Day 4 of Creation – Sun, Moon, and Stars
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Day 4 of Creation – Sun, Moon, and Stars (Genesis 1:14–19)
Objective: Explore the biblical account of the fourth day of creation, understand the purpose of the sun, moon, and stars, and examine scientific evidence from creation scientists that supports intelligent design and a young Earth perspective.
Materials Needed:
Bibles or printed copies of Genesis 1:14–19
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;
and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so.
Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.
God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth,
and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Whiteboard or paper for discussion notes
Visual aids (optional): images of comets, a diagram of lunar recession, or a model of the Earth-moon system
Time Allocation:
Welcome and Opening Prayer: 5 minutes
Scripture Reading and Context: 10 minutes
Scientific Evidence and Discussion: 20 minutes
Reflection and Application: 5 minutes
Closing Prayer: 5 minutes
Welcome and Opening Prayer (5 minutes)
Leader: Welcome everyone to today’s Bible study! Today, we’re diving into Genesis 1:14–19, where God creates the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth day of creation. We’ll explore the purpose of these celestial bodies and how scientific evidence from creation scientists supports the biblical account of a young Earth and intelligent design. Let’s begin with prayer
Scripture Reading and Context (10 minutes)
Leader: Let’s read Genesis 1:14–19 together. (Have a volunteer read or read aloud as a group.)
Context and Key Points:
On Day 4, God creates the sun, moon, and stars to serve specific purposes: to separate day from night, mark time (seasons, days, years), and provide light on Earth.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
He created the “lights, sun, moon, and stars,” not for light, but to serve as markers for signs, seasons, days, and years. signs. Certainly to include:
1) weather (
He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’;
and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
2) testimony to God (
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.
Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
3) divine judgment (
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
4) navigation (
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
The phrase “vault of the sky” reflects the ancient perspective of the heavens as a structured expanse, emphasizing God’s ordered design.
The sun and moon are described as “great lights” to govern day and night, showing their functional role in sustaining life and guiding human activity.
The creation of stars is mentioned almost as an afterthought (“He also made the stars”), highlighting God’s immense power—creating billions of stars with a single command.
This account contrasts with secular views that propose a universe billions of years old, formed by random processes. The biblical narrative suggests a purposeful, recent creation by an intelligent designer.’
Stars are there for a reason… designate seasons.
Brief Discussion (3–4 minutes):
What stands out to you about the purpose of the sun, moon, and stars in this passage?
How does the phrase “God saw that it was good” reflect His intentional design?
Scientific Evidence and Discussion (20 minutes)
Leader: The Bible presents a young Earth created with purpose, and some scientific observations align with this view, supporting intelligent design and challenging the idea of a billions-of-years-old universe. Let’s explore two key pieces of evidence from creation scientists.
1. Lunar Recession (8 minutes)
1. Lunar Recession (8 minutes)
Explanation:
The moon is moving away from Earth at a measurable rate of about 3.8 cm per year, a process called lunar recession.
Creation scientist Dr. Donald DeYoung, a physicist, argues that if this rate is extrapolated backward over billions of years, the moon would have been so close to Earth (within the Roche limit, about 11,500 km) that tidal forces would have made life impossible due to extreme tides and gravitational effects.
This suggests the Earth-moon system is much younger than the 4.5 billion years proposed by secular models, potentially aligning with a creation timeline of thousands of years. Even calculating a changing rate of recession still leads to a much younger amount of time. It raises questions.
Activity (Optional):
Discussion Questions (3–4 minutes):
Why might the lunar recession rate challenge the idea of a billions-of-years-old Earth?
How does the precise distance of the moon (allowing for tides, seasons, and life) point to intelligent design?
Plate Tectonics and Pangea
Plate Tectonics and Pangea
Pangea vid/gif
Activity (Optional):
Discussion Questions (3–4 minutes):
How do these observations reflect the precision and purpose of God’s creation?
Wrap-Up (4 minutes):
Emphasize that these scientific observations don’t “prove” the Bible but provide evidence consistent with a young Earth and intelligent design.
Encourage critical thinking: Secular models often rely on unproven assumptions (e.g., the Oort Cloud), while the biblical account offers a coherent framework for understanding creation’s purpose and order.
Highlight how the sun, moon, and stars demonstrate God’s care for humanity, providing light, timekeeping, and beauty (Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God”).
Reflection and Application (5 minutes)
Leader: The sun, moon, and stars are not just random objects in space—they reflect God’s purposeful design for life on Earth. Their precision and beauty point to an intelligent creator. Let’s reflect on how this impacts our faith.
Questions for Reflection:
How does the order of the celestial bodies (e.g., predictable seasons, lunar cycles) encourage you to trust God’s faithfulness?
How can we approach scientific claims with both faith and critical thinking, honoring God as the Creator?
Application:
Encourage participants to spend time this week observing the night sky or sunrise/sunset, reflecting on Psalm 19:1 and thanking God for His creation.
Suggest journaling one way the study of Day 4 has deepened their awe of God’s design.
Closing Prayer (5 minutes)
Leader: Let’s close by thanking God for His creation and seeking wisdom to understand His world.
Prayer: Lord, we stand in awe of Your creation—the sun, moon, and stars that govern time and declare Your glory. Thank You for designing the universe with purpose and precision. Help us to trust Your Word, approach science with discernment, and share Your truth with others. May we always worship You as the Creator of all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Optional Homework:
Research one additional piece of astronomical evidence supporting a young Earth (e.g., Earth’s magnetic field decay or spiral galaxy dynamics). Write a short paragraph summarizing how it aligns with Genesis 1 and share it at the next meeting.
Note for Leader:
Present scientific evidence as supporting, not proving, the biblical account. Encourage humility and curiosity, acknowledging that science is a tool to explore God’s creation, not a replacement for faith.
Be prepared to address questions about secular views (e.g., the Big Bang or old-universe models) by focusing on the assumptions behind them and redirecting to the biblical narrative’s clarity and purpose.
This study balances biblical teaching with scientific discussion, fostering faith and critical thinking in about 45 minutes.
