Today s EPIC Story: Creation Genesis 1

Transcription

1 Today s EPIC Story: Creation Genesis 1 Level 1 Lesson 1 Look Ahead... Here s a look at what you ll be doing to help kids connect to God s EPIC story: Engaging the Story (10 minutes): Ideas for early arrival students Small group activity to help kids anticipate the story Entering & Exploring the Story (20-25 minutes): Large group worship Large group Bible story with wondering questions Experiencing the Story (10-15 minutes): Small group activities to help students personally enter into the story Hands-on, active, living in God s EPIC story Expressing the Story (10-15 minutes): Small group activities to help students think and reflect on what the story reveals about God and us Small group activities designed to connect God s EPIC Story into real life today Praying Through the Story (5 minutes): REFLECT ON THE WORD Genesis 1:1-10 describes the process of God forming the various areas of the world that He will later fill. From a formless world, days 1-3 describe light created, light and darkness being separated, the sky separated from seas, and the seas separated from the dry land. These great areas of creation are given their appropriate boundaries and later will have distinct and important purposes. They will become the canvas on which God will create the sun, moon, birds, fish, plants, and ultimately humans. God will fill the now-formed but empty world on days 3-6. Out of the chaos of verse 2, God brings order so that life can begin. Each step builds on the previous to make an environment where God can bring forth life. The Hebrew word used for create is only used of God s activity, never human. While humans have creativity, only God can create from nothing. With a word, He speaks into existence what was not there before. Moreover, the result of His creative activity is always good. God has revealed himself in marvelous ways through creation. So what does the Creator s work tell us about Him? This is the question students will have the opportunity to reflect upon. Purposeful prayer time with the kids Memorizing the Story (5-10 minutes): Small group activities designed to help kids memorize scriptures found in the Bible from God s EPIC Story Unless noted otherwise, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV ). Copyright 2011 by Biblica Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright 2012 by WordAction Publishing Company. Permission to copy for local church use only. All other uses contact the publisher. All rights reserved. 1

2 ENGAGING THE STORY Every week you will be provided an Early Arrival Activity for your small group. Level 1 Lesson 1 Each week you will be provided a specific small group activity designed to help kids prepare for and anticipate the EPIC story that they will experience during Large Group. Early Arrival Idea... Creation Stations As students are coming into your classroom, here s an idea to prepare them for the story. Set up stations that will give students the opportunity to use their imaginations to CREATE something. You provide the materials; allow them to provide the creativity! Here are some ideas of what stations could look like and the materials that would be needed. Be sure to use language that encourages creativity during these activities. Create an atmosphere that is well managed; but also encourages children to be themselves. Canvas Station Provide blank sheets of paper, pencils, markers, crayons or any other writing utensil you can think of. Allow your students freedom to CREATE on this blank sheet. Building Station Provide Lego s or any other type of building blocks and allow your students space to build, CREATE, and (of course) tear down! Music Station This is a great idea for Early Childhood! Provide musical instruments, (rain sticks, bells, maracas, etc.) then give them room to express themselves! Storybooks Supply List (See specific You ll need list for each activity) Bibles; Books: Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs, The Cat in the Hat; Black construction paper; Masking tape; Variety of fruit; Lemon juice; Paper plates and napkins; Large Ziploc bags; Butcher paper/chart paper or newsprint; Crayons; Markers; Play Doh; poster board; Bible Memory Cards activity sheet; Scissors; Envelopes Say something like... Everyone LOVES a story, right? Do you have a favorite story that you like to hear? Today I ve brought with me a few stories of my own, but I need your help in remembering the titles or names. At this time, go through the first three images/books (Little Red Riding Hood, Three Little Pigs, and The Cat in the Hat), one by one. Let the students tell you the titles of the stories before you go onto the next. Then say, What about this next picture? (Show the blank piece of black construction paper). See what responses the students give, then conclude by saying, This story is OUR story! All the favorite stories we looked at today are special, but not near as special as this one. Many years ago, our story yours, mine, this whole world s story started out like this black piece of paper, blank. But what is good for us, the author of our story, God, would soon change all that. Today, we re going to talk about how our story went from a blank page to what it is now! Picture of Little Red Riding Hood (Search Internet for image) or a copy of the book Picture of The Three Little Pigs (Search Internet for image) or a copy of the book Picture of The Cat in the Hat (Search Internet for image) or a copy of the book Sheet of black construction paper Transition: Say, Today, we will talk more about God s creation and think about what it teaches us about Him. Move to the location where your students will hear the Bible story. 2

