In the beginning, God made land, and trees, sunsets, and flowers, and bugs, and gemstones, and an entire world full of plants and animals that display His vast wonder and creativity. But then He did something special…He made images of Himself. Likenesses made to enjoy His creation and be in relationship with Him. He made us.
Gen 1:26 – And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”
However, there seems to be a lot of confusion today. People have a hard time knowing who or what they are, let alone their purpose. But we were never tasked with the responsibility of figuring all of that out. God, who made us, knows us better than we even know ourselves and He tells us who we are, what we are, and why we are here.
Who we are
Isaiah 43:1-4 “Bur now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you.”
What we are
According to Ephesians 1, we who are in Christ are: blessed, chosen, holy, blameless, predestined, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, heirs, united, hopeful, and sealed. This is what the Word of God says we are. Who are we to say otherwise?
Why we are here
Matt 22:37-39 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
When we submit ourselves to Christ, we know exactly who and what we are. We don’t have to look any further than Him, because we are made in His likeness. It’s when we try to rely on our own understanding that we no longer have the clarity that our Creator provides.
This June, join us at the Summit Youth Rally and let Him who made you define who and what you are.
Keynote Speaker: Jonathan House
Jonathan has been working with the Liberty Church of Christ for 15 years, serving as the pulpit minister for the past 13 years. He received a degree in Psychology from UCA and my master’s degree in Ministry from Harding. He has been married to his wonderful wife Haley for almost 13 years. They have been blessed with two children, Tate and Tinley.
Song Leader: Andrew Chance
Returning this year to lead our singing again will be Andrew Chance. Andrew has worked with youths for nearly two decades as a middle school teacher in Fayetteville, AR. Last year he did an amazing job leading singing while offering the occasional joke or quip along the way. Andrew attends at the Mt. Comfort Church of Christ in Fayetteville and we are fortunate that he is willing to come all the way across the state to lead us into deeper worship through song.
