Bible study on creation and care for churches
Before God we commit ourselves, and call on the whole family of faith, to bear witness to God’s redemptive purpose for all creation. We will seek appropriate ways to restore and build just relationships among human beings and with the rest of creation. We will strive to live sustainably, rejecting consumerism and the resulting exploitation.[1] We will teach and model care of creation and integral mission. We will intercede before God for those most affected by environmental degradation and climate change, and will act with justice and mercy among, with and on behalf of them.
- Micah Network Declaration on Creation Stewardship and Climate Change
Here we put together a collection of 9 Bible studies relating to creation care from Footsteps. We hope these materials could guide you in your daily relationship with our environment.
1. Our stewardship of natural resources (Footsteps 82)
http://tilz.tearfund.org/Publications/Footsteps+81-90/Footsteps+82/Bible+Study+82.htm
2. On agriculture and climate change (Footsteps 70)
http://tilz.tearfund.org/Publications/Footsteps+61-70/Footsteps+70/Bible+study+70.htm
3. God’s prevision in time of difficulty (Footsteps 77)
http://tilz.tearfund.org/Publications/Footsteps+71-80/Footsteps+77/Bible+study+77.htm
4. On pollution – Caring creatively for God’s world (Footsteps 59)
http://tilz.tearfund.org/Publications/Footsteps+51-60/Footsteps+59/Bible+study+59.htm
5. On water – The river of life (Footsteps 51)
http://tilz.tearfund.org/Publications/Footsteps+51-60/Footsteps+51/Bible+study+51.htm
6. Biodiversity in the Bible (Footsteps 47)
http://tilz.tearfund.org/Publications/Footsteps+41-50/Footsteps+47/Bible+study.htm
7. On land – Placing God first (Footsteps 41)
http://tilz.tearfund.org/Publications/Footsteps+41-50/Footsteps+41/Bible+study.htm
8. On food security – Enough is as good as a feast (Footsteps 32)
http://tilz.tearfund.org/Publications/Footsteps+31-40/Footsteps+32/Bible+study.htm
9. Caring for our environment
http://tilz.tearfund.org/Publications/Footsteps+11-20/Footsteps+20/Bible+study.htm
BIBLE STUDY 1: Our stewardship of natural resources
As a couple, we are experienced in environmental science and church leadership. We are enthusiastic about the many references to nature in the Bible and God’s call to us to work with creation in a way that protects and cares for what God has made.
Opening discussion
Describe how you look after nature. This might be a garden, a small vegetable plot, an animal, or even a houseplant.
· What are the important factors in helping your part of nature flourish?
Read Genesis 2:1-15
· How did God ask Adam to care for the garden?
· What does this mean for how we care for the natural world and our use of natural resources?
Read Genesis 1:26-2:3
The term ‘dominion’ (Genesis 1:28 in some Bible translations) has sometimes been misunderstood to mean we can do whatever we like with nature. It actually means ‘to rule over’ and gives humans the responsibility of leadership.
· What does biblical dominion involve?
· The word ‘stewardship’ is sometimes used to explain biblical dominion. How does this help?
Read Leviticus 19:1, 9-15, 23-24
· How does biblical stewardship focus on God while balancing the needs of humans and the natural world?
Discussion
· How could you apply the principles of biblical stewardship to your local surroundings?
· Who would you need to involve?
· How could you develop a plan and see it through to completion?
· If the environment you live in is under stress, how can you improve it?
· If there is serious human need as well as environmental stress, how can you help the environment and people at the same time?
Practical action
Find out whether organisations in your area look at environmental management and human care together. How can Christians work with others in the community to help do this?
Martin Hodson is an environmental scientist. Margot Hodson is a church pastor. They are husband and wife, and co-authors of Cherishing the Earth, how to care for God’s creation.
Email:
Website: http://www.hodsons.org
BIBLE STUDY 2: The two books
Many early scientists were Christians and through their science investigated and learned about God’s creation. They talked about God’s revelation in the form of two books, the book of God’s works (his creation) and the book of God’s Word (as found in the Bible). We can see the same idea in the structure of Psalm 19, written by King David about 1,000 years before Christ. The first six verses speak of God’s works in creation while the following three verses (6-9) speak about God’s Word in the Bible.
