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ccessA FALL 2022LEADER GUIDEFOR ADULTS WITHSPECIAL LEARNING NEEDSStories About How the World BeganStories About Abraham
AccessLEADER GUIDEA guide for teaching Bible storiesto adults and older youth who have special learning needsVolume 17, Number 1Fall 2022Dwayne McCraryTeam LeaderKen BraddyDirector of Sunday SchoolBrian DanielDirector, Adult MinistrySend questions/comments toTeam Leader by email to Dwayne.McCrary@lifeway.com or mail toTeam Leader, Access Leader GuideOne Lifeway PlazaNashville, TN 37234Or make comments on the Web at lifeway.comAccess Leader Guide (ISSN 1557-4326, Item 005075010), is publishedquarterly by Lifeway Christian Resources, One Lifeway Plaza, Nashville, TN37234, Ben Mandrell, President. 2022 Lifeway Christian Resources.For ordering or inquiries, visit lifeway.com, or write LifewayResources Customer Service, One Lifeway Plaza, Nashville, TN37234. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, emailorderentry@lifeway.com, fax 615.251.5933, or write to the above address.We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; andtruth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture istotally true and trustworthy. To review Lifeway’s doctrinal guideline, pleasevisit www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline.All Scripture quotations in this book are taken from the Christian StandardBible , 2020 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.Printed in the United States of AmericaCover photo bySHUTTERSTOCK2FALL 2022Sharing YourFaithYour ultimate purpose as a Bible studyleader is to share your faith with the menand women who attend your class—to helpthem understand how they can live for Jesusevery day. Use the ABCs to help your learnersunderstand God’s plan of salvation.A—ADMITAdmit to God that you are a sinner.Repent, turning away from your sin.Read Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Acts 3:19.B—BELIEVEBy faith receive Jesus Christ as God’s Sonand accept Jesus’s gift of forgiveness fromsin. Read John 3:16; John 14:6; Acts 4:12;Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:11-13.C—CONFESSConfess your faith in Jesus Christ asSavior and Lord. Read 1 John 1:9;Romans 10:9-10,13.If you are choosing right now to believeJesus died for your sins and to receive new lifethrough Him, pray to God, calling upon Himalone to be your Savior and Lord.After you have received Jesus Christ intoyour life, share your decision with anotherperson and, following Christ’s example, ask forbaptism by immersion in your local church asa public expression of your faith (Romans 6:4;Colossians 2:6).
ccessA FALL 2022Volume 17 Number 1FEATURESGod’s Sufficiency. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Access Study Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6How to Use Access. . . . . . . . . . . . 8LEADER GUIDECONTENTSWeek of October 2God’s Promise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Week of October 9God Scatters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Over Their Heads?. . . . . . . . . . . 10In His Image and Likeness. . . . . 12Bombarded! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14STORIES ABOUT HOWTHE WORLD BEGANOverview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Week of September 4God Creates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Week of September 11Adam and Eve Sin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Week of September 18God Warns Cain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27Week of September 25God Rescues Noah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32STORIES ABOUT ABRAHAMOverview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Week of October 16God Calls Abram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48Week of October 23Lot Chooses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Week of October 30Abram, Sarai, and Hagar . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Week of November 6God Renames. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Week of November 13God Judges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68Week of November 20Abraham’s Two Sons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73Week of November 27God Tests Abraham. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78ACCESS Leader Guide3
