Care for Creation
The Bible was written in a pre-industrial time prior to the use of fossil fuels, so it does not talk about greenhouse gases, global warming, or renewable energy sources. Though we know today that the earth is in very real danger of becoming uninhabitable, our faith ancestors knew this truth in a different way. As agricultural people who had an intimate relationship with the earth, they understood deeply the meaning conveyed in the creation stories in Genesis 1 and 2, which lift up how good the created order is, and saw the human role as that of taking care of God’s gift.
How, then, do we share a gospel of hope when we watch growing numbers of species become extinct and the continued use of fossil fuels threaten everyone’s ability to live abundant lives? In this unit, participants will see that creation care is not just a political issue, it is a faith issue. Caring for creation offers us a way of following Jesus—the one who taught us that God’s love is more powerful even than death—and we will receive a word of hope as we live out our calling as disciples. The four dimensions of this practice that are discussed include: appreciate God’s creation, till, share the planet, and restore creation.
Young Children Leader's Guide
This leader’s guide is for children ages 3–5. It contains helpful information for the leader, including information about young children, background information about the practice, a note about supplies, and other helpful information for each session. There are symbols for each activity within the session that allow a leader to see at a glance the type of activity and customize each session for their group of children. Each session includes resource pages and “Practicing the Practice at Home,” which may be copied, printed, or sent out electronically to participants. There are other helpful pieces for young children in the Congregational Guide.
Featured in the Young Children Leader’s Guide:
Appreciate God’s Creation (Genesis 1:1–5, 14–19; Ecclesiastes 3:1–8)
Care for Water (Genesis 1:6–10, 20–23; John 4:5–15)
Grow and Till (Genesis 1:9–13; Matthew 13:1–8)
Care for Animals (Genesis 1:24–26, 31; 2:2; Isaiah 11:6–9)
Series Description
Follow Me: Biblical Practices for Faithful Living is a twenty-seven-unit curriculum based on practices Jesus did and taught us to do as faithful followers. Written for people of all ages who wish to live out their faith, this new curriculum examines where these practices are found in the Bible and how they have been used in Christian faith then and now.
