Big Idea: What you believe about humanity is essential to your faith.

Are people basically good or basically bad? 

What does it mean that we are the image of God?

Exodus 20:4 

Genesis 1:26 

Why does this matter?  

• All human rights are grounded in the image of God.
  Genesis 1:27-28
   

• God’s creation mandate gives purpose and meaning to life.
  Genesis 3:6
  John 8:34
   

• We need both hope and urgency. 

Message Questions

We are in week two of an eight-week series looking at the essential doctrines of the faith. This week is the doctrine of man. All humanity is created in the image of God and made for relationship with God, and therefore possesses intrinsic dignity and worth. God created both male and female, equal in value and given the mandate to partner with God to rule and reign over creation. However, ever since the sin of Adam and Eve, humanity has rebelled against God and is therefore separated from God and in bondage to sin and death, incapable of restoring ourselves to life and relationship with God. This Sunday, the big idea is: What you believe about humanity is essential to your faith.  Passages include Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 3:6; and John 8:34. 

Use these questions to discuss the message from Sunday, focusing on how you can grow as an everyday follower of Jesus and how you can go accomplish what Jesus calls you to do. 

1. Have someone read Genesis 1:26-28. What does it mean that God made humanity in his image? What roles and responsibilities does he give his image bearers in this passage?
2. Pastor Wyatt said, “All human rights are grounded in the image of God.”  How does the previous passage reveal this truth to us?
3. Have someone read Genesis 3:6. What are the implications of Adam and Eve’s rebellion? Take a few minutes and practically unpack how you have seen these implications in your own life and in the world around you.
4. How does this teaching in Genesis 1 and 3 implore you to grow in your love for your fellow image bearers?
5. How will this teaching inspire you to go and proclaim the gospel message to fellow image bearers who do not yet know about the hope of Jesus?