While reading our weekly church prayer list, Inoticed a request for a struggling premature babyrecovering from a massive stroke. Our family faced asimilar scenario six years earlier to the day.Just as our child’s head swelled with fluid after herbirth, my heart filled with compassion for this family.I envisioned what they might be facing—a tiny infantwith a swollen abdomen and tiny appendages, multiplewires, a cardiac monitor, breathing apparatuses, andplastic feeding tubes. For now, physical contact would belimited to the circumference of the incubator’s portholes.I imagined the emotions this mother and father mustbe feeling—from confusion to despair, yet gratefulnessfor each movement on the electrical monitoring screenas it signified life.I remembered our journey. Knowing I needed toconnect with this family, I pondered what comfort Icould offer them. I remembered the rawness of our birthexperience—the changing colors of our daughter’s skinfrom slightly mottled to severely dusky; the polite smilesof the nurses as I entered the neonatal intensive careunit (NICU) after shift change and my trying to decide4FALL 2022if they were genuine expressions of kindness or of pity.Even though I was this child’s mother and a registerednurse myself, I felt like such an outsider, a helplessobserver to brutality.No one offered promise for our daughter’s life. Aftera difficult doctor conference informing us of her brainbleed, I struggled with what that meant. I asked, “Doyou mean she will have cerebral palsy?”The doctor shrugged his shoulders and said: “More orless. We will just have to wait and see how she develops.”I responded immediately, “We will take her, in anycondition.” It was almost as if I was saying my marriagevows in front of a minister and congregation.Those words often echoed in my mind the nextfew weeks as my daughter’s condition deteriorated.Our fragile two-pound daughter approached death.We kissed her goodbye as she was wheeled into theoperating room to receive a shunt to remove thepressure in her brain. The doctors were not optimistic.One minute I was questioning what her reason andunderstanding would be if she survived this ordeal; thenext moment I was planning a funeral.GETTYIMAGESGOD’SSUFFICIENCY
Miraculously, our girl survived the surgery. Eventuallyshe was able to take a bottle, although it sometimes tookup to an hour for her to suck just a few ounces. Sevenweeks after her birth, she came home.We began round-the-clock feedings as well as meetingswith physical and occupational therapists. Every dayseemed like one long continuous moment. The dateswritten in our daughter’s baby book are appointmentswith medical specialists more so than milestoneachievements. Many of her problems were linked to poortrunk support—it was a year-and-a-half before she couldsit up by herself. We found ourselves fighting mentalbattles with the foe of comparison, yet we found peacewhen we chose to reflect on how far our daughter indeedhad come.Our child endured numerous tests and injections.She underwent six surgeries by the time she was five.Hospitalitis, the quirky phobias of children who endurechronic illnesses, emerged. Once when our daughterwas five, waiting in the hospital room, she would notlet me anywhere near the stretcher, not even to get ablanket. The stretcher had become a monster, an usherinto a theater of pain. I had to remind myself that despitethe fact we have a God who is good, we still live in afallen world.God’s grace is sufficient even when I am not searchingfor it. Throughout our whole ordeal, the verse “Mygrace is sufficient” (2 Cor. 12:9) became like a bloodtransfusion to my anemic soul. This grace is the lightGod provides on our paths, although it often seems to bejust enough illumination for the next step.I began to see specific instances in my life whereGod was shedding rays of light. Once while waiting ina doctor’s office, a friendly older woman, unaware ofmy child’s condition, began to share with me about herintellectually disabled sister. “After Momma and Daddydied, all of us took up caring for Mary. Since I was froma large family, we each kept her for a month or two so asto share her evenly. The funny thing is, we began to fightover where she stayed the longest. You see, she bringssuch love and joy into whichever