Teaching about the Kingdom The Teasure and the Pearl 17

The Teasure and
the Pearl
Teaching about
the Kingdom
A. Read Matthew 13 : 44 - 46
B. Imagine you are the man who found the great treasure. Complete his diary
entry for that day explaining how you felt, what you were going to do, and why.
Dear Diary,
I cannot believe it, today I found the most amazing thing.
C. For Discussion
a) What do the pearl and the great treasure stand for in these parables?
b) Do you find these surprising symbols? (Give reasons for your answer).
c) Do all Christians have to give up everything they own before they
can follow God?
What are you prepared to
give up to follow
God?
Think
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 2
17
Teaching about The Unforgiving Servthe Kingdom
ant
A. Read Matt. 18 : 21 - 35 and copy the following into your notebooks,
completing it by filling in the missing words and drawing the pictures
in the spaces provided.
............. asks Jesus
a question
...............
times
?
Lord, how many times must
I ......................
A ............ found a
servant who owed
a ............... debt
The servant pleads
for ............... and is
..............................
The servant and his family were to be
sold as ................. to repay the debt
The servant then
meets a poor man
who owes him a
............ pounds
But the servant
shows no ..............
and has the poor
man .....................
The poor man pleads for ......................
The King is told and
.......................... the
ungrateful servant
B. Discussion
a) What does it mean to 'forgive and forget'?
b) Can you really forgive something without forgetting about it as well?
c) What is the lesson for us from this parable? (see vs.35)
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 2
23
Teaching about
the Kingdom
The Kingdom
Proclaimed
John the Baptist proclaims the Kingdom of God
A. Introduction
1. What is meant by the word 'kingdom'? Try to think of at least 3 different answers.
Put the pictures below in order of importance to convey how clearly you think they
explain the meaning of 'Kingdom'. Discuss your answer with your teacher.
a
b
c
2.
What do you think is meant by the 'Kingdom of God'?
Answer:
3.
In groups compare your answers and write what you think is the clearest definition of
the term, 'Kingdom of God'.
Answer:
B. Setting the Scene
Unjumble the words mixed up in each sentence below and match them with the
Bible references at the foot of the page by inserting the correct reference in the
brackets.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
The New Testament speaks of John GRERPPINA the way.
John DPTSAEIB Jesus in the River Jordan.
(
)
John said he was not OWYHTR.
(
)
The Old MNTETSETA spoke of John preparing the way. (
John calls the Pharisees and Sadducees KSAESN. (
Everyone will see God's OVLNASITA..
(
)
John said he was not the SISEMHA.
(
)
Is. 40 : 3
John 1 : 27
Key Stage 3
Matt. 3 : 3
Luke 3 : 6
Mark 1 : 5
John 1 : 20
Year 9
(
)
)
)
Matt. 3 : 7
Module 2
14
The Kingdom
Proclaimed
Teaching about
the Kingdom
C. Read Matt. 11:1-6 and answer the following questions:1.
2.
3.
What question did John's disciples ask Jesus?
Why did John doubt?
In the table below:(i) look up the Old Testament reference;
(ii) write in the 'sign' column what that verse
said the Messiah would do when He came;
(iii) from the verses beneath the table write the
appropriate references in the New Testament
column that matches the Old Testament prophecy;
(iv) summarize what this NT miracle was in the last column.
Old Testament
Sign
New Testament
Miracle
Is. 29 : 18
Is. 35 : 4 - 6
Ps. 22 : 26
Is. 61 : 1
Matt. 14 : 15 - 21
John 3 : 16
Matt. 9 : 1 - 8
Matt. 8 : 28 - 34
John 9 : 1 - 7
Luke 7 : 11 - 15
Mark 7 : 31 - 37
* Remember, you can put more than one NT verse opposite each OT reference.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 2
15
The Woman caught
in adultery
Teaching about
the Kingdom
A. Read John 8 : 1 - 11
B. EITHER - Complete the comic strip below in your notebooks and add in
the necessary narrative and speech to tell the story.
OR
- Design and complete your own storyboard to illustrate this
incident.
1
2
3
4
5
C. Discussion
(i) Who comes out of this incident worse - the woman or the religious leaders?
Why?
(ii) On what did the woman's forgiveness depend? (v11)
(iii) What does 'repentance' mean?
(iv) Should this influence the things we do and say? Why? How?
