Surface vs. Core Identity:Man in the Mirror (Youth)

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High five ping pong ball game

Last week we talked about how God helps us know who we are becoming.

What is Identity

Identity asks this very important question…and it is this: Who Are YOU?

In a way....all of us have many identities

What’s important is to distinguish between surface identities, and your core identity

There is a lot of confusion and hurt when we confuse our surface identities with our core identity.

Surface identities

Athlete

Boyfriend/girlfriend

Singer

Appearance

Friend Group

Success

Family

Money

Power

Some of these things have value and they add value to your life…but they don’t determine YOUR value.

Core Identity

Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Being made in the image of God is not a quality that you have, it is a condition in which you live....take away this one condition, and we are just the dust of the earth.

It is the very essence and breath of God that makes us who we are and is what sustains us

This speaks to your worth as a person

This is what gives you ultimate value

The Problem

The problem is when you confuse the two

Swap a surface identities for your core identity

But what happens when this part of your identity ceases to exist?

Athlete - you get injured

Boyfriend/Girlfriend - they break up with you

Success - you lose everything

…..you lose you sense of worth in life.

Notice: I didn’t say you lost your worth…I said you lost your sense of worth

Losing your sense of Worth ≠ Losing your Worth

In other words, your worth didn’t change, you just can’t see it anymore

Listen to me close....whatever happens in this life, and there will be very hard things that will happen. Always remember this: YOU HAVE WORTH

This has to be the foundation of how we see ourselves

Scripture

Mark 1:4–11 “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.””

There were a lot of identities that could have motivated Jesus

Healer, King, Teacher, etc....all those were good and true, but His identity as a the Son was the most important.

Just after this baptism Jesus is led into the wilderness and in two of the three temptations, the devil questioned Jesus’ Sonship.

That’s why Jesus was able to say “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

How can we stay oriented in our core identity?

I’m not going to answer that questions for us, but that is one of the questions that will be asked in small groups.

Discussion Questions:

What are some of your surface identities?

Can you think of an example where someone's surface identity significantly affected their sense of self-worth?

How does the concept of being made in the image of God shape our understanding of identity and self-worth?

What strategies can we use to maintain a strong sense of core identity in the face of changing surface identities?