house she stays thateven the neighbors are glad when she comes.”God’s grace is sufficient when I fear for my disabledchild’s future. Many times I was overwhelmed withcaring for this baby who cried most of the time. Ihad other children to care for and a house to run, sospending hours researching my child’s condition wasnot an option. I prayed to the Lord and flat out said Hewould have to provide all the best care for our daughter;after all, He created her and placed her in our alreadyhectic home.God’s grace is sufficient to meet my daughter’sinsecurities. One night while waiting to check out at thegrocery store, I casually picked up a magazine. Insidewas the story of Dr. Jan Brunstrom, a neurologist and anexpert in cerebral palsy who has cerebral palsy herself.After an 18-month wait to see this new doctor, our fouryear-old daughter, who was just beginning to notice herphysical differences, immediately looked her new doctorin the eye and asked, “Is it true you walk just like me?”God’s grace is sufficient to provide perspective.Before this journey with our daughter, I felt as if Iwas sleepwalking. In fact, before her birth, I chuckledwhen our pediatric nurse asked me the routinedevelopmental milestone questions. Of course mychildren were cruising furniture and trying to take steps.Weren’t all children this age? I knew some childrenmoved slower than others, but they were always otherpeople’s children.Now I seem to see atypical individuals everywhereand feel we have joined their secret club. My family andI grafted a new branch on our tree—the special needscommunity. One acquaintance from church—Walt—became a lighthouse for us. He also has cerebral palsy,and we hung on to his every word to better understandour journey. He reminded us the brokenness of ourdaughter’s body was only a visible picture of what we allsuffer—separation from God. “My biggest problem isnot that I walk crooked, but that I sin,” Walt would say.“That is why I need a Savior.”When my children’s feelings are hurt, I gently remindthem some good is in their pain as it allows us to knowwhat it means to be broken. This experience will helpgive us perspective like no other. God uses everything inour lives for His glory.Remembering this, I know His grace will be sufficientas I take the steps to walk beside others who struggle.I’m ready to connect now.ACCESS Leader Guide5
AccessAccess is a 5-year study planfor adults and older youth whohave special learning needs thatutilizes a storytelling approachto studying the Bible. Eachquarter, learners will follow thestories of Bible events or Biblepeople from the beginning to theend of the story.The stories of the Old Testamentare presented in chronologicalorder so learners can betterunderstand how the story ofIsrael unfolded. This will allowadults who have intellectualdisabilities to gain some senseof Bible history and recognitionof Bible book order. It also willhelp them know why it wasnecessary for God to send Jesusas our Savior and Lord.Stories from Acts are told insequence so learners can see howthe first believers obeyed Jesus’scommand to share the gospelmessage first in Jerusalem, thenin Judea and Samaria, and thenthroughout the earth.Each year from the Christmasseason through the Easter season,learners will study Jesus’s life.Years 1–4 focus on one Gospel ata time, highlighting stories uniqueto each Gospel account. Year 5overviews stories about Jesus’slife and ministry that the Gospelsshare in common.Here’s a quick glance at whatyou’ll study each quarter.6FALL 2022Study PlanYEAR 1YEAR 2FALL 2022FALL 2023Stories AboutHow the World Began6 stories from Genesis 1–11Stories About Abraham7 stories fromGenesis 11–22Stories fromthe Wilderness13 stories from Exodus 13–40;Numbers; and DeuteronomyWinter 2023-24WINTER 2022-23Stories About Jesus’s Birth5 stories from Isaiah 9, Luke 1,and Matthew 1–2Matthew’s StoriesAbout Jesus’s Ministry8 stories from Matthew 3–16Stories About Jesus’s Birth4 stories from Jeremiah,Micah, and Luke 1–2Mark’s Stories AboutJesus’s Ministry9 stories from Mark 1–10SPRING 2024SPRING 2023Matthew’s StoriesAbout Jesus’s Ministry7 stories fromMatthew 17–28Stories AboutIsaac and Jacob6 stories fromGenesis 24–33SUMMER 2023Stories About Life in Egypt13 stories fromGenesis 37—Exodus 13Mark’s Stories AboutJesus’s Ministry6 stories from Mark 10–16Stories About Settling thePromised Land7 stories from Joshua and RuthSUMMER 2024Stories About the Judges3 stories from JudgesStories AboutIsrael’s First Kings10 stories from 1 Samuel
