WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS
Before the Design
Biblical Worldview – Unit 2
Complete
Begin memorizing the books of the Old Testament
To prepare for upcoming discussions with your group, review The Answer, by Randy Pope
Leader Resources
Exercises
- Review the memory verse of the week and talk about how it relates to the Truth section.
- Review the Pentateuch and Historical books of the Old Testament.
Suggested Discussion
- Truth – You can discuss any of the in Bible questions you would like to address. Here are some tips that may help:
- Genesis 1:1-2:1 – Discuss any facts your JG observes about God and creation in the first chapter of Genesis. Your JG may have questions about Genesis 1, including whether the 6 days of creation are literal 24 hour periods as we would understand them, or some longer time period. It is the position of this material that Moses had in mind 6 consecutive 24-hour days. However, it should be admitted that this is a matter which Bible-believing Christians debate. Given the limited amount of time you have for your group meeting, don’t let your discussion get side-tracked on debatable matters. Focus on the basic facts about God and creation (including the four bullet points listed in the material) because these are crucial to forming a biblical worldview. If your group is interested in pursuing their questions further, you can recommend these resources:
- Science and Evolution, Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcey, 1999.
- Darwin on Trial, Phillip E. Johnson, 1993.
- 1 Corinthians 2:6-8; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Titus 1:1-3 – The point here is to see that God’s plan to save His people by grace in Christ was in His mind even before He created anything! The phrase “before the beginning of time”/”before time began” (NIV) indicates that time, and therefore space, had a definite beginning. This teaches that only God was in existence prior to creation; it is not eternal.
- Genesis 1:1-2:1 – Discuss any facts your JG observes about God and creation in the first chapter of Genesis. Your JG may have questions about Genesis 1, including whether the 6 days of creation are literal 24 hour periods as we would understand them, or some longer time period. It is the position of this material that Moses had in mind 6 consecutive 24-hour days. However, it should be admitted that this is a matter which Bible-believing Christians debate. Given the limited amount of time you have for your group meeting, don’t let your discussion get side-tracked on debatable matters. Focus on the basic facts about God and creation (including the four bullet points listed in the material) because these are crucial to forming a biblical worldview. If your group is interested in pursuing their questions further, you can recommend these resources:
- Truth – The main points to emphasize this week are:
- Several scientific discoveries since the early 1900’s confirm the biblical teaching that the universe is not eternal, that it had a specific beginning point.
- Naturalists resist the obvious implication that the universe could not begin itself and must, therefore, have been created by God.
- The bare fact that the universe exhibits order amid its complexity argues for intelligent design.
- Equipping – The goal this week is to have your JG think about the implications of the fact that God was actively planning to save His people before He created the universe they would live in. The implication is that we are creatures of a loving God who created for no other reason but that His creatures should see and worship His glory. (It’s about Him, not us.) We should respond to Him with loving, submissive devotion, in awe of His kindness.
- Accountability – Allow time for smaller groups of 2 or 3 to ask accountability questions and pray for one another.
- Mission –Discuss bringing Jesus into conversation with people and how The Answer can serve as a tool to that end. Discuss the conversation that is illustrated in the material. Get your JG to think about creative ways this can be adapted to suit their personality. Ask them to think about what is hard or easy about this approach.
