Made in His Image

January 18, 2016 | by: Dave Maniquis | 0 Comments

Posted in: Sermon Questions

PARTICIPANT'S GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP GATHERINGS
Sermon: Made in His Image - January 17th, 2016
Series: Guest Speakers
Speaker: David Wooten

Launching Question: Be honest! Have you ever seen an ugly baby and didn’t have the heart to say it resembled the mother or father?

Main Passage: Genesis 1:24–31 (NIV)

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Cross Referenced Passages: Psalm 19.1; Genesis 9.6; Psalm 139.13-16; Psalm 8.3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:7; Ephesians 4.24; Colossians 3.10.

Questions/Discussion Points:

1. Psalm 8:3-5 was quoted in the sermon. It is integral to appreciating the love of God and His grace by even creating us in His image:

“When I observe Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You set in place, what is man that You remember him, the son of man that You look after him? You made him little less than God and crowned him with glory and honor.”

  • Do you ask yourself the same question that the psalmist asks? How does your response affect the way you think about and treat others?

2. Describe how something you “marveled” at or excited you eventually lost its attraction.

  • Have you experienced, or presently undergoing, a period in which the reality that you’ve been made in God’s image does not move you?

3. The core of being “made in the image of God” is that “we have the capacity to have a relationship with and be in fellowship with God.”

  • At the present time, how would you describe your personal relationship and fellowship with the God who has made you in His image?

4. The sermon proposed that, “ that there is an aspect in which when you and I are walking with the Lord and living in Christ as God intended, our lives will “look” like Jesus. NOT physically, but as we reflect His righteousness and holiness, we will resemble Him. There is, if you will, a “family resemblance.”

  • What are some of the ways we are to have this “family resemblance” and how much does it pain you when that resemblance is distorted in the church, among fellow Christians and not demonstrated by you?
  • What are some practical suggestions you can make to the group to bring Christ’s resemblance to the forefront of daily gospel living?

5. The sermon mentioned two categories of God’s attributes. While we are made in God’s image, there are attributes of God we don’t share. However, there are His “communicable” attributes that are shared (simply-- able to be transmitted to another).

The following are several that we do share by being made in the image of God and which David Wooten described. These are in contrast to the animals that have been “made after their own kind.” How would you explain the following attributes to someone seeking understanding about how God has made humankind?

  • Spiritual
  • Personality
  • Rational
  • Creative
  • Competent
  • Moral
  • Love
  • Freedom (free moral agents)
  • Righteousness and holiness

6. Since we are made in God’s image there are the implications if we have our identity in Jesus Christ and are to be witnesses to His gospel.

Based on the sermon, discuss the following “how’s” that are to continually be in the forefront of our thinking and living to bring glory to God, to bless others, and honor Him for His created world. Briefly discuss how you can meet these five “P’s” as a witness for Christ:

  1. How we protect the vulnerable.
  2. How we promote grace in dealing with each other.
  3. How we preside over creation in dominion.
  4. How we preserve a picture of Christ and His Church through our marriages.
  5. How we pursue the Gospel

______________________

Note: For a discussion of some theological terms used by David Wooten for God’s incommunicable attributes see the website: restorationpo.com and consult “52 Words Every Christian Should Know” under the Blogs link.

Omnipotence: see Word 3

Omniscience: see Word 4

Omnipresence: see Word 5

For a discussion of pantheism and panentheism, and other contrary philosophical and religious to Christianity, a good handbook is, What’s Your Worldview by James N. Anderson.

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