GOD CREATED THE WORLD

GOD CREATED THE WORLD LIFE POINT: People can praise God for creating the world. LEADER BIBLE STUDY CREATION THEME Creation can be credited only to God. BIBLE PASSAGE Genesis 1:1 2:3 UNIT VERSE In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 Have you ever stood on a beach on a clear night and looked up at the sky? It s aweinspiring 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, everything that exists in the physical universe was the result of a gigantic cosmic accident. The problem is, however, their argument violates the most basic concept of logic. Genesis 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? Why does it matter that we are made in God s image? SUGGESTED DATE 8 Unit 1, Session 1

PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Tackle the Torah 1. Arrange the prepared cups, bottoms down, on a table. 2. Invite volunteers, one at a time, to select one cup and read the Bible book name on the bottom. 3. As each name is read aloud, ask: Is this one of the first five books of the Bible? Allow preteens to vote either yes or no. 4. Repeat the process until each cup has been given a yes or no vote. 5. If the group seems uncertain about which of the names is an imposter (Lamentations), allow them to confirm the answer with a Bible. 6. Verify that Lamentations is not one of the first five books in the Bible. Guide the group to arrange the cups, bottoms up, in the proper order. 7. Conclude by explaining that these books are known by several names: the Torah, books of the Law, and the Pentateuch. INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY Basket Toss 1. Arrange the group in a circle, making sure the circle measures about 8 to 10 feet across. Place the wastebasket in the center of the circle. 2. Give each participant a piece of scrap paper, and direct him to form a paper wad. 3. Explain that one at a time, preteens will attempt to toss their paper wads into the wastebasket. Appoint a volunteer to begin the activity. 4. As each piece goes in comment in sportscaster fashion, declaring the shots good or perfect. Encourage the group to applaud as good shots are made. 5. Continue around the circle until someone misses the basket or until each preteen has had a turn. If a preteen misses the wastebasket, guide preteens who have already made a shot to collect a paper wad. Start play once again with the person who missed. Again, encourage participants to cheer and applaud the good shots. 6. When time expires or each preteen in the circle has had several turns, note that we sometimes get excited when someone shoots baskets or does something good in sports. Emphasize that today s lesson reminds us to praise the Creator, who made everything out of nothing and made it good. 7. Play the God Created the World: Introduction video. Bibles disposable cups Write the following Bible book names on the bottom of 6 cups: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Lamentations. Note: Save the cups for use during Practice Bible Skills in session 2. DVD wastebasket or box, scrap paper Teaching Tip: Use your class roll to address and file birthday greetings for each preteen on your roll. Arrange post cards in calendar order. It may be helpful to use sticky notes on each card to remind you when to mail them. DISCIPLEPRETEENS 9

STUDY THE BIBLE Pack Items 1, 2 Teaching Picture 1 DVD CD copy paper, tape Write the numbers 1-7 on separate pieces of paper. Attach the signs at various locations throughout the room. Option: Number Signs (CD) index cards, paper bag Write each review question from session 1 (page 90) on separate cards and place into a paper bag. Option: Review Question Strips (CD) Missions Story: Russia (CD) GETTING TO THE POINT First Things, From the Start Title Banner (Pack Item 1) Direct preteens attention to the title banner. Emphasize that from the start of the world, God created everything in the universe out of absolutely nothing. Invite preteens to pause for a moment and look around themselves. Challenge them to name something they can see that God did not create. Point out that even things that seem completely man-made would be impossible without the raw materials, including the human ingenuity or work, made possible by God s creation. UNIT VERSE CHALLENGE Genesis 1:1 Unit Verse (Pack Item 2) Ask: What is the first book in the Bible? (Genesis) Explain that Genesis 1:1 is the very first verse, in the first chapter, in the first book of the Bible. Display the Genesis 1:1 poster, and lead preteens to recite the verse. Ask the following questions, directing them to repeat the verse after each answer: --What did God create? (heavens and earth) --When did this happen? (in the beginning) --What are the heavens? (stars and space; everything that isn t earth) --What did God create? (everything) Emphasize that this verse sets the mood for everything we know. If God created everything, He can control everything. We can trust the Creator. LOOK IN THE BOOK Teaching Picture 1 Display the Teaching Picture and refer to it throughout today s Bible story. Move the group to sign 1. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:2-5. Allow the group to sum up what God created on the first day. (day and night) Remind preteens that the sun and moon were not created on the first day. Proceed to sign 2. Appoint a volunteer to read Genesis 1:6-8. Encourage the group to summarize the verses. (sky, separating the waters above from waters below) At sign 3, read Genesis 1:9-13 aloud. Guide preteens to recognize that this day included land and plants. Ask why they think God said this part of creation was good? (Answers will vary.) Guide the group to move to sign 4. Prompt a volunteer to read Genesis 1:14-19. Invite preteens to share what was created. (sun, moon, stars) 10 Unit 1, Session 1

