Hey church home, I am Dr. Jamar Tisby and listen, this is an honor. It's a privilege to be able to give you a message today straight from God's word.

I just want you to know how much I admire the work that God is doing in and through this church, the leaders.

Thank you so much to Judith Smith, the Chelsea and the whole team for allowing me this opportunity to talk about a topic I am so passionate about.

And it's the image of God. We're continuing a four-part series on the image of God. Now I am a historian and for some people that immediately puts them to sleep. But let me tell you, it is awesome because people think that historians are just obsessed with the past and obviously we are, but honestly what historians are obsessed with are stories.

I love a good story and I love a good story in the form of a documentary. So recently I was watching one on Mary J. Blige. Now I hope our society hasn't fallen into such a state that you don't at least recognize the name Mary J. Blige because she has justifiably been called the Queen of Hip Hop and R&B.

And just to give you a sense of how incredible a star she is, this documentary wasn't just about her life.

It was to commemorate the 25th anniversary of one of her albums, which is called My Life. And it was a cultural phenomenon at the time. So they wanted to commemorate.

Now Mary J. Blige has had an incredible career. She has sold 50 million albums. She won several five Grammys, I think. And she's even been nominated for some Oscars. So she's an incredible talent. What struck me watching this documentary.

Several times in different ways throughout the course of this film. She said, I couldn't see what others saw in me because I didn't believe in myself.

I couldn't see the talent, the skill that they saw that I had because I didn't believe that I had it.

Because I didn't believe that I was worthy. I couldn't believe what others said because I didn't believe in me.

And that just struck me because this was a one up a kind talent, right? Like everybody wants to be discovered.

Usually you've got to work years and years and years to get your big break. She recorded a cassette tape, not even of original music. Just her doing covers of songs.

It was so good that somebody who knew somebody got it in the hands of a record producer. They heard it in their office and were like, I'm coming the next day.

And this record producer went to Mary J. Blige's apartment in the projects and listened to her sing.

I mean, acapella, no band, no studio, and signed her that day. So you're going to have a record deal. That's how good she was. And yet she couldn't see.

She didn't believe it in herself. And as astounding as that is, Mary J. Blige has this kind of once in a generation talent.

And many of us that same story is true. We can't see the goodness in ourselves because we don't believe it of us.

This is the importance of the image of God. You are the centerpiece of God's creation.

When God looks at you, God sees a star. You don't need to wait for your big break with God. You already have it.

You're beautiful in God's sight. And God wants a relationship with you.

But I have the sober responsibility to tell you that's not always the way it works out is it.

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