Reflecting God's Love: Our Purpose as Humanity
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound truth that each of us has one primary job: to be human in the way God intended. This means reflecting God's love to the world and reflecting the world's awe and worship back to God. We began by discussing a humorous yet poignant example from the Olympics, where a simple mistake of hanging the flag upside down became a metaphor for how we often fail in our singular, most important task.
We then delved into Genesis 1, where God created humanity in His image, emphasizing that we are not accidents but intentional creations designed to reflect God's goodness. This reflection is not just a direct mirror but an angled one, meant to show God's love to the world and the world's worship back to God.
We also touched on the complex yet beautiful nature of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—highlighting how this perfect community of love serves as our model. Jesus' teachings and the writings of early church fathers like St. Augustine help us grasp this mystery, even if we can't fully understand it.
The sermon concluded with a call to self-examination: Who are we becoming? Are we aligning our lives to reflect God's love more accurately? This transformation requires intentionality, discipline, and a willingness to partner with God. As we journey through life, we must continually ask ourselves if we are becoming more like Jesus, reflecting His love and essence to the world.
### Key Takeaways
1. Humanity's Singular Job: We are created to reflect God's love to the world and the world's worship back to God. This dual reflection is our primary purpose, and failing in this task is akin to the "you had one job" moments we often laugh about. Our job is to be angled mirrors, showing God's love to creation and creation's awe back to God. [49:55]
2. Intentional Creation: We are not accidents but intentional creations of God, made in His image. This means we have inherent value and purpose. Understanding this can transform how we see ourselves and others, knowing that every person is a deliberate act of God's craftsmanship. [39:41]
3. The Trinity as a Model: The Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—serves as a perfect community of love. This complex yet beautiful relationship is our model for how we should live in community and love one another. Even if we can't fully understand it, we can strive to emulate this divine relationship in our lives. [46:50]
4. Transformation Requires Intentionality: Becoming more like Jesus is not an accidental process. It requires discipline, intentionality, and a willingness to partner with God. This transformation is a lifelong journey, involving both forward steps and occasional setbacks, but always moving towards reflecting God's love more accurately. [56:06]
5. Self-Examination: Regularly asking ourselves "Who am I becoming?" is crucial. We must evaluate whether our actions, routines, and relationships are making us more like Jesus or less. This self-examination helps us align our lives with our God-given purpose, ensuring we are fulfilling our one job effectively. [52:52]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[34:58] - Olympic Flag Blunder
[38:06] - Genesis 1: Creation of Humanity
[39:41] - Intentional Creation
[40:31] - Created in God's Image
[41:22] - The Trinity Explained
[42:25] - Jesus and the Trinity
[43:22] - The Holy Spirit
[44:12] - Historical Debates on the Trinity
[45:08] - St. Augustine's Insight
[46:50] - The Perfect Community of Love
[48:24] - God is Love
[49:55] - Angled Mirrors
[51:24] - The Greatest Commandment
[52:52] - Self-Examination: Who Am I Becoming?
[56:06] - Transformation Requires Intentionality
[58:09] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 1:26-31 (Creation of Humanity in God's Image)
2. John 14:16-17 (Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit)
3. 1 John 4:8 (God is Love)
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Genesis 1:26-31, what responsibilities did God give to humanity when He created them? ([38:06])
2. How does the concept of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) appear in the sermon, and what does it teach us about community? ([41:22])
3. What metaphor did the pastor use to describe our role in reflecting God's love, and how does it work? ([49:55])
4. What does 1 John 4:8 say about the nature of God, and how does this relate to our purpose as humans? ([48:24])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding that we are created in God's image (Genesis 1:26-31) change the way we view ourselves and others? ([39:41])
2. What are the implications of being "angled mirrors" that reflect God's love to the world and the world's worship back to God? ([49:55])
3. How can the Trinity serve as a model for our relationships and community life? ([46:50])
4. Why is intentionality and discipline necessary for our transformation into Christ-likeness, according to the sermon? ([56:06])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily life: In what ways are you currently reflecting God's love to those around you? Are there specific areas where you feel you could improve? ([49:55])
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of self-examination. What routines or habits in your life are helping you become more like Jesus? Are there any that are hindering you? ([52:52])
3. Think about your community and relationships. How can you emulate the perfect community of love that the Trinity represents in your interactions with others? ([46:50])
4. The pastor mentioned that transformation requires intentionality and discipline. What specific steps can you take this week to partner with God in your spiritual growth? ([56:06])
5. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and love your neighbor. Identify one practical way you can show love to a neighbor or someone in your community this week. ([51:24])
6. The sermon discussed the idea of being "angled mirrors." How can you better reflect the awe and worship of creation back to God in your daily life? ([49:55])
7. Consider the distractions in your life that may be preventing you from fulfilling your primary job of reflecting God's love. What is one distraction you can minimize or eliminate this week? ([59:57])
Devotional
Day 1: Reflecting God's Love and Worship
Description: Humanity's singular job is to reflect God's love to the world and the world's worship back to God. This dual reflection is our primary purpose, and failing in this task is akin to the "you had one job" moments we often laugh about. Our job is to be angled mirrors, showing God's love to creation and creation's awe back to God. This concept is beautifully illustrated in the metaphor of an angled mirror, which not only reflects light but also redirects it in a way that illuminates different perspectives. As we go about our daily lives, we must be conscious of how we are reflecting God's love and how we are channeling the world's worship back to Him. [49:55]
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: Think of a recent interaction where you had the opportunity to reflect God's love. How did you respond, and how could you have better reflected His love in that situation?
