1 Personal Stewardship Series Day 1: Who Am I and Why Am I Important to God? Read “Eyes on...

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Personal Stewardship SeriesPersonal Stewardship Series

Day 1: Who Am I and Day 1: Who Am I and

Why Am I Important to God?Why Am I Important to God?

• Read “Eyes on Eternity” pp. 34-36 – from “Read “Eyes on Eternity” pp. 34-36 – from “The The Treasure Principle”Treasure Principle”

• Read Genesis 1:26-30Read Genesis 1:26-30

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Genesis 1:26, 27Genesis 1:26, 27

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in 26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created human beings in his own 27 So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (TNIV)male and female he created them. (TNIV)

What does it mean to be created in God’s image?

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We are created in God’s image yet we’re We are created in God’s image yet we’re not all the same. Why is that?not all the same. Why is that?

2 Cor. 4:4 says:2 Cor. 4:4 says:

The god of this age has blinded the minds The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of the light of the gospel of the glory of ChristChrist, who , who isis the image of God. the image of God.

What the significance of this passage?What the significance of this passage?

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Who determined where you are, who you Who determined where you are, who you are, what you have, your various roles are, what you have, your various roles and your opportunities?and your opportunities?

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Is That All There Is?Is That All There Is?

Peggy LeePeggy Lee

J. Lieber - M. StollerJ. Lieber - M. Stoller

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I remember when I was a very little girl, our I remember when I was a very little girl, our house caught on fire. house caught on fire.

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I'll never forget the look on my father's face as I'll never forget the look on my father's face as he gathered me up in his arms and raced he gathered me up in his arms and raced through the burning building out to the through the burning building out to the pavement.pavement.

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I stood there shivering in my pajamas and watched I stood there shivering in my pajamas and watched the whole world go up in flames. And when it was the whole world go up in flames. And when it was all over I said to myself, "Is that all there is to a all over I said to myself, "Is that all there is to a fire?"fire?"

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Is that all there is, is that all there is? Is that all there is, is that all there is? If that's all there is, my friends, then let's keep If that's all there is, my friends, then let's keep dancing.dancing.

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Let's break out the booze and have a ball, Let's break out the booze and have a ball, if that's all there is …if that's all there is …

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And when I was 12 years old, my Daddy took me to And when I was 12 years old, my Daddy took me to a circus, the greatest show on earth.a circus, the greatest show on earth.

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There were clowns and elephants There were clowns and elephants and dancing bears. and dancing bears.

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And a beautiful lady And a beautiful lady in pink tights flew in pink tights flew high above our high above our heads.heads.

14And as I sat there watching,And as I sat there watching,

15I had the feeling that something was missing.I had the feeling that something was missing.

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I don't know what, but when it was all over, I said I don't know what, but when it was all over, I said to myself, “Is that all there is to a circus?”to myself, “Is that all there is to a circus?”

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Is that all there is, is that all there is? If that's Is that all there is, is that all there is? If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing,all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing,

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Let's break out the booze and have a ball, if Let's break out the booze and have a ball, if that's all there is.that's all there is.

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Then I fell in love, with the most wonderful boy in Then I fell in love, with the most wonderful boy in all the world.all the world.

20We would take long walks down by the We would take long walks down by the riverriver

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or just sit for hours gazing into each or just sit for hours gazing into each other's eyes.other's eyes.

22We were so very much in love.We were so very much in love.

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Then one day he went away and I thought I'd die, Then one day he went away and I thought I'd die, but I didn't, and when I didn't I said to myself, “Is but I didn't, and when I didn't I said to myself, “Is that all there is to love?"that all there is to love?"

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Is that all there is? is that all there is? Is that all there is? is that all there is? If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep …If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep …

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I know what you must be saying to yourselves - I know what you must be saying to yourselves - if that's the way she feels about it,if that's the way she feels about it,

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why doesn't she just end it all?why doesn't she just end it all?

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Oh, no, not me. I'm not ready for that final Oh, no, not me. I'm not ready for that final disappointment, for I know just as well as I'm disappointment, for I know just as well as I'm standing here talking to you,standing here talking to you,

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when that final moment comes and I'm breathing when that final moment comes and I'm breathing my last breath, I'll be saying to myself:my last breath, I'll be saying to myself:

29Is that all there is, is that all there is? If that's all there Is that all there is, is that all there is? If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing.is my friends, then let's keep dancing.

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Let's break out the booze and have a ball, Let's break out the booze and have a ball, if that's all there is.if that's all there is.

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Is That All There Is?Is That All There Is?

Peggy LeePeggy Lee

J. Lieber - M. StollerJ. Lieber - M. Stoller

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I had the feeling that something I had the feeling that something was missing, I don’t know what, was missing, I don’t know what, but...but...

What do you think she was looking for? What do you think she was looking for? (see SR 1-2 Q 1)(see SR 1-2 Q 1)

What’s wrong with the TGIF lifestyle? What’s What’s wrong with the TGIF lifestyle? What’s the missing ingredient?the missing ingredient?(see SR 1-2 Q 2)(see SR 1-2 Q 2)

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That it does matter!

I matter enough to my heavenly father - that he would send his Son - for me!

Because of what Jesus did - I matter! I count…

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There must be something more to life than There must be something more to life than just work and fun. What is it? What is God just work and fun. What is it? What is God looking for from his unique work of looking for from his unique work of creation, namely you? (see SR 1-2 Q 3)creation, namely you? (see SR 1-2 Q 3)

Imagine that you were born into a poor Imagine that you were born into a poor slum family, living on railway land beside slum family, living on railway land beside the tracks in ____________ the capital city of the tracks in ____________ the capital city of _____________. Consider food, clothing, your _____________. Consider food, clothing, your living circumstances and your opportunities living circumstances and your opportunities for education and work? How different for education and work? How different would your life be? would your life be? (see SR 1-2 Q 4)(see SR 1-2 Q 4)

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Why doesn’t God simply use his power to Why doesn’t God simply use his power to solve all the problems of the world? solve all the problems of the world? (see SR 1-2 Q 5)(see SR 1-2 Q 5)

In your own words, list the reasons why In your own words, list the reasons why you am important to God and he is you am important to God and he is important to you. (see SR 1-2 Q 6)important to you. (see SR 1-2 Q 6)

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The Stewardship Project has been a collaborative effort of Christian Stewardship Services (CSS), Foundation for Niagara Christian Schools (FNCS) and the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (OACS).

CSS: http:// www.csservices.caFNCS: http://www.foundationniagara.caOACS: http://www.oacs.org

© 2008 Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (OACS)