What a Lot of Counting!

God is a mathematician

by Janice Ross

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To consider that we can know and understand more about God through the things that he has made.

Preparation and materials

• You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (What a Lot of Counting!) and the means to display them.
• You will also need a maths textbook.

Assembly

1. Explain that today, we are going to think about a very important school subject: mathematics.
   
   
2. Ask a few children to complete this sentence: ‘When I think of maths, I think of . . . ’
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   
3. Explain that our responses are likely to be about the different areas of maths that we study, or about our feelings towards maths.
   
   
4. Show the maths textbook.
   
   Read out some of the items on the contents page, such as shape, time, data and handling. Help the children to recognize that maths is not just about sums and numbers.
   
   
5. Explain that maths is everywhere: it’s in music, it’s in baking, it’s in football and it’s in our school building.
   
   
6. Ask the children to consider the following questions.
   
   - What evidence is there that maths is in music? (Answers may include notes, symbols and instruments.)
   - What evidence is there that maths is in baking? (Answers may include weighing, measuring, temperature and time.)
   
   Repeat the same question for football and the school building.
   
   
7. Explain that maths is in Creation: God used mathematics when he created the world.
   
   Show Slide 1.
   
   The famous Italian scientist Galileo said, ‘Mathematics is the language in which God has written the universe.’
   
   Ask the children what they think this could mean.
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   
8. Show Slides 2-7.
   
   Ask the children what maths we can see in these pictures.
   
   - Slide 2 shows some planets. There is maths in the shape, distance and size.
   - Slide 3 shows some leaves. There is maths in the size, number, shape and symmetry.
   - Slide 4 shows some people. There is maths in the symmetry, intellect and shape.
   - Slide 5 shows some flowers. There is maths in the repetition, shape and symmetry.
   - Slide 6 shows some seashells. There is maths in the patterns.
   - Slide 7 shows a pod of peas. There is maths in the number and shape.
   
   
9. When we see all the things that God has made, we can see that he is consistent. He is unchanging, a God of order.
   
   The things that we have looked at have remained the same for years and years. In maths, 2 + 2 = 4. The sum always has made four, and it always will. You will never get that sum wrong!
   
   Maths shows us that God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Time for reflection

Show Slide 8.

Sir Isaac Newton is a famous English scientist and mathematician. He studied the Bible very carefully and he discovered this truth: ‘God is one and the same God, always and everywhere.’

His words tie in with a verse in the Book of Hebrews: ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.’

Encourage the children to think about Newton’s statement for a few moments.

Encourage them to think about all the things that change in life: some good, some bad.

Encourage them to think of one thing in their life that they are glad never changes.

Encourage them to be grateful for this.

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you that, although we cannot see you, we can know about you because of all the good things that you have made.
Thank you that the things that we have looked at today show us that you are a God of order.
Thank you that you never change.
Thank you that you are always the same, so we can trust you.
Amen.