YEAR 3FALL 2024Stories AboutKings David and Solomon13 stories from 2 Samuel;1 Kings; 1 Chronicles;and 2 ChroniclesWINTER 2024-25YEAR 4FALL 2025Stories Aboutthe Fall of Jerusalem13 stories from2 Kings; 2 Chronicles;and JeremiahWINTER 2025-26Stories AboutJesus’s Birth and Childhood6 stories from Luke 1–2Stories About Jesus’s Birth4 stories from Matthew 1–2and Luke 1–2Luke’s Stories AboutJesus’s Ministry7 stories from Luke 7–15Stories AboutJesus’s Ministry8 stories from Matthew,Mark, Luke, and JohnSPRING 2025Luke’s Stories AboutJesus’s Ministry9 stories from Luke 17–24Stories About Elijah4 stories from 1 & 2 KingsYEAR 5FALL 2026Stories from Esther3 stories from EstherStories AboutRebuilding Jerusalem7 stories from Ezraand NehemiahSongs from Psalms3 stories from PsalmsWINTER 2026-27Stories About Jesus’s Birth4 stories from Matthew 1and Luke 1–2John’s Stories AboutJesus’s Ministry9 stories from JohnSPRING 2026Stories AboutJesus’s Last Days on Earth7 stories from Matthew,Mark, Luke, and JohnStories Aboutthe First Church7 stories from Acts 1–8SPRING 2027John’s Stories AboutJesus’s Ministry6 stories from JohnStories AboutPaul’s Journeys7 stories from Acts 13–17SUMMER 2025Stories About the ProphetsWho Warned Israel14 stories from 2 Kings;Amos; Jonah; Hosea;Isaiah; and MicahSUMMER 2026Stories Aboutthe First Church5 stories from Acts 9–12Stories from Ezekiel4 stories from EzekielStories from Daniel4 stories from Daniel 1–6SUMMER 2027Stories About Paul’s Journeys6 stories from Acts 18–28Stories About Letters7 stories from Ephesians;Philippians; Colossians;1 and 2 Thessalonians, James,1 and 2 Peter; and 1 JohnACCESS Leader Guide7
HOW TO USELEADER PACKFOR ADULTS WITH SPECIALLEARNI NG NEEDSStories About How theWorld BeganStories About AbrahamAccess22FALL 20Access GUIDELEADERLTS WITHFOR ADURNI NG NEE DSLEASPE CIA LYour Access resources help you plan weekly Bible studysessions for adults with intellectual disabilities. ThePersonal Study Guide (for group members), workswith the Leader Guide and Leader Pack to give you allyou need to lead a group.The Leader Guide includes more ideas than you canuse during a one-hour session, giving you options forcreating the perfect plan for your group. You knowyour learners better than anyone, so you need todetermine what is best to do in any given Bible studysession.Read all the session plans, including the Bonus Ideas! atthe bottom of the pages. Choose activities appropriatefor your learners’ skills, abilities, and chronological agesthat will help learners understand the biblical truth andlife application of each lesson.FALL 2022PERSONALSTUDY GUIDEStories About How the World BeganStories About Abrahamnld Begathe Worout HowStories Ab out AbrahamStories AbLeader GuideUNDERSTAND THE SETTINGWEEK OF SEPTEMBER 4GOD CREATESBible PassagesGenesis 1:1–2:15Bible TruthGod made the worldand gave peopleresponsibility for it.FALL 2022peopleplantsIllustrations: Maureen O’BrienPhoto: GettyImages1God MadeUse the week of September 4.Fall 2022 Access Leader Pack 2022 Lifeway Christian ResourcesPrinted in the United States of AmericaBased on Genesis 2:15, how should Christians respondto environmental issues?In what ways will you work and watch over the worldGod made for us?EXAMINE A KEY WORDsubdue(Genesis 1:28)Subdue is one of several words in the Book of Genesisthat describe Adam’s relationship to the created world.The words means to “tread under,” not in the sense ofdestroying but of ruling. Adam was not to be subject tocreation but was to rule all living creatures.LEADGreet learners as they arrive. Take attendance. Collectofferings. Make announcements.Lead learners to praise and worship God. Invitelearners to call out the names of other songs they enjoyand choose two or three to sing.Call for prayer requests and praises. Invite learners tojoin hands in a prayer circle. Include thanking God forcreating the beautiful world we live in.GATHER TOGETHERLabor Day is tomorrow. Providematerials for early arrivers to makethank you cards for those who“work” for them in some way—caregivers, van drivers, home healthassistants, and such. As learnerscreate cards, tell them in today’slesson we’ll hear about the first workGod gave people to do.POSTER 1TELL THE STORYGET READY Provide Bibles and Access Personal Study Guide. Print today’s Bible picture from the digital pack. Find Poster 1 in the Leader Pack. Cut apart thepictures.CREATE INTEREST(1) Purchase several fresh fruits,vegetables, plants, and flowers forlearners to examine.