Events
Sermon
This week’s Scripture readings, if you’ve been following along in our posted Bible study, is from Genesis 1-25. This is the Bible’s creation story. Adam and Eve. Their children, Cain and Abel. The flood narrative through Noah. Abraham and Sarah. Isaac. It establishes the seventh day Sabbath as one of rest. Cosmic relations with angels. But most importantly, it reveals YHWH (God) through humanity. His very own creation. In so doing, He also shows His character in our own ever unfolding story.
”Then God said, ‘Let us make humans in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” -Genesis 1:26-27
All of humanity is created in YHWH’s image. In His likeness. But, what does that even mean? One way of looking at is is as the “shadow of God’s figure”. What is a shadow? Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines a shadow as, “1) the dark figure cast upon a surface by a body intercepting the rays from a source of light, 2) a reflected image, 3) an imperfect and faint representation, 4) an imitation of something.” That is how it defines a shadow as if it were a noun, a thing. However, the powerful definition is as a verb, an action. “To shelter, protect.”
Humanity is an imperfect reflection of the Holy Father. Who shelters and protects us, “…so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the adversary, for our struggle is not against blood and flesh but against rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:11-12).”
Being intended for YHWH’s image, likeness, also means we are meant to reflect His character. But what is YHWH’s character? One way we can find out is through the fruit of the spirit.
“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.” – Galatians 5:22-23
Going back to Genesis. Even after YHWH had to evict Adam and Even from the garden, He continued to show up for them and still does to this day. Heck, YHWH send His spirit into the world in flesh to be close to us. To guide us. To build a bridge that can never be torn down.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God…And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth…No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, himself God, who[f] is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.” – John 1:1-2, 14, 18
“Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.’” – John 14:8-10
YHWH even sent His Holy Spirit to live in and surround us at Pentecost (Acts 1:2; 2:1-12). Every step to be closer to humanity. Whom He chose to reveal Himself to and through. And yet, I must ask this question, if we are in the “image” of YHWH, then why do we constantly miss the mark? In our choices? In our actions? If the character of God is love, why do we hate? If it is joy then why are we sad or angry? If His character is peace then why are we anxious? Why are we at war with others and ourselves? If He is patience then why are we quick to jump the gun? To conclusions? Assumptions? Frustrations? Impatience? Kindness? Yet, we gossip? Yet, we bully? Generosity? And we hoard or chase greed. Faithfulness? Yet we doubt. Gentleness? No, we choose harshness. Insensitivity. Revoking empathy. If YHWH’s character is found in self-control then why do we live in excessiveness while others starve?
“This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did abominable things before me; therefore I removed them when I saw it.” – Ezekiel 16:49-50
Will we allow the reflection of our faith in the Lord to be one like the Prophet Ezekiel spoke about? Or, Weill we live for the Kingdom that is to come?
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and be their God; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’” – Revelation 21:1-4
“So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.’” – Mark 10:42-45
Let us serve in the likeness of YHWH. Let us reflect Yeshua’s (Jesus’) teachings. Let us be light in the darkness. Let us step into our priesthood and do the will of the Holy Spirit. Let us love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34). Forgive as Yeshua forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). Treat others as you want to be treated (Luke 6:31). He must increase and we must decrease (John 3:30).
Let me leave you with this:
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16
Amen.
