LEADERS GUIDE 23

Session Profile
Focus point: Through his act of creation, God displayed his majesty, wisdom, goodness,
and power.
Scripture: Genesis 1-2; Psalm 90:1-2; Revelation 4:11
Key verses: Genesis 1:1, 31a
Building Block #3: What is Gods relationship to the world?
God created the world by his Word, sustains it by his power, and entrusts it to the
care of human beings.
You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For
you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.
Revelation 4:11, NLT
Objectives: In this session, students will
1) make observations about God as the creator of the universe;
2) explore the two accounts of creation;
3) note what the two accounts of creation tell us about God; and
4) describe their relationship with God.
Content synopsis
God created the universe from nothing.
God created humans.
God deemed his creation "good.
We can learn about God's nature by exploring his methods and purpose for creating
the universe.
Getting to
Know Our
Session Three
Maker
Preparation
O Creation Station (Introduce, option 1): Gather markers, playdough, scissors, construc-
tion and plain paper, paper clips, staplers, pipe cleaners, and glue sticksenough for
the whole class.
O Getting to Know You (Introduce, option 2): Create blank tic-tac-toe grids using a
whole sheet of paper for each grid. Make one for every two to three students. On one
of the grids, paste a magazine picture of a person in each section, filling five of the
squares with pictures of celebrities and four squares with pictures of people unknown
to your students.
O Who Made This? (Introduce, option 3): Collect five different manufactured items (such
as computer mouse, stuffed animal, spoon).
O Gods World (Instruct/Interact): Collect paper, markers, and masking tape. Copy
Gods World Instructions (Leaders Guide, page 27) and cut into four sections.
O God and Creation (Instruct/Interact): Make a copy of the Fact FinderCreation
handout (Leaders Guide, page 28) for each student.
O Note: An essay on creation and evolution is included in the Appendices on page 406.
Introduce
Creation Station (option 1)
1) Lay out all supplies (see above). Instruct students either to create something of their own
choosing or to select something they would find in creation.
2) Ask them to breathe life into it.
3) Explain that being created in Gods image enables us to also create. But today we will be explor-
ing the great creatorGod.
Getting to Know You (option 2)
1) Have students form groups of two or three and give each group a blank tic-tac-toe grid.
2) Show the students the tic-tac-toe grid you prepared before class. Instruct groups to write a
description of each person on your grid in the corresponding squares of their grid.
3) When all the groups have finished, have a representative from each group share what they wrote
in each square.
4) Discuss the following questions:
a) How did you decide what to write about each person?
b) What was the difference between describing someone you had heard about and some-
one you had never seen before?
c) How is this activity like the way we make conclusions about people we meet? How is it
different?
d) How do we get to know someone we dont know?
5) Introduce todays session by saying something such as, In the activity we just did, we made
conclusions about people based on what we had heard about them and/or on what we saw in
their pictures. Today, were going to learn more about God as we explore Gods creation of
the universe. And unlike the impersonal way we know the people in the pictures, well get to
know God personally.
24 THE JOURNEY
Who Made This? (option 3)
1) If you have a small class, have the students work together with all the items. If you have a large
class, form five groups and hand each group one of the items you collected before class.
2) Give each group a few minutes to discuss the type of person who might have invented that par-
ticular item and ask groups to share their conclusions.
3) Summarize the activity by explaining that just as the class made conclusions about people based
on their inventions, today you will examine how the world was created and by doing so will
learn something about God.
Instruct/Interact
The Creator Known by His Creation
1) Summarize ways people get to know each other. Suggest that to really get to know people, you
must pay attention to their words and actions.
2) Explain that in the same way, a person learns about God by reading about Gods words and
actions in the Bible. In this lesson you will explore how God created everything, and as you see
God in action, you will also discover some things about Gods character.
3) Summarize Genesis 1-2.
a) Genesis 1 and 2 report two different accounts of creation.
b) There is a logical and systematic pattern to Genesis 1. It identifies God as the creator of
the universe and everything in it. God gave order to the universe, separating the night
from day, the waters from the sky, and land from sea, and creating plants, animals, and
finally, humans. God creates by his word.
c) Genesis 2 is told as a story. In fact, the name Adam refers to humankind and the name
Eve is associated with life. Genesis 2 describes God in relation to his creation and
care of humans. God is described in more personal terms as Lord God. God creates
humans to be in relationship with the entire creation, with each other, and with God.
