4.4.30 6.23.2024 You Matter

Start:

Entice: So far, this series has been about what we believe. Today w’ere going to talk about people. Present company included. I love you. Mrs. Beckman and I are so blessed by being among you. You can take that to the bank or take it with a grain of salt. It’s true.

You Matter.

You matter to me.

More importantly

You matter to God.

Please believe me,

I implore you,

you need to know that you,

all of you matter to God.

We live at a time when the worst angels of human nature have been loosed.

The world is filled with cheap hatred.

Restraints have been removed

allowing for

belittling,

demeaning,

condescending,

insulting,

contemptuous,

scornful,

behavior.

It is wrong.

It is inhuman.

And by “inhuman” what I really mean is un-Godly because human beings—every person is made in the image of God.

Every person—red and yellow, black and white,

regardless of religion,

political affiliation,

economic standing,

national origin,

sexual orientation,

whether capitalist,

communist,

socialist,

anarchist

anesthesiologist,

is an image bearer—whether you and I like it or don’t.

Every person matters to God.

This sermon has two goals.

First, to convince you that every person should matter to you. Secondly, to convince you that you are loved by our Creator God—you matter.

Engage: I know that some sermons make you uncomfortable. Some make me uncomfortable. We are always balancing ourselves between what scripture says and the realities we see around us.

Expand: Everything we have discussed in this series of sermons: truth, the Bible, sound Christian doctrine, all of it points to the love of God for His fallen creation. These subjects remind us of His constancy in seeking us and redeeming us.

The ultimate expression that you matter is the Cross;

where the prince of Glory died.

Excite: I do my best to encourage. The issue today is not my enthusiasm but God’s great love.

Explore:

Because you bear His image you matter to God. Because you matter to God you matter.

Expand: Three reasons you matter to God…

Body of Sermon: Reason #1

1 You are made in His Image.

Let’s begin by

1.1 Tracing the Biblical concept

from creation to restoration…

Genesis 1:26–27 ESV

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

…origin

Every human person is made in the imago dei

Genesis 9:6 ESV

6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

…moral obligation

The Imago dei lays moral obligations upon us

Deuteronomy 4:16 ESV

16 beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

…spiritual significance

The Imago has spiritual significance that cannot be communicated by any other man-made concrete object.

Colossians 1:15 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

…ultimate resolution.

Jesus is the ultimate image bearer…our spiritual journey is about being like Him so that in Him and in His image, we may be eternally reunited with God.

That’s a really quick tour through the scriptures. What about

1.2 Evaluating the Practical consequences…

Humans have

Will.

We can make choices for which we bear the consequences

Intellect.

We have understanding, can use language, and express God’s image through creativity.

Emotions.

Positive and negative expressions. Which provide energy or entropy.

Reason #2:

2 You are worth Saving.

John 3:16–17 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:9–10 ESV

9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

All of that is for you and me. Love beyond reason and expectation far more than we deserve, priced beyond our ability to pay.

Reason #3: You matter because

3 You Are Equipped for your ministry.

Ephesians 4:16 ESV

16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 ESV

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Romans 12:6 ESV

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

Each of us has a been equipped for our unique ministry. You matter to God enough to provide for His Church through the indwelling Spirit. You matter to us because without your gift this body is incomplete.

Shut Down

Our only mirror to the perfect image of God is the reflection of Jesus we find in Scripture. Much of what we do in worship is about connecting with Jesus who loved us enough to die for us.

I know that many of us have unwelcome and invisible scars and a damaged self-image. I would apologize for all humanity if I could and if it would help. If you bear such secret pain I can only do so much to convince you that you matter to God.

I can address your intellect.

I can appeal to your will.

I can arouse your emotions.

Using God’s Word, my wish is to point you to Jesus. So that you may understand, embrace, and choose to flourish in His perfect image of God.