The Apostles' Creed: Creator of heaven and earth

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, 
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, 
born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate, 
was crucified, died, and was buried; 
He descended into hell; On the third day '
He rose again from the dead; 
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the 
right hand of God the Father almighty; 
From there he will come to judge 
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, 
The holy catholic Church, 
the communion of saints, 
The forgiveness of sins, 
The resurrection of the body, 
and life everlasting. Amen. 

Scripture: Psalm 8, Genesis 1, Romans 1, Romans 8, Job 38, Proverbs 8, 1 Timothy 4:4

Intro:

• Focus on the Apostles’ Creed line: “Creator of heaven and earth.”
• God’s creation reveals His character and greatness.
• Emphasizes our dependence on God as Creator.

God as Creator:

• Genesis 1: God’s first self-revelation is as Creator.
• J.I. Packer: Acknowledging our “creaturehood” is essential.
• Challenges the “self-made” mindset.
• Stephen Hawking: Even atheists acknowledge the universe’s design.
• Examples of earth’s perfect design: 
  • Earth’s position relative to the sun.
  • Jupiter and Saturn’s protective role.
  • Sun and moon’s relative sizes during eclipses.
• Psalm 19: Creation declares God’s glory.
• Romans 1: Creation and conscience reveal God’s power and nature.
• General Revelation (creation/conscience) vs. Special Revelation (Bible/gospel).

The Act of Creation:

• Genesis 1: Poetic form, possibly a song.
• C.S. Lewis’s “The Magician’s Nephew” as an illustration.
• Trinity’s involvement: Father’s plan, Jesus’s word, Spirit’s action.
• God’s joy and playfulness in creation.
• Job 38: God’s wonder and the angels’ joy.
• Proverbs 8: Wisdom’s delight in creation.

Creation’s Beauty and Brokenness:

• Mariana Trench: A reminder of creation’s vastness.
• The size of the sun and other stars: Emphasizing God’s immensity.
• Isaiah 40: God’s power over the universe.
• 1 Timothy 4:4: Creation is inherently good.
• Genesis 3: Sin’s entry and creation’s curse.
• Romans 8: Creation groans for redemption.
• Our future: A redeemed earth and renewed bodies.
• Jesus’s incarnation and redemption: Dignifying creation.

Call to Action:

• Acknowledge God as Creator and His goodness in creation.
• Find joy in God’s creation.
• Hope in the redemption of creation through Jesus.
• Communion: Remembering Jesus’s sacrifice and the promise of a renewed creation.