3 Level 1 Lesson 1 Copy your choice of Bible story (p. 14 or 16) to tell at this point. Insert it here. We recommend the story for younger children. AFTER THE BIBLE STORY Experiencing the Story Expressing the Story Praying the Story Memorizing the Story EXPERIENCING THE STORY (CHOOSE FROM THESE ACTIVITIES) Days of the Week Set Up... Before class, mark out a circle on the floor with masking tape. Use painter s removable tape to decrease residue on carpet and make for easier clean up. It should be about two feet across. Divide the circle into seven sections. With masking tape, create a number for each section 1-7. Masking tape or painter s removable tape Say something like... There are seven days in a week. Let s say the name of each day together. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. In our Bible story, we learned what God did during the seven days of creation. Count to seven with the children as each hop around the circle starting with number one. Say, God created the world. In the beginning there was only God. Then God made everything! Expand the activity: Say the ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.) with the children as they hop on the numbers. For those who want more challenge, say a number and ask the child to hop on that number. Then say the days of the week in coordination with the numbers. Say, God created the world and everything in it. What did God do on the seventh day after He had created everything? (Rested) Fruit Basket Set Up... Gather the supplies. Thoroughly clean and dry all fruit. Place the unsliced fruit in the basket. Slice a piece of each fruit. Place in a Ziploc bag and coat with a small amount of lemon juice. Before serving the fruit to the children, rinse off the lemon juice. Pass out the fruit to the children. Say something like... God made each kind of fruit that we see here. He thought of wonderful things for people before He even made them. We can enjoy these creations and remember that God loves us and cares for us. Identify fruit colors with preschoolers. Talk about favorite fruits. Say, God made the world. God made fruit. Thank You, God, for creating food to eat. Apples, bananas, oranges, pears, and peaches in a basket Cleaned, sliced apple, banana, orange, pear, and peach (prepare enough fruit for each child to have a small amount of each) Lemon juice Paper plates, napkins Large Ziploc bags to store sliced fruits Expand the activity: Allow children to close their eyes and guess which fruit they taste. Then have children match the sliced fruit to the unsliced fruit in the basket. Ask, What other kinds of fruit did God make? What else did God, our Creator, make? We can praise God for His creation. This week, remember to thank God for all that He has made. Thank You, God, for creating food to eat! 3

4 Level 1 Lesson 1 EXPRESSING THE STORY Journal Option Open the Bible and help the kids open their Bibles to Genesis 1:26 2:3. Read the text aloud or read the story from your favorite Children s Bible. Say something like... Let s think together about what happened in today s EPIC story. What pictures do you have in your mind? What is really cool? What s really sad? What does our story tell us about God? Share your thoughts and I ll record them for us to remember and look back on. Group journal by recording words, sentences, phrases, and pictures that the kids share on chart paper, butcher paper, or newsprint. Hang each week s group journal in chronological order around the room. Refer back to them to connect the stories and themes in the kids minds. Active Option Bibles Butcher paper/chart paper or newsprint Crayons or marker Open the Bible and help the kids open their Bibles to Genesis 1:26 2:3. Read the text aloud. Then, pass out a small container of Play Doh to each student. Say something like... We ve talked about many things that God created today. Use your Play Doh to make one of the things that you re thankful that God created. Think about why you re thankful that God created that particular thing. Bibles Small container of Play Doh or modeling clay for each student After the kids have had a few moments to create, ask them to share what they made and why they re thankful for it. 1. I wonder, what do you think is one of the best things God created? (Answers will vary) 2. When you think about all the amazing things God made, what do those things tell you about God? (Answers will vary) PR AYING THE STORY Set up... Create a prayer board for your small group. Each week add requests and praises to the poster. Talk about and record requests and praises. Spend time in prayer, modeling this for children. If you wish, allow children to say sentence prayers for the requests and praises before you close in prayer. Bless them as they leave, Thank You, God, for [child s name]. Help [child s name] to have a good week with You. Help [child s name] to see the beauty of Your creation and praise You for it each day. MEMORIZING THE STORY Poster board Markers Set up... Download and copy the Bible Memory Cards activity sheet. Make copies for each small group. Cut apart the cards and place in envelopes for ease of use. The memory verse for the first four lessons is Nehemiah 9:6. Have the preschoolers and kindergartners learn the underlined portion of the verse. You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all Bible Memory Cards activity sheet Scissors Envelopes 4

