Group / Family Discussion Guide
Group / Family Discussion Guide Connect What does the word "holy" mean to you? This Weeks Learning Goal We are learning this week that God is holy. Because God is for us, he is against that which harms us. Learning the Bible Together Matthew 23 Jesus welcomed sinners with grace and healing. But Jesus was neither blind to nor silent about the harm that sin causes us. One of the themes in this speech is Jesus' opposition to religious hypocrisy. Where do you see examples of this? Another theme is Jesus' opposition to placing heavy burdens on others. Where do you see examples of this? In historical context, these words were addressed to people in positions of social power and personal confidence. Is it significant that Jesus changes his tone when speaking to people in different circumstances? How do you react when you see Jesus not only forgiving but also opposing sin? Jesus' representation of the holiness of God stands in continuity with God's prophets before and after him. The following passages summarize God's holy concern under three headings: injustice, immorality, and idolatry. Read Isaiah 1:13-18 Because God is for us, he is against injustice. The prophet Isaiah spoke for God to the ancient Israelites hundreds of years before Jesus, and Jesus quoted from Isaiah more than any other prophet. God says (through Isaiah) to "take your evil deeds out of my sight" and to "stop doing wrong" (v. 16). What "evil" or "wrong" is God speaking against in these verses?
Who are the "oppressed," "fatherless," and "widows" (vv. 17-18) that worshipers of God will care about today if they share this same heart of God? God's holiness includes anger over injustice. How do you find yourself reacting to this? In our society, we don't have perfect agreement over what constitutes (in)justice. Can we still value and pursue justice while some disagreements remain?
Read Ephesians 4:17-32 also Ephesians 4:29-5:7 Because God is for us, he is against immorality. The apostle Paul wrote letter to the Christian communities around Ephesus, many of whom were learning about God for the first time and learning to live a different lifestyle in the way of Jesus. Why would God's love for us call us away from "bitterness, rage, and anger" (v. 31)? How might we be harmed by this? Why would God's love call us away from greed (v. 3)? How might we be harmed? It's likely that even within your group, there is not perfect agreement on what constitutes bitterness, greed, or sexual immorality. Can we still value and move toward morality while some disagreements remain? Read Isaiah 44:9-20 & Romans 1:18-23 Because God is for us, he is against idolatry. Both Isaiah and Paul understood that how we worship and how we live are inseparable and important. Why does it matter what we think God is like? We've been learning to know the God Jesus knew and embodied. What harm can come by seeking God differently Soul Training as a Group / Family As a group, recall last week's soul training exercise (reflecting on God's love in 1 Cor 13). Did you learn or experience anything you'd like to share with your group? Now, look at the soul training exercises on the front of this study guide and get ready to practice them this week. Is there a particular time of day or some other specific commitment that would help you
Pray Together Share your prayer concerns with one another. Also, in your prayers today, reflect God’s Holiness. Ask God to help you share his love and grow in Godly holiness.
Children’s Study Guide
10/30/16
God is Holy Learning Outcome The goal of this lesson is to help students discover that God is Holy – That means that he is perfectly loving, truthful, and faithful in every way. Exploring Holiness cultivates an unshakable trust and transparency with a God who is Perfectly Dependable. Teaching your children that God is Holy -- that He's Perfect and Good, will give them a stable foundation for an unshakable faith. (Adapted from Kidssundayschool.com “Attributes of God) Younger Kids Bible Story Gather the children around you in preparation for story time. If possible, use a Children's Bible so it will be easier for the kids to understand. Introduction: Moses was a mighty leader of God’s people. He helped them escape from slavery in Egypt and led them to a very special place God had prepared for them to live. However, Moses was very old and God told him that his helper, Joshua, would be the new leader in the new land. Moses then spoke the words to a song in front of Joshua and encouraged all the people to keep obeying God.