D. Unjumble these words to sum up this incident:forgiveness
Key Stage 3
only
repentance
Year 9
true
follows
true
Module 2
22
Teaching about
the Kingdom
The Wedding Feast
Jesus' Teaching on Forgiveness
A. Read Luke 14 : 7 - 14.
The Good News Bible entitles this Humility and Hospitality.
Discuss the meanings of these words (use a dictionary for a precise definition
and a thesaurus for alternative words).
B. Study the diagram below showing the seating arangements for a feast.
(the numbers refer to the importance of the guests - the host is no.1, the most
important guest is no.2 etc.)
Discuss (a)
(b)
(c)
Where may it be tempting to sit? Why?
Why does Jesus advise against this?
Where does Jesus advise you to sit when invited? What are the
benefits?
6
4
5
12
10
11
18
16
17
24
22
23
8
7
9
14
13
15
20
19
21
26
25
27
2
1
3
C. Write 2 diary entries referring to
this parable, one by a person who
took the best place, the other by a
person who took the lowest place.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 2
18
Teaching about
the Kingdom
The Wedding Feast
D. Draw up a list of those you would find it easy/hard to invite to a party you were
having, giving reasons why you put them in a particular column.
Name of person/group
Easy to invite
Hard to Invite
Reason
E. Imagine you are having a special party.
Design an invitation card for it and,
following Jesus' example, list specific
people/groups you might invite.
F. Taking it Further
"For everyone who makes himself great will be humbled and everyone who humbles
himself will be made great.' (vs.11)
-
Discuss with the teacher modern day examples of people who have led their
lives like this e.g. a great team underestimating a small team, powerful/weak
fighter, tortoise/hare ...
-
What is the outcome for both parties/groups/individuals concerned?
G. Write a modern parable illustrating what you have discussed.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 2
19
Teaching about
the Kingdom
The Prodigal Son
A. Introduction
1.
2.
3.
4.
Would you mind being called 'Scrooge'?
What do we mean by 'Prodigal'?
Would you mind being called 'Prodigal'?
Either:- Research Thomas a Becket and King
Henry V and show how they were Prodigals;
or:- tell the story of someone else you know of
who could be desribed as a Prodigal.
B. Read the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 : 11 - 32
What did the story mean for the Jews?
C. Unscramble these sentences to find out.
(a) poverty blessing wealth a sin of God's sign is and of
(b) law living forbidden by loose was
(c) loose outcasts livers were
(d) pigs working with lowest job the was
D. Select the parts of the story from this word pool and put them in correct order
as they occur in the passage.
sinful actions
exaltation
repentance
jealousy
degradation
realisation of wrongdoing
forgiveness
love
blessing
E. Say who the following people
in the story represent:
1. The father
2. The Prodigal son
3. The other son
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 2
20
Teaching about
the Kingdom
The Prodigal Son
F. Divide the class into 3 groups.
Each group should complete one of the following:(i) dramatise part of the story
(ii) write a modern version of this parable
(iii) make a newspaper article on this parable, including interviews with several
different characters e.g. a servant in the house, the father, the elder brother,
one of his fickle friends in the far-off country and the pig farmer (each group
member should take a different character)
G. Taking it Further
Discuss the following in groups, giving reasons for your answers:1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Should the Prodigal Son have been forgiven?
Should he be punished or has he been punished already?
Is the other son's attitude understandable? Acceptable?
Which of the two brothers was "more" sinful?
Which of the two brothers would you prefer to be?
What does the parable teach us about God?
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 2
21
The Pharisee and
Tax Collector
Teaching about
the Kingdom
A. Research
Briefly study the Pharisees/Tax Collectors - their roles and how they were
viewed by others. Write out your findings in a table like the one below.
ROLE
HOW VIEWED
References:
Luke 11 : 42; Mark 2 : 15 - 17;
Mark 3 : 22 - 30; 7 : 5 - 13
ALSO - Jesus disciple Matthew
('Looking into the Bible')
Pharisee
Taxcollector
B. Read Luke 18 : 9 - 14
Study this picture.
C. On a plain piece of paper, design and cut out
speech bubbles to attach to the picture. In
your own words write in what you think
the Pharisee/tax-collector might be saying.
You will notice that v14 is the same as the passage about the Wedding Feast (14:11)
D. In pairs discuss:
'Why the tax-collector, not the Pharisee is right with God when he goes home'.
