Week of 6/21/26
Dear Church Family,
Whatever you step into this week, the fair, work, caring for someone who is sick, vacation, I pray you step into it considering that you were made to know and walk with God in it. He paid the full price on the cross for everything that would keep you from him and he has made a way for you to have the wisdom, love, and power needed to walk in obedience in whatever situation you find yourself in for his glory. Call out to him daily and seek out brothers or sisters to walk with you who will faithfully point you towards Jesus and scripture in order to guide your steps.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6
Jr Bible Camp(July 7-10) registration is open until July 1, please look on the church app or on the website (under events) for details and please share the word so we can fill up camp!
The primary scripture for this coming Sunday, 6/28, will be Acts 9:1-22 for those who want to read ahead.
Berean Enjoyment
In giving the message and preparing this study I am realizing there is so much to the question of how we are interacting with modern technology. I want to encourage you to take your time in really chewing on this in the days and weeks to come. Ask big and hard questions about how this shapes you and your understanding of God and other people and how you relate to all that God has made. How do we as the church bear God's image in a way that we are most satisfied in God and so that others see Jesus in us?!
Read Genesis 1:26-28, 2:7.
What is your basic impression from just those verses about the relationship God wants to have with us as humans? What about our relationship with what he has made?
What do you think 'dominion' looked like before sin and the fall?
What does it mean to be made 'in the image of God'?
Historically and biblically being made 'in the image of God' has been understood as having been made persons which are uniquely able to relate to God and reflect his divine nature and characteristics. Mankind is not a composite of God, he is Holy and he alone is God(Deut. 4:35, Isaiah 45:5), but he has created us as unique individuals to display his creativity and bring him glory in our particular giftings.
Does that change the way you view your relationship to God?
Read Genesis 3:1-5
What are some of the ways today that Satan tries to convince people we are not made in the image of God?
Does Satan try to convince us that sin doesn't affect our ability to bear God's image? Why would he do that?
How does Satan try to destroy the image of God in mankind?
If you used one word for Satan's attempts to destroy our relationship with God and reflecting God's image and characteristics back to him, to others, and his creation - it would be Sin.
What are some ways you have seen sin destroy your ability to reflect Jesus to others?
How does this help you appreciate what Jesus accomplished on the cross?
What does all of this have to do with modern technology? There are sooo many questions that come to mind and I would encourage you to ask and come up with more questions.
As we enter the age of supercomputers and humanoid robots, how might this call into question for many what it is to be human? To be made in the 'image of God'?
Modern technologies of all kinds and artificial Intelligence(really just advanced computer programming, data collection and synthesis) can be wonderful tools for business, medicine, etc.
When does it go from a tool to something that hinders or replaces part of our God-given design? Can you think of some examples?
Have you found yourself relying on modern technology and tools instead of looking to God? ...instead of looking to the community of Christ?
Bearing the image of God means being in a right relationship with God, with others made in his image, and what he has made. What are some ways AI or other technology might tempt you to outsource relationships with those around you?
What should you do about that?
What are some ways that people are outsourcing creativity and relating to God's creation and knowledge of what he has made?
Can you use AI tools to help you study or work? Should you allow it to do work for you that prevents you from personally understanding or being accountable for the information inside?
Does letting AI do the work take away good work God intends for our minds to do?
As long as the work gets done, does it matter?
What are some things that you can do that AI will never be able to do?
How do the Great Commandment play into this discussion?
Mark 12:29-31 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Praise God for Jesus making a way for us to be holy image bearers and reflect him to a world in desperate need of seeing the love of the Father!
In Christ,
Pastor Phillip
Whatever you step into this week, the fair, work, caring for someone who is sick, vacation, I pray you step into it considering that you were made to know and walk with God in it. He paid the full price on the cross for everything that would keep you from him and he has made a way for you to have the wisdom, love, and power needed to walk in obedience in whatever situation you find yourself in for his glory. Call out to him daily and seek out brothers or sisters to walk with you who will faithfully point you towards Jesus and scripture in order to guide your steps.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6
Jr Bible Camp(July 7-10) registration is open until July 1, please look on the church app or on the website (under events) for details and please share the word so we can fill up camp!
The primary scripture for this coming Sunday, 6/28, will be Acts 9:1-22 for those who want to read ahead.
Berean Enjoyment
In giving the message and preparing this study I am realizing there is so much to the question of how we are interacting with modern technology. I want to encourage you to take your time in really chewing on this in the days and weeks to come. Ask big and hard questions about how this shapes you and your understanding of God and other people and how you relate to all that God has made. How do we as the church bear God's image in a way that we are most satisfied in God and so that others see Jesus in us?!
Read Genesis 1:26-28, 2:7.
What is your basic impression from just those verses about the relationship God wants to have with us as humans? What about our relationship with what he has made?
What do you think 'dominion' looked like before sin and the fall?
What does it mean to be made 'in the image of God'?
Historically and biblically being made 'in the image of God' has been understood as having been made persons which are uniquely able to relate to God and reflect his divine nature and characteristics. Mankind is not a composite of God, he is Holy and he alone is God(Deut. 4:35, Isaiah 45:5), but he has created us as unique individuals to display his creativity and bring him glory in our particular giftings.
Does that change the way you view your relationship to God?
Read Genesis 3:1-5
What are some of the ways today that Satan tries to convince people we are not made in the image of God?
Does Satan try to convince us that sin doesn't affect our ability to bear God's image? Why would he do that?
How does Satan try to destroy the image of God in mankind?
If you used one word for Satan's attempts to destroy our relationship with God and reflecting God's image and characteristics back to him, to others, and his creation - it would be Sin.
What are some ways you have seen sin destroy your ability to reflect Jesus to others?
How does this help you appreciate what Jesus accomplished on the cross?
What does all of this have to do with modern technology? There are sooo many questions that come to mind and I would encourage you to ask and come up with more questions.
As we enter the age of supercomputers and humanoid robots, how might this call into question for many what it is to be human? To be made in the 'image of God'?
Modern technologies of all kinds and artificial Intelligence(really just advanced computer programming, data collection and synthesis) can be wonderful tools for business, medicine, etc.
When does it go from a tool to something that hinders or replaces part of our God-given design? Can you think of some examples?
Have you found yourself relying on modern technology and tools instead of looking to God? ...instead of looking to the community of Christ?
Bearing the image of God means being in a right relationship with God, with others made in his image, and what he has made. What are some ways AI or other technology might tempt you to outsource relationships with those around you?
What should you do about that?
What are some ways that people are outsourcing creativity and relating to God's creation and knowledge of what he has made?
Can you use AI tools to help you study or work? Should you allow it to do work for you that prevents you from personally understanding or being accountable for the information inside?
Does letting AI do the work take away good work God intends for our minds to do?
As long as the work gets done, does it matter?
What are some things that you can do that AI will never be able to do?
How do the Great Commandment play into this discussion?
Mark 12:29-31 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Praise God for Jesus making a way for us to be holy image bearers and reflect him to a world in desperate need of seeing the love of the Father!
In Christ,
Pastor Phillip
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