Embracing Our Brokenness: Reflecting God's Image

From the very beginning, God created humanity with intention, dignity, and purpose. Each person is made in the image of God—not in the image of culture, trauma, or even church tradition, but in the divine blueprint of the Creator. Yet, our experience of being human is often shaped by confusion, broken systems, and personal wounds. Sin has not only distorted our morality but has also cracked the very mirror of our humanity, blurring the image of God within us. The real question is not whether we are human, but whether we are living to the fullness of what God intended when He made us.

Scripture itself is a testament to God’s willingness to work through imperfection. The Bible, though inspired, is not a product of verbal dictation but of thought inspiration—God’s message filtered through the personalities, cultures, and limitations of human authors. There are cracks in the biblical record, yet God’s power is not diminished by human weakness. In fact, God delights in using broken vessels to communicate His love and salvation. Our own lives, like the Bible, are cracked mirrors, yet God’s image still shines through.

The nature of God is far beyond our categories and labels. The Hebrew word “Elohim” is plural, hinting at the mystery and plurality within God’s very being. God is not confined by our language, gender, or expectations. Sometimes, God meets us as a Father; other times, as a Mother, or as the very breath that gives us life. God’s mission is not to fit our definitions but to redeem us, showing up in whatever form brings healing and restoration.

Jesus, the incarnation of God, entered into our brokenness. When He rose from the dead, He did not emerge with a flawless body, but with scars—proof that God’s power is made perfect in weakness. Our cracks and wounds do not disqualify us; rather, they become the very places where God’s grace is most visible. Baptism is not about emerging with a perfect mirror, but about offering our whole, broken selves to God, trusting that His image will shine through us.

To be truly human is to embrace our design, acknowledge our cracks, and allow God’s love to redeem and reflect through us. God is not in the business of erasing our stories, but of using them as canvases for His grace. Lay down your small definitions and let the vast, plural God reshape your humanity, so that even through your brokenness, others may be drawn to Him.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Our Humanity Is Rooted in Divine Design, Not Cultural Distortion True humanity is not defined by the shifting sands of culture, trauma, or even religious tradition, but by the unchanging image of God in which we were created. Recognizing this foundational truth allows us to reclaim our dignity and purpose, even when the world tries to redefine us. Before we can diagnose what is broken, we must first understand what was meant to be whole. [13:41]
• 2. God Works Powerfully Through Imperfection and Brokenness The Bible itself is a cracked mirror—holy, inspired, yet marked by human limitation. God’s message comes through flawed vessels, and His power is not hindered by our weaknesses. In the same way, our own brokenness does not disqualify us from being used by God; rather, it becomes the very means by which His glory is displayed. [12:16]
• 3. God’s Nature Transcends Our Categories and Expectations The plural name “Elohim” reveals a God who cannot be boxed in by our language, gender, or theological frameworks. God meets us where we are, sometimes as Father, sometimes as Mother, always as the One who redeems. The divine mission is not to conform to our expectations, but to heal and restore us in ways we may not anticipate. [19:30]
• 4. Redemption Does Not Erase Our Scars—It Redeems Them When Jesus rose from the dead, He bore the marks of crucifixion, showing that resurrection does not mean the absence of wounds, but the transformation of their meaning. Our cracks and scars remain, but they become places where God’s grace shines most brightly. The gospel does not hide our past; it uses it as a canvas for God’s love. [27:23]
• 5. Being Truly Human Means Embracing Our Cracks and Letting God Shine Through To be fully human is not to be flawless, but to bring our whole, broken selves to God and allow His image to be reflected through us. Baptism and discipleship are not about achieving perfection, but about surrendering our cracked mirrors so that God’s light can reach others through our stories. God’s invitation is to lay down our small definitions and let His vastness reshape our humanity. [30:38]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:48] - The Question of True Humanity
• [02:52] - Living to God’s Full Intention
• [03:58] - The Nature of Biblical Inspiration
• [04:52] - Verbal vs. Thought Inspiration
• [07:40] - God’s Power Through Broken Vessels
• [09:45] - The Bible as a Cracked Mirror
• [12:16] - Created in God’s Image: The Blueprint
• [13:41] - Purpose and Identity in God’s Image
• [14:57] - The Plurality of Elohim
• [18:14] - God Beyond Gender and Categories
• [19:30] - God Meets Us Where We Are
• [22:55] - The God Who Heals Our Wounds
• [24:43] - The Incarnation: God Becomes
• [25:52] - Resurrection and the Power of Cracked Mirrors
• [27:23] - Baptism: Embracing Brokenness
• [28:53] - The Gospel Redeems, Not Erases
• [30:38] - Invitation to Embrace Divine Plurality
• [38:44] - Prayer of Surrender
• [40:05] - Closing Blessing

Bible Reading

Genesis 1:26-27 (NLT) — Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

Observation Questions

1. According to Genesis 1:26-27, what does it mean that humans are made in the image of God? What specific words or phrases stand out to you in these verses?
2. The sermon described humanity as “cracked mirrors” that reflect God’s image, but with distortion. What does this metaphor suggest about our current human experience? [[02:52]]
3. The Hebrew word “Elohim” is used for God in Genesis 1. What is significant about this word being plural, and how did the sermon explain its meaning? [[14:57]]
4. When Jesus rose from the dead, what details did the sermon highlight about his resurrected body, and why is this important? [[25:52]]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon said, “Sin doesn’t just ruin our morality. It distorts humanity.” How does this idea change the way we think about what’s broken in our lives and in the world? [[02:52]]
2. The preacher explained that the Bible is like a “cracked mirror”—inspired but marked by human limitation. How does this view of Scripture affect the way we read and trust the Bible? [[09:45]]
3. The sermon described God as not limited by our categories, sometimes showing up as Father, sometimes as Mother, or as breath. How might this understanding of God’s nature impact someone’s relationship with God, especially if they have been hurt by certain images of God? [[22:55]]
4. The preacher said, “The gospel does not erase your story. It redeems it.” What does it mean for our scars and brokenness to become places where God’s grace is most visible? [[28:53]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to lay down “small definitions” of God and humanity. Are there any labels, expectations, or definitions you have held onto that might be limiting your view of God or yourself? What would it look like to let those go? [[30:38]]
2. The idea that we are “cracked mirrors” suggests that God can use us even in our brokenness. Can you think of a time when God worked through your imperfections to bless someone else? How did that experience shape your faith? [[27:23]]
3. The preacher said, “You don’t have to believe in this fantasy that suddenly he will start to seal up the cracks, and everything will be smooth.” How does this challenge the way you think about healing, growth, or what it means to be a “good Christian”? [[25:52]]
4. The sermon described baptism as bringing your whole, broken self to God, not emerging with a perfect mirror. If you have been baptized, how has your understanding of baptism changed over time? If you haven’t, what questions or hesitations do you have about bringing your “cracks” to God? [[27:23]]
5. The preacher told a story about God meeting someone as a Mother because that’s what she needed for healing. Is there a way you need God to show up differently in your life right now? How can you invite God to meet you in that place? [[22:55]]
6. The sermon said, “Before we can diagnose what is broken, we must first understand what was meant to be whole.” What steps can you take this week to reconnect with God’s original design for your life, rather than focusing only on what’s wrong? [[13:41]]
7. The preacher prayed, “Allow your perfect image to imperfectly shine through our lives that others may be drawn to you.” What is one practical way you can let God’s light shine through your story, even with its cracks, in your relationships or community this week? [[38:44]]