To draw out some of the main principles of the creation account. In this lesson we will look at how:
· God is the initiator and sustainer of the created world
· God existed prior to and is sperate to creation
Requirements:
· Coloured cardboard, sticky tape and scissors
· Overhead projector with 'Behind the scenes' transparencies
· Bibles
Lesson:
· The creation stories in the Bible are not simply nice stories about how the world began. The first 11 chapters of the Bible contain many important principles that form the Christian understanding of why things are like they are in the world.
Activity 1: Cube Activity
· Give everyone a square of cardboard, scissors and sticky tape. Without any specific directions, instruct students to construct a cube. Give students up to 15 minutes.
· Discussion about the activity
·Did everyone take the same amount of time to make the cube?
·Did everyone make it in the same way?
·Could the cube have just appeared on its own?
·What was needed for the cube to appear? (Focus on concept of having a plan)
· Review Genesis 1, with reference to the phrase 'And God said' with the corresponding action.
· From this we can say that
GOD WAS THE INITIATOR IN FORMING OUR WORLD
Activity 2: Hand Drawing Itself
· Examine the picture of the hand drawing itself as on overhead.
· Discussion
· What is unusual about this picture? (that is, the hand appears to come off the page to draw itself)
·Is this really possible?
·Can the created object also be the Creator?
· Pantheism is the belief that God is a part of creation, and that God is the plants and animals on the earth and even the earth itself. This is the worldview behind much indigenous beliefs and tree hugging hippies.
· Christians agree that creation clearly reveals the qualities of its Creator and that creation reveals God. They believe, however, that God cannot be completely identified with creation. Such a separation from creation must be a reality if God is thought of as existing prior to the created order.
· Bible reference: Romans 1:20
· From this was can say that
GOD IS NOT IDENTICAL TO THE CREATED WORLD
