Find daily readings for this week below along with questions for reflection. Join (or begin!) the discussion in the comments. We’d love to hear from you about how reading the Bible daily is bringing you closer to God and one another.
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AUGUST 9
Read: Genesis 1:26-31
Reflect: What questions do you have after reading this passage?
Respond: Comment below to share your response to reading and reflecting on these passages.
AUGUST 10
Read: Genesis 1:26
26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind 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.”Reflect: What likeness or image of God do you see in yourself? In others?
Respond: Comment below to share your response to reading and reflecting on these passages.
AUGUST 11
Read: Genesis 1:27
27 So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.Reflect: How does your understanding of gender shape the meaning of this verse?
Respond: Comment below to share your response to reading and reflecting on these passages.
AUGUST 12
Read: Genesis 1:28
28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”
Reflect: What does “dominion” mean to you?
Respond: Comment below to share your response to reading and reflecting on these passages.
AUGUST 13
Read: Genesis 1:29
29 God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.Reflect: How are you participating in sustainable eating?
Respond: Comment below to share your response to reading and reflecting on these passages.
AUGUST 14
Read: Genesis 1:30-31
30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.Reflect: How do you live so as to proclaim that creation is good?
Respond: Comment below to share your response to reading and reflecting on these passages.
AUGUST 15
Read: Genesis 1:26-31
Reflect: How will this message influence what you do this week?
Respond: Comment below to share your response to reading and reflecting on these passages.
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Totally vegetarian!
Likeness of God in myself: caring for the earth and recognizing that other creatures are as vital and important as I.
Likeness of God in others: those who are striving to love and care for other persons and for creation.
Gender and this passage. Really challenging question. This is a book written by people whose understanding of gender entered into the writing. So I read it with that in mind and also the thought that they were trying to understand the world and God’s role. Role isn’t the correct word but I am a little stumped there.
Dominion means to be in charge of, to care for, to tend as a garden, to treat as part of your own being.
In my small effort to eat sustainably, I have a plant-based diet and, as much as I can, buy organic produce, local as possible.
My goal is to treat all of creation with care and respect. I struggle with mosquitoes and ants sometimes. My nine-yr-old granddaughter teaches me each time we talk about caring for nature and animals. So I learn and change and try to be less destructive in all my interactions with the world.
It’s kind of weird but I find myself listening to nature more. Can’t even explain it. But maybe I’ll go with it this week and see what happens.