David C Cook’s most widely used curriculum, Bible-in-Life, focuses on four basic goals: connect with God’s

Word, study God’s Word, interact with God’s Word, and apply God’s Word to life. No matter where students

are in their walk with Jesus, Bible-in-Life communicates the gospel with life-changing clarity and motivates

them toward life application.

Features Include:• Easy-to-use four-step lessons make teaching a snap

• Bible-based lessons encourage application in real-life situations

• Unified themes (elementary through high school) tie the study of God’s Word together

• ISSL lessons offered to suit the needs of your adult classes

• Flexible and affordable to meet any church budget

• Free weekly downloads through RealLifeDownloaded.com tie into current news stories and topics

to take your class deeper into the lesson

Special Features Include:• Free spiritual parenting resource HomeFront for families on the go

• An interactive Bible Timeline helps kids quickly visualize the New and Old Testaments

• Ministry tips and ideas and quick references assist teachers in each lesson

• Appealing design and engaging content for students of all ages

US: 800.426.6596 davidccook.com/bibleinlifeCanada: 800.263.2664 yourchurchzone.ca

When the Bible is in your life, God’s Word transforms your heart and mind.

BIBLE-IN-LIFEPARTNERING WITH TODAY’S CHURCHES

US: 800.426.6596 davidccook.com/bibleinlifeCanada: 800.263.2664 yourchurchzone.ca

6

POWER FOR LIVING September 2, 2012

P A T C H E S O F G R A C E

S tew bubbled on the stove. Cookies baked in the oven. Jello salad hardened in the refrigera-tor. � e microwave dinged.I balanced a pot on my hip, grabbed a wooden spoon, and called over my shoulder. “Hey, can someone check the sauce?”My husband stuck his head through the kitchen doorway. “Smells good in here.”

I blew out a breath. “It’ll taste good too, if I can get it all ready in time. See if the sauce is hot.” I nodded toward the microwave then jabbed my spoon in the direction of the dining room. “Is the table set?”“Sure is.” Bryan strode to the micro-wave and opened the door. “Sauce looks perfect. It’s steaming.”“Great. Go ahead and take it to the table.” I glanced at the clock. In

ten minutes, our guests would arrive. Ten minutes to stir and mix, taste and cook, prepare and place. � en, all I wanted to do was sit and feast, and enjoy getting to know the new family from church.I stuck the wooden spoon into the stew and gave it a twist as Bryan lifted the sauce bowl out of the microwave and moved to the next room. I turned back to the stew. Bubbles popped to the surface. It did smell good. I leaned over and took a deep breath.

A sni� e sounded behind me, fol-lowed by a tug on my pantleg.I looked down.Jayden glared up at me. His two-year-old lip quivered.

“What’s wrong, honey?”He pointed toward the living room. “Sister mean.”

© IS

TOC

KP

HO

TO/T

HIN

KS

TOC

K

P A T C H E S O F G R A C E

Hungry for GodBY MARLO SCHALESKY

1408412_L01_P3.indd 6

1/19/12 8:09 AM

Perfect for All Ages

Scope & Sequence

Format

With Bible-in-Life, you can select curriculum by a specific age level or customize it to provide one solution for all.

Toddler (18-36 months)

Preschool (3 years-Pre-Kindergarten)

Early Elementary (Kindergarten-1st Grade)

Elementary (2nd-3rd Grade)

Upper Elementary (4th-5th Grade)

Toddler through Early Elementary – 2 Year Cycle

Elementary through High School – 3 Year Cycle

Adult Comprehensive Bible Study – 6 Year Cycle

Adult Understanding the Bible – 8 Year Cycle

To view the complete Scope & Sequence visit www.BibleinLife.com

Family-friendly

Classroom model

Printed curriculum

Additional online resources available

Middle School (6th-8th Grade)

High School (9th-12th Grade)

Adult – Comprehensive Bible Study (ISSL)

Adult – Understanding the Bible

(book-by-book study)

lesson 1

Under-Standing the

BiBLe

� indicates items you will need to prepare before class

LE

S.

1

8 Lesson 1

Memory Verse

God Did It!

