Of Rocks and Trees

A 36 week study of Geology and Botany

Rocks and dirt. Plants and trees. They are all around us all the time. We hardly notice their presence unless we stop and look. The study of geology and botany is all about stopping to look. Looking closely at things so simple and abundant that we tend to take them for granted. And we’re going to listen. Because these things have a story to tell. About a Creator so Awesome that even the trees of the field can’t help clapping their hands and the rocks can’t help crying out. So stoop down, put your ear to the ground. Reach up and pluck that leaf. You’ll find a story to be told that’s older than dirt and God wove the telling of it into every rock and tree.  His Word, the Bible, has a lot to say about rocks and trees as well, beginning with the account of their creation in Genesis 1:9-13:

“And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place,
and let dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth,
and the waters that were gathered together He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

And God said, “Let the earth sprout forth vegetation, plants yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.”

Here’s another passage from Ephesians 3:14-21 which talks about being “rooted and grounded” in God’s love.  Consider it a special benediction as you dive into your study of botany and geology.

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith— that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

 

week Memory Verse Old Testament Psalm New Testament Nugget/Kernel

1

 Ex. 15:17,18 Exodus3:1-12 Psalm 2 Micah 4:1-5 Job 9:1-12

2

 Deut. 32:4 Exodus 19,20 Psalm 3 Zech. 3 Job 28:1-6

3

 1 Sam. 2:2 Exodus 24 Psalm 12 Zech. 6:9-15 Job 28:7-11

4

 2 Sam. 22:2-4 Exodus 32 Psalm 18 Zech. 4:1-7 Job 28:12-19

5

 2 Sam. 22:47 Ex. 33:12-23 Psalm 19 Zech. 7:8-14 Job 28:20-22

6

 Job 19:23-25 Ex. 34:1-9 Psalm 27 Matt. 4:1-17 Job 28:23-28

7

 Job 22:23-26 Ex. 35:20-29 Psalm 31 Matt 27:45-54 Prov. 2:1-5

8

 Job 23:8-10 Jos.3:14-4:10 Psalm 36 Mark 3:13-20 Prov. 2:6-8

9

 Job 33:6 1 Samuel 17 Psalm 40 Luke 6:46-49 Prov. 2:9-15

10

 Job 34:14,15 1King 4:29-34 Psalm 46 John 20:1-18 Prov. 3:13-15

11

 Psalm 61:1-3 2Kin.19:22-31 Psalm 48 Acts 17:22-34 Prov. 8:8-11

12

 Psalm 121:1-2 1 Chron.16 Psalm 62 1 Cor. 10:1-5 Prov. 10:20

13

 Psalm 81:16 Isaiah 25:6-12 Psalm 71 2 Cor. 3 Prov.16:16

14

 Psalm103:13,14 Isaiah 40:1-17 Psalm 118 1 Pet. 2:1-12 Prov. 17:3

15

 Psalm 119:72,127 Isa. 41:14-20 Psalm 78 Rev. 2:12-17 Prov. 17:8

16

 Isa. 2:10 Isaiah 44:1-20 Psalm 95 Revelation 4 Prov. 20:15

17

 Isaiah 26:3,4 Isaiah 46:6-10 Psalm 114 Rev. 21:9-27 Prov. 26:8

18

 Isa. 33:15,16 Isaiah 55 Psalm 118 Matt. 3:1-11 Prov. 26:27

19

 Isa. 54:10 Isaiah 60 Psalm 125 Matt.12:33-37 Prov. 27:3

20

 Jeremiah 23:29 Isa. 62:10-12 Psalm 128 Matt. 13:1-43 Prov. 27:17

21

 Nahum 1:6,7 Jer. 10:1-5 Psalm 135 Matt.17:14-21 Prov. 27:21

22

 Habakkuk 3:6 Jer.17:1-13 Psalm 139 Matthew 21 Prov. 31:10

23

 Matt. 16:16-18 Daniel 2&4 Psalm 148 Mark 4:26-34 Ecc. 10:8

24

 Acts 4:11,12 Ezekiel 17 Psalm 1 Mark 11:12-25 Ecc. 10:9

