THEOLOGICAL TRUTHS - Basic truths for Christians to know and believe.
The story of God, as understood from the Bible, begins with God creating all things. From the narrative beginning in this way, it’s the first thing God reveals himself as. Essential to the creation narrative is God’s goodness. Compared to other ancient-near-eastern writing, the Judeo-Christian creation narrative is the only one in which a god creates out of abundance rather than lack. This God does not create because he needs anything from his creation, rather he creates to give to his creation. Also when compared to other writings, the Judeo-Christian God is the only God to create intentionally rather than accidentally. For example, creation did not come to exist because God sneezed. The universe came to exist because God thoughtfully spoke it into existence.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
discussion #1: god is goodDISCUSSION #2: how god createdDISCUSSION #3: how god was personal in creating
DISCUSSION #1: God is Good
The story of God as understood from the Bible, begins with God creating all things. From the narrative beginning in this way, it’s the first thing God reveals himself as. Essential to the creation narrative is God’s goodness. Compared to other ancient-near-eastern writing, the Judeo-Christian creation narrative is the only one in which a god creates out of abundance rather than lack. This God does not create because he needs anything from his creation, rather he creates to give to his creation. Also when compared to other writings, the Judeo-Christian God is the only God to create intentionally rather than accidentally. For example, creation did not come to exist because God sneezed. The universe came to exist because God thoughtfully spoke it into existence.
In this discussion, God’s goodness as the Creator will be the central topic.
MY STORY | Starting Place
Would you describe yourself as a creative person? Someone who likes to make, build, or fix things? Why or why not?
DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Genesis 1:31
Beginning with Genesis 1, if everything God created was very good, what does that imply about Him?
Based on the creation narrative of Genesis, what do you think God’s motives for creating were? Did he create intentionally? Did he need something to do? Explain.
In other Ancient Near Eastern creation stories (yes, other cultures did come up with their own pagan creation stories) the gods of these pagan groups created because they needed mankind to serve or provide for them in some way, or creation happened accidentally. For example, in one narrative the god of the people sneezed, and creation existed.
How is the Christian creation story different from the example above?
What do the differences reveal about God?
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. Psalm 145:8-9
In what ways do you think God is good and shows mercy to all creation?
What does it mean for God to abound in “steadfast love” for all that he has made?
What conclusions can be made about God as creator in light of the two verses offered here?
GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship
If God has valued creation so highly, what are some things your community can do (or change about current habits) to value creation like God does?
MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action
Grab a notebook or a piece of paper and take 30 minutes this week to evaluate your habits and household. Are there areas of improvement to be more mindful of and good to creation? 1
DISCUSSION #2: How God Created
The story of God as understood from the Bible, begins with God creating all things. From the narrative beginning in this way, it’s the first thing God reveals himself as. Essential to the creation narrative is God’s goodness. Compared to other ancient-near-eastern writing, the Judeo-Christian creation narrative is the only one in which a god creates out of abundance rather than lack. This God does not create because he needs anything from his creation, rather he creates to give to his creation. Also when compared to other writings, the Judeo-Christian God is the only God to create intentionally rather than accidentally. For example, creation did not come to exist because God sneezed. The universe came to exist because God thoughtfully spoke it into existence.
In this discussion, the nature of God’s creative act will be established.
MY STORY | Starting Place
What is a creative outlet for you? How do you begin the process of creating something?
What tools do you need to get started?
DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2
“The earth was without form and void…”
Thinking of our own creative processes, we need tools or instruments to get started–to create something. How is God different from us in this way? Did God have any materials, or anything he needed beforehand in order to speak creation into existence? Explain.
If God did not need or use any resource outside himself, what does that say about his self-sufficiency? What about his creativity?
In our day and age there has been so much innovation. For example, the internet, smartphones, portable computers, electric cars, robots that complete surgeries, etc. Who are some people you consider to have the most brilliant minds?
We are often not in awe of the amount of innovation and resources that surround us. How does this affect our view of God and his care and provision?
In light of creation, how does God compare to them?
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13
What do you think it means for “no creature” to be hidden from God’s sight?
Do you think that means just that God sees, or that he also sees with perfect understanding? Explain.
Have you ever contemplated that God understands all things? That there is nothing which “goes over his head?” How does that impact the way you view him?
This specific phrase tells us something key about the way in which God created: “God created the heavens and the earth.” What is the action you can point out in the sentence? Is it a passive action? Or intentional? Explain.
We can read this passage so often, or hear it spoken, that we begin to glaze over something very important about it: God set out to create all that exists. It did not happen by accident, or because he was bored or needed something. God took inventory of the nothingness and out of his abundance of resources and creativity set into motion all we know, see, and comprehend.
What thoughts or emotions does that reality provoke in you?
GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship
What are some things you learned from one another through this discussion? Share with the group the impactful observations or comments others made about the topic.
MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action
Maybe it has been a while since you have “stretched your creative legs.” But being made in God’s image means that God also made you to be creative. What is a creative activity you can mindfully and worshipfully participate in this week? Schedule it and tell others how it went.
DISCUSSION #3: How God was Personal in Creating
The story of God as understood from the Bible, begins with God creating all things. From the narrative beginning in this way, it’s the first thing God reveals himself as. Essential to the creation narrative is God’s goodness. Compared to other ancient-near-eastern writing, the Judeo-Christian creation narrative is the only one in which a god creates out of abundance rather than lack. This God does not create because he needs anything from his creation, rather he creates to give to his creation. Also when compared to other writings, the Judeo-Christian God is the only God to create intentionally rather than accidentally. For example, creation did not come to exist because God sneezed. The universe came to exist because God thoughtfully spoke it into existence.
This week, the ways in which God was personal toward what he created will be teased out and discussed amongst your group.
MY STORY | Starting Place
What is something you’ve made or accomplished that you are most proud of? (Children definitely count!) What sacrifices did you have in order to make or accomplish this thing? What did you pour into the project of yourself that it made it distinctly yours?
DIGGING DEEPER | Practical Biblical Application
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Genesis 2:18
Leading up to this statement, creation has been very good. This is the first time in Scripture God says, “it is not good.” What can this tell us about God and his nearness to creation in the process of creating all things?
God doesn’t just observe that something is missing, he does something about it. What does that say about him?
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26
What do you think God noticed about creation that prompted the creation of mankind?
What does the phrase “...let them have dominion…” imply about creation’s needs?
How would you describe God’s awareness of and investment in creation based on these verses?
What other ways do you observe God being personally invested and involved in the creation narrative?
GROWING TOGETHER | Spiritual Friendship
God has given mankind the ability to be personal like he is. An imitation of this is the very community you find yourself in now. Take some time now to share with one another more about yourselves and increase your personal investment in the people around you.
MOVING OUTWARD | Faith in Action
How can you show personal investment to someone this week? Is there some quality time and words you should share with your kids? A friend? A spouse? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern who needs to know that you are personally invested in and care about them.
1For further exploration on the biblical basis for creation care, see Sandra L. Richter, Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says about the Environment and Why It Matters, (IVP Academic: Westmont, 2020).