Creeds & the Trinity: Who is God – the Father? Memory Work: Memorize the Apostle’s Creed

Teaching Time God’s Creation Open to Genesis 1 In addition to the order and symmetry displayed by the account, several other themes emerge from Genesis 1: • “And God said…and it was so.” • God is in control • God works through his Word • “And there was evening and there was morning” = one day • “And it was very good” Good means complete, whole, having all that is needed for God’s purposes. Three Views of Creation: 1) LITERAL 2) DAY AGE 3) GAP So What about Evolution?!! The Story of Christopher Columbus: What is the purpose of Science? To explain the NATURAL world. Works by the Scientific Method Answers the questions WHAT and HOW What is the purpose of Theology? To explain what we know about God Answers the question WHO and WHY Solution: acknowledge the LIMITS of both science and theology Can Christians believe in certain kinds of evolution? YES / NO • Micro-evolution: “the change in the NUMBER of alleles in a given population over time” • Macro-evolution: LITTLE changes over LARGE amounts of time explains our origins What should we teach in our schools? Evolution? Intelligent Design? Something else? --The Limits of Science Why does it matter that God is Creator? • God PROVIDES for His Creation. Matthew 7:25-34 • God DELIVERS His Creation. Psalm 107:19-21 • God REDEEMS and restores His Creation. Revelation 21:5 (And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’)

Main Point: God is IN CONTROL of his creation.

Lamb of God Lutheran Church | Flower Mound TX

Confirmation Lesson 14

Reflection Time Use this space to silently reflect on these questions:

1) Would your life be different without a belief in God? How?

2) Read the memory verse again. What does it mean that you are fearfully and wonderfully made?

3) What does it mean to you that God cares for you and protects you?

4) What questions do you have about God’s creation?

Lamb of God Lutheran Church | Flower Mound TX

Confirmation Lesson 14

Group Breakout Go around your group and share: 1) your name 2) the best gift you gave this Christmas 3) what you think is your best feature on of your body. (example: eyes, brain, teeth, hair, biceps, toes, hands)

Experiential Activity Give each person one of the dice provided. Have each student roll theirs at the same time and see how many die land on the same number. Try this 10-12 times and see if the group can get all of the dice to land on the same number (without cheating, of course). Keep track of things such as which number comes up the most, how many times 3 people or more have the same number, and if anyone has the same number come up multiple times in a row.

Application 1) What are the odds that the whole group would all have landed on the same number? 2) What are the odds that there has lived, or lives, someone exactly like you? Have you ever met anyone exactly like you? Why not? 3) According to studies, the amount of people who have ever lived on the earth is anywhere from 100-115 billion people. Currently there are just under 7 billion people living on earth. Each of those people, while having some similarities, God made entirely unique with different DNA. What are the best things about being unique? What are the times you wish you were more like others? 4) Read Psalm 139:13-18. What stands out to you in these verses? 5) You are unique and wonderfully made just the way you are. God created you, and that is a good thing. What does it mean that God made you wonderful exactly how you are? Why do we sometimes not feel “wonderfully made?” 6) Read 1 Samuel 16:7. Why do you think God cares more about the heart than our appearance? 7) Go around the circle and to each person have the group say, “(insert their name), God loves you just the way you are!” 8) Close in prayer as a group, encouraging everyone to pray aloud.

Family Time is meant to be an opportunity to get the family talking about spiritual things. Multiple studies show that parents and grandparents are the #1 faith role models in a child’s life. We know life is busy, but we want to give you opportunities to grow together. A great time to do this is in the car, while eating a meal, or simply anytime you can enjoy together. 1) Gather as a family. Teach your family what the word “creed” means (it comes from the Latin word “credo”). Remember, it doesn’t mean “we believe” but rather “I believe”. Have each person share 2 things they believe about God. Parent(s): 1. Lamb of God Lutheran Church | Flower Mound TX

Confirmation Lesson 14

2. Student: 1. 2. Sibling(s): 1. 2.

Weekly Memory Verse: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully MADE; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14 2) See Catechism question 87 on page 102. Read out loud what is meant by “I believe in God”.

It means I trust God and his Scriptures.

and accept as true

He teaches in the Holy

3) Fill in the blanks of the verses that talk about what belief and faith is all about. Psalm 31:14

I

in you, O Lord; I say You are my

Psalm 37:5

Commit your way to the Lord;

Romans 10:17

comes from hearing the of Christ.

the Hebrews 11:1

Faith is being do not

of what we

.

in Him. , and the message is heard through for and

of what we

.

(continued on back)4) How does God make himself known? (see Catechism question 92 on page 104) a. Through the existence of the

b. Through our

c. Through the Holy

. Describe briefly what this means:

. Describe briefly what this means:

. What does 2 Timothy 3:15 say is the reason we have the Bible?

5) Read this aloud: God has revealed a whole lot of who He is through the Bible. List below those characteristics God has told us about Himself. (see Catechism question 93 on page 105) Lamb of God Lutheran Church | Flower Mound TX

Confirmation Lesson 14

God is:

A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M.

For Further Study… (an optional section for families that want to go deeper) Read Psalm 8. David asks us to consider the works of God’s amazing creation. You don’t look at the heavens and see them consisting of molecules of hydrogen, or at the earth as an accidental mass of matter, or a person as an evolved substance from an amoeba. But you look at creation and see God; God at work creating, providing and sustaining. When you realize this you may begin to feel very small and may say the same thing as David in verse 4 of this Psalm. When you feel like this check out Matthew 10:30. Wow, the God who created the heavens and the earth also knows every little detail about you! Reflect and celebrate on that!

Lamb of God Lutheran Church | Flower Mound TX

Confirmation Lesson 14