May 7, 2016
This week’s study is titled,
“Creation”
What do you believe as to how the world came into being? Is it that God created it or that it evolved somehow or a combination of both?
The public school systems in the western world generally teach Darwin’s ‘Theory of Evolution’.
What do you base your beliefs on? How sure are you? Is it important to be sure? Why/why not?
The purpose of this study is to look at what the Bible says regarding how the world came into being
1. God Created.
Read Genesis 1:1-31. In a general sense what does this passage teach us regarding creation?
What does ‘In the beginning’ refer to? When was it?
What do the beginning of many of the verses which tell us ‘God said, God saw, God called, God blessed, etc.’ teach us regarding God’s involvement and how He created the world?
What does Colossians 1:15-17 and John 1:3-4 tell us about Christ’s involvement in creation? Who else was involved? Genesis 1:2.
2. God’s Story Is Unique.
How can you be certain God’s story is true? Discuss the significance of the following….
“ God’s story has unfolded over a 1600 year period through 40 different people who wrote at different times & in different places. Despite this extended time period & multiple sources – the fact that the story they wrote has a unified, consistent message & meaning is a very compelling case for the authenticity of what we read in the Bible.”*
“The Bible is punctuated with statements that were future events at the time they were given. The Bible is unique among all books ever written because it accurately foretells numerous specific events, in detail, sometimes centuries, before they occurred, even naming people who were not yet alive at the time when they were written about. Scholars who have looked into this aspect of the Bible tell us that there are a total of 1,817 references in the Bible that cover 8,352 verses, where the author of the Biblical text has written about something that for them was in the future. God has put His credibility on the line when He placed in His story aspects that at the time when they were written had not yet happened.”*
Can you think of any examples of this?
3. Creation Speaks.
Read Psalm 19:1-4. What does creation tell us about God its Creator?
Discuss….
“Creation itself is one of the most compelling proofs of the existence & identity of the Creator.” *
Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.
4. Genesis Chapters 1 and 2.
Compare both chapters keeping mind George’s following comments,
“In Gen. 1 the creation narrative presents the broad sweep of creation with attention on the details of the physical & natural environment. The focus of Gen. 2 is not an alternative creation narrative, but a complementary creation narrative. In Gen 2 the focus is on the details of the creation of man within the natural & physical environment described in Gen 1.”*
“God in His identity in relation to the natural world of creation is, majestic, sovereign, transcendent, but in relation to man He is Lord – personal, relational, imminent, knowable.”*
Do you find this helpful? If so share how with the rest of you group.
6. Evolution.
Discuss in your group your understanding of ‘The Theory of Evolution’.
“The underlying assumptions of evolution are…
“The challenge for these evolutionary assumptions is that the world they claim came into being by blind chance, randomness & accidental unguided forces is a world that looks like it has been designed, works like it has been designed, it has the precision of something that has been designed, & in many cases could not have come about unless it was designed.”*
Why do you think natural man does not want to believe in the existence of God the Creator?
7. Conclusion.
“But the bottom line is this … It is far more important to get the theology of creation right than it is to get the science of creation right. Why is this?
a. It is the theology of creation that gives a meaning & a purpose to the way that you live your life,
b. It is the theology of creation that points to the hope & future of an eternal destiny.
The choice is to trust the one who is the Alpha & Omega who has the answer for what is first & what is last – or you can trust science which has the answer to neither of these.
Science can attempt to say something about HOW but it has nothing to say about “WHY?” and “WHAT FOR?” or “WHERE TO?” It is the “WHY?” & the “WHAT FOR?” & the “WHERE TO?” that are the 3 crucial questions that provide the reason, the relevance & the roadmap for human existence.”*
Has this study been helpful in affirming your beliefs this world was created by the God of the Bible?
Has it better equipped you to know how to speak with those who believe in evolution? Share your answers with your group.
(*quotes taken from George’s message on Sunday)