The Image of God

What does it mean to be made in the image of God? Most of us know that we are made in God's image, but what exactly does that mean? What does it mean that humanity, distinct from all other creatures, is made in the image of the invisible God?

Ed Stetzer Talking about Spiritual Gifts in the Church

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCkXUZX3WWc

So Great!

Feb. 20-Creation

Last week we studied the Creation chapter in our Doctrine book.

Instead of focusing in on the whole evolution/ creation debate, which most of the chapter does, I wanted to focus more on one that in particular.

Why is it that we only think of the past whenever we think of God as creator? Obviously, at one point in time God created all of the things in the universe. But for some reason, we forget that God is still in the business of creating, and some of the most important creations are yet to come.

For example, several places in the Old Testament and New Testament talk about the "New Heavens and New Earth," as if God is going to completely redo the previous ones or, at the very least, give heaven and earth a huge makeover one day.

The Bible is also very clear that one day we will be given new bodies at the resurrection, bodies that are not just spiritual or material, but are both spiritual and material, just like Jesus' was after he rose from the tomb.

So, we find ourselves stuck in between the old creation (earth and the heavens) and the new creation (new heavens, new earth, new bodies.) What about right now, though? Is there anything that God seeks to create right now in 2011?

David would have said, "Sure there is!" Let's read Psalm 51:10

"Create in me a pure heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

In light of the coming New Creation, God desires to begin the New Creation project in us here and now!

So, we don't just have to wait around until after we die to experience the eternal life that is in Jesus, but we are blessed enough to experience it here and now.

It's also important to note that David only believes that a pure heart can be gotten through the work of God. In other words, there is no other way to get a pure heart...God has to give it to us. If you read on in the Psalm, David also says that joy can't be found in anything or anyone else than God.

Basically, David is telling us that the only way to feel whole, complete, joyful, peaceful, and pure is by asking God to give us those things. David asks, "Give me a pure heart...renew a steadfast spirit within me...restore to me joy...grant me a willing spirit." He know that he'll never get those things on his own and that the only way to feel "whole" as a person is if God builds peace, purity, joy and wholeness into him.

So, what does God want to create today? You, from the inside out.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS TEST!!!

http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.1355371/k.9501/Spiritual_Gifts.htm

High School: Doctrine: The Bible

We actually spent two weeks in chapter 2 of our Doctrine book, which focuses in on how God reveals Himself to humanity, particularly through the books of the Bible.

I am going to do something a little different this week. I am going to post a youtube video of a really, really smart guy buy the name of Ravi Zacharias talking about why we should believe in the Bible. Here is how he explained it to a bunch of college students, most of which, were probably not Christians.

He says some very deep stuff, here. Post some comments...start a conversation...ask questions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHRP0I2SrVs&feature=related

High School: The Trinity

Hey everyone,

I am getting ready to go out of town for a conference and do not have much time to write a lot about this morning's teaching. However, I think this video by Mark Driscoll is fantastic.

A lot of practical application:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddlH7FRSP0I&feature=channel

TJ

Middle School: How's Your Worship?

John 4:23 " But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way"

Worship.. what a "sensitive" subject. Seems like everyone has an idea of how worship should be conducted (as shown in our Middle School survey). Indeed, if you search today you may find every type of "worship style" from very traditional and liturgical to extreme contemporary laser light shows. But is this how we should be evaluating the effectiveness of our worship? Can you measure how well you worship? Is it how many times you attended, participated in prayer, heard the Bible, or well you sing?

From the passage above we are told that the Father seeks worshipers. Some times (all times?) God actually initiates the worship as when the prophet Isaiah was called to worship in Isaiah chapter 6. For Isaiah this was a "significant spiritual / emotional event". Similar to Saul on the road to Damascus there is no doubt he experienced our Lord's presence. We read in John 4 that true worship does not depend on your location, position, our church arrangement, but your spiritual relationship. John also tells us It also requires listening to Truth. And how do we measure truth? By God's Word of course.. the only source of truth.

So how do you measure your worship? When listening to the truth, be it scripture read or a sermon spoken, Ask yourself "What am I learning about God"? Next, ask yourself "What is He asking me to do?" In the Isaiah passage he immediately volunteered for service. "Here I am Lord.. Send Me". This only occured after he had done something else. He Confessed his Sins. Effective worship will most always result in a realization of how great and Holy God is compared to our sinful lives. God calls us to confess our sins and draws us close to him in relationship. Following this you want to tell him of your love, either through prayer or song.

So How's Your worship? How are your experiencing God's presence? Are your experiencing God's Truth.. Is His Word Alive? Do you feel the call to Praise Him? Confess your Sins? Do you feel the need to serve others?


Tim