God says “let us” before He makes anything human.
Read what He says humanity is to be, and what He tells them to do next.
Then read what Paul calls Jesus in Colossians, and notice what he says was made through Him.
Genesis 1:26-31 | Colossians 1:15-16
Tap a tool, then tap words. Highlight what gets your attention · underline what God is doing or saying · circle a repeated or unfamiliar word.
Read it aloud, then give everyone two minutes to mark it in silence.
Read both passages slowly. Notice what God says humanity is made in, what He tells them to do, what Paul calls Jesus, and what he says was made through Him. What details stand out? What surprises you?
Genesis 1:26-31: Humanity is created in the image of God to reflect His character and represent His rule over the Earth.
Colossians 1:15-16: Jesus is the ideal Image of God, the image that the rest of us are called to be like.
Mark it:
- Underline what God is doing or saying.
- Circle a word that repeats, or one you don’t understand.
- Highlight whatever gets your attention, even if you can’t say why.
Genesis 1:26-31
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Colossians 1:15-16
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Genesis 1:26-31
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Colossians 1:15-16
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Read Genesis 1:26-31; Colossians 1:15-16 in the New Living Translation
Genesis 1:26-31
Colossians 1:15-16
NET Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. netbible.com
What stood out?
Go around the room. Each person reads one thing they marked. If you know why it stood out, say so. If you don’t, “it just stood out” is a complete answer. Nobody explains, nobody corrects.
Your markings are saved on this device and will be here when you come back.
Jesus
In the ancient world, an image wasn’t just a statue; it was a representative of a god’s presence and power. To honor or deface the image was to honor or deface the god it represented. That’s why Yahweh told His people not to make idols. He already had an image: humanity.
Being made in God’s image means you were created to reflect His nature (His justice, love, creativity, and care) into the world. That’s a sacred responsibility. As Christians, the way we live is how we represent God to the world. Scripture also teaches that how we treat others, especially the vulnerable, is how we’re treating God (Matthew 25:40).
Jesus is the ultimate image of God. He not only shows us what God is like but also what it means to be fully human. If we want to know who we’re called to become, we look at Him.
To be made in God’s image is to carry His value, purpose, and identity.
Jesus is the full and flawless image of God.
Becoming like Jesus means recovering our true humanity.
Read this one out loud.
Discussion questions
- Genesis says you were created in the image of God. When you hear that, does it feel empowering, overwhelming, or something else? Why?
- If Jesus is the perfect image of God and we’re meant to reflect Him, how does that shape your understanding of spiritual growth or discipleship?
- Which part of Jesus’ life (His compassion, courage, truth-telling, forgiveness, etc.) do you feel drawn to imitate more intentionally right now?
Write it out.
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Let’s pray together
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where He’s forming Christ in you. Pray for freedom from shame, clarity of calling, and the courage to reflect Jesus in your relationships, work, and decisions.
If led, share any images, scriptures, impressions the Holy Spirit is revealing as you pray.
- Where in your life are you struggling to see yourself the way God sees you?
- What’s one part of Jesus’ character you want to reflect more fully?
Leave space for silence, listening, and Spirit-led prayer. If someone senses a word, a Scripture, or a picture for another, offer it gently and pray into it.
Let’s pray
Breakthrough is when God’s Kingdom breaks into your reality: His healing where there is pain, His freedom where there is bondage, His presence where there is loneliness. Jesus is King; His freedom, peace and purpose are available now. Pray from that Kingdom, not toward it.
Be still for a moment. Open your hands and simply pray: “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Sit with his first two questions and write down what comes: where you are struggling to see yourself the way God sees you, and one part of Jesus’ character you want to reflect more fully. Then ask the Holy Spirit to show you where He’s forming Christ in you, and pray for freedom from shame, clarity of calling, and the courage to reflect Jesus in your relationships, work, and decisions. Write down any image, Scripture or impression that comes while you pray.
You can pray more than once. Stay present, and trust that God is at work. Take your time; there is no hurry.
Choose one. Say it out loud so someone else hears it.
Next time you gather, share what you practiced and how God used it, not for pressure but for encouragement.
The reminder downloads as a calendar event. Open it and it lands on your calendar for tomorrow morning.
Done.
Jesus is the true image of God and the pattern of faithful humanity. Jesus shows us what God is like, and who we’re meant to become.