25

 Romans 9:33 Ezek.47:6-12 Psalm 23 Luke 3:1-9 Ecc. 10:10

26

 Genesis 8:22 Gen. 2:5-17 Psalm 29 Luke 13:6-19 Ecc. 11:3,4

27

 Isaiah 65:21,22 Gen. 3:1-19 Psalm 37 Luke 19:1-10 Prov. 3:16-18

28

 Jeremiah 1:11,12 Gen. 8:1-12 Psalm 51 Luke 20:9-18 Prov. 11:30

29

 Jeremiah 12:1-3 Deut.20:19,20 Psalm 52 John 1:43-51 Prov.24:30-34

30

 Jeremiah 23:5 Judges 9:7-21 Psalm 80 John 15:1-17 Prov. 27:18

31

 Hab. 3:17-19 Isaiah 6:8-13 Psalm 90 Rom.11:13-24 Job 12:1-12

32

 Mark 13:28-31 Isaiah 11:1-9 Psalm 92 1 Cor. 3:1-9 Job 14:1-6

33

 Luke 6:43-45 Isaiah 17:7-14 Psalm 96 1Cor.15:35-49 Job 14:7-17

34

 Luke 21:29-33 Isa. 28:23-29 Psalm 104 Gal. 3:10-14 Job 14:18-22

35

 James 3:5-12 Isaiah 53 Psalm 126 Heb. 6:1-12 Job 31:24-28

36

 James 5:7,8 Isaiah 61 Psalm 147 1 Pet. 1:13-25 Job 31:29-40

Hymns and Psalms for Singing

Here are 36 weeks of Psalms and Hymns that mention rocks (1-18) and trees (19-36) to go along with the scripture readings.  Have your kiddos listen for the geological or botanical references as you’re singing together. 

  1. When Morning Gilds the Skies/ All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
  2. Praise Him! Praise Him!/ O Worship the King, All Glorious Above 
  3. Sweet Hour of Prayer/ How Firm a Foundation
  4. Beneath the Cross of Jesus/ Psalm 18
  5. The Old Rugged Cross/ Psalm 19b
  6. Jesus Paid It All/ Near the Cross
  7. The Love of God/ The Solid Rock
  8. A Shelter in the Time of Storm/ Psalm 36b
  9. Wonderful Grace of Jesus/ Psalm 40a
  10. I Love to Tell the Story/ Psalm 46a
  11. He Hideth My Soul/ Grace Greater Than Our Sin
  12. Have Thine Own Way Lord/ Take My Life and Let It Be
  13. Nearer, My God, to Thee/ Psalm 71a
  14. O Love That Will Not Let Me Go/ Higher Ground
  15. Eternal Father, Strong to Save/ Surely Goodness and Mercy
  16. All the Way My Savior Leads Me/ I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
  17. Victory in Jesus/ Faith is the Victory
  18. When We All Get to Heaven/ Psalm 118c
  19. Count Your Blessings/ Crown Him with Many Crowns
  20. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty/ Immortal, Invisible
  21. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee/ How Great Thou Art
  22. Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above/ This Is My Father’s World
  23. All Things Bright and Beautiful/ Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens, Adore Him
  24. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing/ Psalm 1
  25. The King of Love My Shepherd Is/ Psalm 23
  26. One Day/ Psalm 37
  27. He Lifted Me/ Great Is Thy Faithfulness
  28. Fairest Lord Jesus/ Psalm 51
  29. O Sacred Head, Now Wounded/ When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
  30. My Jesus, I Love Thee/ Psalm 90c
  31. Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed/ In the Garden
  32. At the Cross/ Psalm 96
  33. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow/ He Leadeth Me
  34. Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us/ Psalm 104
  35. Be Still, My Soul/ The Trees of The Field
  36. Come, Ye Thankful People, Come/ Psalm 147