Rooted to Reach

Edward Kimball walked into a shoe store and told a teenage clerk about Jesus. He changed the world.

A group of friends had long ordinary conversations with a skeptical thinker and shaped the way you and I understand our faith.

A woman quietly sewed clothes for people in need and an entire community felt her loss when she was gone.

A young businessman took some students to eat fast food and changed the course of their lives.

None of them were famous. No platform. No Instagram followers. But all of them were doing exactly what they were designed to do.

But what were we designed to do? What is God’s purpose for people? Why are we here?

Just like the people in these stories, God isn’t calling us to be famous.He’s asking us to be faithful. It’s not about being seen. It’s about being faithfulright where we are.

Think about the strength of a tree . . . It’s not in the trunk, or in the branches, No! The strength of the tree is in the unseen roots. Those roots empower the branches to reach further into the world.

In the same way, we learned last week about our
roots . . . the “Imago Dei.” We were created in God’s image. Our identity is rooted in the image of God. This week we’re talking about what that means. What is God’s purpose for people? Do we have responsibilities?

Genesis 1:27-28 – ²⁷“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. ²⁸God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Do you hear it?

Be fruitful. Increase. Fill the earth. Subdue it. Be responsible for it.

God made us in His image, but this is why. He wants us to multiply what reflects His image into every little corner of our world. God tells us to be image bearers here in Genesis. Our identity is rooted in God’s image so we can reach into all the world. This has always been God’s mission, and He has created us for this very purpose. Being made in His image means that wherever we go, we are bringing Him into those spaces. He built success into us.

And if that sounds familiar, it should . . . because Jesus says something very similar in Matthew 28.

In Genesis, God says, “Fill the earth.”

In Matthew, Jesus says, “Go into all nations and make disciples.”

The Great Commission is not a new idea. . . it’s the redeemed version of the original mission.

In Genesis, we were called to fill the earth with image bearers.

In Christ, we are called to fill the earth with disciples who reflect His image.

Now let’s look a little closer at this Genesis verse.

Verse 1:27 says “So God created mankind IN his own image.

God created mankind “IN” His image. If you go back to the original Hebrew word here, it can also be accurately translated with the word “AS” His image. Read it again this way:

Genesis 1:27-28 – “So God created mankind AS his own image.”

I don’t know about you, but I hear “IN” His image and I hear self-esteem . . . confidence in who He created me. But then I hear “AS” His image and I hear purpose and mission. I love how God can communicate so much with just one verse.

We are to carry His image into all the world.

And by the way, if we are going to bear His image well, we have to ask ourselves, “What does His image look like?” And think about it: the first way God reveals Himself to us in the Bible is that He is CREATOR. For us to bear His image, to be like Him, means we are to be creative like Him.

So. . . how do we do that? Let’s look back at verse 28.

It says, be “fruitful, increase, fill the earth, subdue it, rule over it.” Theologians sometimes call this the “dominion mandate” or the “cultural mandate,” but really . . . for simple minds like mine, it’s just God’s call for us to represent Him in the world – to bear His image. It’s not about exploitation and control. It’s about stewardship and cultivation. It’s treating the world the way God would – bearing His image.

Genesis 1:28 – God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

When He says be fruitful and increase, He’s not talking about overpowering the world. He’s talking about multiplying and expanding the things that reflect God. Faith, goodness, order, and people, image bearers. It’s about making more of what God is like. About spreading out and making Him known in the world.   

And when He tells us to “subdue” the earth. It’s less about domination, and more about cultivation. It’s about bringing order to the chaos, cultivating what is raw. Developing, building, organizing, restoring. To “subdue,” means that when we see chaos, we refuse to leave it that way.

To “rule” as it’s used in this passage is to take responsibility. It’s not a military thing. It means we care for the world. We lead it to flourish and seek good for the world we find ourselves in.