E. Draw a comic strip of the story of the Pharisee/Tax-collector in 3 frames.
F. Taking it Further
1. This parable is still important to Christians nearly 2000 years later.
Discuss what it is about the story that makes it so effective.
2. Look closely again at what both men had to say. How are they different?
What word does the Pharisee use a lot? - what does this say about him?
If we are truly sorry to a person for a wrongdoing how should this affect us?
3. Write 2 prayers, one you think God would accept, and one He would not.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 2
24
Teaching about
the Kingdom
Forgiveness
A. Study carefully the 3 cartoons marked a), b) and c).
Write down which one you think best represents forgiveness and say why.
a)
b)
c)
B. Look back in your folders at the parable of the Unforgiving Servant.
Either:- After discussion, write a modern version of this parable based on your
own experience, perhaps in school.
Or:Design a cartoon to illustrate this modern parable.
C. In the light of your studies write 2 short definitions starting as follows:(i) 'Forgiveness is .....................................'
(ii) 'Forgiveness is not .....................................'
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 2
25
Teaching about
the Kingdom
Extension Questions
Each of the following can be slotted in to a worksheet on one of the parables to
provide material to extend the brighter pupil.
1. Imagine you were part of the crowd listening to Jesus telling the Parable of the XXXX.
What would you have thought about Jesus' teaching? How would you have reacted?
2. Write a modern-day parable along the lines of the Parable of the YYYY. Show what the
different parts of your parable represent.
3. The Pearl of Great Price - study how 'we' could use our money more effectively eg
focus on a 'Third World' country.
4. Describe the work of any organisation which 'feeds the hungry' today, or in other ways
helps those less fortunate than ourselves.
5. How should we prepare ourselves for the arrival of the Lord?
6. What is your most prized/valued possession? Under what circumstances would you be
prepared to give it away?
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 2
26
Creation
God made it
A. Find as many things as you can that God made in the wordsearch below.
(Look up Genesis Ch 1 for help if you need to).
S
T
A
R
S
A
N
B
C
F
D
D
E
S
S
F
M
S
L
A
M
I
N
A
I
G
A
H
U
D
I
O
J
M
L
I
G
H
T
S
K
Y
K
N
R
L
O
E
A
R
T
H
M
N
H
O
S
E
A
I
T
N
S
N
Y
S
T
N
A
L
P
R
Q
P
B
Day 1
Day 2
B. Draw pictures in each
of the circles to
illustrate what God
created each day.
Day 4
Day 3
Day 6
Day 5
Day 7
C. What did God think of His creation?
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
27
Creation
Is there a God?
A. Look up the meaning of the following words:THEIST
ATHEIST
AGNOSTIC
B. Discuss the quotations below and words above in the context of 'IS THERE A
GOD?'
'Some people see things
as they are and say, why?
I dream things that never
were and say, why not?'
'May the force be with you'
Star Wars
John F Kennedy
'If God did not exist, it would be
necessary to invent Him'.
Voltaire
'Most people suppose that truth
can be acquired like some
commodity, in the markets of the
world, from libraries, laboratories
or encyclopaedias, when all the
time we contain it within ourselves.
It is the last resort, a Self-finding'.
Hugh L'Anson Fausset,
The Lost Dimension 1966
'When I see the glories of the
cosmos I can't help but believe
that there is a Divine Hand
behind it all'.
Albert Einstein
C. In your notebooks using previous Biblical work, the quotes and words above,
answer the following in 200 words:Did everything come about by pure chance and accident?
or
Did everything come about because it was created and therefore had a purpose?
D. On the basis of your answer design
a poster or cartoon strip to illustrate
your point of view.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
30
Stewardship
Creation
A. Discuss
(i) What is a steward?
(ii) Name three places where you would expect to meet one?
(iii) Your best friend is going to a party and asks if he/she can borrow your favourite
jacket. After some thought, you allow him/her, but when it is returned, the jacket has
been ripped. How do you feel?
B. Read Matthew 25 : 14 - 30
C. Answer the following questions:
1. What sums of money were given to the servants by their master?
2. How did the servants use what had been left in their care?
3. What rewards did the first two men receive?
4. Why was the master displeased with the third servant?
5. What happened to him?
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PARABLE
6. What is a 'parable'?
7. Who is represented by the master and servants in the story?
8. What is the meaning of this parable?
9. What qualities are needed to be a
reliable steward?
