BIG IDEA

Because of who God is, we can trust how God has made us.

MESSAGE NOTES:

WHAT: 

For the next few weeks, we’re going to talk about two things: who we are and who God is. We're talking about who we are because many of us have questions and struggles related to who we are and who we're becoming. We're going to talk about who God is because you and I are made in the image of God, our Creator. To understand who we are, we must understand who our Creator is. To guide us through these conversations, each week we're going to look at a different true story from Scripture to discover who God is and who we are too.

SO WHAT:

We might think jealousy is pretty harmless — something we all experience from time to time. But the stories of Cain and Abel, as well as Joseph’s brothers, show how destructive jealousy can be.

In 1 Corinthians 12:4-12 Paul writes: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”

You were created by a God who is good (generous, trustworthy, caring, just, and fair). You are known and carefully designed by your Creator, who is always with you. You have a unique purpose that only you can fulfill, and a whole community of people to surround and support you.

Because of who God is, we can trust how God has made us.

NOW WHAT:

Spend some time reflecting on who God is, and what he would said about who you are and what your purpose is. During this reflection try these three things:

• Be real. No one will see this but you, so don't try to fool or impress anyone with what you write.

• Look for the good. You were made by a loving Creator, and there is so much to love about you.

• Dream big. There is no limit to what God can do through you.

  When you know who God is, you can be more confident in who God has created you to be. And when you're confident in who God has created you to be, it's easier to help others be confident in who God has created them to be.