Not Made to Be AloneSample

Week 1 — Made for Community With God

In God’s Image

Read: Genesis 1:26–27

SOAP: Genesis 1:27

God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.

Into the Text

The evidence that God designed us for community is easy to find in today’s reading. Take a look at how often plural language is used—words like “us,” “our,” or “they.” There are already hints about the significance of community, collaboration, and connection. What was already occurring in heaven would be replicated on earth.

Theologians debate about what the use of the plural “us” and “our” means in this section. It could reference the Trinity, it might be used as a royal “we,” or it may refer to God and His heavenly court and are there to offer praise while God does the creative work. Whichever option is true, all point to a God who values community.

God created everything in the whole earth and said it was good—but it wasn’t until He created humans that He created something in His own image. Humans were created to, in some way, reflect the form and the function of the Creator. God, the ultimate Ruler and Creator, chooses to give humans the authority to rule over His creation and to continue His work of creating with the command to “be fruitful and multiply.”

God did not simply create everything on earth and walk away to work on a new project. He stayed, He spoke to Adam and Eve, and He walked with them in the garden so they could build a relationship with Him. You are made for that same community with God—to talk with Him, to walk daily with Him, and to build a relationship with Him. You were chosen to be in community with God, not by accident, but by design and on purpose, from the very beginning.