Connection-2

Two essential connecting points of the creation story.

Genesis 1:26–28 NIV

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.”

God created us in His image

There’s a few elements of this that we need to recognize

This word image, people at the time understood it very differently than us. We take it to mean, ‘in some fashion, we resemble God’. And there’s truth there.

We hear the word ‘picture’.

But ykonw what the most common translation of this word is in the Old Testament? Idol.

Before we jump to bad conclusions - let’s look back at the ancient mindset. To them, an idol was NOT some magic device imbued with power. It was meant to be a channel through which some other spiritual force operated.

They worshipped idols not because the item had power - but because they believed the spiritual being they worshipped operated through it.

It was like a way of saying, ok divine being, i made a spot for you. You can sit here.

This still sounds weird spiritually. But let’s understand what the author is trying to say:

We were meant to connect directly with God for His glory and His purposes

Because this is the root understanding of the term.

We don’t have divine power in and of ourselves. But as the image-bearers of God, God has committed to work in and through us.

It’s not the watchmaker God.

Matthew 6:25–26 NIV

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

As well, it means that we aren’t made to prioritize ourselves - we’re made to prioritze God. God made us to act on His purposes and priorities.

We see ourselves just as a vessel to bring more glory to God.

God created the universe and everything in it - for Him!

Colossians 1:16 NIV

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

And this was the reasoning behind how bad the first sin was. The snake tempted eve - if you do this, you’ll take that position God made for himself. You won’t have to rely on him - you’ll be able to do it yourself.

Second connecting point of the creation story.

Genesis 2:18–22 NIV

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

We were made to need connection with each other

Now, another sidebar. I have heard people push this verse to talk about how man is superior in the relationship. Man is top, woman is the helper.

This word, ‘ezer’. it means, aid, help, assistance. It can also mean ‘strength’.

It gets used a grand total of twice to refer to a woman, both in the creation story.

The VAST majority of times it gets used in the bible, it’s refering to God, and how he interacts with us.

Psalm 146:5 “Blessed are those whose help (ezer) is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.”

ANYWAYS - here’s how essential that interconnection is. Adam had GOD, face to face, closer than anyone else in all of history except Jesus was able to get. And God said - he needs other people.

We talked about this last week - how we need community to grow, and only grow in community.

Acts 2:42–47 NIV

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Radical unity is the expression of God’s original design for humanity

I think our services are awesome.

But I think we’ve replaced God’s original expression of his presence. It started in a garden, walking around face to face. Two people living life together. And that’s where it should go now as well.

We strongly believe in the community of believers. And how important it is to realize God’s work on earth.

You are invited to join our community!

John 1:12 NIV

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION:

> the point - we will grow as big and as fast as we serve

> Our values

+ Continually doing our best - and getting better

+ Every person understands what to do, and what to do next

+ Everybody gets the help they need