Stewardship Over Creation Notes, Quizzes & Revision

Christian Religious Education — The Old Testament

Subtopic: Stewardship Over Creation (Notes for Form 3 — Age 15, Kenya)

Specific learning goals

• Explain qualities of good stewardship.
• Interpret Old Testament scriptures about environmental care.
• Describe practical ways to take part in conserving the environment.
• Give examples of modelling stewardship in daily life.

Key Old Testament passages (short list) and simple meaning

Qualities of a good steward (short and practical)

How Old Testament teaching applies to Kenya (real examples)

• Mau Forest, water towers and river protection: Scripture calls us to protect the places that provide water and life.
• Coastal mangroves and Lake Victoria wetlands: Protecting these ecosystems helps fishing communities and prevents erosion.
• Traditional pastoralism: Balance grazing with land recovery to avoid overgrazing — stewardship includes wise land use.
• Green initiatives: The Green Belt Movement (Wangari Maathai) shows Christian citizens caring for God’s earth through tree planting.

Practical daily actions for a Kenyan teen (ways to take part)

1. Save water: fix taps, collect rainwater for gardens, avoid wasting water when washing dishes/clothes.
2. Plant and care for trees: school tree nurseries, small household planting — trees give shade, prevent soil erosion.
3. Reduce plastic waste: use re-usable bottles and bags; help collect plastic for recycling or safe disposal.
4. Protect soil: avoid throwing rubbish into drains, use composting for kitchen waste to fertilise gardens.
5. Care for animals: avoid cruelty, report wildlife poaching, and respect grazing limits.
6. Energy-saving: switch off lights, encourage use of efficient cookstoves to reduce deforestation for fuel.
7. Talk and lead: share Biblical reasons for care in youth groups and invite peers to help.

Modeling stewardship at home, school and church

Small regular acts make a difference. At home, help your family sort waste and plant a kitchen garden. At school, join or start an eco-club, care for the school garden, and encourage lessons about water towers and forests. At church, help organise cleaning days, tree planting on church land, and teach others how Scripture supports caring for creation.

Short reflection and review (for class or personal use)

1. Write Genesis 2:15 in your own words. What does "tend and keep" mean for you at home?
2. Name three qualities of a good steward and give one example of each from your daily life.
3. Choose one local environmental problem near you (e.g., litter, water shortage, loss of trees). How can your church youth group help to address it using Old Testament teaching?

Closing thought: The Old Testament calls Christians to be caretakers of God's creation. For a Kenyan teenager, this means acting locally — in your home, school and church — to protect forests, water and soil so that future generations can enjoy God’s gifts.