TOP
TALENT
USE IT
OR
LOOSE IT
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
33
Creation
Stewardship
D. Discuss in pairs
Jane, as a member of the school hockey team, has been made responsible for
collecting the equipment at the end of each practice. She does not want the job,
and wishes she had been given a more exciting task. Should she:- do it well, but only when the teacher is looking;
- rush the job, throwing the materials down without any care;
- take in the most important items, leaving the rest outside;
- deliberately perform the task badly, hoping she will be given another job;
- your own suggestion?
E. Read Genesis 1 : 26 - 30 and Psalm 8 :6
In groups:Make a list of at least five jobs which man would have to do in order to care for this world.
Why has the earth not been what God originally intended?
Write a letter to your local MP, asking him to lobby parliament to pass a Bill which will
introduce new measures to protect the environment. You should include:(i) some suggestions as to what might be proposed
(ii) arguments from a Christian perspective
F. Taking it further
1. Design a poster, illustrating the beauty of the earth and ways in which man, as a
steward, should protect God's world.
2. (a) If you won a large sum of money, say £500,000 in the lottery, how would you
spend it?
(b) How would you spend it as a Steward of God?
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
34
Creation
Uniqueness of Man
A. How would you describe yourself?
..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................
How did you describe yourself? Was it a 'physical' description? Possibly you mentioned
something about your 'personality'.
Quite often we classify people according to their appearance, their nationality, or
even their behaviour. This is called 'STEREOTYPING'
BODY
Opposite there are three circles:-
MIND
SPIRIT
B. Put into the circles aspects
of your life which relate to
each of these areas.
You will notice the 'Spiritual Dimension'. Here we are 'looking inside'. Obviously it is not
so easily identifiable as our mental processes or our physical self. The Spiritual dimension
is nevertheless a vital part of our whole existence. This area of our life is concerned with
looking for meaning in life and beyond life, and how we relate to God.
C. Add any questions to this list which you can 'think of'.
Who am I?
What is life?
Does God exist?
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
28
Creation
Uniqueness of Man
What does the Bible say about the
uniqueness of man?
A. Write out Genesis 2 : 7 in your own words.
.................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................
Man became a 'living soul'.
God 'breathed' into him the breath of life.
He is therefore God conscious.
In this way man is different from the animals;
man being a living soul will live forever,
animals will not.
B. Write out Psalm 8 : 4 -8 in your own words.
................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................
C. In groups:Make a list of as many
differences as you can
between humans and
animals.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
29
Creation
The end of my world?
A. Read the following story carefully:Jane was late home from school. Some homework had to be done before she went to the
disco. She dashed into the house, up to her
room, turned the radio on, quickly did her work
and ran downstairs.
She was preoccupied with other thoughts and
did not feel hungry. She gulped some food but
left half of her meal untouched. Time was passing quickly - she must get to the bathroom before
someone else occupied it. Armed with clean,
dry towels, her favourite shower gel, deodorant,
body spray, perfume and shampoo she switched
the bathroom light on.
Afterwards the make-up and hair treatment
began. The heated brush was plugged in along
with the hair dryer and all the cans of mousse,
gel and spray were close at hand to ensure the
perfect look.
What should she wear?
Into the wardrobe and on goes the latest long skirt and top. In front of the mirror - she's
not happy. Off it comes, dropped on the floor and on goes her baggy trousers - she's still
not pleased. Off that comes and on go the old favourites - her jeans and body suit.
A final spray of perfume and she rushes down to ask her dad for a lift. As they drive along
she sees two of her friends outside the shop. Her dad drops her off and they go into the
shop to buy chewing gum, sweets and cans of coke before making their way to the disco.
B. Working in groups make a list of ways by which Jane was environmentally
unfriendly. Try to get at least ten different ways.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
42
Creation
The End of the World?
(2)
God's world has been spoiled and exploited by greed, ignorance and selfishness.
In groups:A. Read this Harvest Hymn and discuss your reaction to it.
Harvest Hymn
We spray the fields and scatter
The poison on the ground
So that no wicked wild flowers
Upon our farm be found
We like whatever helps us
To line our purse with pence;
The twenty-four-hour broiler-house
And neat electric fence.
All concrete sheds around us
And Jaguars in the yard,
The telly lounge and deep-freeze
Are ours from working hard.
