Article 6: Creation and the Calling of Human Beings

Welcome/Prayer/ Series Intro

Welcome and Prayer

What We Believe Series- I have been saying that perhaps the most important part of this series is understanding the why? Why do you think its important for us as a Anabaptist Mennonite Church to Know what we believe?

Recap: Last Week we talked about Article 4: Scripture I want to share some highlights.

We viewed Scripture like a pair of Glasses.

The Frames

God’s Word, Inspired, and the Essential Book of the Church.

The Lenses

Christ Centered Interpretation

This means that Jesus becomes the way that we see and understand God, but it also means that Jesus becomes the filter by which we measure everything else.

Community Centered Lens

This week we are going to look at article 6: the creation and calling of human beings. Before we read the scripture text, would you pray with?

Would you turn with me to Genesis 1:20-31 and read along with me?

Genesis 1:20–31 NIV

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 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. Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 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. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Illustration: Black Dot on a white piece of paper. What do you see on this paper?

If we take a step back and we can see that there are far more white than black on this paper.

In our day, its so easy to focus is on what divides us, like the black dot differences and divisions can draw our attention, but when we take a step back we can look at the white, this morning as we look at creation and the Calling of human beings let us focus on all the things in the scripture and the article that connect us.

What Connects us in Creation and Calling?

We are all created in the divine image.

This is sometimes referred to as the imago dei.

This refers the thing that makes us most unique out of all creation.

More special than the creatures of the sea.

More special than the animals on the land.

But what is the divine image?

Is it something with our appearance? No, because both man and woman reflect the image of God.

Here is what the creed has to say on the subject:

The “image of God” refers to the unique relationship of human beings to God and therefore also to their distinctive relationship to each other and to the rest of creation. The term refers to human beings as a whole rather than to one particular aspect of the person.Some theological understandings of human beings have focused on humanity’s role as God’s representative on earth to manage and care for it. Some have emphasized the relationship between men and women as a symbol of the inner relationships of the triune God. Other views have underscored the distinctive relationship with God for which human beings have been created. And some have focused on the differences between human beings and animals, especially human reason, culture, and morality. Each of these views emphasizes one aspect of the larger biblical picture of being human, which this article has summarized as being in the image and likeness of God.

Bible Project says that being made in the image of God means, that God gives us the authority to rule over the Garden. In other words, the authority to Garden or authority to shape and build creation around us.

Transition; That brings us to the second thing that connects each and all of us. Creation. The planet earth that we live on.

We are connected by a Common Home

Now I want you all to imagine walking into a house. In this house you walk in and there is trash on the floor, clothes strewn all over the place, there is soda and used motor oil. You walk into the kitchen and its equally messy, the sink is overflowing with rotting food and dishes. what appears to have been the area where the trash can was is now a heaping pile of trash. There is black sulffur smelling water dripping from the faucet. All of the plants on the window sills are dried up and shriveled.

If this were a house you walked into? How would you feel? How would you respond?

What if this was your house? What would your reactions be?

The truth is the planet we live on is our home, a home we all share.

The creed says it this way, we have been made stewards to subdue and to care for creation out of reverence and honor for the Creator.

Creation is our common home. It was hand made by Yahweh himself. We have a common task to rule over the creation that God designed for us to live in.

We are given a unique authority as human beings. That is the third, thing we share a common choice.

We are connected by our ability to Chose.

The Article says, “As creatures made in the divine image, we have been blessed with the abilities to respond faithfully to God, to live in harmony with other human beings, and to engage in meaningful work and rest.”

We have the power of choice, and with the sense of authority has natural consequences.

We have the power to use this authority, or agency to choose the way of Jesus which is to bless, heal, and help others Seeking God’s agenda or we can chose our own way and seek our agendas.

You see we have incredible power in this ability to chose. Every moment is a sense choice. We can use if for good or for evil. For God or for our selves. We are all share this church.

No matter if you are a person who feels like they have power or they are powerless. Each of us has the power of choice.

Today is another day that connects us, as its world communion sunday, Jess has some instructions for what we will do next.