God lovingly cares for his creation, providing food and shelter. In Genesis 2 God cre-
ates by action. Word and action go hand in hand as God interacts with his creation.
d) Together the two creation accounts give us the Bibles first glimpse of God. As we
watch God work, we learn that God is majestic, wise, good, and powerful and that God
cares for his creation.
Gods World
1) If you have a small group, do this activity together. If you have a large group divide the class
into four groups and give each group several sheets of blank paper and an assortment of mark-
ers.
2) Explain that together youll create a comic strip called Gods World with each student or
group creating a different part of the strip.
3) Give each group or student one of the sections from Gods World Instructions to follow.
4) While individuals or groups work, copy the table Comparing Creation Accounts from the
next activity onto the board.
5) When everyone has finished creating their individual parts of the comic strip, tape the sheets to
a wall. Tape the pictures from group 1 and group 2 next to each other, and group 3 and group 4
below them.
God and Creation
1) You may stay in the same groups for this part of the session.
2) Hand out Fact FinderCreation grids to each student.
3) Have students or groups briefly note or describe how their passage illustrates the characteristics
LEADERS GUIDE 25
of God. Each passage does not necessarily illustrate all six characteristics. Use the other
category to note additional characteristics of God. You might want to note the
students responses on the board.
4) Conclude this section by going over the key verses (Genesis 1:1, 31a) and Building Block #3.
Ask your class, What do we learn about God from this Building Block?
Integrate
The Heavens Tell of the Glory of God
1) Journal Review. Discuss the following: Based on what we have read today, describe what God
is like. Include the creation accounts but also the Scripture passages from the Time with God
section, beginning on page 23 of the Old Testament journal. You can do this individually on
paper first, or discuss in pairs or as a large group. Ask your class, What is the good news in
todays session?
2) Pray together, encouraging students to pray for others in the class and to praise God for one
aspect of his character theyve discovered during todays session.
For Next Week
Students will read about what it means to be created in Gods image. Remind them to
review Building Block #4, What does it mean to be a human being? Encourage students
to spend time with God daily. You might want to work through Day One of next weeks
Time with God together to encourage your students in this discipline.
26 THE JOURNEY
LEADERS GUIDE 27
Read Cenesis J.J-J9.
Draw what the universe looked like before God
began creating. Then draw a picture for each
day of creation described in this passage. Draw
what creation looked like at the end of each day.
Be prepared to explain how creation developed
from one day to the next. Also be ready to
answer this question:
How does this passage illustrate Gods power,
wisdom, and care?
Read Cenesis J.?U-?.S.
Draw a picture for each day of creation
described in this passage. Draw what creation
looked like at the end of each day. Be prepared
to explain how creation developed from one day
to the next. Also be ready to answer this ques-
tion:
How does this passage illustrate Gods power,
wisdom, and care?
Read Cenesis ?.-J?.
Draw a picture of what the earth looked like
before God made humans. Then draw a picture
of what the earth looked like after God made
humans. Be prepared to summarize the story
and answer this question:
How does this passage illustrate Gods power,
wisdom, and care?
Read Cenesis ?.JS-?b.
Draw at least two pictures representing this part
of the story. Be prepared to summarize the story
and answer this question:
How does this passage illustrate Gods power,
wisdom, and care?
Gods World Instructions...
J ?
S

28 THE JOURNEY
Cen.J.J-J9 Cen.J.2U-2.S Cen. 2.-J? Cen. 2.JS-2b
God brings
order out of
confusion.
Other
Gods creation
is good and to
be enjoyed.
God created us
to have a personal
relationship with
him and creation.
God cares for
his creation.
God has the
power to do
what he says.
God is our
creator.
Fact FinderCreation...
Look up the passages below, then answer the following questions for each Judge. Be prepared to teach
others what you learn.