We fire the fields for harvest,
The hedges swell the flame,
The oak trees and the cottages
From which our fathers came.
We give no compensation,
The earth is ours today,
And if we lose on arable,
Then bungalows will pay.
All concrete sheds around us
And Jaguars in the yard,
The telly lounge and deep-freeze
Are ours from working hard.
John Betjeman
B. Write and illustrate a poem to describe other ways in which we are destroying
God's creation.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
40
Creation
The End of the World?
(1)
Divide into 4 groups and do one of the following activities:1. 'God creates and man destroys'
Using the attached sheet which has this title, complete the boxes by writing or
drawing in the spaces to back up this statement.
2. 'In the Balance'
Here is a bit of a conversation between God and the
devil after God has created the earth in all its wonder.
The devil is very keen to gain control of this marvellous
world and he sees the chance to do so through man.
Continue the conversation showing how the devil comes really close to success.
You may use other characters if necessary.
GOD
DEVIL
GOD
DEVIL
GOD
DEVIL
GOD
I have done well so far, light, darkness, sky, land and sea, plants, sun,
moon, and stars, fish and animals. Now I need someone to be in charge,
right I'll make man.
That's your first mistake!
Now man will need a companion, yes, I'll give him a wife.
(Gleefully) Yes, yes, that's where man's weakness will be.
I'll put man in charge of everything, he will manage it for me.
Goody, now's my chance. I'll get to work on that idea. Under MY direction
earth will soon be a wasteland.
....................................................................
3. Class Debate
Organise your group to prepare data and information for a debate on the subject:
'The environment is not our responsibility, we pay the Government to look after it'
Remember you need a chairperson, speakers for and against the motion, and plenty of
ideas to use to support the stand taken.
4. 'World in Trouble'
Study the game of the same name on page 39.
Work out what the 'sits' have in common.
Work out why you 'move on' or 'move back'.
Using this information draw suitable pictures
in the empty boxes.
Then play the game.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
37
Creation
In Praise of Creation
The book of Psalms teach us how to
worship, as the writers express themselves in praise of God's creation,
telling us what He has done and
proclaiming his greatness.
A. Divide into 6 groups.
B. Each group look up
one of the following
references.
Psalm 8 : 1 - 9
Psalm 9 : 1 - 6
Psalm 24 : 1 - 2
Psalm 104 : 1 - 9
Psalm 136 : 1 - 9
Psalm 145 : 1 - 9
C. Complete the following
1. List 4 statements made about God in the Psalm you have just read.
2. How could you use the statements above to answer someone who says 'I don't believe God created the world'
3. State 4 - 5 aspects of the natural world that your group would describe as breath-taking
(awe-inspiring).
D. Report your findings back to the rest of the class.
Each group may want to read out their Psalm before reporting back.
4. Use the points listed in Q. 3 to write your own psalm of praise to God
(either in groups or individually).
5. Collect pictures of the natural world, e.g. trees, flowers, animals, landscapes etc.
and use them to make a collage depicting creation.
6. Pick out one verse from the Psalms and design it as a text.
(See example above)
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
43
Creation
In Praise of Creation
A SONG
E. Play tape of this modern hymn if you have it.
Then write an appreciation of the author's feelings about his creator God.
O Lord our God how majestic is your name
The earth is filled with your glory.
O Lord our God, you are robed in majesty
You've set your glory above the heavens.
O Lord our God, you have established a throne
You reign in righteousness and splendour
O Lord our God, the skies are ringing with your praise.
Soon those on earth will come to worship.
O Lord our God, the world was made at your command
In you all things now hold together
Now to Him who sits on the throne and to the lamb
Be praise and glory and power for ever.
We will magnify, we will magnify
The Lord enthroned in Zion.
A PSALM
F. Read Psalm 104
The Psalmist makes many statements about God involved in creation. Can you unravel
the meaning; can you interpret what the Psalmist was thinking about as he wrote?
Choose five statements and put down a meaning for each.
e.g. v 3 - 'he lays the beams of his upper chambers on the waters' (authorised version)
could simply refer to shafts of sunlight coming through the clouds onto the surface of a
lake or sea. This obviously, to the Psalmist, looks like a little bit of heaven being visible
from earth.
