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Adult Bible Study September 2, 2007 |
Lesson Text: Genesis 1:1-6, 8, 10, 12-15, 19-20, 22-23, 25
By Melanie Zuercher
E-mail: mz606@cox.net“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 TNIV
Genesis 1:1 is one of the best-known quotes in the English-speaking world. Even those for whom the Bible is not Holy Scripture may well have studied the text of the first chapter of Genesis in a high school or college class, since it is foundational for much of Western literature.
This verse raises many issues in the 21st century. Some have to do with debates on evolution versus creationism (or “intelligent design”) or with serious questions regarding the fate of the planet. These questions also are sparked by extreme weather around the globe over the past several years in what appears to be mounting evidence of worldwide climate change. Maybe you saw former U.S. Vice President Al Gore’s PowerPoint presentation made into a documentary and titled after his book on global warming, An Inconvenient Truth. Now Hollywood has a new viewing option—“The 11th Hour,” coproduced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio.
But for us today, let us consider the positive side of the verse and the chapter that follows—the tremendous glory and goodness of God’s creation. A 2003 documentary, “Winged Migration,” followed a variety of birds on their migratory journeys across more than 40 countries covering all seven continents over the course of four years. A recent offering is “Planet Earth,” originally made as a television documentary for the British Broadcasting Company. It aired on the Discovery Channel earlier this year and received rave reviews from everyone from Oprah on down.
The large or small screen allows us to see God’s creation in ways not normally possible in our everyday lives. But we must not forget, either, that our everyday lives constantly exhibit creation’s magnificence—from the perfect formation of a baby’s ear to the softness of a cat’s fur, from the sight of a prairie sunset to the view from the top of a mountain, from morning birdsong to the sound of thunder. God created—and saw that “it was good.”
Editor’s note
This week begins the Adult Bible Study fall 2007 quarter of study, “God Created a People.” The quarter traces God’s creative power from the making of the universe to the formation of a special people of God. Lessons are based on Genesis.
Wilma A. Bailey, Indianapolis, Indiana, is the writer of the Adult Bible Study,and Karen A. Jantzi is writer of the Adult Bible Study Teacher.
ABSOnline writer for this quarter is Melanie Zuercher, Newton, Kansas. She is a graduate of Goshen College (BA English and communication) and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary (MDiv). Melanie has been the writer and editor for Institutional Communications at Bethel College in North Newton since 2004. She is a member of Shalom Mennonite Church in Newton.
Readers may contact Melanie by using her address above. Readers also may contact the editor at horsch@mph.org.