5 Level 1 Lesson 1 their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. Display the cards for the portion your students are going to be learning. Point to each card and read the words to the children. Have them repeat the verse after you. 5

6 ENGAGING THE STORY: Every week you will be provided an Early Arrival Activity for your small group. Each week you will be provided a specific small group activity designed to help kids prepare for and anticipate the EPIC story that they will experience during Large Group. Early Arrival Idea... Creation Stations Level 2 Lesson 1 As students are coming into your classroom, here s an idea to prepare them for the story. Set up stations that will give students the opportunity to use their imaginations to CREATE something. You provide the materials; allow them to provide the creativity! Here are some ideas of what stations could look like and the materials that would be needed. Be sure to use language that encourages creativity during these activities. Create an atmosphere that is well managed; but also encourages children to be themselves. Canvas Station Provide blank sheets of paper, pencils, markers, crayons or any other writing utensil you can think of. Allow your students freedom to CREATE on this blank sheet. Building Station Provide Lego s or any other type of building blocks and allow your students space to build, CREATE, and (of course) tear down! Chef Station Provide bagels, spreads, toppings (fruit is a great idea!), and then encourage your students to be as creative as possible when CREATING their perfect breakfast snack! Family Stories Supply List (See specific list for each activity) Bibles; Flashlights; Family photos; Play-Doh; Props for retelling the story; Butcher paper/chart paper or newsprint; Epic Journals; Pens, pencils, crayons, markers; Bible Memory Cards activity sheet; Scissors; Envelopes Set Up... You will need to distribute your flashlights to students in your classroom. You will then give them a cue so that they know when to turn it on (Could be something as easy as let there be light and then tap the student on the shoulder). As you are getting ready to start the lesson, instruct a student to turn off the lights. Now you re ready to begin! 3-5 flashlights Pictures of YOUR family (the older the better, characters in your life s story) Say something like... Today we re going to talk about the beginning of all stories. Just like we re sitting in darkness, our story begins in darkness. Now, periodically begin to give your flashlight holders their cues make the cues sporadic enough to last through the whole engaging session. And like most good stories, the beginning introduces you to the main characters. Can you think about YOUR story? Who are some of the characters in your life s story? Talk about the characters in your life (parents, siblings, and friends) to encourage your students to do likewise. Then begin showing pictures of your family and say, Here are some of the characters in my story. And if you look close enough, you might see some of the places that are in my story. What about your story? What about your parents story? Can you think of important places, people, or things that are in your story? Try to make the story bigger than just the student. Talk about important places (like where you were born, where your parents were born; places that have impacted you). Now, conclude by making sure that all the flashlights are on, and say, We all have a story, and the neat thing is that WE ALL SHARE A STORY. 6

