Who is God and what is He like? Part 6

Opening question: Have you ever tried to be perfect at something?

Read the following about who God is and what He is like:

Lord, who among the gods is like You? Who is like You? You are majestic and holy. Your glory fills me with wonder. You do wonderful miracles. Because Your love is faithful, You will lead the people You have set free. Because You are so strong, You will guide them to the holy place where You live. - Exodus 15:11,13

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who rules over all. The whole earth is full of His glory. - Isaiah 6:3

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God who rules over all. He was, and He is, and He will come. - Revelation 4:8

Now read about what we to do and be, if we want to have a relationship with God:

Dear friends, let us make ourselves pure from everything that pollutes our bodies and spirits. Let us be completely holy. We want to honor God. - 2 Corinthians 7:1

We must love what is good. We must control our minds and feelings. We must do what is right. We must be holy. We must control what his body longs for. - Titus 1:8

Try your best to live in peace with everyone. Try to be holy. Without holiness no one will see the Lord. - Hebrews 12:14

Discuss the following:
1. What does it mean to be holy?
2. Why should we be holy?
3. How are we doing at being holy?
4. Is it possible to be completely holy?
5. How can unholy people become holy, and have a relationship with holy God?

Who is God and what is He like? Part 5

Opening question: How would you define love?

Read: 1 John 4:7-12

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born again because of what God has done. That person knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 How did God show his love for us? He sent his one and only Son into the world. He sent him so we could receive life through him. 10 What is love? It is not that we loved God. It is that he loved us and sent his Son to give his life to pay for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we should also love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God lives in us. His love is made complete in us.

And: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not want what belongs to others. It does not brag. It is not proud. 5 It is not rude. It does not look out for its own interests. It does not easily become angry. It does not keep track of other people's wrongs. 6 Love is not happy with evil. But it is full of joy when the truth is spoken. 7 It always protects. It always trusts. It always hopes. It never gives up. 8 Love never fails. But prophecy will pass away. Speaking in languages that had not been known before will end. And knowledge will pass away.

Discussion questions:
1) Do you have any questions about the verses above?
2) After reading the verses above, how would you describe God?
3) What did God do to demonstrate His love for mankind?
4) What does “born again” mean?
5) How can we demonstrate our love for other people?
6) Which verse about love do you think is the most difficult to do?

Who is God and what is He like? Part 4

Opening Question: What is it that gives you lasting satisfaction in life?

Word List:
Pharisees – religious leaders of Israel 2000 years ago.
baptizing – putting people under water, which represented dying to the selfish way they were living, and starting over again.
Judea, Galilee, Samaria, Sychar – places in Israel.
Jacob, Joseph – 2 of the famous forefathers of Israel.
well – a deep hole in the ground, dug out to find water.
Samaritans – people who were half-Jewish, and hated by the Jews.

Read John 4:1-18

Discuss the following:
1) Re-tell the story in your own words.
2) How would you describe the woman?
3) What did Jesus say about himself?
4) What do the terms “living water” and “God’s gift” mean to you?
5) How could the woman (and how can we) get this “living water”?
6) Have you had a chance to taste this “living water” yet? If so, how has it satisfied your thirst?