We Believe 2 Study Guide
#2 - “God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” The Christian View of God: The GODHEAD: God The Father, God The Son, God The Holy Spirit - Three Distinct Person, Yet One The Only Way We Can Truly KNOW God Is Through God’s Own Self-Disclosure. “The Bible is the great divide between those who believe in the Christian God and those who serve idols, god’s whose images whether metal or mental do not square with the self-disclosure of the Creator.” ~J.I .Packer~ “God…Creator of Heaven and Earth” “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” Genesis 1:1
Everything That Exists ORIGINATES From God. “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11 “God…Almighty” “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8 God Depends On NOTHING Outside Himself To Be Who He Is, Or To Do What He Does. “I am who I am” Exodus 3:14
God Reveals Himself Through His CREATION For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made, so that people are without excuse Romans 1:19-20 “Our Default Is To Shift The Divine Attributes Of The Creator To The Creation Itself.” They… suppress the truth by their wickedness...They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator Romans 1:18 & 25
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God Reveals Himself Through His WORD All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16
“God…The Father” “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. “ Philippians 2:10-12 God Is An Infinitely POWERFUL And Yet Intensely PERSONAL Father •
God’s Greatest Revelation Of Himself Came Through His SON, JESUS CHRIST Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father John14:9
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” Matthew 6:9-13 The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Life Group Questions Interested in connecting to a Life Group? Contact Pastor [email protected] •
Begin the group with prayer, then recite the Apostle’s Creed together.
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Which of these three descriptions of God found in the creed resonate most deeply with you: Creator, Almighty, Father?
Read Romans 1:18-54 •
How has God used creation to reveal himself to you?
•
Is there anywhere in God’s creation that you find yourself especially aware of His presence?
•
If we did not have the Word of God what would we know about Him from the world around us?
•
Why do you think people are prone to “exchange the truth of God for a lie and worship and serve created things rather than the Creator” (see Romans 1:25)
•
What are the consequences when we do this?
Read Isaiah 40:21-31 •
What is your response to a passage of scripture like this?
•
How do you understand the statement: “God is an infinitely powerful yet intensely personal father”?
•
What comes to mind when you think of God as “Father”?
•
Why do you think so many people struggle to see God as eternally good?
•
How would you help someone who was abandoned or abused by their earthly father understand the “fatherhood” of God?
•
What prayers of yours has God not seemed to not answer lately? How do you explain this?
•
What was your primary observation/takeaway from this week’s teaching?
•
What questions or thoughts still remain unresolved for you regarding the creeds affirmation; “I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.”?
Sources: • Systematic Theology _ Wayne Grudem – Zondervan Publishing • I Believe –Exploring the Apostles Creed _ Alistair McGrath - IVP Books • Affirming The Apostle’s Creed _ J.I. Packer - Crossway Books • The Apostle’s Creed – Together We Believe _ Matt Chandler – LifeWay Send feedback or questions to Pastor [email protected]
Everything That Exists ORIGINATES From God. “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11 “God…Almighty” “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8 God Depends On NOTHING Outside Himself To Be Who He Is, Or To Do What He Does. “I am who I am” Exodus 3:14
God Reveals Himself Through His CREATION For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made, so that people are without excuse Romans 1:19-20 “Our Default Is To Shift The Divine Attributes Of The Creator To The Creation Itself.” They… suppress the truth by their wickedness...They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator Romans 1:18 & 25
•
God Reveals Himself Through His WORD All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16
“God…The Father” “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. “ Philippians 2:10-12 God Is An Infinitely POWERFUL And Yet Intensely PERSONAL Father •
God’s Greatest Revelation Of Himself Came Through His SON, JESUS CHRIST Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father John14:9
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” Matthew 6:9-13 The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Life Group Questions Interested in connecting to a Life Group? Contact Pastor [email protected] •
Begin the group with prayer, then recite the Apostle’s Creed together.
•
Which of these three descriptions of God found in the creed resonate most deeply with you: Creator, Almighty, Father?
Read Romans 1:18-54 •
How has God used creation to reveal himself to you?
•
Is there anywhere in God’s creation that you find yourself especially aware of His presence?
•
If we did not have the Word of God what would we know about Him from the world around us?
•
Why do you think people are prone to “exchange the truth of God for a lie and worship and serve created things rather than the Creator” (see Romans 1:25)
•
What are the consequences when we do this?
Read Isaiah 40:21-31 •
What is your response to a passage of scripture like this?
•
How do you understand the statement: “God is an infinitely powerful yet intensely personal father”?
•
What comes to mind when you think of God as “Father”?
•
Why do you think so many people struggle to see God as eternally good?
•
How would you help someone who was abandoned or abused by their earthly father understand the “fatherhood” of God?
•
What prayers of yours has God not seemed to not answer lately? How do you explain this?
•
What was your primary observation/takeaway from this week’s teaching?
•
What questions or thoughts still remain unresolved for you regarding the creeds affirmation; “I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.”?
Sources: • Systematic Theology _ Wayne Grudem – Zondervan Publishing • I Believe –Exploring the Apostles Creed _ Alistair McGrath - IVP Books • Affirming The Apostle’s Creed _ J.I. Packer - Crossway Books • The Apostle’s Creed – Together We Believe _ Matt Chandler – LifeWay Send feedback or questions to Pastor [email protected]
