Kids Apologetics Series – For Upper Primary Kids (ages 8-11)
Download a printable PDF of the full series.
Teaching Plan – God Created the Universe Genesis 1:1
Hi Everyone,
This is the second in a 5 part apologetics series for kids. Apologetics means to defend the faith. The aim of this series is to equip kids so that they are always prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks them for the hope that they have (1 Peter 3:15). This series can be taught in kids church over 5 weeks or can be used at home by parents to equip their kids. Note if this is being used at home you may decide to skip or change the game.
The first lesson looked at the question of why should we do apologetics.
The second lesson focuses on the argument from creation. The big idea is the existence of God can be shown from the creation of the universe. The argument goes like this:
- Everything that begins to exist has a cause
- The universe began to exist
- Therefore, the universe must have a cause
We will see this cause must be timeless, immaterial, powerful and an agent.
We will look at Genesis 1:1 to show that God created the universe from Scripture
How we want kids to be changed at the end of this lesson?
We want kids to be able to use the argument from creation to defend the faith.
Singing
1 Peter 3:15 memory verse – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX8z9f_H5GU
- This song will help us learn this key Bible verse for our series
- This verse shows us that God commands us to use apologetics
Recap and Introduce
We have just listened to a song on the Bible verse 1 Peter 3:15. This verse includes a command “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
One reason people often give for not believing in Christianity is because Science has shown that Christianity is wrong.
Ask the kids – “Have you ever heard anyone say this? What have they said?”
Some people say God doesn’t exist because the Bible claims God created the universe but Science has now shown that the universe was created by the Big Bang. Today we are going to look at how we can use Science as evidence to support the Bible’s claim that God does exist and created the world.
Teach
Distribute Bibles to the children and have them turn to Genesis 1:1
In Genesis 1:1 we read “In the Beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.”
This verse tells us that God created the universe
There is an argument we can use to show Science agrees with Genesis 1 that God created the universe.
The argument goes like this:
- Everything that begins to exist has a cause
- The universe began to exist
- Therefore, the universe must have a cause
This cause must be timeless, immaterial, powerful and personal which sounds a lot like God. Let’s see how this argument works.
Everything that begins to exist has a cause
Use the pictures supplied in the PowerPoint.
Have the kids discuss who made each thing shown in the picture (use generic terms such as artist rather than Monet).
Answers
- Water lilies – artist
- Burj Khalifa – architect/builder
- Cruise Ship – Engineer
- Sheet music – Composer
- Food – Chef
These examples show us everything that has come into existence has a creator. There are no examples of this not working. (NB/ if any kids ask what about God then point out that God didn’t come into existence)
The universe began to exist
- We have good evidence that the universe began to exist
- Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtrYF_hxxUM
- In that video we have seen that there is good evidence to suggest the Big Bang Theory is true and that the universe had a beginning
- That is it began to exist
Therefore the universe must have a cause
- This conclusion logically follows from the first two points we have looked at. If everything that begins to exist has a cause and the universe began to exist then it must have a cause
- But what can we know about this cause?
- The cause must be timeless (exists forever) because time came into existence during the big bang
- The cause must be immaterial (not made out of material things) because matter came into existence at the big bang theory
- The cause must be powerful because the universe came into being from nothing. Only something powerful could do this
- The cause must be an agent that is someone with free will. Why? Well the cause chose to create the big bang. Only someone with free will can make a choice. This means that the cause of the big bang is an agent.
- The cause must be timeless, immaterial, powerful and an agent. These are all qualities of God. God is timeless, immaterial, powerful and an agent.
- This argument uses science to show that God exists.
Apply
- We can use this argument when people say that science shows God doesn’t exist
- We can also use it to help other Christians to grow in their faith as additional evidence of God’s existence
Game
Have a race
Need
- A referee and competitors
Instructions
- Have races between kids
- Show them the route for the race and how they have to win
- Explain to the kids they can only start when the referee says go
Explain
That race had a beginning. It started when the referee said go.
Since everything that begins to exist has a cause, this race must have a cause. The referee caused it to happen. The referee created the race.
The universe also has a beginning. Therefore, it must have a cause. That cause is God.
Alternative game option:
Need
Playdough or Duplo.
Instructions
Have the children make something out of playdough or duplo.
Explain
Show that this playdough sculpture came into existence and has a cause – the child. Likewise, the universe came into existence and has a cause. That cause is God.
Pray
Thank God that he created the universe.