Read Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (God is worthy of praise because He is holy.) Discussion Questions: 1. These verses tell us that God is perfect. What is another word for perfect? (Holy.) 2. What are some ways we can praise God for His holiness? (Through prayer, singing, learning about Him, etc.) 3. Why aren’t we holy, or perfect, like God? (Because we disobey.) Read Romans 6:22-23 (God sent Jesus to pay the price for our sin.) Discussion Questions: 1. What is the punishment for sin? (Death.) 2. How did God, in His holiness, set us free from sin? (By sending Jesus to die for us so we may have eternal life.) Conclusion God is Holy because He is perfect and does nothing wrong. Because of His holiness He provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him and go to Heaven when we die. When we ask God to forgive our sins and trust in Jesus as our Savior, then we become God’s children. Older Kids Bible Prepare index cards with the following verses on one side and the corresponding questions on the other side (Do not include the answers). As children arrive, ask them to select a card, look up the verse, and write the answer to the question on the back of the card. Tell the children to keep the cards, as each scripture will be discussed in the lesson. Deuteronomy 32:4 - What makes God holy? (He is perfect.) Leviticus 20:8 – How can we be holy? (By obeying God.) Psalm 34:9 – How can we be holy? (By fearing God.) Psalm 111:9 – What does God’s holiness provide? (Redemption and salvation through Jesus.) Isaiah 5:16 – How will God’s holiness be proved? (Through
his righteous actions, e.g. justice.) Introduction: Today we will learn what the Bible says about God’s holiness. Have your index cards ready from the beginning of class, and we will discuss your answers with each scripture. Read Deuteronomy 32:4 Explain that God’s perfection is what makes Him holy, and ask for additional input from any children who answered the index card. Say, “God is fair and without sin even when we don’t understand His will. We can trust that His decisions are always the best decisions.” Read Leviticus 20:8 and Psalm 34:9 Ask the children with the corresponding index cards to read the passage(s) and share their answers. Draw the conclusion that obedience and respectful fear of God makes us set apart like Him. Read Psalm 111:9 Say, “God has proven His holiness to us by sending Jesus to die for our sins. If He wasn’t holy, then there would have been no reason for His sinless, perfect Son to die for us.” Ask for children’s answers to the scripture. Read Isaiah 5:16 Ask the children with the corresponding index cards to read the passage and share their answers. Emphasize that God’s holiness is proved through all His other attributes (e.g. justice), so that is how we know being holy is His primary feature. - Learning Through Activity / Games Insert Game or physical activity here to match this lesson’s Learning Outcome. Please include something for younger and older children. - Learning Through Art
Insert art projects here to match this lesson’s Learning Outcome. Please include something for younger and older children. - Learning Through Song Insert art projects here to match this lesson’s Learning Outcome. Please include something for younger and older children. Memory Verse “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deut 32:4 Soul Training Exercises for Kids Pray Together
Group / Family Discussion Guide Connect What does the word "holy" mean to you? This Weeks Learning Goal We are learning this week that God is holy. Because God is for us, he is against that which harms us. Learning the Bible Together Matthew 23 Jesus welcomed sinners with grace and healing. But Jesus was neither blind to nor silent about the harm that sin causes us. One of the themes in this speech is Jesus' opposition to religious hypocrisy. Where do you see examples of this? Another theme is Jesus' opposition to placing heavy burdens on others. Where do you see examples of this? In historical context, these words were addressed to people in positions of social power and personal confidence. Is it significant that Jesus changes his tone when speaking to people in different circumstances? How do you react when you see Jesus not only forgiving but also opposing sin? Jesus' representation of the holiness of God stands in continuity with God's prophets before and after him. The following passages summarize God's holy concern under three headings: injustice, immorality, and idolatry. Read Isaiah 1:13-18 Because God is for us, he is against injustice. The prophet Isaiah spoke for God to the ancient Israelites hundreds of years before Jesus, and Jesus quoted from Isaiah more than any other prophet. God says (through Isaiah) to "take your evil deeds out of my sight" and to "stop doing wrong" (v. 16). What "evil" or "wrong" is God speaking against in these verses?
Who are the "oppressed," "fatherless," and "widows" (vv. 17-18) that worshipers of God will care about today if they share this same heart of God? God's holiness includes anger over injustice. How do you find yourself reacting to this? In our society, we don't have perfect agreement over what constitutes (in)justice. Can we still value and pursue justice while some disagreements remain?
