Short Topics for Evening or Sunday School Programs, Youth Groups, Bible Study Groups, etc.
Creation vs. Evolution
Ø
Evolution or Creation? The
Relevance of Creation
A quick overview that examines
the importance of the issue and its effect on our society. Does it matter
what we believe? Do all scientists believe in evolution? Is the Bible
compatible with evolution? What the textbooks don’t tell you about the
controversy. A look at the fossil record, the complexity of creation, and
other areas of science show the impossibility of evolution.
Ø
The Heavens Declare His
Glory
Do we live on an insignificant
speck of dust in the universe, or are we a central part of God’s creation?
Did God use the Big Bang billions of years ago to create the cosmos? The
Big Bang model is fraught with problems, yet is accepted by most scientists
in spite of them. In this presentation we take a critical look at these
problems.
If the universe is not billions of years old, how can we see light from
distant stars? We look at evidences for a young universe, and uniqueness of
the earth and solar system.
Ø
Fossils and Creation
Where did the fossil-laden layers
of sediment found all over the surface of the earth come from? Did they
take millions of years to form, or could they have formed quickly? What
does it take to form a fossil?
The “horse series” is found in most biology texts as a standard proof of
evolution. In this session we take a closer look at this evidence to see if
it really proves anything. We also look at the dating of rocks and fossils,
“living fossils,” and evidences for recent catastrophe.
Ø
Dinosaurs and Dragons
What were the dinosaurs like, and
how do they fit in with biblical history? What happened to them? In this
presentation we look at evidences in ancient accounts and folklore that they
lived much more recently than 65 million years ago. We also examine fossil
evidences and artwork left by ancient peoples.
Is it possible that some dinosaurs and other animals supposedly extinct for
millions of years have survived until relatively recent times? We’ll look
at recent reports of sightings of dinosaur-like creatures, as well as
strange animals of the Old Testament.
Ø
Sex and Evolution: It
Depends on Your Worldview
Does it really matter what a
Christian believes about creation or evolution? What does evolution have to
do with the sexual revolution? Starting with the Scopes Monkey Trial, this
presentation shows how western culture has been heavily influenced by
evolutionary thinking, including its effects on politics, business, and
social systems.
We also compare the two basic worldviews, and how these competing views have
resulted in the culture war. We see that evolution is actually a religion
in its own right. We also show that not all “real” scientists are
evolutionists.
Ø
Ape-Men and Cave Men
Why is there so much ado about a
few old bones? Media bias has resulted in monkey business more than sound
science. The history of fossil hominid discoveries is littered with fraud,
error, and shifting opinions. In spite of the proclamations by National
Geographic and other popular publications, the “proofs” of human evolution
are anything but.
In this presentation we examine the claims of each of the prominent hominid
finds to see how they stack up against the facts. We see that we were made
in God’s image rather than having evolved from hominids who’re still trying
to shake off an apelike past. We also look at cave men in light of biblical
history.
Ø
Mammoths and the Ice Age
There are two mysteries that have
intrigued scientists for hundreds of years:
§ What caused the ice age or ages?
§ What happened to the woolly mammoths and other ice-age animals?
Evolutionary science has yet to find satisfactory answers, but the Bible provides a basis for solutions that fit the evidence much better than current mainstream theories.
Were there many ice ages or just one? What does it take to have an ice
age? Evidences left behind by the ice sheets provide clues.
Ø
Genesis and the Age of the
Earth
The Bible says that God completed
creation in just six days, but science texts and the popular media claim
that the earth is 4.6 billion years old. Which is right? Does it matter?
Either Genesis is wrong or it must be interpreted figuratively. If it’s
wrong, then doubt is cast upon the rest of the Bible. If we try to
interpret it figuratively then it can be stretched to mean whatever current
evolutionary thinking demands.
But hasn’t radiometric dating shown that the earth is very old? It turns
out that all dating methods are based upon certain assumptions, since no one
knows the history of the rock or other object being measured. These
assumptions form the basis of the long ages obtained by radiometric
measurements. In this presentation we look at some of the many evidences
for a young earth.
Ø
Miracles of Creation
Recent scientific discoveries,
far from proving evolution, have underscored its impossibility. In this
presentation we explore the almost unimaginable complexity of God’s
creation, from the inner workings of the cell and its components, to the
amazing power of a bee’s brain, to the seemingly simple bird feather. We
also see that, rather than an insignificant speck of dust in the cosmos, we
inhabit a very special place. These all go to show that Creation reflects
the handiwork of the Designer, rather than just being the result of
accidents in space and chance mutations.
Ø The Rise of Darwinism and Its Impact on Society
Why was Darwin’s Origin of Species accepted so enthusiastically by theologians, scientists, and philosophers? How has science come to be dominated by materialism and naturalism?
Charles Darwin has been lionized as the father of evolutionism, but deist and atheist philosophers had been setting the stage for rejecting God as Creator for many years before his book appeared. The ideas of Darwin and his predecessors continue to affect our thinking today, with huge consequences for our society.
This presentation traces some of the ideas leading to Darwin’s evolutionary thought and beyond, and how they’ve affected our culture.
