against the wall. black markers white poster board The leader will call out something off of the Creation List below, and then give a signal. At the signal, one person from each group will run to the poster board and quickly draw what the leader called out. As soon as they can draw something that looks like what has been called out, they will cap the marker and return to their team fast! Once each player has returned (or you get tired of waiting for them to complete their drawing), the next player will prepare to draw. Call out something else on the Creation List and give the signal. Continue doing this until you draw everything on the Creation List or time runs out. God is the Creator! He made all of creation from absolutely nothing! God SPOKE all of creation into existence. His creativity is absolutely amazing! Even quicker than you could draw it, God spoke it into existence from nothing! Is that hard to believe? Do you think God was excited about creating? Creation List sun moon star cloud grass sea turtle tree land animal bush bird whale Adam sea land animal fish insect mountain stream Prayer Show the PowerPoint slides of Psalm 8. Isn t this an awesome verse? David is sitting in wonder at God s work in creation. As he does, he s awestruck by the thought that a God who can do this would even care about us and care for us! He gave us His creation to rule! He goes on to praise and worship God in His majesty and glory. Bibles PowerPoint slides 8
As David considered God the Creator, He was humbled and driven to worship Him! The closer we look and consider who God is and what He has done, the more we are amazed and realize once again that He is worthy to be praised and worshipped. Go through each slide and pray concerning each scripture(s). Ask a different child to pray, keeping that scripture slide in mind. Pray that you will appreciate in a brand new way the true Almighty Creator of the heavens and the earth! Blessing May you always be in awe of God your Creator! 9
Scripture Memorization Isaiah 40:31, 1. Those who trust in the Lord 2. will find new strength. 3. They will soar high 4. on wings like eagles. 5. They will run and not grow weary. 6. They will walk and not faint. PowerPoint slide This week is the introduction of a new memory verse. We will be saying the verse over and over to get it into our spirit! Divide the kids into 6 teams. The kids will sit together as groups. Display the verse and assign each group a number 1-6. Go over the verse once before starting. Did you know that God never becomes faint or grows weary? Genesis 2:2 says that God rested on the seventh day from His work in creation. BUT, the word rest in this verse actually means to enjoy. God didn t stop because He needed to sit down and take a break to catch His breath. God stopped to look at and enjoy His work! We DO need to rest. God created the Sabbath day the 7th day as a day of rest for us to re-energize and to worship Him! When we worship our Creator we will find new strength for the coming week! We re divided into 6 groups to represent the 6 days when God created something. All the kids will sit down. Review the verse by calling out the numbers in sequence. The groups will jump up and then say their part of the verse. They will remain standing until the verse is complete. Then, shout, Day 7, and the kids will sit down to rest. Do this several times to learn the verse. Just for fun you can call out random numbers. It will be whacky, but the kids will still be hearing and saying the verse to become familiar with it. Snack Provide the kids with an assortment of cracker shapes, minimarshmallows, pretzels, cheese cubes and strips, and small fruits (such as grapes, raisins, cut up strawberries, cherries, mandarin orange slices, pineapple chunks). Their challenge is to create an edible man out of these foods, sticking them together with toothpicks. 11 paper plates toothpicks small fresh fruits dried fruits pretzel sticks cheese cubes mini-marshmallows
We just created something that looked like a man. But, we had resources different kinds of foods to make him from. How was it different when God created the first man? Man was the last thing God created and then the Bible says that He spent Day 7 enjoying His creation. So, let s enjoy our day 6 snack in a day 7 kind of way! As kids build and eat their snacks discuss the other days. Music Every Good and Perfect Thing and Not To Us are the two DVD downloading songs that are included with this unit. These songs were recorded by Yancy, a contemporary preteen worship leader. For more information about other music by Yancy, go to yancynotnancy.com. DVD downloads Take Home Reminder God created the world and everything in, on it, and around it. Isn t it amazing that He thought of everything! He spoke and it came to be. That thought can really rock your world! inflatable globes Give each of the kids an inflatable globe. These can be purchased through orientaltrading.com, IN-49/1290, $14.00/dozen. Game Run copies of the creation cards, one set for each 6 kids you have in attendance. The kids are not in groups at this point. Cut all the cards apart and shuffle them together. Hand them out randomly to the kids, but the kids should not look at them yet. At the signal, the kids will look at their cards. Then, everyone will work at the same time to form a group that has one person with each of the 6 days. When all 6 kids, representing the 6 days of creation, have arms linked together, they will shout, Day 7, God rested! and sit on the floor. copies of creation cards 12
Day 1 Day 2 Day 4 Day 3 Day 6 Day 5