The Family Bible Devotional

Stories from the Bible to Help Kids and Parents Engage and Love Scripture

Discovery House

Contents

And God Said It Was Good

Setting up the story:

The stories in Genesis were originally passed down from parents to children by a thing called oral tradition. The stories that were told were shared in ways that helped people memorize them and repeat them so they could be shared again with future generations. You might notice that some stories in Genesis sound like poems or short stories. Stories like the first one in the Bible help us understand our relationship to God and to the world.

Read: Genesis 1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 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.

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day.

And God said, "Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water." So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning — the second day.

And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.

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. 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. And there was evening, and there was morning — the third day.

And God said, "Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. 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. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the fourth day.

And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky." So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 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." And there was evening, and there was morning — the fifth day.

And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 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.

Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

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. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground — everything that has the breath of life in it — I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day.

Talk about it:

What are some patterns you hear when you read this story?

What do those patterns tell you about God and the creation of the world?

When God creates people, how are they described? What jobs does God give them?

What do you think it means to be "made in God's image"? How does it make you feel?

Let's talk about it:

Is there anything that confuses you about this first story? If so, it's okay! Do you have any questions about Genesis 1? It's time to ask your questions about the Bible.

Parents: During each family devotional, there will be the opportunity for asking questions — the parents get to ask questions, and the kids get to ask questions too. If you don't know the answer, it's okay to say so. As parents, we can empower our children to ask questions about God and the Bible. This curiosity and freedom will pave the way for a meaningful and healthy relationship with God as they grow into adults.

Be willing to share your own questions about God or this particular story during this time. Sharing our own journeys of faith with our kids will help them see how you can have doubts and fears and still love God and be loved by God.

Closing thought:

The first chapter of Genesis sets the scene for all of the Bible. It establishes God as the boss. He is the author of the story of creation, from the first burst of energy in the universe to this very second — and beyond! Notice how everything God creates he calls "good." The sun and the moon and the stars, the light and the dark, the water and the air and the land, the plants and the animals — all good, good, good. Everything God created is good because God is good!

In a later part of the Bible, one of God's followers, Paul, says in Philippians 1:6 that God is going to keep on doing the good work in us and on earth until we're a finished product, fine-tuned and complete. In this way, the creation story described in Genesis 1 doesn't end. It's still happening, in you and in me and in the world all around us.

Prayer prompt:

If God called all of creation "good," then we can too! As we pray together tonight, let's name off some of the things God created that we're thankful for, that make us laugh or feel amazed. Everything in the universe reflects the good work that God has done and continues to do. Let's pray together Psalm 148, in which the songwriter calls upon creation to praise God too.

Activity #1: Take a Hike!

Get outdoors and explore! What do you see around you that God made? What do you smell? What do you hear? What is it about creation that you love? What do you see that you are grateful for? 11

Activity #2: I Spy, A to Z

Can you name one thing God made for each letter of the alphabet? Put your minds together to see what crazy things in nature you can name that God made.

Pop out: Creation Stories

Other tribes and cultures all around the world have their own creation stories like Genesis. Even though the stories vary from culture to culture, it seems as if God wrote into our DNA a desire to understand where we came from and what it is we're doing here. People all around the globe are seeking meaning in life. We can be grateful that God revealed himself through Jesus Christ so that people everywhere can have access to a better understanding of who God is and how he relates to us.

The Word and the Light

Setting up the story:

Did you know that there is another creation story in the Bible? It happens in one of the books that talks about Jesus. It is the book of John. In that creation story, John tells us that Jesus (John calls Jesus "the Word") was God and was with God in the beginning, creating right alongside him! Some people think that's why the Genesis story says, "let us create mankind in our image," because of the way that God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit were working together to create everything, including men and women. Let's read John 1 to see how "the Word" and the last story we read connect.

Read: John 1:1–18 (NLT)

In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn — not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.

John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'"

From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us.

Talk about it:

What do you learn about Jesus (or The Word) from these verses?

How do you think Genesis 1 and John 1 are connected? (Flip to pages XX if you want to reread Genesis 1.)

Who was John and what was his job?

