The Big Questions

How are we created in the image of God?Youcat 58: What does it mean to say that man was created “in God’s image”?Unlike inanimate objects, plants, and animals, man is a person endowed (given) with a spirit. This characteristic unites him with God more than with his visible

fellow creatures. [CCC 355-357, 380]

Man is not a something but rather a someone. Just as we say about God that he is person, so too we say this about man. Man can think beyond his immediate

horizon and measure the whole breadth of being; he can even know himself with critical objectivity (ability to be neutral) and work to improve himself; he can

perceive others as persons, understand them in their dignity, and love them. Of all the visible creatures, man alone is “able to know and love his creator”

(Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et spes [GS] 12, 3). Man is destined to live with him in friendship (John 15:15).

Question 1: After reading the text above write down ten keywords or phrases from the text below:

Question 2: Now read the following link: http://www.catholicsociety.com/documents/other-documents/Image_and_Likeness_of_God.pdf What other keywords or phrases could you add to the table?

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The Big Questions

What is Stewardship?

Stewardship is a way of life, a life of accountability and responsibility acknowledging God as Creator and Giver of all. Stewardship involves responsible management of our God-given resources of time, talent, and treasure. Stewards as disciples of Jesus Christ see themselves as caretakers of all God's gifts. Gratitude for these gifts is expressed in prayer, worship, offering and action by eagerly sharing our gifts out of love for God and one another.

Stewardship is based on the spiritual principles of the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus. Stewardship is not just a program, or a method of fundraising, it is a way of thanking God for all His blessings by returning a portion of the time, talent, and treasure we have each received.

Stewardship is a path to holiness. It makes us more like Christ who came not to be served, but to serve. It is a grateful awareness that all we have and all we are comes freely from God. When we offer our lives back to God in love, He blesses that generosity a hundredfold.

http://www.smarymag.org/stewardship-what

What does scripture say about stewardship?

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace.—1 Peter 4:10

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given you besides.—Matthew 6:33

You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.—Micah 6:8

Reflection Questionso What resources, talents, and abilities has God given me? Do I use them in

service to others?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The Big Questions

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o If I am to work to be an effective Christian steward, with the help of God's grace, what will it cost me in terms of personal sacrifice and hardship? Am I willing to do this?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

o How can I be of help to others in recognizing and using the gifts that they've been given?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The Big Questions

Question 3: View the Catholic Earthcare initiatives below and complete the table.

Initiative How has this person or group displayed the action of stewardship?

How can you do the same? Be specific!

Light the Way Vigil – Sydneyhttp://catholicearthcare.org.au/2015/09/light-the-way-vigil-sydney/

The People’s Climate Marchhttp://catholicearthcare.org.au/2015/09/peoples-climate-march/

Ecofaith on the Airhttp://catholicearthcare.org.au/2015/07/

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ecofaith-on-the-air/

Fasting for the Climatehttp://catholicearthcare.org.au/2015/06/fasting-for-the-climate/

Attend or host an Earth Hourhttp://catholicearthcare.org.au/2015/03/attend-or-host-an-earth-hour-event-on-march-28th/

Care, Connect, Share: Our Common Homehttp://

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catholicearthcare.org.au/project/connect-care-share-our-common-home/

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The Big Questions

How does God feel about his creation?

Psalm 104:31

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The Big Questions

Question 4: Using the scripture word cloud and emotive word bank answer the question: How does God feel about his creation?

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Question 5: Read the scripture passages below and for each, respond to the following question: What does this scripture passage reveal about how God feels about his creation?Scripture Passage

Scripture Content What does this scripture passage reveal about how God feels about his creation?

Isaiah 42:5

“Thus says God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which comes out of it; he that gives breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.”

Genesis 1:26

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

1 Timothy

4:4

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving

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The Big Questions

Job 12:7-10

“Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”

Genesis 2:18

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Genesis 2:3

Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Genesis 1:24

And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so.

Job 37:5

God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.

Genesis 2:7

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Genesis 1:14

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years.

Genesis 1:20

And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.”

Why did God create humans?

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The Big Questions

Question 6: Using one or more of the quotes below, address the following question: Why did God create humans?

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The Big Questions

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