This week’s Bible Basis is Genesis 1; Romans 1:19-20; and Hebrews 11:3. Few

passages in the Bible tell us more about God than Genesis 1. Here we see God as the great Creator, designer, and molder of our magnificent universe. We see God intimately concerned about His work, bringing it all into being in an orderly way. We see humanity presented as the crowning work of creation, with specific tasks and responsibilities to fulfill. We see humanity in fellowship with God until sin enters the picture (Gen. 3). “In the beginning God created” (Gen.1:1). The Hebrew word used is bara [bah-RAH]. This word is used only for acts of divine power where something is brought into existence. Reaching back into the expanses of eternity before the invention of time, Genesis declares “God was!” And God did an incredible new thing. He spoke the universe into existence (Ps. 33:6, 9). Out of nothing, God created. And what He created was “very good!” (Gen. 1:31).

By observing God’s works of creation, we are confronted with the unlimited power of the Supreme Being, the Living God. As a result, Paul tells us (Rom. 1:19-20), that we are without excuse for not believing. For the eternal nature of God and His qualities are apparent to all through the universe He made. Hebrews 11:3 reminds us that it is by faith we see the purposeful handiwork of God behind what we observe in nature.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

—Psalm 19:1

STEP 1 . Connecting with God’s Word

Giving Creation a chance: Your teens will relate their experiences with chance to the impossible odds of the universe “just happening.”

� Slips of paper numbered 1–16, a bag

��� “It Didn’t Just Happen” poster from Blueprint

STEP 2 . Studying God’s Word

Investigating God as Creator: Your teens will complete the Blueprint Bible study about Creation and will look at ways that God shows us who He is.

��� Bibles, copies of Blueprint, pens, whiteboard, markers

STEP 3 . Interacting with God’s Word

Exploring evidence of God’s creation: Your teens will practice what they’ve learned about Creation by looking at a poster of facts, exploring nature, and gathering evidences of God, and/or creating a collage.

��� “4 Views of Creation” from Blueprint

��� Posterboard, markers, newspapers, magazines, glue, scissors

� Small resealable plastic bags (1 per student)

STEP 4 . Applying God’s Word

Celebrating God’s creation: Your teens will learn to see objects in nature as evidence of the Creator who made all things.

� Numbered slips of paper and bag from Step 1

��� Optional: Magazines, scissors, permanent markers

Bible Basis:Genesis 1; Romans 1:19-20; Hebrews 11:3

Focus:Creation gives evidence to the existence of God.

CLaS

Sro

om

tip

S

LE

S. 1

When teaChing the BiBLe to teenS . . .

Lesson 1 9

As your teens work on this lesson, make sure they do each activity with purpose. The adage “If you don’t know where you’re going, you won’t know when you get there” articulates this need for purpose. If you tell your students why they are doing a project, working on an activity, or reading specific Bible verses, they’ll be more apt to want to follow through.

For example, you might say, “As you work through this poster about God’s great miracles of Creation, pay attention to the detail that God poured into His work.” Or, “As you read this Scripture passage, look for words that describe God’s power as He created the world.”

Your students will feel more involved if they know what’s going on. Also, they won’t have to reread the verses they just read in order to understand how to use them to answer specific questions.

Also, in Step 3 where teens choose their own activities, ask them why they chose to work on the ones they did.

Teacher Devo

Your students may live in a world where believing in God is considered ridiculous. In many public and private schools, the theory of evolution is taught as fact. The Bible is seen as out of date, or at best a book of stories not to be taken seriously.

By high school, most of your teens may know what they believe about Creation. To survive, however, many may feel it permissible to borrow something of evolution but hang on to an Ultimate Creator, one who guides the evolutionary process. Others may go even further and experiment with a belief in the non-existence of God. This presents a great deal of perceived freedom. After all, if God does not exist, then there is no ultimate accountability—an attractive alternative to many teens and adults.

More than ever, it’s important to teach teens in order to equip them with a strong foundation of reasonable faith. But even that will only go so far. The generation you work with is searching for answers of another kind. They may have a void in their lives or lack spiritual depth, yet they want to know what makes a real difference in the real world. Sometimes saying, “I don’t have all the answers figured out, but I know what God has done for me in my life” is the most powerful answer of all. However, if you encounter a difficult question for which you don’t have the answer but know there is a biblical explanation, you may want to write those questions down and have your pastor get back to the individual teens.