(2) Fill a clear container with coloredwater. Place celery stalks or QueenAnne’s Lace in the water. Watchthe colored water rise through theveins of the stalk. Comment onthe wonderful way God createdplants to get water to their leaves.Explain we’ll hear more about God’swonderful creation in the Bible story.TELL THE STORY(1) Early in the week, enlist a womanto tell the story as a dramaticmonologue from Eve’s perspective.Provide a simple costume and propssuch as small plants and toy birdsand animals. Video the monologuein advance and show on a laptop ortablet computer. Upload the videoto your class social media page afterthe session.ACCESS Leader GuideRemember this lessonis for you as well asyour learners!Class ScheduleThe teaching plans arewritten for a one-hoursession. They start withall learners in one largegroup and then move tosmaller groups for theBible story and lifeapplication activities.However, use whateverschedule works best foryour group.But no one was in charge of taking care of the earth.So God stooped down and took the dust in His hands.He lovingly made Adam and breathed life into him.God put Adam in the garden of Eden to live. Godalso gave Adam a job. “Care for the garden and workit,” God told Adam. And that is what Adam did.REVIEW THE STORYAsk: Who made the world? What did God make? Leadlearners to complete “God’s Garden” on page 8 in thePersonal Study Guide. Ask: What did God tell Adam todo with the world God made?LEADComment: God made the world and told Adam to takecare of it. Our Bible verse for today is what God toldAdam. Call on your preenlisted learner to read theverse from your Bible, then hold up the Bible verseposter. Guide learners to read the verse together.Explain taking care of the world was not just Adam’sjob; it’s ours as well.Give each learner a plastic cup. Help them write theverse on each cup, then guide them to pot the plants inthe cups. Say: These plants will help us remember Godtold us to take care of the world He made. Send homethe plants with instructions on how to care for them ortransplant them in flowerbeds.But no one was in charge of taking care of the earth. So God stooped down and tookthe dust in His hands. He lovingly made Adam and breathed life into him.God put Adam in the garden of Eden to live. God also gave Adam a job. “Care for thegarden and work it,” God told Adam. And that is what Adam did.BIBLE VERSE APPLY THE LESSON TO LIFEWRITE THE VERSE IN YOUR OWN WORDS.Work it and watchover it.Remind: God made the world. God told Adam to takecare of it. God also expects us to take care of His world.How will you take care of God’s world? Lead learnersto complete “Care for God’s World” on page 9 in thePersonal Study Guide.Genesis 2:15God’s GardenPoint to the things God made. Name them.THE BIBLE AND MY LIFE8 Week of September 4God made the world. God told Adam to take care of it.How will you also take care of God’s world?CONCLUDE THE SESSIONGET READY Download “This Is My Father’s World.”LEADLead learners to sing or listen to “This Is My Father’sWorld.” Recap: Today we learned God made the worldand told people to take care of it. Guide learners torepeat today’s Bible verse. Direct learners to join handsas you close in prayer.FOLLOW UP Send absentees today’s Personal Study Guide pages. Remind learners to complete their daily Biblereadings in the Personal Study Guide. Print andsend home copies from “Daily Bible Readings” inthe digital pack. Plan a fall work day to spruce up the churchyard.Rake and bag leaves. Set out mums and pansies.Plant bulbs for next spring. Recruit learners andother volunteers. Coordinate through your churchgrounds committee. Remind learners to care for God’s world by properlydisposing of trash.Lila’s ProjectTEACH THE BIBLE VERSE“I am supposed to do a project for acontest,” Lila said. “It will show how I canhelp my community.”Lila had entered the contest before. Oneyear she baked cookies for fire fighters.Another year she and her friends sang songsfor nursing