Confession

Gracious God, You have created a world full of beauty and wonder for us to explore, care for, and enjoy. You have also created us with curious minds to experience all that you have made. We confess that we have missed your creative intent. We have not always seen your handiwork in your creation, we have passed by your gifts in our busyness, and we have not fulfilled our role as caretakers. Forgive us for forgetting your message of love for us offered to us in this world. Help us to pause and see your grace in what you have made and teach us to trust you with all of our questions. In Jesus name, Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. Talk about a time when you were amazed by God’s work in creation. When you have these moments of awe how does it make you feel toward God and toward others?
2. Read Genesis 1:1–2:3. What are some patterns you notice in the text? How does God choose to create according to the passage? 
3. What is the goal of creation? How does the way Genesis 1 is written point to this goal?
4. What is it that makes humanity distinct from the rest of creation?
5. Read John 1:1–3 & 14 and Hebrews 1:1–3. What role did Jesus play in creation?
6.  Read Colossians 1:15–20. What is the connection between Jesus’ role in creation and the resurrection (new creation)?