A wesome G od Ben Davis May 27th & 28th, 2017 - Rackcdn...
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A wesome G od Ben D avis May 27th & 28th, 2017
Matthew 22:37-40 “’You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (NLT) Matthew 27:50-51 “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” Romans 5:10-11 “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” (NLT) John 15:15 “I no longer call you servants…Instead, I have called you friends!” _____________ Friend Romans 5:6-8 “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” _____________ Friend Romans 5:9-10 ““And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.” (NLT) _____________ Friend
Romans 5:18, 21 “Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone…giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (NLT) Romans 5:5 “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Small Group Discussion Questions Awesome God Main Idea The most important relationship in life is a relationship with an Awesome God. I can choose every day to grow my friendship with Him. Ice Breaker Would you rather… be stranded on a deserted island alone or stranded on a deserted island with someone you don’t like? Introduction When we find our way back to God and make our relationship with Jesus our first priority, it can make all our other relationships work like nothing else. Read Romans 5: 1-11
5 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace[a] with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. 1.
Read through the passage in Romans 5 and pick out all the words that indicate a relationship with God. Which ones stand out to you more than others? Why?
Made right with God, we have peace, place of undeserved privilege, now stand, sharing God’s glory, given us the Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with love… 2.
The author, Paul, contrasts God’s willingness to die for his enemies with the average person’s willingness to die for someone who is especially good. How willing would you be to give your life up for someone if it meant they might live? Explain.
How different might God’s response be from ours? Follow up question: I’m not sure I could give up my son to save someone else. What does that say about me and what does it say about God? 3.
Verses 8 and 10 say that while we were far from God he made the first move to be in relationship with us. Sometimes we may think establishing or maintaining a relationship with God is hard. In what ways have you thought or believed this?
Sometimes we think if we mess up we can’t approach God. Some people have strained relationships with their parents and so the idea of a forgiving, loving God is hard to understand. 4.
If God is this willing to give his life up for someone who is hostile to him, what does that say about God and how God wants to be in relationship with us?
God reveals his nature of love and forgiveness through Jesus, and our hope is that we might grow to be more loving and forgiving in our own relationships. For when we follow Jesus, we will develop character that reflects his character. 5.
God made the first move through Jesus to bring us back to him. He did this through the cross, laying the groundwork so we could find forgiveness and friendship with God. How difficult would it be for you to make the first move in restoring a relationship that is currently strained or broken?
6.
Do you find this kind of faithfulness hard to believe? Why or why not?
7.
What are some ways you can grow in faithfulness to Jesus?
Try to push beyond easy answers like: read the bible and go to church. Wrap Up Jesus is really the best friend we could ever have because he models for us how to love others with unconditional love. This is what we all want and need in our lives and relationships. Jesus gave himself for all of us, once for all, so we might be brought back into a relationship with God and might learn from him how to love others as well. By the power and grace of God we will grow in our ability to be faithful land loving in all of our relationships. Then let us commit ourselves to growing in our ability to love God and go love others.
Pray
