We are the World

The Song

We are the world We are the children We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let's start giving There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me

a. March 7 1985

b. Aid for humanitarian effort in Ethiopia Africa feeding starving people.

c. Recorded the same night as Awards show.

d. Written by M.J. and Lionel Richie

e. Even though they were rich, partying musicians, and hadn’t been starving for quite some time. They were not allowed to wear their fancy clothes. They wanted a visual representation of care for the song and the efforts. They felt a responsibility to give back to those in need. They were in a place of privilege while others were not. Their efforts were a success, selling 800k in 3 days and raising $63 million! This song was created for a purpose and any deviation from that would have made the process a flop!

WE: There are a lot of things that when engaged in we have to give a maximum effort or they WILL become distorted!

a. Cleaning and straightening up are not the same.

b. Velveeta V Easy Melt

c. Paying the minimum on credit cards is not proactively paying them off

Dallas Cowboys V Houston Texans.

Genesis 1:26–28 CSB

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”

a. Humanity is set apart from all creation.

i. All other created things.

1. Command- Let there be…

2. Report- “And it was so…”

3. Evaluation- “God saw that it was good”

4. Temporal Framework- “The nth day”

ii. Humanity creation

1. Let us make…

2. In our image…/according to our likeness…

3. Dominion

Genesis 1:26 CSB

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

b. When God creates it’s unique.

i. Bara- Hebrew word for created. Used only for God in Hebrew scripture.

ii. Only God can create NEW things

1. Babies are not BARA

2. Smart phones are not BARA

3. New elements are not BARA

4. God takes nothing and makes something

5. We can only take what is created and make something new

iii. God created humanity to stand out from the rest of creation. We were to be like God among His creation. V

Genesis 1:27 CSB

27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.

c. God wanted His image copied & multiplied.

i. Yes the same is mentioned of animals in V22

ii. But humanity is to have dominion even over them.

Genesis 1:28 NRSV

28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

iii. When God’s image is copied and multiplied EXACTLY then it is IMPOSSIBLE for what is GOOD to go BAD!

You: Application

a. Are we still created beings in the image/likeness of God? If not we need to be!

b. How can I be made new?

Conclusion

We: Inspiration

a. Community: Would there even be an Avenue G if God’s image had dominion in Temple?

b. Church: Would there be a need for conflict resolution in the church if God’s image had dominion?

c. World: Would there be debates about the value of life, gender equality, or race if we were concerned with God’s image having dominion?

d. Inspire: Allow God to have dominion in your life! Reflect the image of God towards created things and see how God’s intended creation was supposed to be!