home residents. This year shecould not think of a project someone hadnot done in the past.Oh, dear, thought Lila. She kept hereyes open for ideas at work. Lila saw newvending machines that served water andGET READY Mark Genesis 2:15 in your Bible. Preenlist a learnerto read it. Print today’s Bible verse poster from the digitalpack. Purchase large plastic cups, small plants such aspansies, potting soil, and bottled water.juice in plastic bottles. People threw thebottles in the trash when they were empty.Of course! Lila thought. I will decoratelarge boxes for recycling the plastic. I willempty the boxes each week and take the plasticto a recycling center.Lila found large boxes in a storeroom.She painted Recycle Plastic Bottles Herein large letters. Within a few days, Lilacompleted her project. She won the contest!She even received a prize for her earthfriendly idea.Care for God’s WorldPoint to the different ways you can care for the world God made. What else can you do?Access Personal Study Guide 91920(2) Set up creation stations. Findeight large boxes. Place the followingitems in the boxes. For dark, line thebox with black paper and fill withcrumpled black paper. For light,place a flashlight or battery-poweredlantern inside a black-lined box. Forwater and land, use a globe beachball or a bowl of water and a bowl ofdirt. For sea life, place fish stickerson blue paper. For plants and trees,use leaves and potted plants. Forbirds, add a bird’s nest or feathers.For animals, fill the box with stuffedanimals. For people, lay a mirror inthe bottom of the box. Invite learnersto walk from station to station andlook inside the boxes as you tellthe story.WEEk of SEPTEMBER 4Be sure to check outthe Bonus Ideas.For example, you maystart with learners in smallgroups, move to largegroup for the Bible story,and then return to smallgroups for life application.REVIEW THE STORYPrint today’s “Questions” from thedigital pack. Provide digital cameras,iPads, or smartphones. Invitelearners to go for a walk outside.Take turns asking a question toeach learner. Each time someoneanswers correctly, invite him topoint out something God made andtake a picture. Upload the photosto your class social media pageand encourage learners to addcomments.TEACH THE BIBLE VERSEPlace a large sheet of paper on thewall. Print the Bible verse acrossthe top. Provide the pictures fromPoster 1 or nature pictures cut frommagazines. Direct each learner torepeat the Bible verse and thenadd a picture to the poster. Remindlearners God said to take care of allthese things He made.APPLY THE LESSON TO LIFE(1) Provide plastic gloves and trashbags. Supervise as learners pick uptrash around the church property.Talk about caring for God’s world bykeeping it clean.(3) Read and talk about “Lila’sProject” on page 9 in the PersonalStudy Guide. Then lead learners todecorate recycling containers foryour church. Talk about caring forGod’s world by recycling.(2) Create bird feeders by spreadingpeanut butter on bagel halves.Sprinkle generously with birdseed.Tie on yarn for a hanger. Talk aboutcaring for God’s world by helpinganimals.(4) Guide learners to complete thedaily Bible readings on page 10 inthe Personal Study Guide.ACCESS Leader GuideYou can quickly identifywhich Leader Packposter and PersonalStudy Guide activitiesgo with each lesson.Bonus Ideas!8copy with your modifications. See “TeachingPlans” in the digital pack.WEEk of SEPTEMBER 4This lesson overviewgives you a quick glanceat the session contentand your teaching goals.Bible TranslationAll Bible quotations andcommentary in this guideare based on the ChristianStandard Bible , availableat book stores andwww.lifewaystores.com.Tip! You can adapt your teaching plan and print aTell learners: Today is the first Sunday of a new month.It’s a new beginning, and we are beginning a new studyin our Bibles. We’re beginning with the beginning—theBook of Genesis. Direct learners to find Genesis 1 intheir Bibles. Continue: This month we will study Biblestories about how the world began. Our first story isabout the creation of the world.Display the pictures from Poster 1. Invite eachlearner to choose one picture and hold it up when shehears about it in the story.Tell the Bible story in words learners understand.Show the Bible picture at the appropriate time duringthe story.God Creates(based on Genesis 1:2–2:15)“You should have seen the garden of Eden on thevery first day,” Adam told Eve. Adam was the firstperson to live in the garden of Eden. He was Eve’shusband.