warm-up

Which countries would you like to visit? Why?

Have you ever played a role on stage? What was it?

Tell about a time you felt included or excluded from a group.

word

26Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28And 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 heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” GENESIS 1:26-28

God made man in His image. Thus, man is a shadow or a reflection of the authority, intelligence, and glory of God. God created mankind with the original mission to spread His glory throughout the whole earth as beings made in His image. In this material, we will be looking deeper into this truth.

1
God’s mission was from the beginning.

26Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. GENESIS 1:26,27

God created man with a purpose that goes beyond each person’s lifetime. Because we are made in His image, He meant for us to reflect His glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). He also gave mankind dominion over the face of the earth, with authority over the other living creatures on earth. God had a mission that existed before man was ever created. How does knowing this affect our sense of the purpose we have in God?

2
God’s mission is to the whole earth.

28And 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 heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” GENESIS 1:28

This mission of God that was from the beginning is to fill the whole earth with His glory. For this purpose, God gave man the command to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. The role that mankind, being made in the image of God, has to play in God's mission is to multiply His image and glory over all the earth. What does this teach us about the nature of God? How does this affect the way we live?

application

Have you embraced the role that you have in God’s overarching mission for the earth? Would you like to put your faith in God today?

You bear the glorious image of God. What can you do this week to bless two people around you (friends, colleagues, family) and show them the nature of God?

How can you help others find the purpose that we all have in God? Ask God for ways that you can share His words to your friends and family this week.

prayer

Thank God for lovingly giving you a role in His mission and purpose. Thank Him for having every person on earth included in that mission.

Ask God to reveal to you His individual role for you in His great plan. Ask Him what He would specifically like you to do. Pray for the grace to act on what He tells you.

Pray for the grace to obey God’s leading each day. Pray for the missional mind of God and for His compassion to earnestly preach the gospel to the people around you.

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Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Copyright © 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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