Newsletter #2 - October 3, 2021
God Created People (Genesis 1–2)
Dear NYCBC Family and Children Ministry families,
Fall is in the air and we are continuing with our look at the beginning of the bible! Next week, we'll look at how humans are at the centre of everything God created. Only God Himself is more important. That is why the creation of the first man and woman—Adam and Eve—deserved its own session.
As you talk with your families about next week’s session, there are two words that might be unclear or confusing. The first is our in Genesis 1:26. “Let us make man in our image.” This can be confusing because the Bible is clear that there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4 and 1 Timothy 2:5).
Why then does God say our image and not my image?
Here are two of the most common explanations. The first is that this word affirms the doctrine known as the Trinity—that God is one in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Our in this verse is drawing from that important aspect of who God is. This would make sense here because a common, but wrong, belief of why God created people was because He was lonely. But God as three Persons in one is never alone. He has always enjoyed a perfect relationship of love within who He is. It would make sense that God wants to make that clear here.
A second explanation for our is that it is the use of what is called the “plural of majesty.” In this case, God is establishing from very early on how glorious He is, even in how He refers to Himself.
The second word that deserves a note is image. Once again, scholars have debated for ages about what this word means. But we can know what it does not mean: physical form. God is spirit (see John 4:24), so we are not made with a body like God’s body; He has no body. Instead, being made in God’s image includes attributes of people that separate us from the rest of creation (such as our ability to reason, our morality, our will, and our emotions) and our unique role in creation as ruling over it under God’s greater rule.
While we might not know what these two words mean exactly, we do know this for sure: our glorious God has made people to be special in all of His creation and designed us to be in relationship with Him. FAMILY TALKING POINTS CHRIST CONNECTION
This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
God created people in His own image and provides for everything He made. People are special because God made people to live forever in a relationship with Him. Through His Son, Jesus, we can have eternal life with God just as He planned.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit. Why did God create everything? God created everything for His glory and our good.
KEY PASSAGE This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. — Psalm 19:1
Please take some time to reflect on these points with your families and join us next Sunday for the next online Sunday school (Oct 10 2021, from 2pm - 3:15pm). The class links will stay the same as last time. See you soon!
Lovingly In Christ,
NYCBC FCM Committee