Small group

Being God's Image by Carmen J. Imes

Before you begin, how do you understand Genesis 1:27, what does it mean that humanity is made in God's image?
Dr Imes discusses the distinction between "in" and "as" with regard to God's image, how important do you think this distinction is and how do youthink it should be handled?
Is the distinction between "being" God's image and "bearing" God's image important to you? Why do you think it matters to Dr. Imes?

What type of literature do you believe Genesis 1 represents? Why do you take this approach?
What guidelines do you think Genesis provides for our modern ways of thinking?
Dr. Imes interprets Genesis focusing on the "why" questions, have you encountered this kind of reading before? What did you think of her interpretation?

What do you think of the language that God's image is "both kinship and kingship"?
How do the comparisons (and contrasts) between the Bible and ancient Babylonian texts help you to understand the Biblical stories, how do these concern you?
How do you think about issues like Creation Care in the light of being God's image?
How does this chapter help you understand the relationship between men and women?

What is your theology of work, how do you see the importance of work in your daily life,?
How do you maintain Sabbath rest, how are Sabbath and work related?
What is the relationship between men and women, what does an ideal relationship look like and where do you ground that?
Dr Imes discusses the image of God as it relates to both poverty and enviromental issues, how does her discussion of justice issues impact your perception of humanity as God's image?

When you consider the Cain and Abel story and the generations of Genesis 4-5 how do they help you consider the Image of God?
How do you understand the Flood story, what are the difficulties it brings?
How do you interpret the story of Babel and how does it make you feel about human building and construction?
Dr. Imes says that the danger of idolatry is that it is creation subduing us rather than us subduing creation, how does this concept impact you?

Many Christians today seem to want to downplay the physical world as "not my home" and only look to the spiritual realm, how can phrases like "tummy told me" be incorporated in our conversations to help us respect the material world more?
How do you understand the notion of sexuality within the concept of being God's image, particularly the idea of celibacy?
How does the idea of wisdom teaching us how to live in the world help us develop our ideas about being God's image?
How does being God's image change or impact your ideas about prayer, specifically intercessory prayers?

How do you respond to the Teacher in Ecclesiastes who says, "life is meaningless" (or perhaps a better translation smoke ethereal)
How do you deal with suffering like the kind Job went through?
What does it mean for us as God's image bearers to suffer?
How do we deal with having a limited perspective on suffering and grief?
How do we keep from being depressed or trite in the face of human suffering?