The first major theme is that God is Creator and that we, as well as everything in the universe, owe
our very existence to God. Declaring God as Creator and us as creatures begins to shape our
understanding of who we are and the roles we are meant to play in Creation.
Day I
Genesis 1:1 – 2:3
The Bible begins as our world begins with God as the Creator. The Bible doesn’t claim to
how exactly the universe came into being, but is very clear about who brought it into being.
All that is tied to God as Creator.
• How is God described as creating? What does this suggest about the role that God’s
Word, the Bible, should have in our lives?
•
As God created God declared, “It is good.” What does that say about our world and our
own bodily life?
•
God the Creator made humans in God’s image. What does that mean about our
relationship with God and our responsibility for God’s creation?
Day 2
Genesis 2:4-25
The second story about creation describes God creating the first humans and placing them in
a garden to live and tend it. It focuses more upon relationships: God and humans, humans
with each other, and God and humans with creation. We will look at the rest of this story next
week under the theme: Fall.
• The first criticism of creation is found in 2:18. What does that say about human life?
•
Clearly the man and woman were different. Does their relationship seem to be
complimentary or does one have dominance over the other? How so?
•
What does being “naked” and not ashamed mean to you?
Day 3
Psalm 8; Psalm 19:1-6 (optional: Psalm 104)
The Psalms are the hymnbook of the Hebrews in which God as Creator is often celebrated.
While celebrating God as Creator, these hymns also see humans as co-creators with both
special gifts and responsibilities.
•
The Psalms often speak of creation proclaiming the glory of God the Creator. What has
been your experience of creation pointing you toward God? How do you hear nature
declaring God’s majesty?
•
Psalm 8 and Genesis 2 see God in creation calling humans to a particular vocation in the
world. How would you describe the relationship and role that humans are to play in
God’s creation?
Day 4
John 1:1-5; Romans 1:18-20
The New Testament assumes and echoes the Old Testament understand of Creation.
•
Like Genesis, John’s Gospel begins “In the beginning.” Here the Word, before coming to
earth as Jesus, is described as always being with God and part of God; it was through
the Word that God spoke all that is into being. What does it mean that Jesus is involved
in both our creation and our re-creation (our salvation)? Some have said that in Christ
we are given the possibility again of being who we were always intended to be. What do
you think?
•
Like Psalm 19, Romans 1 speaks of creation pointing toward the Creator so that all
people should be able to recognize their accountable relationship with God. What do you
think?