Retreat Overview Brainstorm

Session 1 on Why God Created Us: To Image God

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.

What does this mean to be made in the image of Him?

Many say that this shows our purpose and what we are supposed to do. Westminster Shorter Chatechism says “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever”

Many say that this idea of image is basically to resemble God. To resemble the one who was the perfect image of God, Jesus. It says in Colossians 1:15

Colossians 1:15 ESV

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

Romans 8:29 says

Romans 8:29 ESV

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

So my answer to the question, which one is it? Yes. Both are true and both are essential for us as worshippers for Jesus. Our purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Our purpose is to resemble God and to be like Jesus.

Article to review: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/man-as-the-image-of-god/

Session 2 - What the Good News Is: The Kingdom of God

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/kingdom-god-8-words/

Session 3 - What it Means to be a Christian: Abide in Christ

Main Passage: John 15:1-8

John 15:1–8 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Abiding in Christ is foundational. The gospel should be reminded and shared. But context is also key in this moment because Christ hasn’t died yet and he’s asking them to abide in Him. There is a strong connection to what He’s going to do on the cross, obviously. However, this idea of abiding in Him means so much and relates to doing what Jesus has done, and the life of Christ still being worked in us and through the disciples.

Christianity has been dumbed down to have some good moral principles and you should try your best at being a good “christian.” -Go to church once a week and maybe pray -Read the verse of the day a few times a week -Continue to not really care about sin. We will talk more on this in other sessions, but this is really interesting.

We have commonly talked about the grace of God but it’s almost as if it’s made us lazy in our faith. Grace does mean we don’t earn our faith. But does His grace mean we shouldn’t put in effort for our faith?” Far too many of us abuse the grace of God, not live in it.

Abiding in Christ bears fruit. We cannot separate the two. Abiding in Christ does not mean a dumbed down version of Christianity where we treat the bible as a self help book. Abiding in Christ is letting what Jesus says dwell in your hearts. The word of God should pour and flow out of you.

Fruit is mentioned often in this passage.

Is faith just supposed to be an acknowledgment of who Jesus is? Do many Christians have the wrong view of what it means to believe in Jesus Christ?

Session 4 - Who We are Becoming: Jesus

Passages: Romans 8:28-30; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2-10;

Romans 8:28-30: Connect it back to session 1 and our purpose and why we were created. However, we go into more detail about glorification and why we are supposed to be more like Him.

Philippians 3:20-21: Connect it back to our citizenship and the kingdom of God and how Jesus will transform our lowly body like His glorious body. Context relates on imitating Paul and how others are walking as enemies of the cross. This verse is showing how we are supposed to be different.

1 John 3:2-10: Connect it to the word abide and how abiding seems to show a direct correlation to the fruit we bear. Good fruit stems from Christ as we abide in Him. A constant state of sining shows the opposite. All of this is evidence for our faith in Jesus Christ and evidence that we are living as citizens of this Godly Kingdom. That we are the children of God.