A PRAYER
Almighty God, who put it within the reach of man to discover the great truths about the
universe, of which our world is but a tiny part, help us to discover more about your creation
so that our hearts and voices may be filled with wonder and praise now and for evermore.
Amen.
G. Write a short prayer expressing thankfulness for the world God has made.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
44
Creation
The End of the World?
GOD CREATES
1
MAN DESTROYS
Light and darkness
"Men love darkness rather than light
because their deeds are evil."
Man has used the cover of darkness
for some of his worst atrocities eg
bombs, murder, sexual activities.
2
God created the sky to separate
the earth from the heavens.
The beauty of the skies and the
ever -changing cloud formations
are a source of wonder and praise.
3
Grass, seeds and trees.
Man uses fertilisers and weed killers
to increase the yield. He is greedy
and so misuses the land for his own
benefit. Forests and peatlands are
destroyed every day without thought
for creatures or later generations.
4 God made the sun,moon and stars
and they light up His earth by day
and night. The sun provides heat
and light, both essential for growth.
The stars are a guide to travellers
and sailors out on land or sea.
5 Fish and Birds
skins
caused
cally extinct
dishes and
"Greenpeace"jolts
6 Living creaturesconsciences.
7
Man has overfished the oceans,
killed whales and seals for their
and by-products, and has
many birds to be practidue to greed for rare
pets.
Day of rest
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
38
WORLD IN TROUBLE
1
2
3
4
BEGINNING
THROW 6 TO START
(or go after 3 tries)
SIT
MOVE ON 1
7
8
MISS A TURN
9
123456789
123456789
123456789
123456789
123456789
LITTER
123456789
123456789
123456789
123456789
123456789
5
MOVE ON 4
10
6
SIT
11
12
Fridge
GO BACK 6
MOVE ON 4
13
SIT
SIT
14
GO BACK 2
19
GO BACK 4
15
MOVE ON 4
20
GO BACK 2
16
MISS A TURN
21
SIT
17
GO BACK 4
22
18
MOVE ON 3
23
24
oil
39
SIT
GO BACK 6
SIT
MISS A TURN
SIT
THROW 6 TO FINISH
Creation
What do you think?
A. Read and discuss the quotes and information below
'Be praised, my Lord, by sister moon
and the stars. In heaven you have
made them bright and sparkling and
lovely'.
'Every time I hear a new born
baby cry, or touch a leaf, or
see the sky. Then I know
why I believe'.
Francis of Assisi
Reg Presley (The Troggs)
Just think of all those hungry mouths we
have to feed.
Take a look at all the suffering we breed.
So many lonely faces scattered all around
Searching for what they need.
Is this the world we created?
We made it on our own.
Is this the world we devasted right to the
bone?
Is there a God in the sky looking down?
What can he think of what we've done
To the world that he created?
I had a chance to look around
while I was outside and Earth
was off to the right 180,000
miles away, a little thin sliver
of blue and white ......
surrounded by this blackness
of space. That was really the
only time that I had that
'insignificant' feeling of the
immensity of this, 'God's
creation'.
Charles Duke Jr. (USA)
Astronaut
Freddie Mercury
Queen
Some Amazing Facts
The sun is 860,000 miles across.
Light travels at 186,000 miles per second.
Our universe is 100,000 light years across.
There are estimated to be 100 billion stars.
It takes 200,000,000 years for our galaxy to rotate once.
The Bible states:'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth'.
B. What do you think of our world and how it came into being?
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
31
Creation
Taking it further
A. In groups discuss the following:1. How did this state of our planet come to pass?
• Recall the facts of the fall from Genesis 3 : 1 - 24
• What did the fall cause betwen man and God?
2. When Adam sinned, he was only thinking about
himself and not the results his selfishness would
produce. How is our selfishness responsible for
the present state of the planet?
3. 'I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth', is the first statement
of the Apostle's Creed. Christians believe that God is all-powerful, present everywhere,
all-seeing and all-knowing, that creation is his gift and that God loves his creation.
People in response to that love have a responsibility to care for the planet and
to share its resources fairly. How would you expect Christians to act in the light of
these beliefs?
Report your conclusions to the rest of the class.
B. Christian Aid, Cafod, T.E.A.R. Fund and Trocaire undertake aid and development work motivated by faith in a
caring creator-God. Find out about the work of these
organisations locally, nationally and internationally.
C. Taking it even further still!
What can we do to reverse the damage man has done to the earth?
