“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!” —Matthew 23:37-39
“The term ‘image of God’…refers not only to the wonder of the divine imprint within us, but also to our particular way of viewing God and hence of relating - or not relating - to God.” —Sue Pickering
The way we
What was a major influence in your life on forming your image of God?
“Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples: ’The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses. Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do, because they don’t practice what they teach.” —Matthew 23:1-3
Jesus desperately wanted to
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.” —(Matthew 23:13, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29)
“They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.” —Matthew 23:4
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord’!” —Matthew 23:37-39
Jesus portrays…
the
the
the
a
Our lives shape the God image for
For further study:
Scripture: Jeremiah 18; Song of Solomon; Luke 15:8-10; John 10, 15
Resources: “Spiritual Direction” by Sue Pickering; Chapter 2
Community Group Guide:
What were the major influences, i.e. parents, church, media, that shaped the way you viewed God?
How has the religious community positively or negatively impacted your image of God?
Do you see a correlation between your view of God and the way that you relate with God?
Are there ways that you see your image of God does or does not correlate with the image of God that Jesus portrayed?
What needs to change in your life to image forth a more accurate portrayal of God to the world?
As the church portrays God accurately to the world, what do you imagine would be the response?
To prepare for next week: Read and meditate on Matthew 24