What does this passage say about why Jesus came?

Let's talk about it:

There is a lot of figurative language in this introduction to Jesus. Do any of the sayings confuse you? If so, it's okay! Do you have any questions about John 1? It's time to ask your questions about the Bible.

Closing thought:

In Genesis 1 we saw how God created everything, and everything God created was good. In John 1, God reveals even more of himself through his Son, Jesus. Because Jesus is the light of the world, we can travel through our lives with his light guiding us, showing us faith, hope, and love, even in the darkest times.

As we continue to study the Bible, we'll do so with Jesus-colored glasses, remembering that the Word (Jesus) was with God in the beginning, creating right alongside him. With those Jesus-colored glasses, the whole Bible — and the whole world — is illuminated with the true light that gives light! Through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, we can find meaning and light in a world of darkness.

Prayer prompt:

The passage we read today talked about the light shining in the darkness and how the darkness has not overcome it. Sometimes it feels as if the darkness in our world overpowers the good. Let's pray today that God would show us his light, his hope, and his peace, even when things feel hopeless, dark, and scary. You might also pray together Psalm 23, one of the most beloved poems in the Bible. God's light triumphs over darkness and will never leave us.

Activity: Shine a Little Light Have your parents help you gather a candle and a match and come together in one room of your house. Draw the shades and turn off lamps until the room is as dark as you can make it, then light the candle. How did the darkness make you feel? What happened to the darkness when the candle was lit? How did the light make you feel? Talk about how God is described as the light of the world, the true light that gives light, and think some more about what that means for us.

Pop out: Two Johns!

Just like today, there are sometimes people in the Bible who have similar or the same first names. The author of the book of John was one of Jesus's twelve disciples. He's also the author of three letters that are collected later in the Bible — 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John — as well as the book of Revelation. The "other" John mentioned in the first chapter of the book of John is John the Baptist. John the Baptist was Jesus's cousin. He baptized Jesus and talked about Jesus to people all over the region right before Jesus began traveling, teaching, and healing people. But really, both Johns are witnesses to Jesus's ministry and model for how we can be witnesses for Jesus with our words and deeds.

The Rhythms of Our Lives

Setting up the story:

The story we're going to read today takes what happened in Genesis 1 and expands on how ancient followers of God — the ancestors of our faith — understood the way God created us. It's considered to be a second version of the creation story. Remember that these early believers were seeking ways of understanding their lives and their relationship to God. This second story is told by God's followers to communicate the importance of that relationship. When we read this chapter of Genesis, listen for what mattered most to the storyteller and to God.

Read: Genesis 2 (MSG)

Heaven and Earth were finished,
down to the last detail.
By the seventh day
God had finished his work.
On the seventh day
he rested from all his work.
God blessed the seventh day.
He made it a Holy Day
Because on that day he rested from his work,
all the creating God had done.
This is the story of how it all started,
of Heaven and Earth when they were created.

At the time GOD made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground — GOD hadn't yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs) — GOD formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive — a living soul!

Then GOD planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. GOD made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil.

A river flows out of Eden to water the garden and from there divides into four rivers. The first is named Pishon; it flows through Havilah where there is gold. The gold of this land is good.

The land is also known for a sweet-scented resin and the onyx stone. The second river is named Gihon; it flows through the land of Cush. The third river is named Hiddekel and flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

GOD took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order.

GOD commanded the Man, "You can eat from any tree in the garden, except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don't eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you're dead."

GOD said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion." So GOD formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn't find a suitable companion.

GOD put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. GOD then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man.

The Man said,
"Finally! Bone of my bone,
flesh of my flesh!
Name her Woman
for she was made from Man."

Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh.

The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame.

Talk about it:

What are a few things that God says are important in this chapter?

Look closely. In all of creation, what's the first thing God says is "not good"?

Why do you think God gives Adam the job of naming all the animals?

What jobs do you have?

If you were going to create the world, what would you do differently?

Why do you think God chose to create things the way he did?

Let's talk about it:

Is there anything that confuses you about this story? If so, it's okay! Do you have any questions about Genesis 2? It's time to ask your questions about the Bible.