7 Level 2 Lesson 1 Transition: Say, Today, we re going to look at the beginning of all stories. Before there was even light, one character, the main character, existed. And that s where our story begins; with God and a whole lot of potential. Move to the location where your students will hear today s EPIC Bible story. Copy your choice of Bible story (p. 14 or 16) to tell at this point. Insert it here. AFTER THE BIBLE STORY Experiencing the Story Expressing the Story Praying the Story Memorizing the Story EXPERIENCING THE STORY (CHOOSE ONE OR BOTH OF THE ACTIVITIES) Out of Nothing Modeling dough or Play Doh Set Up... Gather enough modeling dough for each of your students to have a small workable amount. You can buy Play-Doh in party favor packs. ***An option is to make your own dough. Combine 1 cup each of flour and water, 1/2 cup of salt, and a tablespoon each of cooking oil and cream of tartar. Stir these ingredients over low heat until they form a ball. Add a touch of food coloring if desired. Remove from heat and, when cool enough to touch, knead for several minutes. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate. You can multiply this recipe to make as much dough as necessary for the size of your class. Say something like... I m going to give each of you a small lump of modeling dough. Use your imagination and create anything you wish. Give the students several minutes to mold their creations, and then allow the students to show off their creations. Say, Whenever we decide to make something, we have to start with raw materials. Your creation started out as a lump of dough. However, God did not need materials to make the world. He created everything out of nothing. I wonder, what does that tell you about God, about who He is and what He can do? List of items for making your own modeling clay: Flour, salt, cooking oil, cream of tartar Cooking utensils Plastic wrap Plastic sandwich bags Food coloring (optional) Give your students a plastic sandwich bag so they can take their dough creations home. A Creation Play Set Up... Display any props you will use and clear an area of the classroom to be the stage. Say something like... Today we are going to create a play based on the EPIC creation story we ve learned about. I have a stack of props here; I want you to use your imaginations to create a play. You can assign me a role within the drama as well. Let the children decide who will pretend to be plants, birds and animals, and the heavenly bodies. Make sure one child volunteer is assigned to be the narrator. If props are available, let the students choose which ones will help them play their parts. Have students act out their parts in the stage area as the narrator reads the story. Props, such as silk flowers, leaves, bowl of water, feathers, animal masks, etc. 7

8 Level 2 Lesson 1 EXPRESSING THE STORY Journal Option Set Up... Download and copy the EPIC Journal Cover and Activity Sheet from the website, one for each student. Follow the directions on the sheet to make a journal for each student. Say something like... Let s think together about what happened in our story today. What pictures do you have in your mind? What is really cool? What s really sad? What does our story tell us about God? What does our story tell us about us? Share your thoughts by writing or drawing whatever comes to your mind on our large paper. Have the kids gather around chart paper, butcher paper, or newsprint to record their thoughts and ideas. Take some time to talk about what the kids wrote and drew and allow them to comment or explain further. Hang each week s group journal in chronological order around the room. Refer back to them to connect the stories and themes in the kids minds. After reviewing the chart paper, say something like... Wow, the account of God s creative work truly is an EPIC story! There s a lot to think about from today s story. Let s take some time to reflect in our EPIC Journals. (Give students time to personally reflect on the Story.) Active Option Butcher paper/chart paper or newsprint Epic Journals Pens, pencils, crayons, markers Say something like... Today we ve heard together our first story... the story of God who created us with incredible love and intentionality. God created us in His image and one component of that is our ability to be creative. I m going to give each of you small container of Play Doh. I want you to creatively make a model of something from our story today. It could be something that amazes you, makes you sense God s love for His creation, or that you re particularly thankful for. Be ready to share what your model represents for you. Bibles A small container of Play Doh for each student After the kids have had a few moments to create, ask them to share what they made and what it means to them. 1. I wonder, what do you think is one of the best things God created? (Answers will vary) 2. When you think about all the amazing things God made, what do those things tell you about God? (Answers will vary) PR AYING THE STORY Give students a moment or two to think of a creation for which they are thankful. Then ask them to think about what they ve thought of and what it reveals about God, who He is, and what He is like. Have students pray in short phrases, something like... I praise You, God, for creating [name of item] because it shows me... Close the prayer by thanking God for all the incredible things He has created and for what they reveal about Him. Ask God to help students this week to discover more about Him as they notice His creations. 8

9 Level 2 Lesson 1 MEMORIZING THE STORY Set up... Download and copy the Bible Memory Cards activity sheet. Make copies for each small group. Cut apart the cards and place in envelopes for ease of use. The memory verse for the first four lessons is Nehemiah 9:6. You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. Bible Memory Cards activity sheet Scissors Envelopes Let students use the Bible Memory Cards to practice the verse. 9