Reformed Essential 1: The one true God is the triune God of grace—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—whom alone we must worship and serve.

It all begins with God, no matter what “it” is. The belief in God’s pre-existence, His creative initiative and sustaining influence throughout history is a primary mark of Judeo-Christian belief. Reformed Christians have been free to accept both the biblical story of God’s action in Creation and the scientific discoveries of our generation. In the final argument, it takes far more faith to believe that the intricacies of the universe sprang forth by accident than to believe in a preexistent, all-powerful, all-creative, personal God who alone is worthy of our adoration and praise.

Golden Thread:

“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him” (Col. 1:16).

Stray Thread:

Most students have been taught to disregard the biblical accounts of Creation and to believe the theory of evolution. Allowing high school students the intellectual freedom to seek the truth is essential. Do not be afraid to give them all the evidence, since God promises to lead them into all truth.

1107012-HSTG.indb 9 1/16/12 2:27 PM

STEP 1 . Connecting with God’s Word

10 Lesson 1

Lesson Focus:

Before CLaSS option

LE

S.

1 Have teens get into pairs and

share 10 awesome things found in nature. For example, a thunderstorm, a rainbow, an elephant, a dewdrop, a four-leaf clover, etc.

Creation gives evidence to the existence of God.

Your teens will relate their experiences with chance to the impossible odds of the universe “just happening.”

Materials:��� Slips of paper numbered 1-16, a bag��� “It Didn’t Just Happen” poster from Blueprint

Before class, number the slips of paper from 1 to 16, place the pieces of paper in the bag, and put the poster on the wall. At the beginning of class, have one volunteer go up to the bag and try to pull out all of the numbers in numerical sequence from 1 to 16. This is a near-impossible task and your teen should not be able to do it. Save the bag with the numbers in it for use in Step 4. Have the volunteer sit down. Direct your students to the poster, then ask your class the following questions:

. Guess what the odds might be of today’s volunteer pulling out the numbers 1 to 16 from the bag in the correct sequence. (Allow a few minutes for teens to guess the possible odds. The actual odds are 1 in 20,923,000,000,000 [20 trillion, 923 billion].)

. Do you think these are good odds? (These are terrible odds. The likelihood of a person pulling out the numbers in the right sequence is close to none.) What would you call good odds? (Teens might say two-to-one odds are pretty good, or a one-in-three chance, for example.)

. What do you think the odds might be of a universe just appearing or happening on its own? (If sequencing numbers from 1-16 has 1 in 20 trillion, 923 billion odds, it is absurd to think that a universe as complex as ours could happen on its own.)

. There is another factor we didn’t look at with our volunteer. How long do you think it took to pull out the slips of paper? (Let the teens give their estimates. Talk about how long they think it would take to try all 20 trillion, 923 billion combinations.)

In this next section we will look at Scripture passages that will help us see how Creation gives evidence to the existence of God.

Link to Last Week Ask your students about decisions they made in the past week and com-mend those pleasing to God. Encourage initiative to live for Christ.

Free! Downloadable Options for Steps 1 and 4. RealLifeDownloaded.com

Lesson 1 11

More BiBLe info

STEP 2 . Studying God’s Word

Bible Basis:

LE

S. 1

“By faith we understand that the universe was

formed at God’s command” (Heb. 11:3a). Christians have faith in God and in God’s revelation. Scientists also say much that hinges on faith, with no more proof than any other statement. For the truth is that no one has the tools to go back to the beginning and get the “real” story. Thus, all options are statements of faith.

In this step your teens will complete the Blueprint Bible study about Creation and will look at ways that God shows us who He is.

Materials:��� Bibles��� Copies of Blueprint��� Pens��� Whiteboard��� Markers

Today’s Scripture and the Bible study “Reflections of God” on page 7 of Blueprint illustrate that in addition to being able to know that God exists, we can also know what He is like. To begin this step, hand out pens and copies of Blueprint and have your teens open to the Bible study. (Answers to all Blueprint questions can be found on page 12 of this Teacher’s Guide.) Also have teens read Genesis 1 silently from their Bibles. As they do this, write the first verse of Genesis 1 on the whiteboard. Underline the words “In the beginning God” and ask:

. What does this phrase tell us about God’s existence in relation to time? (Before time or the world’s beginning, God was. God is eternal.)

