1. The testimony of Scripture regarding creation

Genesis 1:1

KJV ¹ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. CEV ¹ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Psalm 33:6

KJV ⁶ By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. CEV ⁶ The Lord made the heavens and everything in them by his word.
Psalm 33:9

KJV ⁹ For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. CEV ⁹ As soon as he spoke the world was created; at his command, the earth was formed.

John 1:1-3

KJV ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² The same was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

CEV ¹ In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. ² From the very beginning the Word was with God. ³ And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word. Everything that was created

Colossians 1:15-16

KJV ¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

CEV ¹⁵ Christ is exactly like God, who cannot be seen. He is the first-born Son, superior to all creation. ¹⁶ Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God's Son, and everything was made for him.

Why is the biblical view of creation under such intense attack today?
Was anyone here raised with a non-biblical view of the origin of life on planet earth?
When did you come to the amazing realization you weren’t simply here as a result of time and chance?

2. A call to worship the Creator

Revelation 14:6-7

KJV ⁶ And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, ⁷ Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

CEV ⁶ I saw another angel. This one was flying across the sky and had the eternal good news to announce to the people of every race, tribe, language, and nation on earth. ⁷ The angel shouted, “Worship and honor God! The time has come for him to judge everyone. Kneel down before the one who created heaven and earth, the oceans, and every stream.”

Revelation 4:8-11

KJV ⁸ And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. ⁹ And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, ¹⁰ The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ¹¹ Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

CEV ⁸ Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and their bodies were covered with eyes. Day and night they never stopped singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, the all-powerful God, who was and is and is coming!” ⁹ The living creatures kept praising, honoring, and thanking the one who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever. ¹⁰ At the same time the 24 elders knelt down before the one sitting on the throne. And as they worshiped the one who lives forever, they placed their crowns in front of the throne and said, ¹¹ “Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. You created all things, and by your decision they are and were created.”

What can we learn from the response of Jesus to Satan’s temptation to bow down and worship him?

Matthew 4:8-10

KJV ⁸ Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; ⁹ And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. ¹⁰ Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. CEV ⁸ Finally, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms on earth and their power. ⁹ The devil said to him, “I will give all this to you, if you will bow down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”

Luke 4:5-8

KJV ⁵ And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶ And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. ⁷ If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. ⁸ And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. CEV ⁵ Then the devil led Jesus up to a high place and quickly showed him all the nations on earth. ⁶ The devil said, “I will give all this power and glory to you. It has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. ⁷ Just worship me, and you can have it all.” ⁸ Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!’ ”

Name some false gods.
Why is our Creator the only One worthy of our worship?

Psalm 95:6

KJV ⁶ O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. CEV ⁶ Bow down and worship the Lord our Creator!

According to Jesus, the Father is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and truth:

John 4:23-24

KJV ²³ But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. ²⁴ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. CEV ²³ But a time is coming, and it is already here! Even now the true worshipers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father according to the truth. These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and those who worship God must be led by the Spirit to worship him according to the truth.

Why is true worship important to God?
What are some meaningful ways we can worship our Creator?

3. A Creator who draws near

What do deists believe about God the Creator?
What stories or teachings of Scripture expose the false teaching of deism?

Genesis 3:9

KJV ⁹ And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? CEV ⁹ The Lord God called out to the man and asked, “Where are you?”

Genesis 4:9

KJV ⁹ And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? CEV ⁹ Afterwards the Lord asked Cain, “Where is Abel?” “How should I know?” he answered. “Am I supposed to look after my brother?”

Genesis 12:1

KJV ¹ Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: CEV ¹ The Lord said to Abram: Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you.

Amos 3:7

KJV ⁷ Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. CEV ⁷ Whatever the Lord God plans to do, he tells his servants, the prophets.

John 3:16

KJV ¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. CEV ¹⁶ God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.

John 14:23

KJV ²³ Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. CEV ²³ Jesus replied: If anyone loves me, they will obey me. Then my Father will love them, and we will come to them and live in them.

etc.

What was the ultimate way our Creator drew near to His creation?

John 1:1-3

KJV ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² The same was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. CEV ¹ In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. ² From the very beginning the Word was with God. ³ And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word. Everything that was created

John 1:14

KJV ¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. CEV ¹⁴ The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him the complete gifts of undeserved grace and truth have come down to us.

Philippians 2:5-11

KJV ⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: ¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. CEV ⁵ and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought: ⁶ Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God. ⁷ Instead he gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us. ⁸ Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross. ⁹ Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored his name above all others. ¹⁰ So at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. ¹¹ And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, “Jesus Christ is Lord!”

Share a special time when you sensed the nearness of your Creator/Redeemer.
What are some ways we can connect more intimately with our Creator/Redeemer?

4. The Creator and the judgment

In Revelation 14:7 the angel speaks of “the hour of His judgment”:

Revelation 14:7

KJV ⁷ Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. CEV ⁷ The angel shouted, “Worship and honor God! The time has come for him to judge everyone. Kneel down before the one who created heaven and earth, the oceans, and every stream.”

Is the Creator being judged or is He leading out in the judgment?
How does our relationship with our Creator impact the way we view the judgment?
What words of Jesus bring great comfort when we think about standing before our Creator in judgment?

John 5:24

KJV ²⁴ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. CEV ²⁴ I tell you for certain that everyone who hears my message and has faith in the one who sent me has eternal life and will never be condemned. They have already gone from death to life.

How is our awesome Creator, loving Redeemer, and holy Judge able to declare us righteous in the judgment when we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?

1 Peter 2:21-24

KJV ²¹ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: ²² Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: ²³ Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: ²⁴ Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. CEV ²¹ After all, God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for you. ²² Christ did not sin or ever tell a lie. ²³ Although he was abused, he never tried to get even. And when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he had faith in God, who judges fairly. ²⁴ Christ carried the burden of our sins. He was nailed to the cross, so we would stop sinning and start living right. By his cuts and bruises you are healed.

Romans 3:23

KJV ²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; CEV ²³ All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.

1 John 1:9

KJV ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. CEV ⁹ But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away.

etc.