GENESIS
Chapter 1
We start our study with Genesis – the book of beginnings – and the first book of
the Bible. If you don’t have a Bible
handy, click this link for the first chapter of Genesis:
Genesis Chapter 1
Genesis is an important book of the Bible. Well, actually, they are all important. But, with Genesis, we get to see our beginning – the VERY beginning of all things. It is crucial that we understand and believe Genesis Chapter 1. From it, we will build a foundation for our faith.
Genesis is derived from a Greek word meaning “origin” or “beginning”. Genesis will show us that our universe and all matter had a beginning and came into existence through the will of God. There a quite a few scriptures that backs this up:
Nehemiah 9:6
You alone are the LORD;
You have made heaven,
The heaven of heavens, with all their host,
The earth and everything on it,
The seas and all that is in them,
And You preserve them all.
The host of heaven worships You.
Job 26:7
He stretches out the north over empty space;
He hangs the earth on nothing.
Psalm 95:5
The sea is His, for He made it;
And His hands formed the dry land.
Psalm 102:25
Of old You laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
Acts 14:15
and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,
2 Corinthians 4:6
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Genesis starts off with “In the beginning . . .” In the New Testament, the book of John also starts off with “In the beginning . . .” and goes on to explain that all things were made through God. (see
John 1:1-5)
1st day – Created light – no source for the light yet – it was just there. (Verses 3-5)
2nd day – Created heaven – separated it from the earth. (Verses 6-8)
3rd day – Divided the earth into land & seas. Created grass, herbs & fruit trees. (Verses 9-13)
4th day – Created the sun, moon & stars (now the source of light). (Verses 14-19)
5th day – Created fish & birds. (Verses 20-23)
6th day – Created cattle & reptiles. Then God created man. (Verses 25-31)
On the 7th day, God rested (that is in Genesis chapter 2:1-3)
NOTE: God made the trees on the 3rd day, knowing that one day a tree would be cut down and its wood would be used for a cross – a cross that Jesus would die on for our sins. God created a solution before He even created man.
Discussion Questions:
1) What does living in darkness mean to you?
2) Do you prefer light or darkness? Why?
3) Does darkness cause fear?
4) What do you associate with darkness?
5) What do you associate with light?
6) When “darkness” overwhelms you (such as depression, tragic events, etc.) what do you do?
7) Are you able to find “light” during the dark times?
8) Do you have the Light (Jesus)?
Genesis starts out with God creating light and ends in Revelation with God being the light.
Genesis 1:3 – God said “let there be light”
1 John 1:5 – God is light, no darkness in Him
Revelation 21:23 – no need for the sun
CRAFTS & ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
Craft Supplies:
Large poster board (one side black and the other side white)
Glue
Scissors
Crayons, colored pencils or markers
Construction paper (various colors)
Cutouts of animals, reptiles, fish & birds (or pictures from magazines)
Cardboard cutout of a man
Coloring pages (see below)
Day 1: Show the black side of the poster board – that is “darkness”. (verse 1-2)
Discussion with children on living in darkness (fear of the dark).
Then read verses 3-5 and flip the poster board over to the white side. Now we have light!
Day 2: Draw a line across the paper “dividing” it (making heaven – read verse 6-8). 1/3 of Poster board can be “heaven” and the rest will be “earth/land”.
Day 3: (Verses 9-10) Using blue construction paper cut out circles of “water” and put them on the bottom portion of the poster board (where “land” is). Leave room on the “land” portion for the rest of the scene. Cut out pictures of trees & flowers (verses 11-13) or draw them on the poster board.
(For younger children: coloring page 1) Color the 3 “water” images with blue and color the rest (“land”) with green crayons (grass). Trees & flowers: coloring page 3 & 5
Day 4: Cut out the sun, moon and stars and glue them on the top portion of the paper. Read verses 14-19. (For younger children: Coloring page 2)
Day 5: Draw or cut out pictures of fish and birds and glue them to the appropriate sections of the poster board. (verses 20-23) (coloring page 4)
Day 6: Draw or cut out pictures of animals and reptiles and add to the picture you are creating on the poster board. Read verses 24-25. Then add the cut out of the man (verse 26-31).
For younger children: coloring pages: horse, tiger, chicken.
Finished picture shows the story of creation!
To print out coloring pages: Click on the image, select copy image, then paste the image onto a document (such as Word). You can make the image smaller or larger - then print.
Coloring Page 1
Coloring Page 2
Coloring Page 3
Coloring Page 4
Coloring Page 5
Coloring Page: Horse
Coloring Page: Tiger
Coloring Page: Chicken
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.