Communion: Focused on Unity

What is Communion? (Slide)

Communion is a special tradition in the church that dates back to the Last Supper before Jesus’ death. It has become a sacrament in the universal church by which we reflect on Jesus’ death and resurrection. At its core Communion is a physical symbol of what Jesus has already done for us in giving his Body and Blood so we might have new life.

Why we celebrate Communion? (Slide)

Today as we participate in this communion service, I want us to focus on our Unity. All around the world churches are celebrating the Lord’s supper. We are unified as one body in the celebration of communion. Communion is a symbol that reflects a spiritual oneness not only with Christ, but with believers all over the world. Yet, we each participate personally as we reflect on our sin and Jesus’ sacrifice.

As I shared in the email I sent out yesterday, communion is a holy moment we must take seriously. Take the next few minutes in reflection to search your heart and relationships.

Recognition, Confession, and Forgiveness

A. Unity in Sin: We must recognize that we are unified in our sin. We have all sinned. The bible says to sin is to miss the mark. Our target is being like Jesus. We have all failed to Love God and Love like Him.

· Lets take a few moments in silence to reflect on our sins. This is not a time to illicit emotions of shame, guilt, and self-pity.

· Invite the Holy Spirit into our hearts and bring to mind the places we have yet to let God’s Love illuminate, heal, and restore!

B. Unity in Confession: 1 John promises us that if we confess our sin to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all evil. Let us come together and confess to the Lord. We will read the highlighted parts together. (Prayer on a Slide)

· Pastor: Blessed Jesus, you offered us all your blessings when you announced Blessed are the poor in spirit People: but we have been rich in pride. Pastor: Blessed are those who mourn People: but we have not known much sorrow for our sin. Pastor: Blessed are the meek People: but we are a stiff-necked people. Pastor: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness People: but we are filled to the full with other things. Pastor: Blessed are the merciful” People: but we are harsh and impatient.

Pastor: Blessed are the pure in heart People: but we have impure hearts. Pastor: Blessed are the peacemakers People: but we have not sought reconciliation. Pastor: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness People: but our lives do not challenge the world. Pastor: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me People: but we have hardly made it known that we are yours. Pastor: Your Law is holy and your benedictions are perfect, but they are both too great for us. You alone are blessed. People: We plead with you to forgive our sins and give us the blessing of your righteousness.

Invitation Prayer (Pastor Joe)

it would not have been god's table

On their own, the bread and wine are nothing. To become a foretaste and a promise of love made real and a world made whole, they need a story and a blessing and a people who believe…

It would not have been God’s table if they hadn’t all been gathered around it: the betrayer and the friend the power-hungry and the justice seeker the faithful and the fickle.

When Jesus poured the wine, and the bread was broken; when everyone could eat - the outcast and the beloved the arrogant and the gracious the wrong-doer and the wrongly done by - the table became a foretaste of love made real and of a world made whole.

Your company at the table will include the betrayer and the beloved the wrong-doer and the wrongly done by. It would not be God’s table without them.

And the promise is that when you are together, when you tell the story and give the blessing when you break the bread and pour the wine you will discover a foretaste of love made real and of a world made whole.

C. The Table: This communion table is set by Christ. Christ came not to alienate, but to unify. Therefore, if you are a follower of Christ and desire to renew your commitment to Him, you are welcome to at this table.

D. Unity in Forgiveness: We will now take communion together. I will pass it out and we will wait to take each element as a time.

As we pass this our: Take this time to reflect on the power of forgiveness and how as we take communion in a few moments together, it not only binds us with Christ, but to one another.

· Take Communion: Pass out Elements Bread First Take. Then Juice take as a Group

E. Corporate Prayer for Unity

One only Holy Spirit of Father and son in whom all are baptized, one giver of many gifts, one tree of many fruits one speaker of every tongue, renew in our day the wonders of Pentecost, grant that people of every race and nation may understand one another, and as one, proclaim the praises of God. Grant that all may be one as you, Spirit, with the Father and the Son are one God, one Lord. Grant unity to the Body of Christ; grant unity to the human family. Sole breath of every living thing, may all be one who, in you, live and move and have their being.

- Carl K. Moeddel