Bible Passage: Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7, Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29; Gen. 1:1; Ps. 33:6; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 13:3; Deut. 32:4; Ps. 18:30; Matt. 5:48; Ps. 33:11; John 5:26; Acts 17:24-25; John 17:11; Matt. 3:16-17; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14; Deut. 32:6; Matt. 6:6; Rom. 8:15; Matt. 317; John 3:16; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 1:5; John 14:16-17; John 14:26; John 15:26; 1 John 4:8
Big Idea of Message:
Because of how you were made, you are valuable, known, & loved — and that has an impact on how you live.
“The goal of Christianity is not to be more like Jesus, but to look more like the Trinitarian God”
1 Getting Started
What makes humans different from animals?
Made in the Image of God
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. (Gen. 1:26-27)
Given the breath of life.
7 Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. (Gen. 2:7)
2 How do you “picture” God?
When you pray, or think about who God is, how do you imagine Him?
Which image is showing God? Who is God to you?
What does the Bible say about God?
One God — Deut. 6:4; Mark 12:29
“Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (Deut. 6:4)
Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. (Mark 12:29)
Creator of all things – Gen. 1:1; Ps. 33:6; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 13:3
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Gen. 1:1)
The heavens were made by the word of the LORD, and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth. (Ps. 33:6)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together. (Col. 1:15-17)
Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. (Heb. 13:3)
Infinitely Perfect — Deut. 32:4; Ps. 18:30; Matt. 5:48
The Rock—his work is perfect; all his ways are just. A faithful God, without bias, he is righteous and true. (Deut. 32:4)
God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in him. (Ps. 18:30)
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt. 5:48)
Never Changing — Ps. 33:11
The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart from generation to generation. (Ps. 33:11)
In Loving Unity — John 5:26; Acts 17:24-25
For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. (John 5:26)
The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. (Acts 17:24-25)
In Three Equal Persons — John 17:11; Matt. 3:16-17, 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by your name that you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. (John 17:11)
When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.” (Matt. 3:16-17)
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20a)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor. 13:13)
Father — Deut. 32:6; Matt. 6:6; Rom. 8:15
Is this how you repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Isn’t he your Father and Creator? Didn’t he make you and sustain you? (Deut. 32:6)
But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matt. 6:6)
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” (Rom. 8:15)
Son — Matt. 3:17; John 3:16; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 1:5
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.” (Matt. 3:17)
For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Gal. 4:4-5)
For to which of the angels did he ever say, You are my Son; today I have become your Father, or again, I will be his Father, and he will be my Son? (Heb. 1:5)
Holy Spirit — John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. (John 14:26)
“When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me. (John 15:26)
Περιχωρησις (perichoresis)
The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8)
“The goal of Christianity is not to be more like Jesus, but to look more like the Trinitarian God”
3 Application
Think about it: Who do you pray to? When you hear music about God, who is it talking about? What is your functional image of God?
Remember: You are created by God in God’s image.
Benediction: May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor. 13:14)