Below are some suggestions.
Discuss the possibility of getting involved with these or similar activities in your
own area.
Support an existing fund-raising activity, the proceeds of which go to aid and development
work abroad or to help people in need in this country.
Work with an environmental group in the school or neighbourhood to clear out a local
waterway, lift litter from a local beauty spot or school grounds.
Create a natural garden from a piece of waste ground.
Form a conservation group to recycle aluminium cans or waste paper for local charities or
council collection depot.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
41
Creation
Our Precious Orb
Read the contents of the orb diagram below and then answer the questions on the
next page.
SOURCE UNKNOWN
Included in 'Green Beliefs - Valued World',
published by C.E.M.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
35
Creation
Our Precious Orb
1. What are - (a) the big pools
(b) the little pools
(c) the water flowing between the pools
2. Name two of each type of water, which would be
recognised easily on a map of the world.
3. What would the bumps and the holes be?
Give an example of one of the most noticeable bumps and one of the deepest holes.
4. What is -
(a) the very thin layer of gas surrounding the ball?
(b) the water suspended in the gas?
5. (a) Which of the land creatures and sea creatures do you admire?
(b) Make a picture, wall frieze or mural including as many of your favourite land and
sea creatures as you can.
6. What do you understand by the word 'precious'?
7. If the planet Earth were only a few feet in diameter, floating above a field now, what
signs would show that all is not well with it?
8. What could people do to protect the ball, so that the damage could be mended or
stopped from getting worse?
9. Make a poster showing the earth as a ball, suffering from as many of the following
'ailments' as you can illustrate:air pollution
river and sea pollution
waste disposal
animal rights
urban growth
leisure and tourism
deforestation
nuclear power
farming methods
industrial expansion
greenhouse effect
Key Stage 3
Year 9
famine
climate
acid rain
mining
population
Module 3
36
Creation
or Evolution?
CREATION - is a set of beliefs.
We can never prove it - we were
not there to see it happen for
ourselves - but we can either
believe or disbelieve what the
Bible says about our origins.
SOURCE MATERIAL
-
EVOLUTION - is a theory. We can
never prove it - we were not there
to see it happen for ourselves - but
we can either believe or disbelieve
the evolutionists' interpretations of
the fossil record.
'All about Living', book 1, chapter 2..
A. Discuss
1. What do you understand about the two views of how the world began i.e. creation and
evolution. Which is the more convincing and why?
2. How does the Bombardier Beetle help the creation theory and hinder that of evolution?
3. Discuss the various points about 'The Creation Story'.
B. Written work
1. Explain what is meant by
-
Evolution
Creation
Natural selection
Mutation
Fossil
2. List the 5 'Some Say' comments about Genesis.
C. Taking it further
In the light of what you have done so far, comment on which you think is the most likely
theory and why.
OR
Evaluate what you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the creationist and the
evolutionist view. Set your work out in two columns, and try to find three strengths
and three weaknesses of each theory.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
32
The Wonder of
God's Creation
Creation
'The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; the world and they
that dwell therein'.
Psalm 24 : 1
Over the centuries many people have stopped to marvel at the wonder of God's
creation.
A. In Groups of 4 or 5
Find 1 or 2 examples of how man has tried to
express this wonder in pictures, poetry, words or
song. (Think of hymns like; 'All things bright and
beautiful', 'How great thou art', or 'Pied Beauty'
by G. M. Hopkins)
Examine how the author or painter tried to express his awe, and discuss which media is
best suited to this.
Choose one each from a different set below, and, using poetry, drawing, song, or essay,
try to express the wonder of God's creation in each:Animals
lamb
elephant
giraffe
lion
Birds
robin
kingfisher
ostrich
peacock
Plants
rose
honeysuckle
snowdrop
carnation
Trees
conifers
beech
cherry
holly
People
baby
youth
old man
mother
Weather
sunshine
storm
snow
sunset
B. Read Psalm 8 : 1 - 9
In this Psalm David is marvelling at the whole world and the fact that God put man
in charge of it all.
C. Look at the following list of people and discuss how far each is fulfilling God's
trust in putting man in charge of His handiwork.
farmers
parents
fishermen
doctors
planners
builders
scientists
D. Balloon debate
Choose one of these people and
prepare a speech supporting
your right to continue being in
charge of your particular area.
Key Stage 3
Year 9
Module 3
45