When I read this passage, I hear these massive words and feel really small. “Fill” the earth “Rule” over it. “Subdue” it. I mean, who am I? Like, I can’t do all this.

But I want to show you something I’m discovering.

God didn’t just create a world. He also created people in His image to continue His work. This is an incredible privilege for Him to invite us into His work. When we bear His image we also become co-creators with Him. We become creators too. . . not creators like God, but we were created to create. I know most of us don’t think of ourselves as creatives. But this isn’t just a message for artists or builders. It’s for all of us, all who bear the image of God. You are creative, you just don’t realize it.

Moms, you guys create families, and homes, and meals. You shape your work environments, and your coworkers and your children.

Teachers create understanding and cultivate minds.

Leaders create culture and guide us through change.

Friends create encouragement and laughter and joy and community. You influence everyone around you.

When you do these things you are creating a new world.

You don’t have to be artistic to be creative. You’ve just got to make things better. I mean, in the end, that’s what this verse really is. Bearing God’s image . . . creating . . . all of it . . . is simply to “make the world better.” In a way that reflects God’s character. Work to make this world into the place He intended it to be.

It’s a massive mission, but when we each do our small part, when each of us creates, and cultivates, and influences our world. . . well . . . that’s how this works. That’s God’s design . . . His intention.

This mission is global, but it’s lived out in very local, very ordinary lives. I know this is true, but if you’re like me… you still hear ‘fill the earth’ and think, ‘Man, I can’t even fill a fountain drink without foam spilling over. I make a mess at Bucees every time I buy a drink. If I can’t even fill a cup, how can I “fill the earth?” It all feels too big … until I realize God never asked me to do everything—just something.

Let me show you what I mean.

Turn with me to Acts:9:36-42

Acts 9:36-42

³⁶In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. ³⁷About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. ³⁸Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

³⁹Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

⁴⁰Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. ⁴¹He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. ⁴²This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. ⁴³Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

Now, here’s the thing: I want you to see some things about Dorcas.

First,

Dorcas noticed a need. The widows needed clothing. Secondly,

She used what she had. Needle and thread, some cloth. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. And finally,

She created something that mattered. Clothes, which really means she created dignity, warmth, and she cared for them.

These are humble tasks, small things, but they must have been performed with great love. When the widows had gathered around her body and sent for Peter, they didn’t bring stories of her fame. They didn’t talk about the things they learned from her in Bible Study. They brought the things she made. The work of her hands bore witness to her character, and ultimately to what she believed about Jesus. Despite her humble position, she had a big impact.  

Genesis said, “Multiply. Subdue. Be responsible.” And then in the New Testament Jesus said, “Go into all nations and make disciples.”

That’s what Dorcas was doing:

Multiplied goodness.

Subdued the needs of these widows.

Acted responsibly in caring for this poor community.

She lived in a way that helped others believe. These widows didn’t just receive clothes . . . they experienced compassion, dignity, and the character of Christ through her hands. Her service made the Gospel visible.

Her service made the Gospel visible.

Your service can make the Gospel visible.

And when the gospel becomes visible . . . when people see Jesus . . . it makes all the difference in the world. When people see Jesus, they believe.

Acts tells us after her story that “many believed in the Lord.”    

Dorcas wasn’t a pastor. She didn’t have a platform. She wasn’t famous, BUT she was faithful.

Dorcas didn’t preach this Bible passage . . . she lived it out.

In Christ, Dorcas’ identity was ROOTED to REACH the world around her. And by reaching her world, she was fulfilling this call to bear God’s image. She was “making disciples.”

I think Moms are like this too. It’s not a glamorous job. I’ve watched both my Mom and Miranda stay up late with sick kids. Perform as an unpaid taxi service, fold clothes just to be tossed onto the floor. They’ve settled tiny arguments that had somehow turned into full-blown courtroom cases, and all this while being called “Mom” 47 times before breakfast. It’s true. It’s not glamorous, but it matters. Creating stability, nurturing faith, building a home, living as a role model . . . man, these things fulfill this call to multiply, subdue, and act responsibly in the world around us. Moms make this world better – make it reflect God more accurately.  

