David C Cook COVID-19 Response

Giver of Life

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Materials Needed:

  • Internet access
  • Whiteboard and marker

Prior to your group time, write the following questions on a whiteboard: “What do parents do to prepare for a baby?” “What should these parents be anticipating?”

As students enter, ask them to look at the board and think about the questions posed. After all students have arrived and are gathered around the board, have students call out their answers to the first question about what parents do to prepare for a baby and write the various answers on the board. Some answers might be: prepare a nursery (generic colors may be used if parents don’t know the gender of the baby or often a girl-specific or boy-specific room is prepared in advance); create a registry of items that will be needed to care for a new baby and have a baby shower thrown for them; buy baby clothing and diapers in various sizes in anticipation of a growing baby; choose an obstetrician and go to many checkups including an ultrasound to determine health and gender; eat healthy foods; refrain from smoking, alcohol, or drugs during pregnancy; go to a parents-to-be class or a birthing class to prepare for the baby’s arrival, etc.

Next ask students what they think parents-to-be might be anticipating and write some of these answers on the board as well. Answers may include: becoming a family or growing their family with siblings; gaining a playmate for a sibling; being godly parents dedicated to raising the child well; parenting/disciplinary style; their own parents becoming grandparents and being a part of the baby’s life, etc.

Babies are anticipated for nine months, and definitely impact the world with their arrival. Although a mother gives birth to a child and the child born is a product of his or her parents’ DNA, the parents of the baby are not the givers of life! Technological advances can help parents conceive, but the fertility doctors and special science applied to helping an infertile couple doesn’t make those doctors givers of life either.

We’re going to watch a video clip about a robot named Ameca. She has been designed by programmers to make her feel “human.” Although she seems to have been given life, she is lacking in some basic human capacities, such as the need for food, water, and sleep. Even though her designers would like her to become more and more humanlike, she is not and never will be, a human. Let’s take a look and see the difference between being created and being given life.

Show the following video clip to your students [1:51].
Ameca: The Humanoid Robot | CES 2022

  • What do you notice first about Ameca? (Answers will vary. Most students will note that she seems humanlike but may also say she doesn’t feel “human” at all once they watch her interactions with the people interviewing her.) 
  • Why is programming something not enough to make this robot come alive? (Answers will vary. Ameca is a robot who may help humans in many capacities in the future. Ameca, however, will never be alive. She does not have the gift of life or possess joy, and she never will be human.) 
  • What pros do you see of a robot such as Ameca? (Answers will vary. Ameca can help aid technology and science and may be able to be programmed to work and serve and answer questions for humans. That could be a useful thing and helpful to humans.)
  • What cons do you see of a robot such as Ameca? (Answers will vary. Ameca may confuse humans. People could misuse her if they try to replace humans with her. Ameca could malfunction and harm someone.)

A robot such as Ameca hasn’t been given life. It’s interesting to think through her usefulness and potential, but it’s obvious she isn’t human. No matter how hard the creators of Ameca try to get her to look and act more human, they’ll never be able to give the robot the breath of life. Today we’re going to talk about the true Giver of Life.  

Looking for Steps 2 & 3?

You can find Steps 2 and 3 in your teacher’s guide. To purchase a teacher’s guide, please visit: Bible-in-Life or Echoes.

Materials Needed:

  • Internet access
  • Giver of Life lyrics sheet printouts (1 per student; template here)
  • Pencils or pens

Spread the word

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