Genesis: Image Bearer Discussion Panel - Guide

Open with Prayer.

Good and gracious God, we ask for the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, ears, hearts and

very lives to your presence. Remind us that we are created by you, in your very image,

and for relationship with you and one another. Guide this gathering. Amen.

Sunday we had a panel on what it means to be image bearers of God. Genesis 1:26-27 speaks

of our being created in God’s image.

● How does realizing you are made in the image of God change the way you view your

own worth, especially on days when you feel inadequate or unsuccessful?

● If every human being is an image bearer, how should this truth influence our perspective

on people from different cultural, social, or political backgrounds?

● Why is it sometimes easier to see the image of God in ourselves than in those we

disagree with or dislike?

● In what practical ways can an individual "reflect" God’s love, mercy, and justice to a

broken world in their daily life?

● Think of a person who you feel beautifully reflects the character of Christ to you. What

specific traits or actions do they exhibit?

● Genesis commands humanity to exercise stewardship over the earth. How does being

an image bearer shape your responsibility toward your family, community, church, and

the planet?

A thought to consider: One of the panelists, Jordan, said that we can all become

students of our place. “When you’re attentive to it (place) that’s how you begin to

move toward it, that’s how you begin to love it, and that’s how you begin to

sacrifice for it.” “It takes time, attention and intentionality to love a place.”

● How does your current work, schooling, or daily routine allow you to "image" God's

creativity and order?

Close with sharing and prayer