LIFE POINT People can praise God for creating the world. Appoint a preteen to read Genesis 1:20-23 at sign 5. Observe that on that day God created fish and birds. At sign 6, allow a reader to share Genesis 1:24-31. Point out that God created land animals and man on this day. Enlist a preteen to read verse 26 aloud. Ask: Who do you think Us refers to? (God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit) Draw attention to the declaration about all God created in verse 31. Proceed to sign 7. Read Genesis 2:1-3. Ask the following questions: --What did God create on the seventh day? (nothing) --What did God do on that day? (He rested.) REVIEW CHALLENGE Musical Review, I Will Rise Up (CD, track 1) Guide preteens to form a circle. Explain that preteens should pass the bag around the circle as the music plays. When the music stops, the preteen holding the bag should pull out a strip of paper, read the question, and attempt to answer it. If the question is answered correctly she keeps the strip, otherwise the strip should be placed back into the bag. MISSIONS EMPHASIS Why is it difficult for kids in Russia to go and tell others about Jesus? Pray. Ask God to give Bible camp leaders in Russia energy and creativity as they plan for the next camp. APPLY THE BIBLE AND PRAY Explain that the word Sabbath means to cease. Explain that in Old Testament times, the Sabbath marked God s seventh day after creation. Explain that Christians observe the Sabbath on Sunday. Invite volunteers to share things from creation for which they can praise God. Show the God Created the World: Life Action video. Lead preteens in prayer, thanking God for all the things mentioned and the many other aspects of creation humans take for granted. DISCIPLEPRETEENS 11

LIVE IT OUT CHOICE 1 Activity Pages scissors, markers, various decorative items, glue or tape copy paper Cut copy paper into 5-by-7-inch pieces. heavyweight paper Cut paper into 5-by-7- inch pieces, then cut a rectangle out of the middle of each piece to create a picture frame. Tape or glue each frame onto a cut piece of copy paper. Prepare 1 for each girl. CHOICE 2 Activity Pages tape; newspaper; bag of dirt (preferably dug from a yard just before class); assorted natural items: leaves, bugs, and so forth; several magnifying glasses CHOICE 1 (GIRLS) A Praise Point of View, Responses to Creation (Activity Page) 1. Pass out the Activity Pages, and ensure that each girl has a Bible. 2. Point out that since we live in the middle of what God created, we sometimes take it for granted. 3. Explain that many writers in the Bible have shared their awe at what God made. Direct girls attention to Responses to Creation on the Activity Page. Form two groups of girls, and guide them to work together to record the part of creation being praised in each verse. As girls finish the activity, briefly discuss their answers. 4. Distribute the prepared frames. Invite each girl to use the supplies provided to write one or more creation Scriptures on her frame from either Genesis 1 or from the verses on the Activity Page. Give girls time to decorate their frames. 5. Suggest that girls place their frames on windows so they are encouraged to look outside at creation with a praising point of view. CHOICE 2 (BOYS) Down in the Dirt, Creation Talkback (Activity Page) 1. Secure the newspaper to the table. Spread the dirt and other items on the newspaper-covered table. If the weather is nice, take boys outside for the activity. 2. Read Psalm 8:1 aloud. Invite boys to use the magnifying glasses and carefully inspect the items to find things worthy of Psalm 8:1. 3. Begin with an example. Note how a leaf exposed to the sun produces the food needed by the tree and oxygen needed by us. 4. As the boys share praiseworthy findings, repeat Psalm 8:1 aloud. 5. Challenge boys to go through the coming week paying attention to the world and praising God for His wonders. 6. Distribute Activity Pages, and guide boys to complete Creation Talkback. 12 Unit 1, Session 1