Underline the words “God created” and ask:

. What evidence does the Bible give for God or a Creator? (The Bible presents God as the Creator of the universe. The intricate details of the universe and nature give evidence to a Creator God.)

Continue this examination of the text by reading and completing the chart on page 7 of Blueprint. Share with your teens: Romans 1:19-20 says that God has made it plain for us to know Him through His creation. Some examples to help get you started are: 1. God’s power as seen in the oceans or, greater yet, the universe that seems to hang in space on nothing . . . 2. God’s wisdom shown by the order in the solar system creating climates and seasons . . . 3. God’s concern for His creation seen in the natural survival instincts built into wild animals . . .

Some people refuse to believe that a Creator exists, even though they know that something reasonable outside of the created order had to start the ball rolling. God was able to do this because He Himself has no beginning. He is self-existent and eternal. He is the Creator so we can know He exists and know much about Him just by looking at His creation.

. The evidence of Creation is enough to condemn unbelieving people. Why is this? (Creation is a sign that God has put up for everyone to see that says, “Look, I exist and I am all powerful.” This sign is so conspicuous that anybody saying, “I don’t believe in God,” has deliberately ignored the sign. For that reason, he or she is to be condemned. The Creator God, who is eternal, holy, and all powerful, is not to be ignored.)

In this next section we’ll see how creation gives evidence to the existence of God.

gg

Genesis 1; Romans 1:19-20; Hebrews 11:3

LE

S.

1L

ES

. 1

12 Lesson 1

blueprint 7

cut

here

Romans 1:19-2019 What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Hebrews 11:3By faith we un der stand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Read through Genesis 1 as if you didn’t know anything

about God except what this Scripture tells you. On the chart, list all His char ac ter is tics

that you can know for certain or that are implied in these verses.

For example, for Genesis 1:1, you could write the fact that God is the Creator.

You might also put on your list that He is eternal because this is implied. You can

assume that if God was present in the beginning, He Himself had no beginning. Now

you try it.

& Read Romans 1:19-20. On the chart below, make a list of things in nature that display the char ac ter is tics of

God that you found in Genesis 1. For instance, mountain ranges display God’s creative

power, and sunsets show His love for beauty.

Characteristic of God As It’s Seen in Nature

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.

6. 6.

7. 7.

& Look at Hebrews 11:3. According to this verse, how did God create? What materials did He use? How are we to

respond to something like this, something that cannot be proven by the technical tools

available to us?

Reflections of odselections from Romans and Hebrews 1 B

ible S

tudylesson 1 Bible Study

1. God is the Creator of the universe.

2. God is eternal.

3. God is all-powerful.

4. God is creative and purposeful.

5. God loves that which is good and beautiful.

6. God is the provider of daily needs.

7. God is the source of all authority.

1. The very existence of a created order implies that there is a creative force behind it.

2. God was present before anything created existed, so God Himself must have no beginning.

3. Mountain ranges, oceans, rivers.

4. The design and order in nature.

5. Sunsets, colorful, unique flower designs.

6. Nature is the source of food for human beings and animals.

7. God gave humans dominion over all the earth.

Hebrews 11:3—God created out of nothing. He simply spoke creation into existence—there was no “stuff” with which He created. All should respond to this truth by faith. Just because we don’t have the tools to prove this doesn’t conclusively show that it didn’t happen. All it says is that we don’t have the tools to observe it.

Lesson 1 13

STEP 3 . Interacting with God’s Word

This page may be reproduced for in-class use only.

LE

S. 1

You may wish to set up for Step 4

while teens do Step 3.

tip

DeSigner QuaLiTy coLLage��� Newspapers, magazines, markers, glue, scissors, poster board

Look through magazines and newspapers for pictures of anything you see that gives evidence that the world we live in has a design and a master plan.

