Purpose of This Lesson:
To continue the discussion about the origins of life while asking where science and religion intersect.
Watch Video 2: Click Here to see the streaming sessions
Discussion Questions
Read Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. In what ways are these two creation stories different? In what ways are they similar? What do you think these two biblical stories are trying to teach us?
If the natural world also tells us a “story” about how God created it, in what ways is that story similar to the creation accounts we find in Genesis? What new things might that story teach us?
Loren lays out numerous ways Christians have typically interpreted Genesis 1. Which interpretations have you heard before?
“Genesis 1 is less concerned with the ‘how’ and the ‘when’ of creation, and more concerned with the ‘who’ and the ‘why.’” What are some of the benefits of an Ancient Near East Cosmology interpretation of Genesis? What are some of the challenges this interpretation has to face?
“There are multiple, independent lines of evidence (glacial, geological, etc.) all pointing to the same story: the earth is old.” This is an interpretation of the natural world which many Christian scientists share. How does this interact with some of the different interpretations of Genesis 1 that were discussed in the video?
What does it mean to you that God gives us a role to play in creation?
What questions did this video raise for you? What ideas do you want to explore more?
Prayer Point:
Read Luke 8:4-15 NLT
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they look, they won’t really see.
When they hear, they won’t understand.’
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
Pray that we all have "ears to hear, and eyes to see". When we pray this way we are asking the Lord to help us understand what he is teaching us through his word as we seek truth, even if it is challenging to our own hearts.
These six videos are companions to the book Origins: Christian Perspectives on Creation, Evolution, and Intelligent Design by Deborah B. Haarsma and Loren D. Haarsma (2011, Faith Alive). Purchase book on Faith Alive.