Connect What is one practical way that you can live in anticipation of the future of new creation, as you actively care for God’s world?  

Warm-Up

1. What are your favourite parts of creation? What are the parts you see affected by sin?

Read Genesis 3:1-17

2. What is sin? How is every person part of the problem?
3. What tree were humans prohibited from eating from? Why? How does this disobedience reflect a rejection of God’s authority and an ambition of humans to grasp God’s authority for themselves?
4. Do you think you would have also eaten from that tree? How do we replicate the same failure?
5. How does sin fracture our relationship with God, one another, and the world? How does sin continue to have a damaging effect on creation? (You might also like to refer to Romans 8:18-22.)
6. Are there any ways that you have failed in the stewarding of God’s creation? How might you repent?

Read Colossians 3:15-20

7. What do these verses tell us about Jesus’ primacy and supremacy? How about his role in creation?
8. Is Jesus Lord of all creation right now? If so, what is our human responsibility to reflect his rule?
9. Why did Jesus die? How has Jesus’ death (and resurrection) reconciled all things to himself? 
10. What does ‘all things’ include? If Jesus has even reconciled creation what does this say about its value?
11. How might abusing the earth be in conflict with the claim that Jesus is Lord? If the Gospel (in the simplest form) is “Jesus is Lord”, how is caring for creation a Gospel issue?

Read Revelation 22

12. Will new creation be ‘physical’ or ‘spiritual’? What will new creation be like (try to name all of the various dimensions and aspects described here and also in Revelation 21)?
13. How does the godly use and caring for creation both: (a) exercise the role that God gave us from the beginning; and (b) anticipate like a signpost the full and proper role we’ll assume in the future?
14. Can you think of any ways you put that into practice now? Can you think of new ways you could?
15. During this series, has anything changed about your view of God’s world and/or our role in it?

Apply What is one habit that you can change to be a better steward of all that God has entrusted to you?‍

On Your Frontline this Week

How can you help nurture and care for people, projects, or places this week?

For Families

• Download: some of the family resources to use at home: stbartskids.org

Listen, Watch, and Read

• Listen (sermon): “How green is the gospel?” by Chris Wright:
  https://www.allsouls.org/Media/AllMedia.aspx?show_media=181745&show_file=194061 
• Listen (sermon): “Perfect New Creation” by Charlie Skrine:
  https://www.allsouls.org/Media/AllMedia.aspx?show_media=333441 
• Read (article): “Current Redeemer Report” by John Elwood: https://www.redeemer.com/redeemer-report/article/john_stott_and_caring_for_gods_creation 
• Watch (talk): “John Stott London Lecture 2013 on Creation Care” hosted by Dr Chris Wright:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsqrFizQ7k 

Series Resources

• Read (book): “Creation Care” by Douglas Moo & Jonathan Moo. 📚
• Read (book): “Creation Care” by John Stott. 📚
• Read (book—suitable for reading age of Year 10 and up): “A Christian’s Guide to Planet Earth: why it matters & how to care for it” by Betsy Painter. 📚
• Read (book—suitable for reading age of 8-12 and up): “All Of Creation: Understanding God's Planet and How We Can Help” by Betsy Painter
• Read (book—for children): “God’s Very Colourful Creation” by Tim Thornborough and Jennifer Davison.
• Read (book—for children): “Creation” by Devon and Jessica Provencher.

📚 Available to borrow in the Church library

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