OCTOBER 29
IMAGINE THE GOD OF HEAVEN
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When you think of God, what attributes come to mind? How do you imagine Him?
- Do you tend to think of God as joyful or fun? Why or why not?
- Read John 15:9-11.
Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say?):
- What do you notice and what are you curious about?
Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean?)
- What do you learn about God?
- What do you learn about humanity?
Now make some applications (what’s my response?)
- How are you encouraged, challenged, or convicted by this passage?
- What should be our response to this passage?
4. What do you think about God’s trinitarian nature, that He is one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit? Is there one person of the Trinity that you resonate with more than the others? Why is that?
5. Read John 14:8-11, Colossians 1:15 and Hebrews 1:3.
- What do we learn about Jesus in these passages?
- What do we learn about Jesus’ connection to the Father in these passages?
- How should this impact how we view and relate to the Father?
6. Do you go about your life like God truly is joyful, loving and self-sacrificial and that He wants you to experience Him in this way? In what ways are you living like this is not true? If you consistently lived like it is, how would your life, thoughts, motives and actions be different?
7. What is one next step you can take to get to know God and experience Him more in these ways?
KEY SCRIPTURE
John 15:9-11 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 14:8-11 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
Colossians 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
PRAYER
This week we’re praying for Israel and Palestine. Click this link to access a guided prayer: https://www.24-7prayer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Lectio-365-Israel-Gaza-10-October-2023.pdf?_gl=1*140iqou*_up*MQ..*_ga*NjYzMTUxMTY5LjE2OTgwOTIxMDc.*_ga_EP7TTC0T8Z*MTY5ODA5MjEwNy4xLjEuMTY5ODA5MjE2My4wLjAuMA..
TAKE A NEXT STEP
- Follow along with the rest of the four week series on Imagine the God of Heaven on our Youtube Channel airing 1pm on Sundays for 3 weeks.
- Consider picking up a copy of Imagine the God of Heaven and sharing one with a friend to discuss together.
FOR THE PARENTS
Hey, families! Here’s a look at what we’re covering with your kids so you can help them continue to grow at home during the week.
THIS WEEK
All month long we are going to be talking about how Jesus defeated sin.
THE BIBLE: Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
THE MESSAGE: God is not mad at us when we sin. He understands the temptations we face each day. Jesus definitely understands them because He came to earth to live like us. We talked about sin this month not to make us feel any shame, but to help us be aware of the effects of sin in our lives. When we continue to choose our own way instead of God’s way it pulls us farther and farther away from God. Jesus came to help us fight sin and to bridge a gap between us and God. Every day, let’s be more and more aware of what sin can do to us and call on Jesus to help us choose the right path.
THE BIG IDEA: Jesus defeated sin for us!
ASK THIS
Because sometimes you and your kid need a conversation-starter that isn’t,
“So . . . how was church?”
- God wants us to give Him our best. What are some ways you can make sure you give God your all?
REMEMBER THIS
God doesn’t want us to live a life of disobedience and sin. He has wonderful things planned for you! Whenever God, or even your parents, are asking you to do something that you would
rather not do, pray and ask Jesus to help you do what is right. Choosing God’s way is ALWAYS the right way, even if it might not feel like it at that time.
NEXT WEEK
Next week, we start a brand new series, Dream Big, where we will dive into the life of Joseph!