Weekly Scripture Readings
➡️ = current
Quarter 1: Foundations of the Covenant (Weeks 1–13)
Week 1 (07/20/2026–07/26/2026): Genesis 1–25
➡️Week 2 (07/27/2026–08/02/2026): Genesis 26–50
Week 3 (08/03/2026–08/09/2026): Book of Jubilees (The creation and patriarchal secrets)
Week 4 (08/10/2026–08/16/2026): 1 Enoch (The Watchers, astronomical secrets, and the Son of Man)
Week 5 (08/17/2026–08/23/2026): Exodus 1–20 (The Exodus and the Decalogue)
Week 6 (08/24/2026–08/30/2026): Exodus 21–40 (The Tabernacle instructions)
Week 7 (08/31/2026–09/06/2026): Leviticus 1–27 (Sacred cycles, Purity, and the Holiness Code)
Week 8 (09/07/2026–09/13/2026): Numbers 1–18 (The Wilderness Census)
Week 9 (09/14/2026–09/20/2026): Numbers 19–36 (Journey to Canaan)
Week 10 (09/21/2026–09/27/2026): Deuteronomy 1–17 (Recounting the Covenant)
Week 11 (09/28/2026–10/04/2026): Deuteronomy 18–34 (The Shema, Blessings, and Curses)
Week 12 (10/05/2026–10/11/2026): Joshua 1–24 (Entering the Land)
Week 13 (10/12/2026–10/18/2026): Judges 1–21 & Ruth 1–4 (The Era of the Judges)
Quarter 2: The Kingdom and the Prophets (Weeks 14–26)
Week 14 (10/19/2026–10/25/2026): 1 Samuel 1–31
Week 15 (10/26/2026–11/01/2026): 2 Samuel 1–24
Week 16 (11/02/2026–11/08/2026): 1 Kings 1–22
Week 17 (11/09/2026–11/15/2026): 2 Kings 1–25
Week 18 (11/16/2026–11/22/2026): Isaiah 1–39 (Prophecies of Judgment)
Week 19 (11/23/2026–11/29/2026): Isaiah 40–66 (The Comfort of Israel and the Servant Songs)
Week 20 (11/30/2026–12/06/2026): Jeremiah 1–25
Week 21 (12/07/2026–12/13/2026): Jeremiah 26–52 & Lamentations
Week 22 (12/14/2026–12/20/2026): Ezekiel 1–24
Week 23 (12/21/2026–12/27/2026): Ezekiel 25–48 (The Vision of the Restored Temple)
Week 24 (12/28/2026–01/03/2027): Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah
Week 25 (01/04/2027–01/10/2027): Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah
Week 26 (01/11/2027–01/17/2027): Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Quarter 3: Wisdom and the Deuterocanon (Weeks 27–39)
Week 27 (01/18/2027–01/24/2027): Psalms 1–72
Week 28 (01/25/2027–01/31/2027): Psalms 73–150
Week 29 (02/01/2027–02/07/2027): Proverbs 1–31, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs
Week 30 (02/08/2027–02/14/2027): Job 1–42
Week 31 (02/15/2027–02/21/2027): 1 Chronicles 1–29 & 2 Chronicles 1–9
Week 32 (02/22/2027–02/28/2027): 2 Chronicles 10–36, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
Week 33 (03/01/2027–03/07/2027): Tobit & Judith (Deuterocanonical narratives)
Week 34 (03/08/2027–03/14/2027): Wisdom of Solomon & Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 1–25
Week 35 (03/15/2027–03/21/2027): Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 26–51
Week 36 (03/22/2027–03/28/2027): Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, & Prayer of Manasseh
Week 37 (03/29/2027–04/04/2027): 1 Maccabees (The history of Hanukkah and religious freedom)
Week 38 (04/05/2027–04/11/2027): 2 Maccabees (The theology of the martyrs and resurrection)
Week 39 (04/12/2027–04/18/2027): Daniel 1–12 (Including the additions: Susanna, Bel and the Dragon)
Quarter 4: The New Covenant & Apostolic Witness (Weeks 40–52)
Week 40 (04/19/2027–04/25/2027): Matthew 1–28 (The Messiah of Israel)
Week 41 (04/26/2027–05/02/2027): Mark 1–16 & Galatians
Week 42 (05/03/2027–05/09/2027): Luke 1–24 (The Gospel to the Outcast)
Week 43 (05/10/2027–05/16/2027): Acts 1–28 (The Outpouring of the Spirit)
Week 44 (05/17/2027–05/23/2027): Romans & James (Faith, Torah, and Radical Justice)
Week 45 (05/24/2027–05/30/2027): 1 & 2 Corinthians
Week 46 (05/31/2027–06/06/2027): Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon
Week 47 (06/07/2027–06/13/2027): 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus
Week 48 (06/14/2027–06/20/2027): Hebrews (The Heavenly Priesthood and Tabernacle)
Week 49 (06/21/2027–06/27/2027): John 1–21 (The Word Made Flesh)
Week 50 (06/28/2027–07/04/2027): 1, 2, & 3 John, Jude (Pairs explicitly with 1 Enoch references)
Week 51 (07/05/2027–07/11/2027): 1 & 2 Peter (Pairs with the Genesis/Enoch stories of Noah and the Watchers)
Week 52 (07/12/2027–07/18/2027): Revelation 1–22 (The New Jerusalem and Restored Paradise)
