Summit Church
Counterfeit Faith Pt 2 | Who is Made in Whose Image? | Chuck Stecker
Locations & Times
Summit Church
7200 S Clinton St, Centennial, CO 80112, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
Big Idea: God refuses to allow us to (RE)create Him in our own image.
Jude 1:11-16
“11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.12These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. 14Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.”
“11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.12These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. 14Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.”
Genesis 4:2-10
2Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.”
2Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.”
Theology 101: Who is Created in Whose Image?
Genesis 1:24-28
24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 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.”
24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 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.”
THE QUESTION: What was wrong with Cain’s offering?
What if the answer is nothing was wrong with Cain’s Offering?
THE REAL QUESTION: What was wrong with Cain’s Faith? Was Cain really trying to (Re)Create God in his image so that God would accept Cain’s offering as acceptable?
What if the answer is nothing was wrong with Cain’s Offering?
THE REAL QUESTION: What was wrong with Cain’s Faith? Was Cain really trying to (Re)Create God in his image so that God would accept Cain’s offering as acceptable?
Three characteristics of a faith that is pleasing to God versus a counterfeit faith that are revealed in the story of Cain and Able.
1. Obedience versus Obligation
Hebrews 11:4
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
1 John 3:12
12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
Hebrews 11:4
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
1 John 3:12
12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
2. Heart versus Head
Proverbs 3:9-10
9Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops;10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Jeremiah 17:9-10
9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.Who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Proverbs 3:9-10
9Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops;10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Jeremiah 17:9-10
9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.Who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
3. Quality versus Quantity
Genesis 4:3-4
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
Malachi 1:6-14
6 “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ 7 “By offering defiled food on my altar.“But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’“Bysaying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. 8 When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.9 “Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?”—says the Lord Almighty.10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. 11 My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.12 “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ 13 And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the Lord Almighty.“When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the Lord. 14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared amongthe nations
Genesis 4:3-4
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
Malachi 1:6-14
6 “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ 7 “By offering defiled food on my altar.“But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’“Bysaying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. 8 When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.9 “Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?”—says the Lord Almighty.10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. 11 My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.12 “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ 13 And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the Lord Almighty.“When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the Lord. 14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the Lord Almighty, “and my name is to be feared amongthe nations
Could we look at Cain and Able and consider that one was living out their life with a genuine faith and the other was living with a counterfeit faith where they were trying to (Re)create God in their own image in order for God to accept from them what they wanted Him to accept?
Counterfeit Faith: When we try to (RE)create God in our image and give God what we want to give out of obligation to be seen or feel as if we are a good Christian and expect Him to be satisfied with us.
True Faith: When we give God our very best or our first fruits out of obedience of our hearts to honor Him as our creator and Heavenly Father.
True Faith: When we give God our very best or our first fruits out of obedience of our hearts to honor Him as our creator and Heavenly Father.
Response:
1. Examine my own offerings of Time, Talent, and Treasure.
2. Am I giving God the “first fruits” of my life?
3. Am I living a life of obedience or obligation?
4. Have I tried to (re)create God in my image?
1. Examine my own offerings of Time, Talent, and Treasure.
2. Am I giving God the “first fruits” of my life?
3. Am I living a life of obedience or obligation?
4. Have I tried to (re)create God in my image?
Discussion Guide
Big Idea: God refuses to allow us to (RE)create Him in our own image.
Icebreaker Question
How can you tell when a kid is less than genuine in their obedience to their parents? What inspires a kid to be genuinely obedient?
Discussion Questions
1. Genesis 4 describes both Cain and Abel bringing offerings. What stands out to you about how each approached God?
2. Chuck suggested that “nothing was wrong with Cain’s offering—but with his faith.” How does that idea challenge how we view our own acts of worship or service?
3. Genesis 1:26–27 says we are created in God’s image. What are some ways people today try to (re)create God in their image instead?
4. Hebrews 11:4 and 1 John 3:12 highlight Abel’s obedience and Cain’s self-focus. How can we tell when our faith practices come from obedience rather than obligation?
5. Proverbs 3:9–10 and Jeremiah 17:9–10 talk about the heart. What does it look like to “honor the Lord with your first fruits” from the heart—and how do we guard against a deceitful heart?
6. In Malachi 1:6–14, God rebukes His people for offering their leftovers. What would “giving God our best” look like in your everyday life—especially with your time, talent, and treasure?
7. Chuck described counterfeit faith as “trying to give God what we want to give and expecting Him to be satisfied.” Can you think of examples (personal or cultural) where this shows up?
8. How does giving God our “first fruits” demonstrate trust in Him—and how does it build genuine faith?
9. Take a moment to examine your own “offering” to God. Are there areas where you’ve been giving out of obligation or convenience instead of obedience and love?
10. What might change this week if you gave God your best?
Closing Thought:
“True faith gives God our best because we trust who He is. Counterfeit faith gives God what’s convenient because we trust ourselves.”
Icebreaker Question
How can you tell when a kid is less than genuine in their obedience to their parents? What inspires a kid to be genuinely obedient?
Discussion Questions
1. Genesis 4 describes both Cain and Abel bringing offerings. What stands out to you about how each approached God?
2. Chuck suggested that “nothing was wrong with Cain’s offering—but with his faith.” How does that idea challenge how we view our own acts of worship or service?
3. Genesis 1:26–27 says we are created in God’s image. What are some ways people today try to (re)create God in their image instead?
4. Hebrews 11:4 and 1 John 3:12 highlight Abel’s obedience and Cain’s self-focus. How can we tell when our faith practices come from obedience rather than obligation?
5. Proverbs 3:9–10 and Jeremiah 17:9–10 talk about the heart. What does it look like to “honor the Lord with your first fruits” from the heart—and how do we guard against a deceitful heart?
6. In Malachi 1:6–14, God rebukes His people for offering their leftovers. What would “giving God our best” look like in your everyday life—especially with your time, talent, and treasure?
7. Chuck described counterfeit faith as “trying to give God what we want to give and expecting Him to be satisfied.” Can you think of examples (personal or cultural) where this shows up?
8. How does giving God our “first fruits” demonstrate trust in Him—and how does it build genuine faith?
9. Take a moment to examine your own “offering” to God. Are there areas where you’ve been giving out of obligation or convenience instead of obedience and love?
10. What might change this week if you gave God your best?
Closing Thought:
“True faith gives God our best because we trust who He is. Counterfeit faith gives God what’s convenient because we trust ourselves.”