LIFE POINT People can praise God for creating the world. CHOICE 3 (BOYS AND GIRLS) Blocks Creation Game, Creation Talkback (Activity Page) 1. Form two teams team A and team B. 2. Place index cards facedown on a table in front of the group. 3. Explain that a volunteer from team A will go to the table, choose a card, and use the interlocking blocks to build what is written on the card. Team A will have an opportunity to guess what its team member is building. If they guess correctly they earn a point. If they do not guess correctly, team B will have an opportunity to guess and earn a point for its team. 4. Share that preteens will have one minute to build the item before the team begins to guess what is being built. 5. Explain that each item will represent something God created. Play until each preteen has a chance to participate or as time allows. 6. Congratulate the winning team. 7. If time allows, guide preteens to complete Creation Talkback on the Activity Pages. WRAP UP Show the God Created the World: Wrap Up video. Emphasize that everything we see was created by God. Challenge preteens to live a life of praise for the wonders of creation. Encourage preteens to complete Creation Days on the Activity Page at home. Remind kids to give their DisciplePoints pages to their parents. CHOICE 3 Activity Pages index cards Write the following words on separate cards: tree, horse, cloud, star, sunflower, pumpkin, apple, hay bale Option: Creation Cards (CD) interlocking blocks, stopwatch or timer WRAP UP DVD DISCIPLEPRETEENS 13

The word gospel means good news. It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. Sharing the Gospel with kids GOD RULES. The Bible tells us God created everything, including you and me, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to recite Genesis 1:1 from memory or read it from his Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 and Colossians 1:16-17. JESUS GIVES. Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. WE SINNED. Since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God (Romans 3:23). The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God s punishment of death (Romans 6:23). WE RESPOND. We can respond to Jesus. The ABCs of Becoming a Christian is a simple tool that helps us remember how to respond when prompted by the Holy Spirit to the gift Jesus offers. GOD PROVIDED. Read John 3:16 aloud. God sent His Son Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read Ephesians 2:8-9. ADMIT Admit to God that you are a sinner. The first people God created chose to sin and disobey God. Ever since then, all people have chosen to sin and disobey (Romans 3:23). Tell God you messed up and you are sorry for doing your own thing and turning away from Him through your thoughts, words, and actions. Repent, turn away from your sin. (Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:9) Repent doesn t just mean turning from doing bad things to doing good things. It means turning from sin and even from your own good works and turning to Jesus, trusting only in Him to save you. BELIEVE Believe that Jesus is God s Son and accept God s gift of forgiveness from sin. You must believe that only Jesus can save you and you cannot save yourself from your sin problem not even by praying to God, going to church, or reading your Bible. Your faith or your trust is only in Jesus and what He did for you through His life, death, and resurrection. (Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9) CONFESS Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Tell God and tell others what you believe. If Jesus is your Savior, you are trusting only in Him to save you. Jesus is also Lord, which means He is in charge and calling the shots in your life. You can start following Him and doing what He says in the Bible. You are born again into a new life and look forward to being with God forever. (Romans 10:9-10,13) If you sense that children are under conviction from the Holy Spirit and would like to respond to the good news, spend some time counseling and praying with them individually. If you sense that a child is not ready to pray and respond in faith and repentance, continue to prayerfully teach him about Christ during the week. 94

