Lesson #9: Old Testament: Creation

HIGHS AND LOWS: (10 minutes)
Write down one high and one low from your week in your prayer journal.  Pastor Breen will gather them in prayer.

REVIEW: (3 minutes)
What is one thing you remember from last class?  What did you learn about Daniel?  Daniel’s friends?  King Nebuchadnezzar?  King Cyrus?  Refer to your one sentence summary in your prayer journal from last week if you are having trouble with recall.  Share your answers with the group.

GATHERING ACTIVITY: (5 minutes)
Materials:  clay or paper and markers
Activity:  use the clay or paper and markers to represent something that God created.  Attach it (or a photo of it) to this page, along with your explanation of what it is and why you chose it.

OUT LOUD PRAYER/LIGHTING THE CANDLE: (2 minutes)
Take turns thanking God for whatever part of creation that your sculpture/drawing represented.
Each petition can end:  Creator God, for this we thank you.

DEFINITIONS:
Dominion:  The power to rule.  To be in charge of.

DWELLING IN THE WORD:  (30 minutes)
First, read Genesis 1:1-2:3 from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (take turns reading aloud, verse by verse).  Answer the following questions about the whole story as completely as possible (group activity:  do this with your parents):

Comprehension Questions:

1. When God created the heavens and the earth, what was the earth like (verse 2)?
2. What was sweeping over the waters (verse 2)?
3. What was the first thing God said (verse 3)?
4. What did God think about the first thing God created (verse 4)?
5. What did God create on the second day (verse 6-8)?
6. What did God create on the third day (verse 9-12)?
7. What did God think about these things (verse 12)?
8. What did God create on the fourth day (verse 14-18)?
9. What did God think about these things (verse 18)?
10. What did God create on the fifth day (verse 20-23)?
11. What did God think about these things (verse 21)?
12. What did God say when God blessed what was created on the fifth day (verse 22)?
13. What is the first thing God created on the sixth day (verse 24-25)?
14. What did God think about these things (verse 25)?
15. What did God create next (verse 26)?
16. In what image was this created (verse 27)?
17. What was this creation’s role in creation (verse 28)?
18. What did God say when God blessed these things (verse 28)?
19. What did God give to them (verse 29-30)?
20. What did God think about everything that God had made (verse 31)?
21. What did God do on the seventh day (verse 2:2)?
22. What did God decide to do about this day (verse 2:3)?

Content Questions:

What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?

What is my favorite part of this text?  Why?

What stories or memories does this text stir up in you?  You might remember a time when you made something from scratch, or went star-gazing, or rested.

What is God doing in this text?  What is God up to?

BIBLE ACTIVITY: (5 minutes)
In the margin of the story we just studied, put the number next to the paragraph that describes each day.  Then, in each paragraph, circle a few words in the text that remind you of what God created or did on each day.  For instance, you would put a number 1 next to the paragraph of verses 1-5.  You would circle “Day” and “Night” to remind you what God created.  The next time you look at this story in your Bible, you will be able to see the general outline of it before you get down to reading the whole text!

TALKING TO GOD/TAKING IT HOME (5 minutes)

1. During this week, in your prayers, try using “Creator God” as your title for God. Remember to thank him for the things that you have listed above.
2. Write a one sentence summary in your prayer journal. In this sentence, describe your answer to the question “What did you learn about in Confirmation class this week?” in as much detail as possible.
3. Conclude your time together with the Lord’s Prayer.