Cut these pictures out and glue these “evidences” to poster board like an advertising page for a design campaign.

Some examples of these things could be a small delicate flower petal, a little bird, an insect, a sunset, a baby or adult, etc.

Come up with a dynamic name for your collage, such as “In Awe and Wonder of God”; “It’s A Wonderful Life and World”; or “Creation Proves God Exists.” Display your collage for all to see.

creaTion Scavenger hunT��� Small resealable plastic bags (1 per student)

Allow students to go outside of the classroom for a designated time to collect items in nature that show God’s care of His creation. Have each student place at least three items in his or her zippered plastic bag. Regroup and ask students to share about what they found. If it is not feasible to leave the room, have each student instead come up with three of his or her favorite things found in nature (for example, rainbows, favorite animals, ocean waves), and share what characteristic of God is demonstrated by each item he or she chose.

Four vieWS��� “4 Views of Creation” from Blueprint, pgs 9–10��� Poster board, markers

Read through the sheet “4 Views of Creation” from Blueprint.

On a piece of poster board, create a chart of the four viewpoints of creation. Use the following categories in your chart:

1. Length of time 2. What was the role of God in

creation? 3. Were there other forces at

work?4. Is this view compatible with

the Bible?

. How do these views point toward the Creator? Explain.

Your teens will practice what they’ve learned about Creation by looking at a poster of facts, going on a scavenger hunt, and/or creating a collage.

In this section your students will have a choice of three activities that illustrate how God’s creation gives evidence of His existence. In the “Four Views” activity your teens will read Blueprint, list, and discuss viewpoints of Creation. In the “Creation Scavenger Hunt” your students will explore nature and return with evidences of God’s care. In the “Designer Quality Collage” activity your teens will make a collage that represents all of the evidences in creation that reflect God’s plan.

To introduce this interaction step, explain: The issue of how the world came into being has been a much-debated topic for centuries. Creation gives evidence to the existence of God in a multitude of ways. He has left a detailed account of this great miracle in Genesis 1. The following activities will allow you to explore some of the facts of Creation for yourself.

14 Lesson 1

LE

S.

1

STEP 4 . Applying God’s Word

Lesson Focus:

LE

S.

1

Next Week Dominos are used in Step 1 next week to demonstrate the importance of having a created order.

Your teens will learn to see objects in nature as evidence of the Creator who made all things.

Materials:��� Numbered slips of paper and bag from Step 1��� Optional: magazines, scissors, permanent markers

Dump the numbers that you used in Step 1 out of the bag and place them in a heap on a large desk. Mix the slips up and have a volunteer open up the slips of paper, read the numbers, and arrange them in numerical order from 1 to 16. Point out how easy, and how much of a “sure thing” it was to trust that an intelligent being who understood the one-through-sixteen concept could piece the numbers together. Discuss:

. Why do you think it was easier for this volunteer than it was for the person who volunteered at the beginning of class? (This volunteer was able to plan how he or she would put the papers in order, the first volunteer did it randomly.)

. What evidence in creation encourages you to put your faith in God the Creator? (Answers will vary. Teens may say that the complexity of their bodies gives them evidence that God, not chance, created them. Others may list things in nature, etc.)

Next, have teens go outside and find something in nature that is small enough to fit into the palm of their hands. Have teens share their discoveries with the group, explaining how they think this thing they’ve found indicates that there is a designer behind it. If teens aren’t able to go outside, have them look through magazines and cut out pictures of nature to discuss.

Say: Either we are the result of the most incredible stroke of luck ever recorded in the history of the universe or we are the product of a higher power who had a concept of design. As we have seen, even palm-sized bits of creation give evidence of a designer. Are you willing to believe in a Creator God?

Allow teens a few minutes to ponder this question. They may want to jot words of faith in God their Creator on the object of nature that they found, such as a rock, or leaf, or even a flower.

Close by thanking God for the wonder of the universe, the incredible act of Creation, and the evidence left in that creation of the divine designer.

Have teens take their palm-sized evidence home to remind them that creation gives evidence to the existence of God.

Creation gives evidence to the existence of God.