10 Level 3 Lesson 1 ENGAGING THE STORY Every week you will be provided an Early Arrival Activity for your small group. Each week you will be provided a specific small group activity designed to help kids prepare for and anticipate the EPIC story that they will experience during Large Group. Early Arrival Idea... Creation Stations As students are coming into your classroom, here s an idea to prepare them for the story. Set up stations that will give students the opportunity to use their imaginations to CREATE something. You provide the materials; allow them to provide the creativity! Here are some ideas of what stations could look like and the materials that would be needed. Be sure to use language that encourages creativity during these activities. Create an atmosphere that is well managed; but also encourages children to be themselves. Supply List (See specific You ll need list for each activity) Bibles; Paper; Black construction paper; White chalk; Paper lunch bags; Do Your Own Thing activity sheet; Play-Doh; Butcher paper/ chart paper or newsprint; Epic Journals; Post-it notes; Pens, pencils, crayons, markers; Bible Memory Cards student activity sheet; Scissors; Envelopes Canvas Station Provide blank sheets of paper, pencils, markers, crayons or any other writing utensil you can think of. Allow your students freedom to CREATE on this blank sheet. Building Station Provide Lego s or any other type of building blocks and allow your students space to build, CREATE, and (of course) tear down! Chef Station Provide bagels, spreads, toppings (fruit is a great idea!), and then encourage your students to be as creative as possible when CREATING their perfect breakfast snack! Family Stories Set Up... Place the project paper (or copy paper) on the table there should be enough room for each student to have their own space to work with. Pens and writing utensils (other than the white chalk) should be placed on the tables for the students use. Say something like... Today we re going to step into the mind of the most creative being that ever was or ever will be. That might seem like a fairly large task, but to our benefit we ve been given a great tool to help us. God s Word, which is also referred to as God s Story will be our guide. Before we get to this amazing and true story, let s look at what it means to be creative. Big roll of project paper (or a bunch of sheets of blank copy paper) Table Pens, pencils, and/or markers Black construction paper White chalk One blank piece of paper Have the students gather around the paper covered table. Say, You are standing around a blank canvas. There are so many possibilities before you. What I want you to do is tap into your creative side. You have ONE MINUTE to write down as many creative words as possible. Instruct the students to start. After time is up, hand each student a blank piece of black construction paper, along with a piece of white chalk. Now, I want you to take another few minutes to take some of those words you wrote down and draw them (or what they represent) on this black piece of paper. Instruct them to start, and then give the students three minutes to accomplish this. Transition: Say, A few minutes ago you were given the opportunity to be super creative, and then you were given the opportunity to make that creativity more than just words by making it a picture. In my hands I have a blank piece of paper. Today we ll hear about a story that begins much like this a blank page and a whole lot of room 10

11 Level 3 Lesson 1 for creativity. It s a story that begins with the most creative mind in the universe and somewhere along the way invites us into its pages! Move to the location where your students will hear the Bible story. Praying the Story Copy your choice of Bible story (p. 14 or 16) to tell at this point. Insert it here. We recommend the story for older children. AFTER THE BIBLE STORY Experiencing the Story Expressing the Story Memorizing the Story EXPERIENCING THE STORY (CHOOSE ONE OR BOTH OF THE ACTIVITIES) Creation Walk Set Up... Make sure that the leaders in your ministry know ahead of time that you are going to be taking the students out for a nature walk. You may want to have a sign made up and put on the door just in case a parent or guardian comes looking for a child. Paper sacks (like those used for sack lunches) Say something like... Today we re going to step out of here, and step into God s creation. We are going to go on a creation walk outside the church. You ll each receive a bag. As you walk along, feel free to pick up any items of creation. (These could be leaves, rocks, flowers, etc.) Once the walk is completed, gather in an area outside and have the students share what they picked up. Ask the students if they remember what God said after He created each thing. Pick up one of the collected items and say, I wonder, what does this item reveal to us about God? Have the students inspect the item and share their thoughts. Grab additional items and ask, What do these items reveal about who God is and what He is like? Once the discussion is completed, make your way back to where your small group gathers. Note: If you are in an area where this activity is not possible, arrange to have a computer available and take a nature walk through online discovery. Visit different nature sites or search for items like rock formations and tree types, or even visit different zoo sites to find out about different animals. Do Your Own Thing Set up... Download and copy the Do Your Own Thing activity sheet from the website, one per student. Divide the class into two groups. Say something like... All right, now that we re in two different groups we are going to read a portion of scripture together. Group one, I want you to read the first phrase of each verse. Group two, I want you to read the second phrase of each verse. Be sure students know the meanings of exalt (praise), extol (honor or glorify), and fathom (understand). Do Your Own Thing activity sheet Pens or pencils Discuss these questions. How does the psalm writer feel about God? (He feels awe and wonder. He is full of praise. He wants to honor God.) 11

