As followers of Jesus, our most important pursuit is not to keep up on what is politically correct, but on what is biblically correct.

Qualities of God’s image we represent:

1. Authority - ruling over creation (Ps. 8:5-8)

2. Spiritual likeness – eternal, the soul

3. Intellectual likeness – cognitive abilities, think, reason, language, ingenuity, imagination

4. Volitional likeness – desire, choice, will (not just instincts)

5. Emotional likeness – feeling, affection

6. Moral likeness – discern right and wrong, conscience

Creation order according to Genesis 2…

Genesis 2:7–25 (ESV)
7...then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. 11The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. 13The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush. 14And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 15The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 18Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

What is a man? One created by God in the image of God to represent Him while leading and loving woman as they rule over creation together.


What is biblical masculinity? Courage of heart to glorify God in all things by leading and loving woman through servant leadership.

What is a woman? One created uniquely by God in the image of God to represent Him while helping and completing man as she assists in ruling over creation.


What is biblical femininity? Strength of heart to glorify God in all things by helping and loving man.

Genesis 3:6 (ESV) - So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:12 (ESV) - The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

Neither man nor woman wanted to take responsibility for the choice they made.

Specific consequences…
Genesis 3:16 (ESV) - To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”

Genesis 3:17–19 (ESV) - And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Discussion Questions
1. What do you find important about the creation order of male and female found in Genesis 2?

2. Read Genesis 2:15-18 and Psalm 121:1-2. How do these passages help you understand the meaning and role of “helper”? How do these implications affect your understanding of marriage in general or your own marriage (if you’re married)?

3. What stands out to you most about the specific consequences God spoke to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:16-19? In what way do these consequences show up in everyday life? How might these consequence give explanation to common marital struggles?

4. Do you believe the roles God gave to male (servant leader) and female (helper) apply in general relationships between men and women, not just marriage? If so, in what way? If not, why not?

5. What is one helpful takeaway for you from this message?