Read Ephesians 4:17-32 also Ephesians 4:29-5:7 Because God is for us, he is against immorality. The apostle Paul wrote letter to the Christian communities around Ephesus, many of whom were learning about God for the first time and learning to live a different lifestyle in the way of Jesus. Why would God's love for us call us away from "bitterness, rage, and anger" (v. 31)? How might we be harmed by this? Why would God's love call us away from greed (v. 3)? How might we be harmed? It's likely that even within your group, there is not perfect agreement on what constitutes bitterness, greed, or sexual immorality. Can we still value and move toward morality while some disagreements remain? Read Isaiah 44:9-20 & Romans 1:18-23 Because God is for us, he is against idolatry. Both Isaiah and Paul understood that how we worship and how we live are inseparable and important. Why does it matter what we think God is like? We've been learning to know the God Jesus knew and embodied. What harm can come by seeking God differently Soul Training as a Group / Family As a group, recall last week's soul training exercise (reflecting on God's love in 1 Cor 13). Did you learn or experience anything you'd like to share with your group? Now, look at the soul training exercises on the front of this study guide and get ready to practice them this week. Is there a particular time of day or some other specific commitment that would help you
Pray Together Share your prayer concerns with one another. Also, in your prayers today, reflect God’s Holiness. Ask God to help you share his love and grow in Godly holiness.
Children’s Study Guide
10/30/16
God is Holy Learning Outcome The goal of this lesson is to help students discover that God is Holy – That means that he is perfectly loving, truthful, and faithful in every way. Exploring Holiness cultivates an unshakable trust and transparency with a God who is Perfectly Dependable. Teaching your children that God is Holy -- that He's Perfect and Good, will give them a stable foundation for an unshakable faith. (Adapted from Kidssundayschool.com “Attributes of God) Younger Kids Bible Story Gather the children around you in preparation for story time. If possible, use a Children's Bible so it will be easier for the kids to understand. Introduction: Moses was a mighty leader of God’s people. He helped them escape from slavery in Egypt and led them to a very special place God had prepared for them to live. However, Moses was very old and God told him that his helper, Joshua, would be the new leader in the new land. Moses then spoke the words to a song in front of Joshua and encouraged all the people to keep obeying God.
Read Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (God is worthy of praise because He is holy.) Discussion Questions: 1. These verses tell us that God is perfect. What is another word for perfect? (Holy.) 2. What are some ways we can praise God for His holiness? (Through prayer, singing, learning about Him, etc.) 3. Why aren’t we holy, or perfect, like God? (Because we disobey.) Read Romans 6:22-23 (God sent Jesus to pay the price for our sin.) Discussion Questions: 1. What is the punishment for sin? (Death.) 2. How did God, in His holiness, set us free from sin? (By sending Jesus to die for us so we may have eternal life.) Conclusion God is Holy because He is perfect and does nothing wrong. Because of His holiness He provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him and go to Heaven when we die. When we ask God to forgive our sins and trust in Jesus as our Savior, then we become God’s children. Older Kids Bible Prepare index cards with the following verses on one side and the corresponding questions on the other side (Do not include the answers). As children arrive, ask them to select a card, look up the verse, and write the answer to the question on the back of the card. Tell the children to keep the cards, as each scripture will be discussed in the lesson. Deuteronomy 32:4 - What makes God holy? (He is perfect.) Leviticus 20:8 – How can we be holy? (By obeying God.) Psalm 34:9 – How can we be holy? (By fearing God.) Psalm 111:9 – What does God’s holiness provide? (Redemption and salvation through Jesus.) Isaiah 5:16 – How will God’s holiness be proved? (Through
his righteous actions, e.g. justice.) Introduction: Today we will learn what the Bible says about God’s holiness. Have your index cards ready from the beginning of class, and we will discuss your answers with each scripture. Read Deuteronomy 32:4 Explain that God’s perfection is what makes Him holy, and ask for additional input from any children who answered the index card. Say, “God is fair and without sin even when we don’t understand His will. We can trust that His decisions are always the best decisions.” Read Leviticus 20:8 and Psalm 34:9 Ask the children with the corresponding index cards to read the passage(s) and share their answers. Draw the conclusion that obedience and respectful fear of God makes us set apart like Him. Read Psalm 111:9 Say, “God has proven His holiness to us by sending Jesus to die for our sins. If He wasn’t holy, then there would have been no reason for His sinless, perfect Son to die for us.” Ask for children’s answers to the scripture. Read Isaiah 5:16 Ask the children with the corresponding index cards to read the passage and share their answers. Emphasize that God’s holiness is proved through all His other attributes (e.g. justice), so that is how we know being holy is His primary feature. - Learning Through Activity / Games Insert Game or physical activity here to match this lesson’s Learning Outcome. Please include something for younger and older children. - Learning Through Art
Insert art projects here to match this lesson’s Learning Outcome. Please include something for younger and older children. - Learning Through Song Insert art projects here to match this lesson’s Learning Outcome. Please include something for younger and older children. Memory Verse “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deut 32:4 Soul Training Exercises for Kids Pray Together
