HOW DID I GET
HERE?
“There’s far more truth in the Book of
Genesis than in the quantum theory.” – Malcolm
Muggeridge
“IN THE BEGINNING GOD…”
HOW DID I GET HERE?
• Three of the most important questions we must answer to
find true happiness, peace, and purpose: Where did I
come from? What am I doing here? And where am I going?
• Before we get into the actual lesson, lets take some time
to discuss and share what we have heard, what has been
taught us and how we view all that we have encountered
by way of explanations for how we got here. The question
of Origin. How did I get here? Lets Talk!!
DISCUSSION
• What have you heard about how human beings came into
existence?
• Do you believe what you have heard? Why? Why not?
• What have you been taught? Do you agree with what you
have been taught?
• How does what you’ve been taught impact how you feel
about the meaning of your life? Does your life have
meaning? How do you know?
Discussion
• Student Feedback:
: in the book of genesis it said god created man
kind[08:51] Jeanne Rivers : it is G for God -
Yahnfrhanc
:Timothy Williams - it has meaning because god gave
humans person
:Anderson Murray - the first question- i heard that god
created all human beings
Discussion
• Student Feedback:
• Sherniece Roberts : 1. God made us
• Ashri La Fortune : ?
SO HOW DID I GET HERE?
Objectives/Student outcomes:
* Identify and discuss different thoughts on the question of
“Origins”
* Compare the Biblical account of human origins to other
explanations
* Apply information gained to make informed decisions
about where to place their faith, in creation by design or
evolution by chance.
Origin of Life
• “People who have questions about origin of life usually
end up with of two answers: either life was created by a
divine being (God), or life developed naturally, by itself. It
either happened by design or by chance.” (In the
Beginning God, p. 94)
• The two major theories that seek to explain how we
human beings got here are: Creation and Evolution.
Theories of Creation and
Evolution
• Evolution’s main ideas can be summed up in 3 words:
• Chance,
• Change
• Time.
• “Change occurs by Chance over Time.”
• It teaches survival of the fittest, where the strong survives and
the weak dies
Theories of Creation and
Evolution
• “Evolution teaches that life began from a mixture
of non-living chemicals when, completely by
chance, those chemicals were combined in just the
right way. The result: all life forms evolved from
that original life. These life forms developed new
organs and abilities as needed to survive.” – (In
the beginning God…p. 95)
Macroevolution and
Microevolution
• In Macroevolution, life is seen as undergoing continual
changes due to genetic mutations and external forces.
Changes such as hair or eye color and increase or
decrease in size can lead to major changes over time. This
can result in a totally different species. Hence the idea
that Dinosaurs who mutated the ability to grow feathers
and fly survived and became birds, while the rest died off.
(p. 96)
Macroevolution and
Microevolution
• Microevolution occurs when a population of animals or
plants are cut off from others of their kind. Minor
adaptations or changes occur in order for the specie to
survive. An example would be the iguanas of the
Galapagos Islands, though typically land dwelling lizards
that eat insects, when their food source was cut off they
adapted by diving underwater to find and eat algae that
became their food over time.
Basic Beliefs of Evolution
• The following summarizes beliefs generally held about
evolution:
• 1. No superior power was involved with the origin of the
earth or the universe.
• 2. All life originated by natural mechanical processes,
completely by chance, that are capable of being explained
by the laws of chemistry and physics.
Basic Beliefs of Evolution
• 3. Life began millions of years ago, and through
macroevolution, all life forms today evolved from that
original life. The mutation of new organs and abilities has
allowed new species to survive.
• 4. All species continue to evolve and change, with the
weak dying off and the strong surviving. (p. 97)
Theories of Creation
• It does require faith to believe that God created the
earth as recorded in the Bible. But it also requires
faith to believe in evolution’s theory on the origin of
life.
• Several theories of creation exist, among them are
the following:
• - Theistic Evolution – a blend of science and evolution
without eliminating God totally from the process. In this
theory God created the first cells of life, then stepped back
and allowed evolution to take over.
Theories of Creation
• - Deistic Evolution – In this theory God created the first
blob, then steped back and allowed evolution to take over.
It accepts the stories of Genesis and most of the Bible as
myths or fables and does not believe in a concerned God
who is involved in the lives of His people.
• - Pantheistic Creation – This theory states that God is in
everything. The formation of earth and the evolution of life
on it occurred because the force inside made it happen.
Theories of Creation
• - Progressive Creation – This theory states that God
created the earth and all life out of nothing during six vast
periods of time. The six days in the Bible are viewed as
symbolic, not literal. This theory conflicts with the Biblical
record of the seventh-day Sabbath, Sin and Death.
• - Special Creation- This theory views God as the Creator
of both nonliving and living matter in our solar system and
the universe. It accepts the Biblical record that states that
life and all life forms on this planet were created in six
literal days, not long periods of time.
Theories of Creation
• Special creation sees human beings as having greater
value than primates, having been created “in the very
image of God” rather than evolving from lower life forms.
• Special creation views God as intimately connected to
His creation and accepts the fact that Christ’s death on
the cross speaks of God’s great redeeming love for a race
lost in Sin.
• Evolution believes men and women are good and getting
better all the time, they have no need of a Savior. If
evolution is right, then there is no need for
Theories of Creation
• Salvation and the cross is foolishness. But if Jesus died on the
cross for the lost people, then evolution is a lie.
• As we seek to analyze each theory of origin, it requires a measure
of faith.
• Evolution offers continuity to the human race only as long as
human beings cha change, evolve, and survive. While Creation
offers eternal life to each individual who believes in the Creator
who was willing to die on a cross for His creation.
In Contrast
• 1. Evolution lifts humans up and makes “self” the most
important and promotes survival and personal
advancement at any price.
• Creation and the cross invite us to turn away from
“self” and turn to God for happiness and eternal
meaning.
• 2. With Evolution each person is a small, insignificant life
form, destined to a short existence in a brutal world
where individuals climb to the top by pushing others
down, where happiness comes from grabbing all you can
get.
In Contrast
• With Special Creation, each person has value as the
child of a loving God, destined to live forever in
deepening relationships, where happiness comes
from giving.
• Which will you choose for yourself?