GOD THE FATHER This Is My Father’s World Christianity 101 – Lesson 3 Immanuel Lutheran Church Clayton Township, Neenah, Wisconsin

Last Week’s Memory Treasure May the grace of … 2 Corinthians 13:14

Last Week’s Memory Treasure May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

New Testament Books – Second Half 1 & 2 ThessaloniansHebrews 1 & 2 TimothyJames Titus1 & 2 Peter Philemon1, 2, 3 John Jude Revelation

Opening Discussion How do I respond to someone who asks, “Don’t the fossilized forms of dinosaurs and other extinct animals prove our world is millions and billions of years old?”

DAY ONE God created… LIGHT

DAY TWO God created… SKY (ATMOSPHERE)

DAY THREE God created… DRY LAND & PLANTS

DAY FOUR God created… SUN, MOON & STARS

DAY FIVE God created… FISH & FOWL

DAY SIX God created… ANIMALS & MANKIND

DAY SEVEN God… RESTED

GOD CREATED ALL THINGS 1.From nothing 2.By His almighty Word 3.In six 24-hour days 4.So that everything was perfect

EVOLUTION The hypothesis that all things came into being by chance, developing from lower to higher forms.

Atheistic Evolution It denies the existence of God and credits all to “chance.”

Theistic Evolution It says God got things started and then let evolution take over.

CREATION vs. EVOLUTION CREATION Six days God’s Word and decree A special creation To serve & honor God To thank & obey God EVOLUTION Billions of years Only by chance or accident A superior animal To survive, serve self None – but please self

A MATTER OF FAITH By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3

Agree or Disagree? 1.To believe in God means to believe He exists and no more than that. 2.It is our duty or responsibility to thank and obey God our Creator. 3.The “image of God” refers to the fact that people look like God. 4.Although we give credit to the Father, all three Persons were present and active at Creation.

Discussion Question #1 In Genesis we are taught creation was done in six days and on the seventh day God rested. We are taught that a day is from sundown to sundown (24 hours). However, in 2 Peter 3:8 Peter tells us that to God a day can be one thousand years or one thousand years a day. Can this be construed to mean creation may have taken several thousand years? Where do we get the determination that the reference to day in Genesis is the normal 24 hour period?

Discussion Question #2 Does the Bible say anything about Lilith? Is there any doubt that Eve was the first woman God created? I recently saw a documentary that tried to show that the Bible had two different accounts of creation and that Christians accept that there was another woman before Eve, named "Lilith."

Discussion Question #3 Why is it so important to hold to the Bible’s account of creation when it is only belief in the gospel that saves?

Memory Treasure By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3

New Testament Books – First Half MatthewRomans Mark1 & 2 Corinthians LukeGalatians JohnEphesians ActsPhilippians Colossians

New Testament Books – Second Half 1 & 2 ThessaloniansHebrews 1 & 2 TimothyJames Titus1 & 2 Peter Philemon1, 2, 3 John Jude Revelation

Closing Prayer Almighty God and Father, Your generous goodness comes to us new every day. By the work of Your Spirit lead us to acknowledge Your goodness, give thanks for Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.