1.4.26 Sermon Notes: “Imago Dei” Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7, Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3, John 8:36, Mark 8:35 KEY TAKEAWAY: The moment you were conceived, you became an image-bearer. Not because of anything you did, but because God gave you Imago Dei (His image). UNDERSTANDING SIN’S IMPACT: • Sin distorted our ability to reflect the image of God. • Humans don't reflect God’s image clearly anymore because sin broke us. UNDERSTANDING “DEFECTIVE” IMAGE BEARING: ANSWER 1: The Fall Broke EVERYTHING, But Didn't Destroy the Imag ANSWER 2: God Doesn't Make Mistakes, He Makes Image-Bearers • God can take what the Fall broke and use it for His Glory. ANSWER 3: Image-Bearing Isn't About Function, It's About Design So What? WITHOUT CHRIST: We continue to be enslaved, fractured Image-Bearers. THE SOLUTION: Jesus, the perfect image of God. IN CHRIST: The Imago Dei is Restored. The Bottom Line: When you lose yourself in Christ, you’ll find yourself: Fully Known. Fully Redeemed. Fully Human. For Study, Reflection, Discussion During the Week: Life Group ICEBREAKER: If you could ask God one “why” question about how He designed humanity, what would it be? Review the sermon notes from Sunday. Was there a particular point that stuck with you? What was it and why did it resonate with you? READ: Genesis 1:26-27 • What does it mean to be made “in God's image”? Which dimension of image-bearing (rational, relational, creative, moral, ruling, spiritual) resonates most with you? • How do you see yourself using (or misusing) your image-bearing capacities to either honor God or rebel against Him? READ: Genesis 2:7 • We're both dust (mortal, finite) and divine reflection (bearing God's image). How does this dual nature change how you see yourself? • How should knowing you're “dust that reflects the divine” shape the way you live day-to-day? READ: Colossians 1:15 & Hebrews 1:3 • Jesus is the perfect image of God while we are broken image-bearers. How does Jesus being “fully human” give you hope for your own restoration? • Where do you see God restoring your ability to reflect Him right now? READ: Mark 8:35 • The world says, “find yourself” - Jesus says, "lose yourself to find yourself." What's the difference? • What does it mean to “lose your life” for Jesus practically in your daily life? • Have you experienced being “fully known, fully redeemed, fully human” in Christ? What does that feel like? Deploy: This week, when you interact with someone, pause and remind yourself: “They bear God's image. Sacred. Unrepeatable. Eternal.” Treat them accordingly - not based on performance, appearance, or how they treat you, but based on whose image they bear. Let your wrist band be a reminder for you and them ('KNOWN • REDEEMED • SENT'). Don’t Forget: • Next week. Congregational meeting. Please plan to stay. • Sunday, January 18th – Birthday celebration for Suzi Brown! Her family invites EVERYONE to join them for a special luncheon to celebrate birthday LXXX, 12:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. • Love and Respect Marriage Conference: Feb 6th and 7th here at ECC. Register on our Website. Prayer: Father, thank You for making us in Your image. Our worth isn't based on what we do, but on whose image we bear. We confess: Sin has cracked us. We've tried to fix ourselves and failed. Thank You for Jesus - the perfect image who came to restore what sin broke. Help us lose our lives in You so we can find our true selves - fully known, fully redeemed, fully human. We are Yours. And that's enough. In Jesus' name, Amen.