“God created the world and all things in it,” Adamsaid. “God took the empty, dark earth and made thisbeautiful world.”Try to imagine it. God spoke the word andeverything began. God said: “Let there be light,” andlight brightened the darkness. Each time God called forsomething, it happened.God created all things. He made water and formedoceans and rivers. He put sea life in them. At first theland was bare. No food or trees grew on it. But Godcaused the trees and plants to grow out of the ground.God also made birds, animals, and all living things.He taught the birds to fly, the fish to swim, and theanimals to walk. God provided food and water for them.Bonus Ideas!18 Gather attendance records. Prepare announcements. Choose hymns and praise songs your learners enjoy.land17wild animalsskyACCESS Leader Guidetame animalsGET READYtreesContinuing His creative acts, God made lights in thesky to distinguish the day from the night. The greaterlight—the sun—gives light at day, and the moon—thelesser light—provides light during the night. Not onlydo these lights separate the day from the night, butthey also serve as signs for festivals and for days andyears. God made the stars as well. God created all theselights for the earth on the fourth day.God then commanded living creatures to appearin the air and in the seas. Miraculously and suddenly,birds appeared and filled the sky, and various kinds ofliving creatures swam in the earth’s seas. God createdthese living creatures on the fifth day.On the sixth day, the final day of God’s creativeactions, God brought into existence wildlife, livestock,and living things that crawl on the ground. Now all wasready for God’s greatest creative act—a living beingwho could enjoy communion with Almighty God!Although God spoke everything else into existence, Heused a more personal touch with man. He shaped manfrom the earth’s dust and personally breathed life intohim. God placed His first people—Adam and Eve—ina beautiful garden and gave them the privilege and taskof caring for His beautiful world.Lesson TruthTake care of God’s world.moonKNOW THE STORYAll things began with God. The Bible teaches that inthe beginning God created the heavens and the earth.At first the earth was without clearly defined form.The Spirit of God moved over this formless mass,flowing divine presence around and through it. Godbegan to give order to the earth by infusing it withlight. He spoke and light came into existence! But lightand darkness were mixed together, so God separatedthe light from the darkness. God named the light dayand the darkness night. The movement from darknessto light and to darkness again signals the creation oftime—evening and morning. God created day andnight on the first day.God then ordered an expanse to appear. Theexpanse separated the waters under the expanse fromthe waters above it. God named this great expansesky. During this creative work, another evening andmorning passed—the second day.Next God arranged the waters in their places anddry land appeared. God named the land earth andthe waters seas. God also created vegetation on thenew earth. This vegetation was various kinds of seedbearing plants such as fruit trees, grasses, plants, andflowers. All this happened on the third day.GATHER TOGETHERDistribute the catalogs and books for learners toreview. Invite learners to point out the pictures theylike best. Say: We enjoy these colors and shapes. Someof us like to eat fruits and vegetables like the ones in thepictures. All these plants are part of the wonderful worldGod created. Today we’ll hear the Bible story about howGod made the world. Are you ready to hear it?oceansI will take careof God’s world.LEADIdentify some of the environmental issues facing theworld today.What do you think about the work of environmen
blanket. The stretcher had become a monster, an usher into a theater of pain. I had to remind myself that despite the fact we have a God who is good, we still live in a fallen world. God's grace is sufficient even when I am not searching for it. Throughout our whole ordeal, the verse "My . grace is sufficient" (2 Cor. 12:9) became like .
