This week, we are finishing our series BIG GOD, little me. We have been looking at attributes of God to remind us of who He is and that He is in control. We were reminded in the weekend message that God is able to handle our lives and that He is all-powerful and all-mighty. As we end the series today, we are going to talk about how to respond to God in light of these amazing truths.
How has studying God’s attributes over the last few weeks impacted your view and understanding of God? Why?
1. Read Exodus 3:7-15, a passage of Scripture where God called Moses to rescue the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. What did God reveal about Himself, particularly His eternal name, in this passage of Scripture?
Exodus 3:7-15.
7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” 13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” 14 God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.
2. Read Joshua 3:7-15, a passage of Scripture that takes place when the Israelites had been waiting to enter the land that God had promised them when they left slavery in Egypt. Describe the task God gave Joshua in this passage of Scripture.
Joshua 3:7-15a
7 The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses. 8 Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.’” 9 So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. 10 Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ahead of you. 11 Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River! 12 Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.” 14 So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. 15 It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks.
3. What opposition were the Israelites up against as they took steps toward the Promised Land?
4. Read Joshua 3:15b-17. How did the Israelites respond to the obstacle at hand, and how did God respond to their obstacle?
Joshua 3:15b-17
But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, 16 the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. 17 Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.
1. Based on God's eternal name, which He revealed to Moses, how should we respond to Him?
2. What stands out to you about Joshua and the Israelites’ response to God’s command and the obstacle they faced?
3. What is your Jordan River? Where is God asking you to take a step of faith?
Now that you have all shared an area where God is asking you to take a step of faith, share with your group how you will begin taking that step of faith this week. Next week, share with your group what happened as you took that step of faith.
In this world, we will face many different kinds of trials and difficulties. When these trials come, we have the opportunity to choose faith or fear. In light of who God is, we have every reason to respond in faith to all of the difficulties that we face during this life. Let's take a few minutes to dive into Scripture to understand how we can live bold lives of faith, knowing that our God is all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing, and so much more.
Of course, because we know that God is in control, we can choose faith instead of fear by standing firm in our faith, even when the world around us rejects us. This means boldly, unashamedly telling others about Christ and their need for Him to rescue them from their sins. Take a few moments to read about Scripture’s call for Christ followers to stand firm in our faith, firmly rooted in our belief in the power of God and the eternal life waiting for those who place their faith in Him.
1. Read Romans 1:16-17.
Romans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
2. Describe the apostle Paul’s attitude when it came to his life and ministry, according to this passage of Scripture.
3. How did the apostle Paul live out the words that he wrote in this passage of Scripture?
4. How can we today follow Paul’s example in this passage of Scripture?
It is easy to be tempted to let fear overtake us when we face obstacles, trials, and difficulties. In these moments, we have to remember who God is. We have to remember that God is all-powerful. We have the Holy Spirit living in us, and He has given us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. This is how we fight fear with faith.
1. Read 2nd Timothy 1:5-7.
2nd Timothy 1:5-7
I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2. Why does Paul call Timothy (and us) to boldness in this passage of Scripture?
3. Describe the spirit that God gives His followers?
4. How have you experienced this power from God in your own life?
In order to quell fear of the unknown and uncertainties, many of us like to plan. We like to think about the best direction for our lives to go, and make plans to move in that direction. While planning is certainly important, we often forget that there is One who knows far better than we do the direction and path that our lives need to take, and that is God. Before anything else, we must courageously choose faith and seek God’s plan and follow in the direction that He leads us toward.
1. Read Proverbs 3:5-6.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
2. How does this passage of Scripture offer us a different way to respond to difficulties and hardships instead of fear?
3. What promise does this passage of Scripture give us that we can claim?
4. What is an area that you need God’s direction right now?
Look back at the three ways we discussed from Scripture to live in faith rather than fear. Which one of these ways would you like to grow in? Share the area that you would like to grow in, along with why you want to grow in that area, and how you can start growing in that area beginning this week. After everyone has shared, pray together. Ask God to give each one of you a spirit of faith in a world where we face countless situations that tempt us to turn to fear.
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