1. Creation and Evolution

2. Why is it important?

3. Authority Matthew 28:18 - Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:18 - Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Romans 10:17 - Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 - Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. The theory of evolution questions the authority of God’s word: i.e., if Genesis isn’t true, what other parts of the bible should be questioned? The theory of evolution questions the authority of God’s word: i.e., if Genesis isn’t true, what other parts of the bible should be questioned?

4. In the world, but not of the world John 15:19 - If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19 - If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Evolution is part of our culture: e.g., “Ice Age”, “Planet of the Apes”, etc. Evolution is part of our culture: e.g., “Ice Age”, “Planet of the Apes”, etc. Other examples? Other examples?

5. Witness 1 Peter 3:15 - But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15 - But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. In the news: intelligent design, Kansas school board, Georgia textbook disclaimer, etc. In the news: intelligent design, Kansas school board, Georgia textbook disclaimer, etc. Chance to witness to non-Christians (and sometimes Christians) Chance to witness to non-Christians (and sometimes Christians)

6. Straying sheep 1 Timothy 6:20 - Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. 1 Timothy 6:20 - Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Evolution can lead Christians away from the faith through the head and the heart. Evolution can lead Christians away from the faith through the head and the heart.

7. What do we believe?

8. Genesis 1:1-31 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. 3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. 6 And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. 6 And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. 9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. 9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.

9. 11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. 11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. 14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. 14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. 20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. 20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

10. 24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." 29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground— everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so. 29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground— everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

11. Other accounts and commands concerning creation Hebrews 11:3 - By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3 - By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 2 Peter 3:5-6 - But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 2 Peter 3:5-6 - But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.

12. Our goal when witnessing to others Colossians 4:4-6 - 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:4-6 - 4Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. 1 Peter 3:15-16 - 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:15-16 - 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

13. Our goal when witnessing to others There is no “winning” an argument There is no “winning” an argument We want to share our beliefs in a non-threatening way We want to share our beliefs in a non-threatening way We must get past underlying assumptions of both belief systems We must get past underlying assumptions of both belief systems We must speak in love and understanding, not arrogance and intolerance We must speak in love and understanding, not arrogance and intolerance

14. Just like you don’t need an advanced degree in theology in order to talk to a person about your beliefs about something like communion, you don’t need a degree in biology in order to defend your beliefs about creation. Always talk to a person on a level you’re comfortable with, and remember that your goal should always be to have a meaningful conversation with them, not an aggressive confrontation or argument. Just like you don’t need an advanced degree in theology in order to talk to a person about your beliefs about something like communion, you don’t need a degree in biology in order to defend your beliefs about creation. Always talk to a person on a level you’re comfortable with, and remember that your goal should always be to have a meaningful conversation with them, not an aggressive confrontation or argument. We all are occasionally “ashamed of the Gospel,” but that same Gospel assures us we’re forgiven. We need to remember that the Gospel is the “power of God” not of us. We can feel unashamed about witnessing in the way that is more natural for us. We all are occasionally “ashamed of the Gospel,” but that same Gospel assures us we’re forgiven. We need to remember that the Gospel is the “power of God” not of us. We can feel unashamed about witnessing in the way that is more natural for us.

15. Remember... Revelation 3:11 - I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Revelation 3:11 - I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

16. Personal experiences What opportunities and experiences have you had with evolution/creation issues? What opportunities and experiences have you had with evolution/creation issues? E.g., when you were in school, since your kids have been in school, national parks, TV, movies, books, personal conversations with co- workers, friends, or family, politics/education debate, related to what you do for a living, always been curious about it, absolutely no experience, you read Genesis once and always wondered how God made light before He made the sun, wandered into the class before you realized what it was about and couldn’t leave, etc. E.g., when you were in school, since your kids have been in school, national parks, TV, movies, books, personal conversations with co- workers, friends, or family, politics/education debate, related to what you do for a living, always been curious about it, absolutely no experience, you read Genesis once and always wondered how God made light before He made the sun, wandered into the class before you realized what it was about and couldn’t leave, etc.

17. Source: www.answersingenesis.orgwww.answersingenesis.org