Discovering Your True Discovering Your True IdentityIdentity

What is this series all What is this series all aboutabout

In this series I hope to present a Biblical worldview In this series I hope to present a Biblical worldview in support of human dignity and true personhood.in support of human dignity and true personhood.

I hope to encourage you to live your life to the I hope to encourage you to live your life to the fullest by discovering, understanding, and using fullest by discovering, understanding, and using your gifts and natural abilities in everyday life. your gifts and natural abilities in everyday life.

I hope to challenge you to share with others their I hope to challenge you to share with others their intrinsic value to both God and mankind. intrinsic value to both God and mankind.

To make you smile, and encourage your soul.To make you smile, and encourage your soul.

Questions? Questions?

• What identities do Americans try to imitate? What identities do Americans try to imitate? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Who (or) what are the trend setters for our Who (or) what are the trend setters for our society? society? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• (1 Peter 2:8-10) The problem(1 Peter 2:8-10) The problem• 8 And, “He (Jesus) is the stone that makes people 8 And, “He (Jesus) is the stone that makes people

stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” stumble, the rock that makes them fall.”

• They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

• 9 But you are not like that, for you are a 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen peoplechosen people. . You are royal priests, a holy nation, You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own God’s very own possessionpossession (peculiar people). As a result, you can show (peculiar people). As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.darkness into his wonderful light.

• 10 “Once you had 10 “Once you had no identityno identity as a people; as a people;now you are now you are God’s peopleGod’s people. Once you received no mercy; . Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” (1 Peter 2:8-10)now you have received God’s mercy.” (1 Peter 2:8-10)

Suffering is realSuffering is real

Consider the Poems written by students Consider the Poems written by students your age. your age.

• 26 Then God said, 26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in "Let Us make man in Our image, according Our image, according to Our likeness; and to Our likeness; and let them rule over the let them rule over the fish of the sea and fish of the sea and over the birds of the over the birds of the sky and over the sky and over the cattle and over all the cattle and over all the earth, and over every earth, and over every creeping thing that creeping thing that creeps on the earth." creeps on the earth."

(Genesis 1:26-27)(Genesis 1:26-27)

• 27 God created 27 God created man in His own man in His own image, in the image image, in the image of God He created of God He created him; male and him; male and female He created female He created them. (Genesis them. (Genesis 1:26-27)1:26-27)

God’s attributes = God’s ImageGod’s attributes = God’s Image

• LanguagLanguagee

• CreativitCreativityy

• LoveLove

• HolinessHoliness

Immortality Immortality

FreedomFreedom

IntelligenceIntelligence

HumorHumor

• The reason why The reason why Christians are so Christians are so involved in:involved in:

• Abortion debateAbortion debate• Global mission projectsGlobal mission projects• Campaigns to end world hunger & SlaveryCampaigns to end world hunger & Slavery• Drug rehabilitation programsDrug rehabilitation programs• Prison ministriesPrison ministries• Orphanages and children's homesOrphanages and children's homes• The assisted suicide debateThe assisted suicide debate• Counseling and intervention programs Counseling and intervention programs • And any other “socio-political” activism out there.And any other “socio-political” activism out there.

• Is because of we honestly believe every person on planet earth is made in Is because of we honestly believe every person on planet earth is made in the “image of God”, and God’s image needs to be seen, not destroyed. the “image of God”, and God’s image needs to be seen, not destroyed.

GODGOD

MankindMankind

All other created thingsAll other created thingsElements, Plants, & AnimalsElements, Plants, & Animals

So, if I’m made in the image of So, if I’m made in the image of God than… these thoughts must God than… these thoughts must be untrue:be untrue:• That I’m nothing special.That I’m nothing special.

You uniquely carry certain characteristics of God You uniquely carry certain characteristics of God different from any other person.different from any other person.

God created you with the purpose of making his image God created you with the purpose of making his image known in the world. You are so special in fact that know known in the world. You are so special in fact that know one else was fit for the job. He had to make you special one else was fit for the job. He had to make you special in order for His image to be more fully and accurately in order for His image to be more fully and accurately displayed.displayed.

Humans are different from any other created thing in the Humans are different from any other created thing in the universe. We were the ones made in the image of God. universe. We were the ones made in the image of God.

So, if I’m made in the image of So, if I’m made in the image of God than… these thoughts must God than… these thoughts must be untrue:be untrue:• That I’m a mistake.That I’m a mistake.

If you are alive on this earth, you aren’t a If you are alive on this earth, you aren’t a mistake. You were purposed by God. mistake. You were purposed by God. Colossians 1:16Colossians 1:16

God doesn’t design mistakes, he only designs God doesn’t design mistakes, he only designs solutions. You are a created solution to the solutions. You are a created solution to the problem. You weren’t designed to be the problem. You weren’t designed to be the problem. problem.

• The First step The First step to to understanding understanding who you are, is who you are, is to Discover to Discover Who God is. Who God is. “The imago “The imago Dei.” Dei.”

STEP ONESTEP ONE