Big idea: God is the Creator and Sustainer of the whole world – so meditation on nature should lead us to praise.
Ready for Impact (10 mins)
Open by giving everyone an opportunity to introduce themselves, and explaining a bit about the purpose for meeting as a Science Network Hub, how often you’ll meet, and what to expect.
Then ask people:
- Can you think of a time when studying science has particularly moved you to wonder or praise?
Impacted by the Word (20 mins)
Ask someone to pray briefly as you look at God’s word. Then read Psalm 104 aloud, perhaps taking a paragraph each.
Psalm 104 is a meditation on God’s past and present work in creation, drawing on the creation narrative in Genesis as well as the psalmist’s own experience of nature.
Discuss:
- What parallels can you spot between Psalm 104 and the six days of creation in Genesis 1? (You might want to print off copies of the table below for each person).
- How does the psalmist invite us to picture God in v1-4?
- In the psalmist’s time weather and the sea were seen as powerful forces of chaos, often associated with gods. How does God relate to these powerful forces in v3-9? What does this tell us about him?
- In verse 10 the psalmist shifts his tone to show that as well as a great king, God is also a kind provider. In what different ways do we see God providing for his creation in v10-30?
- The psalm refers to various regularities and patterns in nature (the water cycle, food chains, day and night…). How do the rhythms and order of creation display God’s wisdom (v24)?
- What is the psalmist’s reaction to meditating on God’s works in creation (v33-35)?
Impacting our Hearts
Scientists have the great privilege of studying God’s creation closely in our day-to-day work.
Discuss:
- How often is praise your response to what you learn in lectures?
- What holds you back from responding like the psalmist?
Imagine you’ve been commissioned to write a poem in the style of Psalm 104 based on your own field of study. Using the same beginning and ending lines, write a verse or two explaining your own field in terms of God’s provision for creation.
(You can print out copies of the attached template to help you).
Impacting the University
Discuss:
Imagine that every time you sit down to study, you think about your area of science in these terms.
- How would it change your attitude towards your degree?
- What difference would it make to how you speak about your work with coursemates?
Pray together, asking God to give you the psalmist’s God-ward attitude as you study his creation. Pray that your joy in God’s creation would shine out to those around you.
Wrap up
Finish by letting people know the date of your next meeting, and encouraging them to connect with the Science Network on social media or via the mailing list to hear more about how we bring our faith into our studies.
In the next session we'll dive deeper into the creation narrative in Genesis, to discover how people made in God's image ought to relate to his world.
Further resources
If you want to explore this week's topic further, take a look at:
The Message of Creation, David Wilkinson