Now, I don’t know about you, but I hear this and I’m inspired. I want to do more. I want to make the world better. I want to have an impact on my community like Dorcas did. so . . . I tell myself I need to try harder or find more time to serve others, but here’s the thing . . . Jesus doesn’t tell us to try harder.

In John 15, He says, “Abide in me, and you will bear much fruit.”  Fruit. We don’t abide so we can be stronger. It’s not about us. We abide so we can bear fruit. Fruit that carries seed. Fruit that will be be spread into all the world. It’s never just about our personal growth . . . it’s multiplication. It’s also not about more work or effort, but simply about our connection with Jesus. Abide in Him. We don’t produce fruit by trying harder . . . we produce fruit by staying connected. . . by staying connected to the source and waiting. . . patiently waiting.

We’re back to the image of the tree again. The longer we “abide,” the deeper our roots dig into the soil where they draw out the nutrients so our branches can reach further into the world. We are ROOTED to REACH the world around us. If you feel stretched thin . . . it might not be a “reach” problem. . . it might be a “root” problem.

Some of us, I’m talking to myself, I don’t need to try harder… I need to slow down and reconnect. I don’t need to work harder and keep trying to figure things out . . . stressing over my future. I need to rest in Jesus. Sit with Him. Practice Sabbath. Just be present. Abide in Him by spending time listening to Him in the Bible. I need to trust Him. Maybe check in with the people in my small group to get encouraged or get a new perspective . . . clarity.

This makes me wonder about Dorcas. How did she “abide” with Jesus? Did she have a small group too? Scripture doesn’t tell us directly, but when you consider her consistent daily rhythm of serving, you know her relationship with Jesus was deep. When she ran out of thread, or didn’t know how she would go on, she trusted Him to carry her, to provide for her.

Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” This is Dorcas. Small things. Great love. In her relationship with Christ, she was absolutely ROOTED to REACH the people in her world. And so are we.

When you see chaos. Don’t leave it that way.

Take responsibility for what’s in front of you.

Make more of what God is like. When you see Him, multiply it, amplify it.

Some of you need to stop asking, “What’s my ministry?” and start asking, “Who has God placed near me?” Because the Great Commission usually begins across a dinner table, not on a stage.

Don’t try to change the world. Just refuse to leave your space unchanged.

Be like the people I shared about at the beginning of this message.

The man who shared his faith in the shoe store was talking to a kid who would go on to share the Gospel with 100 million people, Dwight L. Moody.

The friends shared deep conversations with a skeptic named C.S. Lewis. You may know him from the Chronicles of Narnia and any number of his theological books. Those friends changed the way you and I think about our faith.

The woman with the needle and thread? That was Dorcas.

And that businessman who took a few students to get fast food? That was a guy named Joe Torrez. Joe was my youth minister. He changed the course of my life.

None of these people were trying to be famous.

They were simply being faithful.

They noticed a need. (Joe saw my need for Jesus. He saw the empty places in my life and heart.)

They used what they had. (Joe had some time. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.)

They made something that mattered. (Joe made space for me in his life. In conversations and games and experiences. He made the gospel visible to me. I saw Jesus because Joe was faithful.)

That is our purpose. And that fulfills this Genesis call.

That is the Great Commission lived out.

That is what rooted people do—they reach.

Do little things with great love. You may not see the impact, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real. God uses ordinary people in ordinary places to do extraordinary things.

You are ROOTED in the image of the Creator. . .

Your life is meant to create.

You may never stand on a stage.

You may never be widely known.

But every time you bring order to chaos. . .

Every time you meet a need . . .

Every time you make something better . . .

You are doing exactly what you were created to do.

ROOTED in Him . . . reaching the world.