Paradigm Discipleship
CC @ UNM Foundational Resource Series
The purpose of this resource is to provide some guidance for you as you encourage your disciple to develop a strong devotional relationship with God.
The following resource is part 1 of 12 resources designed to help your disciple gain a better understanding of God’s holiness and how that pertains to the Gospel.
We encourage you to do your own study, using this resource as a guide, to develop a learning experience for you and your disciple that will help you both move deeper in your understanding of God’s holiness. The goal for this study is to help your disciple really confront and understand the holiness of God.
THE GOSPEL -PART 1- Who is God?
Study Question: Who is God?
*The answers here could be numerous. Encourage a long, worshipful conversation about the many wonderful things we know God to be according to His word. End this discussion with the understanding that we as humans could never succeed at describing how beautiful and powerful God is.
Study Question: Why is it impossible for us as humans to fully grasp who God is?
*We are the created and He is the creator. (See Isaiah 55:8-11 to better grasp this concept)
Read Genesis 1 out loud together.
How did God create? - He spoke something from nothing. He created with His word using nothing preexisting but Himself. (Psalm 33: 8-9, Hebrews 11:3)
What did God create? - The world and everything in it including men and women (Acts 17:24-25).
Why did God create? – Because He wanted to. God created to display His glory for the praise of His name. He created the physical world to display His beauty and power and wisdom. (Psalm 19:1-2, Revelation 4:11, Jeremiah 10:12) He created people for His glory to worship Him for eternity. (Isaiah 43: 1-7, Psalm 96)
Important concluding thoughts about God as creator
God is good and everything He creates is good. We know this because He said so and His word is true. (Genesis 1:10,12,18,21,25,31, Numbers 23:16, Mark 10:18, Romans 12:2) It is impossible for God to create or do anything evil. Evil is the result of rebellion against a good God. (James 1:13, 1 John 3:4, Romans 5:12, 1 Timothy 4:4, 3 John 11)
Because God is the sovereign creator over all things He does whatever He pleases and everything He does is good. (Psalm 115:3)
Because God is the sovereign ruler of all things people are subject to Him and under His control. We do not decide what is right and wrong, good or bad. He has decided and every human is subject to His authority and will be judged by His standards. (Genesis 1:1, Micah 6:8, Romans 9:19-24)
Read Psalm 148 out loud together.
Study Question: What does it mean for God to be transcendent?
*God is separate from and independent of nature and humanity. He is not bound by a body, by space, by time etc. He is everywhere at once and limitless in power and ability.
God is not a created being and He is not bound by His creation. He is both timeless and outside of time. (Job 36:26, Psalm 90:2,4, Revelation 1:8)
God’s existence is not dependent on His creation; His creation’s existence is dependent on him. (Job: 12:10, Colossians 1:17, Hebrews 1:3,)
God is higher than humans and rules them completely. (Psalm 97:1-9, 1 Chronicles 29:11-12)
Study Question: What does it mean for God to be immanent?
*God is not only above His creation and separate from it, but He is also present and involved in the world He created; immanent means remaining in. He is active in nature, life and history.
How is God active in nature? The life of every creature is dependent on God. (Job 12:10, Matthew 10:29)
How is God active with people? He creates each one personally. (Psalm 139: 13-14) He also cares for people and provides for them, even if they do not turn to praise Him. (Acts 17:24-25, Matthew 5:43-48)
How is God active and involved in history? He guides it and determines it. He establishes kingdoms and governments and also destroys them as He pleases. (Acts 17:26-28, Romans 13:1-4)
*Read Ephesians 4:4-6 together and discuss how amazing it is that the God who created everything, is over everything, and is in and through everything also lives in the people of His church and we call Him Father.
Study Question: After a quick study of the transcendent, yet immanent, creator of the universe how has your understanding of God changed? Do you often think about/consider how powerful and big God is (transcendent creator), or do you mostly view him as a father who is listening (immanent)? Has this study encouraged you to have a more well-rounded view of the God the Bible presents?
Pray together asking God to continue to reveal Himself in His word to you. Repent of any one-sided views of God you may have and ask God to help you worship Him as He has revealed Himself in His word. End in a time of worship expressing to God how amazing, beautiful, powerful etc. He is.