Connect Pray for one opportunity to share the Good News—or invite someone to Alpha—this week.

Warm-Up

1. Do you have a favourite prequel (a book or a movie)? Why do you think ‘origin stories’ matter?
2. Have you ever thought much about your role (as a Christian) to care for creation? Why or why not?

Read Genesis 1:1-25

3. What are the opening words of the Bible? What is the significance of this?
4. Who created? What did God create? How did God create? 
5. Is it the intent of the author for this to be a scientific account? What questions does it actually answer?
6. As God forms and fills the world, what assessment does he make? What does this mean?
7. In what way are these words our origin story? How does that give us incredible worth?
8. How do you like to enjoy creation? What in creation most fills you with awe? 
9. How should our response of awe direct us to worship of the Creator? How have you experienced this?
10. In what ways do you think creation declares the glory of God?
11. How should the beauty and grandeur of creation fill us with humility? Why are we dependent on God?

Read Genesis 1:26-31

12. In whose image are we created? What does it mean to be created in the image of God?
13. If we are created in God’s image, how do we uniquely represent him in the world?
14. In what practical ways should our role as representatives be reflected in our care for creation?
15. How does sin affect our image-bearing? In what way has that been restored in Jesus?
16. What is the relationship between being created in God’s image and being his representatives?
17. How are you God’s representative? Does that shape your care for God’s creation?
18. What is humanity’s purpose in creation as distinct from other creatures? What does it mean to ‘rule’?

Read Genesis 2:15-17

19. What is humanity’s purpose described as in these verses? What does it mean to ‘work’ and to ‘care’?
20. How are you part of ‘working’ creation? How are you part of ‘caring’ for creation?

Apply How can you practice delighting in and enjoying God’s creation this week in praise of him?

‍

On Your Frontline this Week

Who is someone you've had a conversation about faith or big issues of life? Pray about inviting them to Alpha.

For Families

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

Listen, Watch, and Read

• Listen (sermon): “Called to Full Humanity” by John Stott:
  https://www.allsouls.org/Media/AllMedia.aspx?show_media=51875 
• Listen (sermon): “The Creation” by Vaughan Roberts:
  https://stebbes.org/sermons/the-creation/#sermons 
• Listen (sermon): “Dignity: Created in God’s Image” by Vaughan Roberts:
  https://stebbes.org/sermons/dignity-created-in-gods-image/#sermons 
• Listen (sermon): “Man created in God’s image” by John Stott:
  https://www.allsouls.org/Media/AllMedia.aspx?show_media=218867&show_file=232239 
• Read (article): “Care for Creation” by John Stott (for A Rocha Canada): https://arocha.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/article_careforcreation-john-stott.pdf 

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