Read Psalm 19:1-6
As a shepherd boy, David must have spent many hours looking up at the sky and becoming familiar with the stars, moon and planets.
· How would we try to describe creation?
· Reflect on the different ways in which David tries to describe the wonder of God’s creation. How do they make us feel?
Read Psalm 19:7-11
Here David draws a clear parallel between God’s physical laws controlling creation and God’s moral laws regulating human behaviour and relationships.
· Are these words and descriptions you would use to describe God’s moral laws?
· How do they help you to reflect on the value of God’s moral laws?
David had only a small fragment of God’s Word in the books of Moses. Today we have the whole Bible and, in particular, Jesus – the perfect image of God. But we live in a world where God is generally ignored, the Bible is largely unknown, God’s rules are often not followed and many people do what they like.
Putting both God’s books together (his creation and his Word) has big implications for the way we care for creation. From science we learn that human activities are causing rapid and damaging climate change. The poorer nations will bear the greater proportion of this damage and the much higher frequency and intensity of extremes such as floods and droughts.
As Christians, we should care for the whole of God’s creation. Urgent action is needed so that some of the worst damage of climate change can be avoided.
· Jesus is the one ‘through whom all things were made’ (Colossians 1:15-20). How does that make us feel as we consider the scope of God’s creation?
· Discuss three ways in which we can take action to care for the environment.
· Discuss three ways in which we could help raise awareness of climate change.
Read Psalm 19:12-14
These final three verses encourage us to apply God’s word to our personal actions, words and thoughts. David prays very beautifully for God’s help with obedience, so he can live out God’s revelation as presented in both his books. It is a prayer that we can regularly make our own.
Sir John Houghton is a Director of the John Ray Initiative (www.jri.org.uk) that connects environment, science and Christianity. His previous positions include Chief Executive, Meteorological Office, and Co-Chair, Scientific Assessment Working Group of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
BIBLE STUDY 3:God’s provision in times of difficulty
The book of Ruth is set at the time of a famine in the area around Bethlehem (Ruth 1:1). Elimelech and his family left Bethlehem in search of food and went to Moab, where they lived for at least 10 years (Ruth 1:4-5). Following the deaths of her husband and sons, Naomi returned home with her daughter-in-law Ruth (Ruth 1:22).
Read Ruth 1:16-2:9
· Why does Ruth take on the responsibility to provide for her mother-in-law?
· As a young foreign widow Ruth would be very vulnerable. Why do you think Ruth stayed in Boaz’s fields?
· What does Boaz learn about Ruth?
· How does he treat her?
Boaz was a man of God and followed the law of Moses in the way he managed his fields.
Read Leviticus 19:9-10 and Deuteronomy 24:19-20
· What are the laws?
· Why were these laws useful for someone like Ruth?
· What do these laws tell us about God’s desire that the poor have a secure food supply?
· Are there similar practices in your community or country today? How can these practices be encouraged?
Read Ruth 2:10-23
· Why does Boaz respond as he does?
· How does Boaz show his concern for Ruth and Naomi?
· Who does Naomi thank for the food and kindness?
Read 1 John 3:16-20
· How has Jesus shown his love for us?
· How should we love?
· List practical ways we can show love like Jesus to those around us.
BIBLE STUDY 4: Caring creatively for God’s world
The Bible says a lot about how we relate to the Earth on which we live. This has implications for our attitude towards it and how we care for it.
Read Genesis 1 The Earth and all that God has made is ‘very good’ (Genesis 1:31).
· How does this help us to see that spoiling the beauty of the Earth is wrong?
Read Psalm 24
· If we start to see the world as God’s and not ours, how might we treat it differently?
Read Genesis 1:26-28 and 2:15
· What do these verses say about our relationship with the rest of creation?
· How might we reflect God’s character by being creative in our care for the world?
Read Exodus 23:10-11 and Deuteronomy 20:19-20 and 22:6
God has set limits to our use of the natural world. We should no longer see it as something to pollute or waste.
It can be easy to fall into despair with all the problems of pollution and the lack of care for God’s creation.
