Studies

Getting to Know God

• Does anyone here like mystery stories … mystery movies ?
  
• Why ? What do you enjoy most about mysteries ?
  
• How does a mystery hold our attention ?
  [Giving us clues to the answer, keeping us searching and thinking, holding back
  the whole truth until the end]
  
• Let's play detectives. Usually we're searching for clues to get to know the bad guy, but that's a discussion we can save for another time.
  (See Bible Talk : 'Getting to know Satan')
  
• This time we'll be searching for clues to help us to get to know better the only really Good Guy … God, the creator of the universe; God, our Father in Heaven.

Psalms 118 [Read the whole psalm, right through.]

To begin with, what does this scripture tell us about our God ?

What clues does it give us about his nature, his characteristics ?

Later on, we can talk about how we should respond to these characteristics of God.

• God is good, unchanging, he always loves us … vs. 1-4 and 29.
  
• He answers our prayers … vs. 5 and 21.
  
• He frees us from fear … vs. 6.
  
• He is with us all the time … vs. 7
  
• He supports us, he helps us succeed … vs. 11, 12.
  
• He protects us from harm … vs. 11, 12.
  
• He strengthens us … vs. 14.
  
• He frees us from death, he is our salvation … vs. 14 and 21.
  
• He is all-powerful, in control, amazing … vs. 15, 16 and 23.
  
• He tests us, disciplines us … vs. 18.
  
• He blesses us, he gives us a great life … vs. 26.
  
• He shows us the way to live our lives … vs. 27.
• Our God is certainly an amazing God. How should we respond to him ?

What does Psalms 118 say about what God expects of us ? What should we do ?

• We should give thanks … vs. 1 and 21.
  
• We should fear God, fear displeasing him, disappointing him … vs. 4.
  
• We should call on him, pray for his support … vs. 5, 12, and 25.
  
• But we should take action, not just wait for God to do it for us … vs. 10 -12
  
• We should trust him, rely on him, not on ourselves or on promises … vs. 8.
  
• We should be joyful always, however tough it may seem … vs. 15 and 24.
  
• We should speak out about him, share our faith with others … vs. 17.
  
• We should choose the narrow road, gate ... vs. 19, 20. (See Matt. 7: 13, 14)
  
• We should praise him, honour him … vs. 27, 28.

So, what have you learned from this discussion ?

What must you do to get to know God better ?

What will you do differently this week ?
[ e.g. Try to set a good example to others, love and support one another, help those who are struggling, invite anyone who might be interested to join our Bible Talk ! ]