12 Level 3 Lesson 1 What words does the writer use to describe God s person and character? (Great, greatness, worthy of praise, glorious splendor, majesty, abundant goodness, righteousness) What words does the writer use to describe God s creations and His actions? (Wonderful, mighty, awesome, great) How much does the psalmist s knowledge of creation contribute to His feelings about God? (The psalmist reveres and praises God because of His wonderful creation.) EXPRESSING THE STORY Journal Option Set Up... Download and copy the EPIC Journal cover and activity sheet from the website, you will need one for each student. Follow the directions on the sheet to make a journal for each student. Say something like... Wow, the account of God s creative work truly is an EPIC story! There s a lot to think about from today s story. Let s take some time to reflect in our EPIC Journals. Then, I d like each of you to share one or two of your thoughts by grabbing a Post-it note, writing what today s explorations has meant to you, and sticking it on the chart paper that says Creation. Epic Journals Post-it notes Chart paper/poster board/newsprint Pens, pencils, crayons, markers Active Option Pass out a small container of Play Doh to each student. Say something like... Today we ve heard together our first story... the story of God who created us with incredible love and intentionality. God created us in His image and one component or part of that is our ability to be creative. With your Play Doh, creatively make a model of something from our story today that amazes you, makes you sense God s love for His creation, or that you re particularly thankful for. Be ready to share what your model represents or means for you. After the kids have had a few moments to create, ask them to share what they made and what it means to them. 1. I wonder, what do you think is one of the best things God created? (Answers will vary) 2. When you think about all the amazing things God made, what do those things tell you about God? (Answers will vary) PR AYING THE STORY Bibles Small container of Play Doh for each student Give students a moment or two to think of a part of creation for which they are thankful. Then ask them to think about what they ve thought of and how that reveals something about God, who He is, and what He is like. Have students pray in short phrases, something like... I praise You, God, for creating [name of item] because it shows me... Close the prayer by thanking God for all the incredible things He has created and for what they reveal about Him. Ask God to help students this week to discover more about Him as they notice His creation all around them. 12

13 Level 3 Lesson 1 MEMORIZING THE STORY Set up... Download and copy the Bible Memory Cards activity sheet. Make copies for each small group. Cut apart the cards and place in envelopes for ease of use. The memory verse for the first four lessons is Nehemiah 9:6. You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you. Bible Memory Cards activity sheet Scissors Envelopes Let students use the Bible Memory Cards to practice the verse. 13

14 Worship & Bible Story Lesson 1 Creation Genesis 1 ENTERING & EXPLORING THE STORY... FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS Lead Worship Greet the kids and say... Good morning! I m so glad to see you today. I want you to stand up and use your arms to reach for the sky. Reach! OK, now, use your fingers and hands to wave hello to a friend nearby. Wave! Did you know that God made your arms and your hands? Those fingers you were using to wave to your friend, God made them. We call God our CREATOR. Creator is a name for God, because He created the world and everything in it. What do we call God? (Kids respond, Creator. Repeat a couple of times.) We re going to think about and reflect on God s amazing creation today. Let s stand and praise our Creator. Sing: A favorite creation song Things you ll need to present today s EPIC Story: Song Suggestions A favorite creation song A favorite song of praise Story Props Mirror Create slides (or print pictures) of Natural Wonders found within the Teaching Aids folder on the website. Bible (NIV 2011) Wow! Great job singing praise to God! He is so amazing and His creation is so spectacular. Think for a moment of the most amazing thing you ve ever seen. Was it the ocean, or a large river? Maybe you ve seen a huge canyon or a tall mountain. Look at these pictures. (Show slides of pictures of nature mountains, river, animals, stars, etc.) These things were created by God out of nothing. He spoke, and POW! There they were! The Bible says, You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you (Nehemiah 9:6). Let s sing again, and as we do, think about our Creator s handiwork. Sing: A favorite song of praise That was awesome praise for our awesome God. Will you pray with me? PRAY something like... Oh, God, You are amazing. You are our awesome Creator, the One who created everything out of nothing. We ask that You will reveal Yourself to us today show us who You are and help us to know more about You. In Your name we pray, Amen. Present the EPIC Story (for Younger Children) (Pass around a mirror. Let each child look at him or herself and say his or her name. After each child speaks his or her name, say, Before there was [name of child] continue around the circle until each child is part of the story.) I want to tell you a story. It s the first story. That s right, the very first story ever! Before any of us were born, before our parents or grandparents were born, before there were people, or places or things, there was God. Yes, only God. 14

