21/8/17 CCP SERIES STUDY WEEK 10 – GOD IS...LOVE

COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY AND DAILY STUDIES BASED UPON OUR PREACHING SERIES AT COMMUNITY CHURCH PUTNEY

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COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY

Edward VIII abdicated from the throne of Britain because of his love for Wallis Simpson. On the 11th December 1936 he broadcast his reasons,

"I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.” 

Whatever the rights and wrongs of this affair, it is a fact that Edward gave up the crown for the woman he loved. Love sacrifices. It’s the most powerful force on earth. It’s an attribute we share with God, who is love.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR GOD TO BE LOVE?

God, as we have seen, is the majestic, infinite, sublime King of kings; but He is also love. All of the attributes of God must be held together. His being love can be over or under emphasized.

Read 1 John 4:7-12 and discuss:

Ø How does knowing that God is love affect our relationships?

Ø What does lack of love reveal about us?

Ø How has God demonstrated His love most eminently?

Ø How will meditating on the gospel make us more like God?

Ø Here, John says something amazing to God - ‘God is love’, how could this phrase be misused?

Ø How would a church or Community Group be transformed if we all lived this passage?

Ø Why is it vital to know God’s is love, and how has this truth helped you?

This phrase is often misused by people to simply mean, ‘don’t tell me what to believe or how to live because my god doesn’t put any restraints on me’. But, as C.S Lewis wrote, ‘God loves us too much to leave as we are’; He wants to improve us and use us to express His love to others.

LET’S RESPOND TO WHO GOD IS

The way we worship reveals how much we have understood God’s love.

What does Luke 7:36-47 teach us about:

Ø How we become when we don’t continue to realise God’s loving grace?

ØHow we become as we remember our salvation through Jesus?

Ø How we can become ever more loving worshippers?

GOING DEEPER PERSONAL DAILY STUDIES

Monday: God’s love is expressed in our being chosen (election)

Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love…

Our salvation is due to God’s grace (free undeserving gift) as He chose us. Paul, previously a murderer of Christians, and we, who know our sinfulness, should know that we are Christians because of God’s loving kindness alone. 

‘The love of God is uninfluenced. By this we mean that there was nothing whatever in the objects of His love to call it into exercise, nothing in the creature to prompt it. The love which one create has for another is because of something in them; but the love of God is free, spontaneous, uncaused. The only reason God loves any of is found in His own sovereign will (Deuteronomy 7:7-9).’ (A. W. Pink. The Nature of God. Page 92)

This love of God is eternal. He chose us ‘before the foundation of the world’.  His love for us has always existed in His heart. As Jeremiah says,

"I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3

Tuesday: God’s love is expressed in our adoption into His family

Ephesians 1:5 In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

God could have left us as forgiven people, but He makes us members of His family in adoption. Why has God done this you and me? Because He is love! 

Wednesday: God’s love is expressed in the death (blood) of Jesus for us

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

Our salvation and adoption have been made possible because Jesus was cursed, rejected and died for us. The eternal, omnipotent God has died for us! No one took His life, as if that were possible! Jesus gave Himself for us by grace, in love. 

Thursday: God’s love is expressed in His faithfulness to complete His work in us

God has saved us by grace. But His grace is at work in us to make us more like Jesus. He will complete this work at the end of history when we will be perfected (or glorified).

Ephesians 1:9-10 He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Our salvation will be complete when Christ returns, restoring creation and perfecting us,

Philippians 1:6 He who began a good work will bring it to completion.

We will enjoy God and His love forever. 

Friday: Take comfort in His love

People who know God’s love say things like this, 

Psalm 36:7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

‘He loved not because we were lovable but because He is love’ C. S Lewis

Let’s make it a daily (and throughout the day) practice to remember and thank God for His love toward us. It is true, and confessing truth honours God and lifts our spirit.

Saturday: God is love... this is how…

Our studies this week have been inspired by John’s famous words that ‘God is love’. But these words are incomplete and are explained by what follows, 

1 John 4:8-10 ...God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

God’s love is most clearly seen in the giving of His Son for salvation. It’s not sentimental weakness as many suppose. God is love in that He hates sin and all are under His wrath for their sin! And yet He died in our place to redeem the undeserving – God is love! 

So let’s also live a life of love

Those who see God’s love for them see that though they are unworthy, Jesus has shown them grace; such people will freely offer love to others (1 John. 4:7-8, Ephesians 5:1-2). We are told by Jesus to love our enemies. This is never easy, but it is easier for those who know that God has loved them whilst they were His enemies!

So let’s Share the message of the God of love

There is nothing anyone needs more than the love of God. Each heart is hungry for God even if they think that they hate God! Our souls will never be at rest until we have been reconciled to our heavenly Father and live in the love He has for us.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

If one has come to know the God who is love, if we are enjoying Him, we will have deep compassion for this broken world. There is nothing more compassionate and courageous than to get over our fear and pride and talk about Jesus. 

Isaiah 63:7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us … according to his compassion and many kindnesses.

