Building Your Child’s Faith in Creation
The Bible clearly states that the universe was designed by God. However, children and adults today are constantly reminded that the world thinks chance, not God, made the universe. The difference in these two worldviews used to be known as a debate between religion and science. However, the nature of this debate has changed as a growing number of scientists view recent discoveries in molecular biology as undeniable evidence of intelligent design. In fact, two popular scientists Ken Ham and Bill Nye the Science Guy will debate each side on February 4, 2014. While the tickets sold out in 2 minutes online, they are planning on broadcasting the debate live. They’re not sure about how or where you’ll be able to view it, yet. If you “LIKE” Answers In Genesis Facebook page, you can get more info as it comes.
As parents we must find a way to help our children affirm their faith in God as the maker of the universe. While your child is small, I would suggest that you approach teaching creation as if there’s no such thing as evolution. However, shortly after age five it is important to let your children know that there are many people out there who want to try to explain God’s world without God. The following activities and discussion questions are designed to help your children fully embrace the God as creator of the universe.
Activities for 5-7 Year Old
Help your child with a simple jigsaw puzzle. Emphasize that every piece has a place. Talk about who might have made the puzzle (a person or company). Then gather random objects from around the house and let your child try to arrange them into a perfect fit just as the puzzle pieces did. Demonstrate how the pieces won’t fit together because no one had a plan. Point out that someone planned the jigsaw puzzle and made the pieces so that they would fit together. In the same way, God had a plan when He made the world. He knew what He was doing.
Then go for a walk with your child. Gather things from nature to feel, smell and see. Point out interesting colors and textures. Let your child be drawn into wonder as she explores the small things that have been collected.
Explain that God created all of nature: the things we see — such as plants, animals and people — and things we cannot see — such as the wind. Point to objects found in nature and ask, “Who made this?” The child can answer, “God made this.” Extend this activity over several days while in the car or at the park.
— D’Arcy Maher
Activities for 8-11 Year Old
Gather alphabet letter magnets and spell out your child’s name on the fridge. (You may also cut out paper letters and arrange them on a tabletop.) Surround his name with other random letters. Ask your child, “What do the letters spell? How did your name get on the fridge? Did the letters accidentally come together, or did someone arrange them to spell out your name?”
Now share this truth: Just like the letters didn’t fall in place to create a word, everything you see in the world, from trees to animals to humans, didn’t happen by accident either — it was all made by God. Nature reveals to us that there is a Creator. As an example, talk to your child about how his body works in amazing ways. Think of all the incredible things his body can do, such as eat, sleep, run, dance and jump.
Finish your time together by explaining that God created your child to love and serve Him. Continue by allowing your child to spell out simple words using the alphabet letters. Talk about how even our creativity and intelligence reflect our loving Creator.
— Suzanne Hadley Gosselin, Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr.editor
Activities for 11-13 Year Old
You’re enjoying a stroll along the beach. Salt mist floats in the air. Wind blows your hair. You glance to the side of the boardwalk and notice a pile of sand. You’re certain you see Noah’s ark. Not only that, Noah is standing in front of his boat beckoning the animals.
Wow, you think. Wind and rain are amazing! I wonder how many years it took for the wind to pile up this sand and for the rain to erode it to create these shapes.
OK, you probably aren’t thinking that. Instead you’re most likely thinking, What artist created this awesome sand sculpture?
If you’re walking the boardwalk in Ocean City, Md., the answer is Randy Hofman. For more than 35 years, Randy has been crafting Christian-themed sand sculptures.
As a family, visit randyhofman.com and click on “Sand Sculptures http://randyhofman.com/sandsculptures.htm.” Ask your children:
- Do you think it’s possible for wind, rain and chance to create sand sculptures like Randy’s? How can you see intelligence in Randy’s designs?
- Do you see evidence of God’s intelligence and design around you? How?
- Look at your fingerprints or the stars. What’s more likely: These things happened by chance or God orchestrated them? What can you learn about God by looking at His creation?
— Jesse Florea, Focus on the Family Clubhouse editor
Activities for 13 and older
Context can make all the difference when talking with your teens about our Creator, and concepts can become more tangible when you’re surrounded by God’s handiwork. Seize opportunities such as trips to the Grand Canyon, walks along the beach or stargazing strolls around the neighborhood to naturally raise questions such as “How did this get here?”
Use the following questions to open a dialogue:
- If I were to drop a deck of cards, what are the chances that they would form a house of cards?
- How long would it take for them to become a house of cards? Why wouldn’t they become a house of cards? What if I left them on the floor for hours or even years?
- Is there anything in our world that doesn’t reflect a need for a maker?
- What do your science classes teach about how life began? How do those views fit with your beliefs about God? [Give your teens room to wrestle with and express their views. Ask your teens to compare their views on Creation to what happens when cards are dropped.]
- What do teachings about “chance” imply about the value of life? [Ask teens to consider their values, priorities and purpose in life based on this one fact. Compare that to teachings about a Creator who made it all. Once again, have teens consider this in light of values, priorities and purpose.] How do these differences affect your view of both God and yourself?
Consider reviewing the list of intelligent design resources included on the previous page. Together with your teens, embark on the adventure of studying the opposing worldviews.
— Jeremy V. Jones
Family activity
Gather nuts, bolts, tools, string, tape (anything you want really). Place everything in a box or bag. Let each person take turns shaking the box/bag. Before opening the box/bag asked your family what do they think is in the box/bag? Talk about why the things in the box/bag have not come together to form something new. Discuss what it would take for the items to form something new. Read Genesis 1 together and talk about how God created the universe. Read Ephesians 2:10 together. Discuss why it is important to know God as the creator of everything.
In addition to the above activities, you may want to the following resources:
Some of the above ideas were taken from the July/August 2010 issue of Thriving Family magazine. Copyright © 2010 by Kurt Bruner, D’Arcy Maher, Suzanne Hadley Gosselin, Jesse Florea, Jeremy V. Jones and Jennifer Walker. Used by permission. ThrivingFamily.com.