Secure In God

God is NOT Disappointed (Secure In God 03)

We often project our human experiences of love and to God. It’s really common for people to be disappointed with us, but what about God? Today we think about the theological reality of God and discover how it means he is never disappointed in us. Instead, we are invited to be free and full of joy in his unconditional love.

“Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” John 6:37

Conversation Questions:
  • Do you ever feel you are a disappointment to God?
    • How do you feel about being a disappointment? Is this something that drives your relationships with other people and/or with God? If so, in what ways does it play out in your life?
  • How do you feel that God has no illusions about you? Is this reassuring, freeing or scary? What does our response reveal about how we really feel about God’s attitude towards us?
  • How do you feel about God having no expectations of you? If this is true, how would we be better to think about what good things he asks (or invites) us to do? Is obedience an expectation or an opportunity?

God’s Love is Individual (Secure in God 02)

Of course God loves everyone and, of course, you and I are part of “everyone”. But does God notice and love you? Today they’ve looked at a passage where Jesus, God living among us, pays a terrific price because of his love for a seemingly insignificant man.

Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand.  Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely.  If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.
Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil?  Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?”  But they wouldn’t answer him.
He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts.  Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.”  So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!
At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.
Mark 3:1-6

Bible Study:

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God’s Self-Revelation (Secure in God 01)

The only way we know about God he is because he chooses to reveal himself to us. The way he does this helps us understand the sort of relationship he wants with us – even if it sometimes feels strange or unexpected.
Today, at our Whole Church Gathering, Dave talks about how we should interpret the way God reveals himself to us as an expression of how much he loves us and wants to know us.
Seek first the Kingdom of God
Matthew 6:33

Discussion Questions:
  • How has God revealed himself to you?
  • Are there places in your life where he doesn’t seem to have shown himself and you feel abandoned or ignored? What might the reality actually be?
  • What can you do to better understand God’s self-revealing?
    • Dave suggested the Narnia books, especially “The Horse and His Boy” and “The Silver Chair”. How might that picture of the Aslan inform the way God is working in your life?
    • The spiritual practice of the Daily Examen is a great way to become more aware of God’s action in our every day life. There are so many resources on the Internet about how to do this practice. Could you try it for a number of evenings before bed?