4 SEP OCT NOV

The students held their breath as the bus ground gears all the way up the mountain. Jamie climbed out and leaned against the rail, taking in the Rocky Mountains. What an amazing way to kick off the school year, with a geology field course.Yet looking around made her realize, “I’m a long way from home.” It wasn’t just the change in scenery that made her feel a thousand miles away; it was the idea that she was there, on top of a mountain, with a bunch of people she didn’t know…including the guy standing 10 feet from her. They had met the first day of class, just last week. He sat in front of her. Going to college was a huge step of faith. She loved college. She liked her classes, at least most of them. She loved the freedom. And she liked this guy… “Hey.” She turned around. He smelled great, always did. That loopy half smile did something to her heart. “Hey yourself.” “Want to collect samples with me?” “Aren’t we supposed to stick together as a group?” “Nah, everyone’s doing their own thing,” he said. He pointed to a trail just over her shoulder. “Want to explore that path?” He checked out her shoes. “You have your walking boots on. We’ll be fine.” Jamie ignored her hesitation, and followed. After all, what was wrong with collecting rock samples? That was the assignment after all. He held back branches so she could pass safely. Small rocks rolled underfoot as she gripped his arm to steady herself. The view was spectacular, but the trail was windy and steep and at times perilously close to the edge. When they finally reached a wider part of the path, she grabbed her water bottle from her pack and sat down on a nearby boulder. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Beautiful.” “You’re right. Where I live, you can see for miles it’s so flat.” “I’m not talking about the mountains.” He pulled her chin around and kissed her lightly. He put his hand on the back of her head and pulled her in for a second kiss. After several seconds, she drew back. “Wait.” “Seriously? No one’s around.” Later they emerged from the trail. Students were sitting, their lunches open, talking and laughing. “Where have you guys been?” the professor asked. “Just collecting samples,” he said, shaking the bag. Jamie brushed pine needles and a dead leaf off of her hiking shorts. She bristled when she saw him exchange a knowing smile with another guy. As he walked away, she realized that she didn’t know him at all. Worse, she wasn’t sure if she knew herself.

Who Am I

Like Jamie, 19-year-old Tierney Edwards wasn’t sure she knew herself either when she

stepped into college life. It was kind of a culture shock. “Before college I was in a nine-month

discipleship program with a mission organization. My only job was to serve God,” she said.

But in college she had a lot of things pulling at her. It was up to her to wake up early and go to

class, to be involved, to study and write papers. Soon it became hard to find time to pray.

To find a church. “I struggled every day with my faith,” she said. “It’s like when you don’t

water a plant, eventually it withers and maybe even dies.”

“My temptation wasn’t guys,” she said. “I know what I want in a husband, and I don’t feel

like I have anyone to impress. My problem was that I had to learn how to stop trying to be

a Christian and play the part and realize that I am one because of what God did for me.”Tierney Edwards

blueprint 5

So…How do you stay on track when your support system is no longer in place?

You claim your identity. Galatians 3:26 says, “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (NLT). You’re His. Your relationship with God doesn’t disappear just because you’ve stepped on a college campus. When you know whose you are, you don’t have to look to someone else to keep you from taking a wrong turn, and you don’t have to hit a dead-end of regrets.

You nurture your faith. Any relationship that is important needs to be nurtured. Pray. Tell God what’s going on. Invite Him to show you how to live wisely, and to shine a light on temptation.

Connect with real friends.Find friends who love God. When you surround yourself with real friends, they’ll pray for you and they’ll be honest with you when you need it. You don’t have to try to figure out if they have hidden motivations.

Jamie almost lost her footing, but thankfully she figured out who she was. Or at least who she wasn’t. And Tierney? She’s getting back on track. When asked what advice she’d offer an incoming freshman, she said, “You are the only one who has control over your life and your happiness. No one can decide that for you. Don’t be a copy. Be you.”

Great advice, because when you know who you are, you’re never a long way from home. You’re right in the heart of God’s will.

Anyway?Anyway?

6 SEP OCT NOV

I n t h e b e g i n n i n g G o d c r e a t e d t h e h e a v e n s a n d t h e e a r t h .