REVIEW QUESTIONS UNIT 1 SESSION 1 What did God create on the first day? (day and night) What did God create on the second day? (sky, separating the waters above from the waters below) What did God create on the third day? (land, plants) What did God create on the fourth day? (sun, moon, and stars) What did God create on the fifth day? (fish and birds) What did God create on the sixth day? (land animals and man) What did God create on the seventh day? (He created nothing; He rested.) SESSION 2 How did God form man? (out of the dust from the ground, breathed the breath of life into the man s nostrils) What were the two special trees in the garden? (tree of life, tree of the knowledge of good and evil) Why did God place man in the garden of Eden? (to work it and watch over it) What did God tell the man not to do in the garden? (eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) What was the man s responsibility regarding the animals God made? (He named them.) What helper did God create for the man? (woman) What did God use to make the woman? (a rib from the man) SESSION 3 What does the Book of Genesis tell us about Noah s character? (righteous, blameless, and just) Why did God plan to destroy every living thing on Earth? (because of their wickedness) What did God tell Noah to build before the flood? (ark) What did God tell Noah to bring onto the ark? (seven pairs of all clean animals, two of every living creature that is not clean) What did Noah use to determine if the water was receding? (a raven and a dove) How did Noah know when it was time to get off the ark? (God spoke to Noah, telling him it was OK to come out of the ark.) SESSION 4 What sort of possessions did Abram have? (livestock, silver, and gold) Who was Lot? (A relative specifically a nephew to Abram.) Why did Abram and Lot separate? (Their workers were fighting.) Who got to choose which part of the land he would occupy? (Lot, Abram gave him the choice.) Which part of the country did Lot choose? (Jordan Valley) What part of the country did Abram take? (Canaan) What did God promise Abram about the land around him? (He and his descendants would forever have the land.) What did God promise about Abram s descendants? (He would have more than anyone could count.) 90

UNIT 2 SESSION 1 What type of ruler did the Israelites ask God for? (a king) Who was the last judge of Israel? (Samuel) Who was the first king of Israel? (Saul) What was Saul s first unwise choice? (He offered sacrifices instead of waiting on Samuel to arrive.) What was Saul s second unwise choice? (He disobeyed God and did not destroy all of the Amalekites. He kept some of their animals as well.) How did God feel about Saul after he disobeyed? (God rejected Saul as king of Israel.) SESSION 2 Who was the second king of Israel? (David) How did Samuel find David? (Samuel looked at seven of Jesse s sons, but none of them were the one chosen by God. Samuel asked Jesse to bring in his youngest son, David.) Where was David when Jesse called for him? (tending the sheep) What did Samuel do when he met David? (anointed him) What problem did King Saul have? (An evil spirit was tormenting him.) What did King Saul s advisors want to do for him? (find someone to play the harp) What did Jesse do when he learned that King Saul wanted his son to come? (He sent food and gifts with David to give to King Saul.) What happened when David played the harp for King Saul? (The evil spirit left him.) SESSION 3 What was the name of the champion from the Philistine army? (Goliath) Where was David when his father sent for him to take food to his brothers? (watching the sheep) How did the Israelites feel about Goliath? (scared) Who did not believe David could beat Goliath? (David s brother, Eliab; King Saul) What did King Saul try to get David to wear to battle Goliath? (the king s armor) What equipment did David use to fight Goliath? (slingshot and five smooth stones) SESSION 4 Who became David s most faithful friend? (Jonathan) What did Jonathan give David to signify their friendship? (robe, tunic, sword, bow and belt) What was David afraid of? (that King Saul was trying to kill him) How did Jonathan help David discern if Saul was trying to kill him? (Jonathan helped devise a plan for David to miss the feast.) How did Saul react when he realized that David was not at the festival? (He was very angry.) What covenant did Jonathan ask David to make? (That David would never cut off his kindness to Jonathan s family.) SESSION 5 What did the elders of Israel and David do before the Lord? (made a covenant, he became Israel s king) What did David do before he attacked the Philistines? (asked God what He wanted him to do) How did David retrieve the ark of God? (put it on a new cart and all of Israel celebrated) Where was the ark taken first? (the house of Obed-Edom) What did David notice about the house of Obed-Edom? (God was blessing it.) What did David do when he brought the ark to the City of David? (He took six steps and then made a sacrifice. He also danced with all his might.) What did David want to do for the Lord? (build a temple) How did David please God? (He was obedient. He listened. He fought the enemies of God. He brought the ark to the city of David. He collected gold and silver for the temple.) DISCIPLEPRETEENS 91

