Genesis 1 (NRSV)
9 And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
True life begins with a seed.
Here are some questions for reflection:
1. The creation of plants and seeds days before mankind was created demonstrates that we can trust in God’s provision. How might this encourage you in moments of challenge?
2. Just as God separated the water and created dry land, how can we practice, with intention, separating out aspects of our own lives to create hospitable places for our own faith to flourish?
3. Each day of creation built on the previous day. Without the previous day the current would not have been possible. What does this process of gradual building teach us about the lives we live in? Are there lessons to learn about process? Contentment? Growth as followers of Christ, step by step?
4. The words are simple but the results are miraculous, “Let the earth grow plant life[…]” How might these simple words—describing a wonderfully biodiverse creation—help us to relate simple teachings to a complex life?
5. In the words shared this week we hear, “The fruit declares this is my body. There is more than enough of me for all of you.” Within the fruit is a seed that bears little in its appearance to indicate what will grow of it if planted and nurtured. Consider some moments in your life where a seed was planted. How might you continue nurturing it to grow into the person you are to become?
6. How might the fact that God prepared an ongoing cycle for continued life inform our understanding of environmental stewardship? How do you think we are doing globally? How are you doing personally?
7. God created plants according to their kinds. How can we cultivate our own lives so that we are authentically who we are called to be and not just confirming to societal pressures?
8. This message points draws a parallel between the first fruit coming forth from the earth on the third day of creation and Jesus resurrecting from the grave on the third day after his crucifixion. Can you think of other manifestations of the gospel that might be found in the creation story?
If you’d like to dig a little deeper, consider the following:
1. What might the third day suggest about the interconnectedness between the physical world and living things?
2. Do you notice any parallels between the first three days of creation? What might this reveal about the nature of God and God’s plan?
3. Even in the act of separating the waters from the dry land there is still a connection between the two. They work together. Like the plants need dry land and water to grow, how does this resemble both faith and deeds in our living out the teachings of Jesus?