Rock Solid: Uniquely Made in God’s Image | Genesis 1:26-31
Pastor Bill Curtis | September 18, 2016
Sermon Notes
1. God made .
2. God made man .
3. God made man uniquely in his .
Key Idea: As God’s unique creation, man’s is found in God, man’s is decreed by God, and man’s are accountable to God.
Journey Group Questions
1. God said that He made man uniquely (Ps 8:4-8; Ps 139:14). Naturalists say that man is the result of natural processes. What concept of man is the logical result of these worldview understandings of man?
2. God said that He made man in His image (Gen 1:26-27; James 3:9). As a result, man can think, reason, choose, feel, speak, etc. Naturalists attribute these abilities as a step forward in evolutionary development. What concept of man’s value and purpose is a logical result of these worldview understanding of man’s uniqueness.
3. Our key idea this week said, “As God’s unique creation, man’s value is found in God, man’s purpose is decreed by God, and man’s actions are accountable to God.” How does this statement reflect a Christian worldview based upon Genesis 1-2? How does a naturalistic worldview respond to these claims? Read the article located online at the url below and comment about how the naturalistic view of man presents serious challenges to religious freedom in America.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/09/us-commission-civil-rights-religious-liberty-report/499874/
Comparative Belief Chart –
Christian Worldview vs. Naturalistic Worldview
Origin and Nature of Man / On the sixth day of creation, God directly made Man in His own image and endowed him with unique capabilities, including a moral capacity, which makes him accountable to God. As such, man’s life is sacred, more valuable than other living creatures which do not possess the image of God. / Man evolved from a long series of other living things, by mere chance over a vast amount of time, without God. Man is merely a complex machine of matter no more, or less, valuable than anything else. While his behavior can be conditioned by other agents, he does not possess moral capacity. Therefore, he is not accountable to God.