15 Worship & Bible Story Lesson 1 God wanted light. God said, Let there be light! And for the very first time there was light! It was evening, it was morning... day one: just begun. God wanted water and sky. God spoke, and the sky rose from the water. It was evening, it was morning... day two: sky is new. God wanted dry land. God said, Oceans gather! Land, appear! And there it was. God said, Earth, green up! And flowers and fruit grew. It was evening, it was morning... day three: plants and trees. God wanted lights in the sky, and seasons, and years. God said, Lights, come out! the sun by day, and the moon by night. It was evening, it was morning... day four: stars galore. God wanted birds to fly, and fish to swim. God said, Lay eggs! Fill the ocean, fill the sky! It was evening, it was morning... day five: fish alive. God wanted animals on the land. God spoke: Earth, make life! Every sort, every kind. And there were cows, and lizards, and tigers, and bugs! And God saw that everything He had made was good. But something was missing. Can you guess what it was? Someone to care for all God had made was missing. So God said, Let s make humans in our image! That s right, God made people. God made man! God made woman! God blessed them and said, Take care of this brand new world. It was evening, it was morning... day six: all life clicks! Then God was finished. Heaven and earth were finished, down to the last detail. The earth and everything in it were GOOD. And God made the next day holy, a Sabbath to rest. It was evening, it was morning... day seven: rest in Heaven. Seven, six, five, four, three, two, one A wonderful world, where once there was none. Pray something like... Thank You, God, for Your awesome power and love. We praise You for creating the world. We are amazed by Your wonderful creation. We love You, Lord. We can choose to care for Your creation. Amen. Discuss the following statements and questions with the children. Let them share their ideas and thoughts. Wonderings... I wonder how God s voice created everything. Can you show me with your hands what it might have looked like when the sky came out of the water? God created many things! What are some of your favorite things God made in the beginning? The first man s name was Adam. The first woman s name was Eve. I wonder how Adam and Eve felt about taking care of God s world. How would you have felt if you were Adam or Eve? How do you think God felt about all He created? Why do you think God rested on the seventh day? I wonder, if you could tell God anything about the world He created, what would you tell Him? Dismiss the children to their small groups. 15

16 Worship & Bible Story Lesson 1 Creation Genesis 1 ENTERING & EXPLORING THE STORY... FOR OLDER STUDENTS Lead Worship Greet the kids and say, We ve come today to worship our CREATOR. Creator is a name for God, because He created the world and everything in it. We find these words in the book of Psalms. Open your Bible to Psalm 111:2-3 and read aloud. Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. Did you hear that word ponder? The verse said Great are the works of the Lord; they are PONDERED by all who delight in them. Do you know what the word ponder means? What does it mean to ponder something? (Pause for student responses) Great! Ponder means to think about, or to reflect on. We re going to think about and reflect on God s amazing creation today. Let s stand and praise our Creator. Sing: A favorite creation song Things you ll need to present today s EPIC Story: Song Suggestions A favorite creation song Song: God of Wonders Story Props Create slides (or print pictures) of Natural Wonders found within the Teaching Aids folder on the website. Bible Blank piece of paper for each student Pencil or pen for each student Wow! Great job singing praise to God! He is so amazing and His creation is so spectacular. Think for a moment of the most amazing natural wonder you ve ever seen. Was it the ocean, or a large river? Maybe you ve seen a huge canyon or a tall mountain. Look at these pictures. (Show slides of pictures of nature mountains, river, animals, stars, etc.) These things were created by God out of nothing. He spoke, and POW! There they were! The Bible says, You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you (Nehemiah 9:6). Let s sing again, and as we do, think about our Creator s handiwork. Sing GOD OF WONDERS That was awesome praise for our awesome God. Will you pray with me? PRAY something like... Oh, God, You are amazing. You are our awesome Creator, the One who created everything out of nothing. We ask that You will reveal Yourself to us today and show us who You are and help us to know more about You. In Your name we pray, Amen. Present the EPIC Story (for older children) Give each student a sheet of paper and pen or pencil. Throughout the story, provide opportunities for students to reflect upon God s creation and what it reveals about who He is. 16

