Genesis 2 “What is Man, that You would consider him?” -Psalm 8:4

Before the Fall… For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephes. 2:10 (NLT) Discovering your design is to discover how to be fulfilled in life.

At the Heart of Our Design: Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” Genesis 1:26 Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Col. 3:10b

Our Design n As Rulers (1:26b) -In these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. Hebrews 1:2 -Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ… Romans 8:17

Our Design n As Rulers (1:26b) n As Workers (2:15) Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you 1 Thes. 4:11

“Proverbs For Sluggards” 19:24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, And will not even bring it back to his mouth. 26:13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!" 26:14 As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed. 24:33-34 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

Our Design n As Rulers (1:26b) n As Workers (2:15) Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you 1 Thes. 4:11 For we are God's fellow workers 1 Cor. 3:9

Our Design n As Rulers (1:26b) n As Workers (2:15) n As Free-Will Agents (2:16-17) -You are not Predetermined! -You are Responsible! -We cannot blame-shift! -We have Dignity! And remember, no one who wants to do wrong should ever say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else either. James 1:13 (NLT)

Our Design n As Rulers (1:26b) n As Workers (2:15) n As Free-Will Agents (2:16-17) -You are not Predetermined! -You are Responsible! -We cannot blame-shift! -We have Dignity! -Yet, Choice became limited after the Fall. Still: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” - John 1:12Still: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” - John 1:12 “Far too often the choices reality proposes are such as to take away one’s taste for choosing.” Jean Rostand (1894–1977), French biologist

Our Design n As Rulers (1:26b) n As Workers (2:15) n As Free-Will Agents (2:16-17) -You are not Predetermined! -You are Responsible! -We cannot blame-shift! -We have Dignity! -Yet, Choice became limited after the Fall. -Discover a new-found Freedom! For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

Gen 2:18-20 Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. And the man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.

Our Design n As Rulers (1:26b) n As Workers (2:15) n As Free-Will Agents (2:16-17) n As Relational Beings (Gen 2:18-20) -“A Partner” (2:18 ‘Helper’ who ‘Corresponds’) -Sexuality (2:21-24) Means Marriage (v.24a)Means Marriage (v.24a) -Intimacy, Vulnerability and Trust And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:25And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:25

Our Design n As Rulers (1:26b) n As Workers (2:15) n As Free-Will Agents (2:16-17) n As Relational Beings (Gen 2:18-20) n As Eternal Beings (2:7) -Means we are Spiritual Beings. -We long for Eternity: He has also set eternity in the hearts of men… Ecclesiastes 3:11He has also set eternity in the hearts of men… Ecclesiastes 3:11 -We face an Incredible Future: Do you not know that we will judge angels?” 1 Cor. 6:3Do you not know that we will judge angels?” 1 Cor. 6:3

God’s Plan for You: “I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.” Psalm 139:14 (GW)

God’s Plan for You: “To be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son—it seems impossible a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is. For glory means good report with God, acceptance by God, response, acknowledgment, and welcome into the heart of things.” C. S. Lewis, Weight of Glory, p.13

Sex n “A Partner” 2:18-20 n With Vulnerability and Trust 2:25

Why Ministry? Ephes. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Announcements n Worker’s Meeting n Our Financial Needs n Work Day Next Saturday

Genesis “What is Man, that You would consider him?” -Psalm 8:4

Before the Fall…

Christian Growth n n Col. 3:10...and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. n Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;..."

Creative Accomplishment n As Rulers (1:26) -Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ… n As Workers (2:15) -1 Cor. 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers

“Proverbs For Sluggards” 19:24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, And will not even bring it back to his mouth. 26:13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!" 26:14 As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed. 24:33-34 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

Gen. 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die."

Free Will n Romans 6:14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Gen 2:18-20 Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. And the man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.

Sex n “A Partner” 2:18-20 n With Vulnerability and Trust 2:25

Why Ministry? Ephes. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Announcements n Worker’s Meeting n Our Financial Needs n Work Day Next Saturday