Stretched: Name, Image, & Likeness - July 20, 2025 First Service

NAME, IMAGE, & LIKENESS John 4.3-42 Dr Gordon Dabbs Jesus doesn’t stretch us because He enjoys watching us squirm. He challenges us because He wants to transform us into the people we were always meant to be. That’s the deal. N.I.L. • Name: God announces… Numbers 6.27 (ESV) “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.” • Image: We are… Predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. Romans 8.29 (ESV) • Likeness: We are called Christians, literally, “little Christs.” Acts 11.26 Here’s the thing. Until a person accepts that they are broken and there is NOTHING they can do to fix themselves, they won’t hear this as good news. But once I understand I’m created by God to bear the image of His Son, the lifelong adventure begins. Romans 8.28-29 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. I pray that this message series has helped you see what the Lord is doing through the discomfort… how He is shaping and molding you. John 3.16 (ESV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 4.3-7 (ESV) He left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” John 4.9 (ESV) “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) She sighs… “Oh well, I guess we’ll have to wait on the Messiah to come some day and clear all of this up.” John 4.26 (ESV) “I who speak to you am he.” John4.39 (ESV) Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony. There are few things that stretch me… that pull me out of my comfort zone… like the love of Jesus. He loves the immigrant… and the ICE agent… the MAGA hat guy and the vegan barista with the composting toilet. He loves the influencers and the invisible. Highland Park… and Hamilton Park. Hebrews 1.3 (ESV) He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. What do you think? Can you say yes to the N.I.L. deal and refuse to love like he loves? John answers that bluntly. 1 John 4.7-8 (ESV) Whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God…

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