Session 1 – Part A

Focus Verse:
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:27

Session I Designed for Community
Opening Prayer: Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks that in love and for love You have created us. You endowed our first parents, Adam and Eve, with Your im-age and blessed them to be together to joyfully share in work You had given humanity to do together. Lord, as we begin this journey to explore the gift You have given us in placing us in community, we ask that You would guide us by Your Holy Spirit. May He draw us near to Jesus, who redeemed us as Your creatures, and grow us in a deeper appreciation for how You have placed us together as Your family. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

By Design
We may not always appreciate it, or even notice it, but when something is well-designed, it brings blessings into our lives! I recently asked a few people to talk about something they believed was well-designed. One person noted their food processor. It was well-designed because it was adjustable, could be used for various foods, didn’t take up much space, and is easily cleaned! Another person said they liked a computer app because it logically organized information and was easy to navigate and share information with others.

1. What is something you appreciate for its design?
2. What qualities make something well-designed?

Video Segment

Video Segment – Discussion

1. What connected for you in the video?
2. What communities are you a part of? What do you like about those communities?

Designed by God – Genesis 1:26-31

26 Then God said, “Let us make man[h] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God he created him;
    male and female he created them.

1. How does God speak of His creating of humanity in Genesis 1:26-27?

2. What is the significance of God referring to Himself in both plural and singular pro-nouns? [See John 1:1-4 & Colossians 1:16-17]

John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Colossians 1:16-17 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

3a. What does it mean that male and female were created in God’s image?

3b. What do you think was God’s purpose in creating creatures that bore His image?

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

4. What clues does God give us in the Genesis 1 reading that God designed humanity to be in community?

Reading Assignment: Genesis 2 & 3

• For the next session, read Genesis chapter 2-3
• Next week we move into Chapter 2 and then Chapter 3
  – “Designed by God” and “Enter Sin” –