– G e n e sis 1 : 1

It Didn’t Just Happen

blueprint 7

cut

here

Romans 1:19-2019 What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Hebrews 11:3By faith we un der stand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Read through Genesis 1 as if you didn’t know anything

about God except what this Scripture tells you. On the chart, list all His char ac ter is tics

that you can know for certain or that are implied in these verses.

For example, for Genesis 1:1, you could write the fact that God is the Creator.

You might also put on your list that He is eternal because this is implied. You can

assume that if God was present in the beginning, He Himself had no beginning. Now

you try it.

& Read Romans 1:19-20. On the chart below, make a list of things in nature that display the char ac ter is tics of

God that you found in Genesis 1. For instance, mountain ranges display God’s creative

power, and sunsets show His love for beauty.

Characteristic of God As It’s Seen in Nature

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.

6. 6.

7. 7.

& Look at Hebrews 11:3. According to this verse, how did God create? What materials did He use? How are we to

respond to something like this, something that cannot be proven by the technical tools

available to us?

Reflections of odselections from Romans and Hebrews 1 B

ible S

tudylesson 1 Bible Study

8 SEP OCT NOV

devos

The heavens declare the glory

of God; the skies proclaim the work of his

hands. —Psalm 19:1

»monWith the most powerful telescope, we can now look 14-16 billion light-years into space. But there is still no end to it. Praise God for the infinite aspect of His divine nature.

»tuesOne astronomer said that if you counted the stars in our galaxy, the Milky Way, counting one per second, it would take you 2,500 years. Think about how these stars demonstrate the power of God.

»wedIf the earth were any closer to the sun, we’d all fry. If the earth were any farther away, we’d freeze. Verses 5 and 6 of Psalm 19 picture God in control of the heat of the sun. Thank Him for that perfect control.

»thursCreation is one way God tells us about Himself. Those who choose to ignore God or doubt His existence have to climb over a universe full of evidence. Thank God for the way He reveals Himself in nature.

»friThe heavens silently tell us that an almighty God must have created them. Look into the sky tonight and consider the majesty of God.

»satThere’s plenty of evidence in outer space to show us God exists. He can speak to us, however, in our inner space as well. Are you tuned in to that frequency? Pray for the sensitivity to hear what the Spirit is saying to you through His Word.

8 SEPT OCT NOV

Dirty snow melts

faster than clean snow!

stuff about the earth and our Creator

A “day” on Jupiter is a

bout 9 hours,

50 minutes, 30 seconds at the equator.

Hey, school would be s

horter! But would you be abl

e to get all

your homework done? Who needs sleep, right?

The amount of

water in the Amazon river is greater

than the next eight largest rivers

in the world combined. Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipuka-

kapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu

is the name of a hill in New Zealand. Aren’t you glad

the locals just call it Taumata?!?

Space shuttle Discovery was operational from its first

flight on August 30, 1984, until its final landing on March 9, 2011. By

its last mission, Discovery had flown 148 million miles--238 million km--in 39 missions,

completed 5,830 orbits, and spent 365 days in orbit in over 27 years.

HIGH SCHOOLPerfect for classroom use or alongside your youth ministry program, Bible-in-Life provides teens with an engaging Sunday school experience designed to help them make a successful transition to owning their faith. With in-depth Bible studies, Scripture knowledge, devotionals, tie-ins to current events and hot topics, and real-world application, the high school curriculum is well rounded to provide spiritual growth in each teen.

Teacher’s GuideEach of the 13 lessons contains step-by-step instructions to help teachers prepare and lead the discussion, with Bible background, tips for teaching teens, and a variety of activities to help your students learn and apply the Bible lesson.

One per teacher recommended.

BlueprintThis quarterly magazine is the student component for your high school curriculum. Blueprint combines all the relevant topics and cool design teens crave with the deeper Bible study that you desire for your students. It’s the perfect resource for use in Sunday school, youth groups, outreach, and more!

Need one per student plus extras for the classroom recommended.

Life Is Real. Make Sunday School Real Too.

Check out RealLifeDownloaded.com each week for new thought-provoking, Bible-based ways to address current events or topics. Best of all, it’s totally FREE!

Age Levels: Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult

New every Thursday evening, check it out at www.RealLifeDownloaded.com!