92 UNIT 3 SESSION 1 Why did God tell Elijah to find the widow in Zarephath? (There was a famine in Israel, and he did not have food.) What did the widow say when Elijah asked her for bread? (that she had no bread, only a little flour and oil) What did Elijah tell the woman that God said about her flour and oil? (the flour would not be used up and the oil would not run dry until the Lord brought rain to the land) How often did the woman make bread during the famine? (every day) What happened to the son during the famine? (He got sick and died.) What did Elijah do to help the woman when her son died? (He cried out to God in prayer and asked Him to let the boy live. He prayed for him in an unusual way.) SESSION 2 Why did Jezebel get mad at Elijah? (He had 450 prophets of Baal killed.) What did Jezebel threaten to do to Elijah? (She threatened to kill him.) What did Elijah do when he heard Jezebel s threats? (He ran away.) What did Elijah pray and ask God to do when he got away from Jezebel? (He asked God to allow him to die.) How did God show care to Elijah when he felt so down? (He allowed him to rest and provided food and water to strengthen him.) SESSION 3 What happened to the woman who asked Elisha for help? (Her husband died.) What did the widow s husband do for his job? (He was a prophet.) Why did the woman need help? (The people who had loaned her husband money threatened to take her sons as slaves as payment for the loan.) What did Elisha ask the woman when she approached him for help? (How can I help you? What do you have in your house?) What did the woman have? (Nothing except a little oil.) What did Elisha tell her to do? (He told her to borrow a large number of empty jars from neighbors and fill them with oil, then to sell the oil so she could pay the debt and have money left to live on.) Why did God provide for this woman with this miracle? (He cared for her and her sons. He showed His power.) SESSION 4 How did the couple in Shunem get to know Elisha? (They had him over for meals when he traveled through their town.) What did the woman in Shunem ask her husband to do? (She suggested they build a room for him.) How did Elisha respond to the couple s hospitality? (Elisha asked them how he could pray for them.) What did Gehazi, Elisha s servant, recognize that the woman did not have? (Gehazi told Elisha that the couple did not have any children.) What did the woman tell Elisha when he told her she would have a child? (She asked him not to get her hopes up.) What happened to the son she had? (He died.) What did the woman do when the son died? (She placed the boy on the bed in Elisha s room, traveled to find Elisha, and told him what happened.) How did the boy come alive again? (Elisha prayed for the boy in an unusual way.)

UNIT 1. SESSION 1 God Created the World CREATION TALKBACK UNIT VERSE In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. GENESIS 1:1 Locate one of the Scriptures below. Read David s response toward creation and then answer the questions. PSALM 8:1-9 What part of creation is praised? What does David say about this part of creation? Do you find that part of creation worthy of praise? PSALM 139:13-16 What part of creation is praised? Do you find that part of creation worthy of praise? What does David say about this part of creation? PSALM 19:1-6 What part of creation is praised? Do you find that part of creation worthy of praise? What does David say about this part of creation? RESPONSES TO CREATION Read these verses to discover what parts of creation people have acknowledged and praised over the centuries. Beside each verse, record the part of creation being praised. IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Nehemiah 9:6 Job 26:8 Job 9:8 Job 28:26 Job 26:13 Psalm 65:6 Psalm 24:1 Psalm 94:9 Psalm 136:6 Jeremiah 32:17 Jeremiah 27:5 John 1:3 CREATION DAYS Can you recall what God created on each of the first seven days? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 DISCIPLEPRETEENS 3

- follow up CREATION THEME Creation can be credited only to God. DISCIPLEHOME Parents, today your preteen 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 preteen praise God for His creation. Read together Psalm 104, David s psalm of praise to God for His creation. Help your tween write his own praise for God s creation. GOD CREATED THE WORLD GENESIS 1:1 2:3 In the very beginning, the earth had no shape or form. Darkness covered the deep waters and God hovered over them. Then He spoke, Let there be light. And there was light. God knew it was good. Next, He separated the light and the darkness and called them day and night. This made the very first day, ever! God spoke again. He created a great expanse with water above and water below. He called it sky. This was the second day. On the third day, God spoke again. He pulled together all the water under the sky and called it seas. The dry land He called earth. He made plants and trees. He saw that it was good. The next day, God spoke again and made the sun, moon, and stars. And He saw that it was good. This was the fourth day. God said, Let the waters be full of living creatures and let the birds fly in the sky. He saw that it was good. This was the fifth day. On the sixth day, God made animals and man. He made male and female and told them to fill the earth. God saw all He had made and it was very good. From nothing to all creation was done in six days. God rested on the seventh day and declared it holy. DISCIPLEFOCUS: Genesis 1:1 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 DISCIPLEPOINT: People can praise God for creating the world. 4