Man’s Power in Creation – JSS1 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Man’s power in creation is the share God gave human beings in ruling and developing the world. God told man to rule over all creatures and to be fruitful and multiply. Man shares in God’s creative power through procreation, which is bringing new life into being, and by developing the earth’s material resources for the benefit of all people.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• state the powers God gave to man at creation;
• explain the meaning of procreation;
• describe how man helps God in creating new life;
• give examples of material resources that man has developed;
• mention ways technology has helped man.

What power did God give man in creation?

God created the first man from the dust and made a helper fit for him. Adam called her woman because she was taken from his ribs. God gave Adam power over all creatures. He told the man to rule over the fish, plants, animals and every other creature. God commanded man to be fruitful and multiply over the world.

Man thus shared in the creative power of God through different activities such as procreation (bringing new life into being) and the development of material resources of the earth for the benefit of all people.

How does man help God in creating new life?

The first man and woman (Adam and Eve) gave birth to Cain and Abel, and since then we have been multiplying on the earth. When a man and woman meet, the woman may conceive and carry the child for nine months. The child will grow up (male or female) and later produce his or her own offspring. We can see here that man is also helping God in creating new life.

How does man use his mind to develop the earth?

God delegated man to rule the world and made man intellectually aware of his environment. Man is also conscious of life with his emotions and desires, and because of power and energy, he is motivated to act.

Man has been able to cultivate the land to plant his food. After God had driven man away from the Garden of Eden, there was no more free food for him to eat. Man had to find a way of feeding himself and his family. The same thing is happening today.

Material resources developed by man

As a result of the intellectual development of man, he can develop material resources within his reach. Examples are food production, trees used to make a fire to cook his food, and other things such as chairs, tables, buildings, books and whiteboard markers.

Technological development

Nowadays, there has been an increase in technological development, and man is now making cars, aeroplanes and trains to carry people from one place to another.

Also, through GSM phones, one can reach people far away without physically going there, which makes communication easier and faster.

Evaluation

1. In what ways does man share in the creative power of God?
2. How do you know that man is an image of God?
3. Who was the first person God created?
4. Who is the creator of the whole universe? Explain.

Assignment

Reading assignment

1. Christian Religious Education for JSS Bk 1, Adeyinka et al.
2. Modern Biology: read on Darwin’s Evolution Theory of Man.

Weekend assignment

1. God delegated ____ to rule the world. (a) God (b) man (c) the sun
2. The first man is called ____. (a) Adam (b) Eve (c) Cain
3. The first man was placed in the ____. (a) River (b) Planet (c) Garden of Eden
4. The word “procreation” means ____. (a) excretion (b) death (c) reproduction
5. The first man was made from the ____. (a) air (b) sea (c) dust

Theory

1. How do you know that man is an image of God?
2. Explain how human beings can create.