Ø Creation Geology of Death Valley and Yosemite
Since the time of Darwin, most geologists have subscribed to the assumption of uniformitarianism—the belief that all geologic processes occur over vast stretches of time. Therefore it must have taken hundreds of millions of years to form the features we see in the southwestern United States—mountain ranges, valleys, lakes, volcanic peaks, and continental boundaries.
The alternate view, from a creationist perspective, is that these features formed relatively quickly either during or as a direct result of the Genesis Flood.
This presentation explores some of the evidences that the Sierra Nevada and Death Valley were formed during the worldwide upheaval that accompanied Noah’s Flood. Evidences that suggest rapid formation include the remnants of super volcanoes, massive granitic intrusions, and extensive sedimentation. We also briefly address the formation of Yosemite Valley by glacial action during the Ice Age that followed the Flood.
Ø The World of Plants: Evidence for Evolution?
Museum displays often show what scientists
believe the environment looked like in past ages, assuming that plant life
evolved in parallel with animal life. Yet no evidence exists to support
such an assumption. In fact, no evidence of evolution is evident between
fossils of plant species supposedly millions of years old and today’s
counterparts. The world’s oldest living things are trees that apparently
date from shortly after the Genesis Flood.
Ø Not by Chance: The Impossibility of Chemical Evolution
Could life have arisen spontaneously from “primordial ooze?” Evolutionists have proposed all kinds of scenarios in which conditions might be just right for the first living cells to form from a chemical “soup.” Many laboratory experiments have been performed to try to demonstrate how life might have formed. Headlines have made claims such as “Scientists Create Life in a Test Tube.” Is this really true, or is there more to the story? The odds are tremendously against chemicals forming life by chance.
Apologetics
Ø
Voices from the Past
This presentation shows how
archaeological discoveries have consistently verified the accuracy of both
Old and New Testaments. Accounts that were long criticized by liberal
scholars, such as the Philistines and the conquest of Jericho have been
verified by recent discoveries. New discoveries that verify Scriptural
accuracy continue to pour in every year. This seminar explores some of the
archaeological discoveries that are most significant in relation to Biblical
history, such as the Tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah, Hezekiah’s water
tunnel, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Ø
Noah’s Ark and the Genesis
Flood
For many years scholars and
scientists have scoffed at the notion of a worldwide flood as depicted in
Genesis. If there was such a flood, where could all the water have come
from, and where did it go? How could Noah have built an ark big enough to
hold all the species of animals? Were there dinosaurs aboard the ark? We
answer these questions in a biblical context, and also look at evidences for
a worldwide flood, and possible location of the ark today.
Ø
Science, History, and
Scripture: Ancient Evidence Supports
Biblical Accuracy
Critics have charged that the
Bible is “unscientific,” mythical, or inaccurate at best; Bible-believing
Christians have been accused of being ignorant “flat-earthers.”
Is the Bible consistent with modern science? Or have scientific discoveries relegated the Bible to the status of myths and fairy tales? Although it isn’t a scientific textbook, the accuracy of Scripture has been verified time and again by archaeology, history, and scientific discoveries.
This presentation shows how the Bible actually anticipated and provided the basis for scientific discoveries. Certain scientific principles were in the Bible all along waiting for science to cast aside its misconceptions and come into line with Creation. Many pitfalls and blind alleys could’ve been avoided by paying closer attention to what the Creator said in His Word.
Especially for Kids!
Ø Dinosaurs!
Were dinosaurs real? What were they like? Ancient stories and legends provide evidence that dinosaurs and man coexisted. The Bible describes animals that may have been dinosaurs, and indicates that dinosaurs were on Noah’s Ark. In this presentation we see how they could have fit on the Ark. There are many clues that tell us what may have happened to them. However, a few may still survive today in inaccessible areas of the world.
Ø Noah’s Ark and the Worldwide Flood
The story of the Genesis Flood: what it was like and where the water came from. We look at some modern examples that show what probably happened during the Flood. We also answer questions such as: Where did the water go? What did the Ark look like? How did all the animals fit on the Ark? and Were there dinosaurs on the Ark?
Ø The Fossils Tell a Story
What is a fossil, and what can fossils tell us? Evolutionists tell us that fossils prove evolution. Is this true or does it depend upon assumptions? People have been searching for fossils to prove evolution ever since the time of Darwin, but have yet to succeed in spite of the claims that evolution is a fact. The fossils, when viewed from a creation perspective, provide evidence of Noah’s Flood.
Ø Miracles of Creation
God’s handiwork is abundantly evident in His creation if we care to look for it. The incredible designs in bats, bees, butterflies, and birds defy evolution.
How are butterflies able to migrate thousands of miles each year without being taught? Some animals and plants depend upon each other for survival. Did they somehow evolve together against tremendous odds, or were they created by God to work together? Why do some animals help other animals and sometimes humans?
Evolution has a difficult time explaining these things. A better explanation is an all-wise Designer.
All presentations are fully illustrated. Other topics are available upon request. For more information, please contact Bruce Barton at the e-mail address below.
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