Day 2: Intentional Creation
Description: We are not accidents but intentional creations of God, made in His image. This means we have inherent value and purpose. Understanding this can transform how we see ourselves and others, knowing that every person is a deliberate act of God's craftsmanship. When we grasp that we are intentionally created, it changes our perspective on life and our interactions with others. We begin to see the divine imprint in every person we meet, recognizing their worth and purpose as reflections of God's image. This understanding calls us to treat ourselves and others with the dignity and respect that comes from being God's intentional creations. [39:41]
Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV): "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
Reflection: Reflect on how you view yourself and others. Are there areas where you struggle to see yourself or others as intentional creations of God? How can you change your perspective to align with this truth?
Day 3: The Trinity as a Model
Description: The Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—serves as a perfect community of love. This complex yet beautiful relationship is our model for how we should live in community and love one another. Even if we can't fully understand it, we can strive to emulate this divine relationship in our lives. The Trinity exemplifies perfect unity and diversity, showing us that true community involves both individuality and togetherness. By looking to the Trinity, we learn how to love selflessly, live in harmony, and support one another in our unique roles and gifts. This divine model challenges us to build relationships that reflect the love and unity of the Trinity. [46:50]
John 17:20-21 (ESV): "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
Reflection: Consider your relationships within your community. How can you better reflect the unity and love of the Trinity in your interactions with others?
Day 4: Transformation Requires Intentionality
Description: Becoming more like Jesus is not an accidental process. It requires discipline, intentionality, and a willingness to partner with God. This transformation is a lifelong journey, involving both forward steps and occasional setbacks, but always moving towards reflecting God's love more accurately. Intentionality in our spiritual growth means setting aside time for prayer, studying Scripture, and engaging in practices that draw us closer to God. It also involves being mindful of our actions and attitudes, seeking to align them with the character of Christ. This journey of transformation is marked by a continuous effort to grow in love, grace, and truth. [56:06]
2 Peter 1:5-8 (ESV): "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Identify one specific area in your life where you need to be more intentional in your spiritual growth. What practical steps can you take this week to work on this area?
Day 5: Self-Examination
Description: Regularly asking ourselves "Who am I becoming?" is crucial. We must evaluate whether our actions, routines, and relationships are making us more like Jesus or less. This self-examination helps us align our lives with our God-given purpose, ensuring we are fulfilling our one job effectively. Self-examination involves taking a honest look at our lives, acknowledging areas where we fall short, and seeking God's guidance for growth. It is a practice that keeps us grounded and focused on our spiritual journey, helping us to continually realign our lives with God's will and purpose. [52:52]
Lamentations 3:40 (ESV): "Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!"
Reflection: Take a moment to reflect on your daily routines and habits. Are they helping you become more like Jesus? What changes can you make to better align your life with your God-given purpose?
Quotes
### Quotes for outreach
1. "We, you and I, are the result of God's imagination. Of God's skill. Of God's craft. Craftsmanship. We are not an accident. We're not some scientific coincidence. We're not a mistake. No human being has ever been or ever will be a mistake. We are created." [39:41] (29 seconds)
2. "God is love. Love is the very essence and the nature of God. Augustine had a heap to say about the Trinity, even though this little boy couldn't understand it, right? But one of the most profound things that he said was that the Father is the lover, the Son is the beloved, and the Holy Spirit is the very love that binds them together." [48:24] (25 seconds)
3. "Transformation is possible, but it's not inevitable. In other words, we can't accidentally become like Jesus. We can't. It doesn't happen like that. It takes discipline. That's a bit of a scary word sometimes, isn't it? And it takes deciding to do some things and deciding not to do other things. It takes a few steps forward and the occasional step back." [56:06] (25 seconds)
4. "It takes a willingness to partner with God. A willingness to partner with the Father made possible through the sacrifice of the Son and through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It's a partnership between me and my three in one God to become the person that He has designed me to be. A person of love who reflects the very nature and essence of the creator to the rest of the creation." [57:22] (33 seconds)
### Quotes for members
1. "We have one job, people. To reflect love. To be a mirror. A biblical scholar, N.T. Wright, suggests that we are made not simply to be a mirror, to reflect God's image directly back to Him. God doesn't need us to reflect how good He is, how small. How smart He is. How clever He is. How awesome He is. Although He is those things, right? But He doesn't need us to reflect just that back to Him. He actually has designed us to be angled mirrors." [49:12] (39 seconds)
2. "Who am I becoming? Who am I becoming? I have one job. I have one job. When I get to the end of my life and I am preparing for an eternity in heaven, thanks to Jesus, will I look back on my life and ask the question, you had one job. How did you go with that? How did you go with that?" [56:39] (25 seconds)
3. "Paul talks about being transformed by the renewing of our mind, right? But this is not a one-off event. It's not a one-off thing that happens. It's a lifelong process of laying our lives down as living sacrifices and following Him. In his book, The Thing Beneath the Thing, Steve Carter writes, you cannot microwave spiritual formation. There's no shortcut. You can't speed it up. There's no, you can't fast forward. It takes time, right?" [54:57] (37 seconds)
4. "The older I get and the further I go into my Christian journey, the more I realize how much I've changed. How much I need Jesus to transform my life. I don't know. There's plenty of people here and joining us online that have been on a Christian journey even longer than I have. And I'm sure you'd agree. The further we go, the more we realize we need Jesus." [55:35] (23 seconds)
5. "And so when we read about God in the Bible, we're reading about Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit at the same time. They are there in every moment. They are there at creation, all three of them. They are there in every moment of Scripture. When you and I pray and we spend time with God, we are praying to and spending time with all three persons of the Trinity." [46:50] (25 seconds)
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