17 Worship & Bible Story Lesson 1 I want to tell you a story, an EPIC story. It s a story about God. In fact, this is the first story about God. As I tell this story, I want you to think about what this story tells you about God. At the end of each part of the story, I want you to write down or you can even draw something you know about God because of what God did, and how God did it. Are you ready? In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. What God made on that first day was not like the earth you see today, it was empty; it was dark. The Bible tells us, the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Hmmm, I wonder what the Spirit of God looked like hovering over the water. (Pause to let students write or draw.) Well, the first day gets better. God spoke these words: Let there be light and there was light. Right away, light shone all over, and the light came from God! I think about standing in a very dark room in something gooey and someone flips on the light switch. Out of the darkness, God brought the light and called it day. God called the darkness night. And there was evening and there was morning the first day. And God called what He made the first day GOOD. I wonder what that first burst of light looked like? What do you know about God from the story so far? (Pause to let students write or draw.) Well, God was just getting started. On day two, God really started moving. He said, Let there be a space above the water, to separate water from water. God had a name for that space above the water in God s creation, what was it? (Students respond.) That s right, the second day God made the sky. The third day, God said, Let the water under the sky be gathered... and let dry ground appear. God called the dry ground land, and the gathered waters sea. He told the land to produce plants with seeds, and trees with fruit. And God saw that it was good. I wonder why God was concerned that the plants had seeds and the trees had fruit. As you hear again that God thought what He created was good, what are you beginning to think God might be like? (Pause to let students write or draw.) On day four, God said, Let there be lights in the sky to separate day from night, and arrange them so that they will mark special times and days, and years the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the fifth day, God put life in the water and life in the air. Imagine all that is living under the water and in the air. Every living creature that swims in the water and flies in the sky was created by God. When you think about all the different kinds of things in the water, what does that tell you about God that we can write on our list? (Pause to let students write or draw.) On the sixth day there was more... and more... and more. God said, Farm animals, and creepy crawlers, and wild animals for the earth. AND THEN, To rule over all that is good, I need someone like me! So God created a man and a woman to take care of all that is created. God said, Fill the earth! All that you see and all that you hear and touch is yours to take care of. And now, at the end of the day, God said, This is VERY good. I wonder why God thought this day was VERY good. (Pause to let students write or draw.) Rest! On the seventh day of the week, God rested. Yes, day 7 was a special day. God rested and enjoyed His beautiful creation. 17

18 Worship & Bible Story Lesson 1 A song of praise to God about creation is found in the Book of Psalms (102:25-26): It says: In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you [God] will remain. God was here before the world began. God will be here when the world ends. God has always been and will always be, yet He made the world for us to enjoy and He made us to enjoy and care for the world. (Underlined words are quoted from Genesis 1, NIV 2011.) Pray something like... Thank You, God, for Your awesome power and love. We praise You for creating the world. We are amazed by Your wonderful creation. We love You, Lord. We can choose to care for Your creation. Amen. Discuss the following statements and questions with the children. Let them share their ideas and thoughts. Wonderings... Think back over the whole story, and how each thing was created. Something was the same about each day. One word is repeated each day and it tells us how everything that is created by God... can you remember that one word? (The word is SAID. God spoke the world into existence.) What does that tell you about God? Think about everything that s alive what does it tell you about God? So this is a story about God. But it is also a story about you. I wonder how it makes you feel to know that you are part of God s plan for the world. Dismiss the students to their small groups. 18