Read Psalm 8, Psalm 104 and Psalm 145 Think about God’s goodness in creation, God’s faithfulness to his people and God’s provision for all needs.
· How do these things bring hope rather than despair?
Bob Carling is a freelance science editor working for a number of science publishers. He also runs a branch of a new media company, using new ways of communicating using computer and internet technology.
BIBLE STUDY 5: The river of life
Water is used to symbolise many things in the Bible; cleansing, new life or healing.
Read Ezekiel Chapter 47:1-12
Here is a wonderful picture of the river of life, symbolising the spirit, life and power of God.
· Where is the source of the river of life? What do you think this represents?
Like all rivers, the river of life begins as a small trickle that grows into a mighty river too deep to stand in.
· If the water represents the spirit, life and power of God, where are we standing? With our feet in the shallows? Or have we launched out into the deep water to be carried along by the power of God’s love?
The deeper we move into our relationship with God, the more the river of life will surround us and flow through us. The river of life brings blessing wherever it passes.
Read verses 7-10
The sea that is mentioned here is the Dead Sea – which has a very high salt content.
· What happens as the river of life enters the Dead Sea?
· Do we have the same effect on our sinful communities and the world in which we live?
Read verse 12
The river brings great blessing to all those, who like these trees, have their roots deep into the water.
· What are the five points to note about these trees?
· Reflect on how Christ’s life could be likened to this description.
This picture is also repeated again at the end of the Bible:
Read Revelation Chapter 22:1-2
At the end of his ministry Christ reminded us that he is always with us, still pouring out his love and spirit upon us (Matthew 28: 20b). Let us hold on to this beautiful image and let the river of life flow through us and our communities.
Gladys Mwiti established the Oasis Counselling Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.
BIBLE STUDY 6: Biodiversity in the Bible‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the skies and seas.’ With this blessing in Genesis 1:22, God filled the sky, land, and sea with abundant and diverse life! ‘How many are your works Oh Lord! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures’ (Psalm 104:24). And responding, all creatures pour out their praises to God (Psalm 148).
Read John 3:16 and Psalm 104
· How much does God care about the world he has created?
Read Genesis 6-9
What did God do when Creation was threatened?
Later he promises eternal life to those who truly follow Jesus (John 3:16), but he warns of destruction to those who destroy the earth (Revelation 11:18). God wants us to conserve Creation’s fruitfulness.
Read Ezekiel 34:17-19
· What does this passage reveal about how we should treat God’s creation? How should we consider the needs of other people and other creatures?
Because God made all things and holds all things together through Jesus (Colossians 1:15-20), everything belongs to him. While God leads us to green pastures and pure water (Psalm 23), the earth belongs to God alone (Psalm 24:1). His are gifts we do not own. His are gifts that must never be taken from us or the other creatures!
What are we doing to care for creation and God’s creatures? Do we resist the desire to be greedy? (Matthew 6:33). Do we provide places for flowers and birds on our land or in our communities? Do we preserve the diversity of our food and medicinal plants? Keeping our places fruitful for all God’s creatures brings praise to God, the creator and owner of all things!
Calvin B DeWitt is Director of Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies and Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
BIBLE STUDY 7: Placing God first
For our work in development to be successful, we need to place God first in every-thing we do. However, material things often take first place in our lives in such a way that sometimes these become our god. Instead, make the book of Proverbs the standard for your action. It suggests numerous principles which may help our work for God to prosper.
Read Proverbs 3:1-10
We need to trust in God with all our hearts and souls and not in man or our own abilities. In facing all of life’s circumstances, we must continue to believe, to pray and to put into practice the Word of God. Then he will keep us in good health and help us to prosper.
Read Proverbs 4:7-9
Our effectiveness in the work we do is determined by our wisdom – in other words, how we apply the knowledge we have. Wisdom means putting into practice all the theories and rules we have learnt. Wisdom shapes our success and achievements in both home and work – it is the key to total success. Wisdom does not mean the knowledge of modern science, geography or history. Wisdom and applied knowledge start with God. Wisdom will provide for your needs, bring you happiness and assure you a crown of glory in heaven.