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14/8/17 CCP SERIES STUDY WEEK 9 – GOD IS...ALMIGHTY (OMNIPOTENT)

COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY AND DAILY STUDIES BASED UPON OUR PREACHING SERIES AT COMMUNITY CHURCH PUTNEY

You can listen to all the messages at 

Link to audio content

COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY

Just imagine if you could do anything that you wanted or could conceive of. This is the kind of thrilling idea that drives people to try to get rich with it’s deceptive offer of freedom of the will. In this study we will be looking at God’s infinite power and ability to carry out everything that He so wills.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR GOD TO BE OMNIPOTENT?

‘The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatsoever He pleases, whatsoever His infinite wisdom may direct…’ (S.Charnock)

God had promised that Abraham’s descendants would be 'like the dust of the earth’ (Gen. 13:16). But having waited a quarter of a century they still had no children and Abraham was now ninety-nine!

Ø Now God comes to them again. How does He reassure them in Genesis 17:1? In particular, what does He name Himself?

It’s the weak, the waiting, the worrying, who need to hear that God is Almighty! We are weak but He is strong!

Ø How does God reveal Himself to Moses in Exodus 6:2-3?

This meeting happened after Moses seems to have failed as Pharaoh refuses to let the Israelites go from slavery, ordering them to make bricks without straw.  ‘The LORD’, means, “I am who I am” and speaks of His unlimited, infinite, omnipotent and present nature. 

Ø How was this revelation to encourage Moses?

LET’S RESPOND TO WHO GOD IS

Ø Read Isaiah 42:12-15. How does or should an awareness of God’s infinite power inspire us in our worship and our lives?

Ø Read Romans 4:18-21. A conviction of God’s omnipotence gives us deep hope in God, even if we are weak. How does such faith effect our praying?

As we finish studying the power of our God, a good question to ask ourselves is that which the LORD asked Abraham and Sarah, as they doubted God’s power to give them and child in their old age, 

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14)

GOING DEEPER PERSONAL DAILY STUDIES

Monday: God rules over all things

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Wayne Grudem summarises God’s sovereignty under 3 headings: ‘God is continually involved with all created things in:

1.    Preservation-Keeps things existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them

2.    Concurrence-Cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do

3.    Government-Directs them to fulfil his purposes’

Tuesday God is ruler or is ruled

Daniel 4:34-35 His dominion is an eternal dominion; His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”

Only two alternatives are possible: God must either rule, or be ruled; sway, or, be swayed; accomplish his own will, or be thwarted by his creatures. Accepting the fact that he is the "Most High", the only Potentate and King of kings, vested with perfect wisdom and illimitable power, and the conclusion is irresistible that he must be God in fact, as well as in name. (A W Pink The Sovereignty of God)

Wednesday: God’s will of Command (Revealed will) 

God has revealed much of His will in the bible in the form of teaching and commands. Often called ‘God’s will of command’. This can be defied; for example the first of the Ten Commandments, 

Exodus 20:2-3 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me.

We all break this command; we violate God’s will, incurring just condemnation which required the death of Christ to gain our redemption. 

Tuesday: God’s will of Decree (Secret will)

Another form of God’s will is ‘God’s will of decree’. This is God’s plan for all things (including people’s free choices). God wills (decrees) many things that we don’t know about. For example, if you are a Christian it is because God willed it. None of us, however, know whom God has predestined. All that happens in local and world politics, is ultimately governed by God. God’s will of decree cannot be defied. His omnipotence and sovereignty work together to perfectly fulfil all that God wills. 

James 4:15 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. 

Thursday: God’s permissive will

God’s Permissive will is that by which He allows people to make free choices, even evil, whereby they are responsible. Yet, all things are still under God’s rule as He allows and uses them for His ends. A good example of this is as both God and Pharaoh are presented as hardening Pharaoh’s heart. 

Exodus 4:21 The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. (7:3; 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8, 17)

Exodus 7:14Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the people go. (7:13, 14, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 34, 35; 13:15)

God hardened his heart in permissively allowing Pharaoh to act; Pharaoh also did it as he chose to act according to his tyrannical heart. God is in control no matter what. The end of the story is that God’s people are released from slavery. 

Friday: God redeems our mistakes

It’s easy to wear our mistakes like scars. They become a permanent part of our identity with debilitating power over us. God the omniscient ruler knew and made provision for all of your mistakes. Their condemning power is nailed to the cross and its negative consequences are being used by God for good and bring Him glory; to say otherwise is to dethrone God and give the devil a foothold. Peter’s denial is a good example,

John 13:37-38 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

Peter’s worst day has become riches for us as every struggling and failing Christian find hope of restoration in this failure. 

Saturday: Let’s act because God reigns

A weak understanding of God’s sovereignty will render us passive as we wait for God to act. God’s reign is designed to cause us to prayerfully take action, trusting that He will lead, empower and make clear when we are taking the wrong path. It is Jesus’ authority that is the source of our confidence for mission and everything else.

Matthew 28:18-20 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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