3/16/13

From Gary...What does God mean to me? Theology in Practice Part 4 of 4





This is the last in the series... I hope


 you will enjoy it... Gary






What does God mean to me? 


Theology in Practice




Part 4 of 4




Bible Reading: 2 Cor 11:18-30 




 Song: "I want to be a worker for the Lord"






I. Introduction




A. God can not be ignored -- we have a choice to make. 


     Dt 5:7



B. God was never an impersonal deity -- He got 

     involved with us.



C. God expects us to live a spiritual life. Dt 6:4-9




D. God in us, the hope of Glory Col 1:27




II. Body




A. Understanding God means understanding 


     ourselves.



1. Our origins. Gen 1:26ff.; Acts 17:28



2. Our purpose in life. 1 Pet. 2:9; Eccl 12:13



3. Our ultimate goal. 2 Tim 4:7-8; 1 Cor 15:1-4, 50-58




B. Understanding God means knowing and being 


     known by Him.



     Matt 7:21-23; 2 Cor 10:17; Phil 3:7-11; 1 Jn 2:4, 3:14;  

     Jer 31:34





C. Understanding God means becoming like Him.



1. A change from our ways to His ways. 2 Cor 7:10;1 Lk 


    18:13-14



2. A Great example. Mtt 4:1-10; Heb 4:14-16



3. A Godly life. Heb 12:14; Eph 5:1-2



D. Understanding God will enable us to detect and 


     exterminate sin in our lives.



     1 Tim 1:15-16; Eph 4:22-24; Heb 12:1-2




E. Understanding God will allow us to obey His 


    commands in Spirit and Truth.


    1 Cor 1:18-31; Dt 5:6-21; Matt 5:2-18; Jn 4:24




F. Understanding God correctly will help us to 

    acceptably worship Him.


   Jn 4:24; Acts 17:22-31.; Heb 11:6; Matt 15:7-9; Psa 51:17




G. Understanding God will help us mature 


     spiritually.



     Eph 4:11-16; 2 Pet 1:1-8




H. Understanding God will enable us to share Christ 


     with others.

  
      1 Pet 3:15; Jn 3:11-16; 2 Tim 3:14-15





III. Conclusion



A. Learning about God will reinforce our faith.



B. Learning about God will give us new goals of 


     spirituality.



C. Learning about God will give us encouragement to 

    reach out to others.

From Gary.... What is God? Theology in conception part 3 of 4




What
 is God? Theology in conception



part 3 of 4



Bible Reading: 1 John 4:8 



Song: "Oh to be like thee"



I. Introduction


A. What amazes me about New Jersey is the diversity of the 

     people.


B. What is extraordinary about Christians is that there are so 

     many levels of spirituality.


C. What would you think about a Christian who knew God 

     only  by 1 John 4:8?


D. What a task ... explaining God ! Definition by A. H. Strong:


    "God is the infinite and perfect Spirit in whom all things 

    
     have their source, support and end."



E. What needs to be understood is the complexity of the 


     subject. It would take many, many sermons to do 


    more than just briefly understand God.



F. What this lesson will attempt to do is understand God by 


    His composition (Godhead [Trinity]), 


    His natural characteristics, and His moral attributes.





II. Body



A. Understanding God means a comphrension of the 


     Godhead.  Col 2:9



1. God is the Father. Mal 2:10; Eph 4:6; Heb 12:9; Exo 4:22f.; 1 


     Chr 29:10



2. God is the Son. Jn 1:1, 18; 20:28; Titus 2:13



3. God is the Holy Spirit. Acts 5:3-4; Jn 14:23 (14-17); 1 Cor 6:19



4. God is one, yet three. Dt 6:4; Mk 12:29; Jn 15:1-9; 17:22f; Jn 


    5:18; 10:30



B. Understanding God means considering His natural 


     attributes.



1. God is Spirit. Jn 4:24; Lk 24:39; 2 Cor 3:17; 1 Tim 1:17



2. God is immutable. Heb 1:10-12; 13:8; Mal 3:6



3. God is omnipotent. Gen 17:1; 18:13-14



4. God is omniscient. Rom 11:33-36; Col 2:2-3; Psa 147:5



5. God is omnipresent. Psa 139:7-12; Jer 23:23-24; Prov 15:3; 1 


    Ki 8:27



6. God is eternal. 2 Pet 3:8; Rev 1:8; 1 Tim 1:17; Psa 90:4




C. Understanding God means understanding His moral 

     attributes.



1. God is Holy. Isa 6:1-3; Eph 4:24; Exo 15:11; Isa 57:15; Rev 15:4



2. God is Righteous. Gen 18:25 Dt 32:4; Rom 2:2-5



3. God is Just. Dt 32:3-4; Psa 97:2; Isa 30:18; Jer 9:24



4. God is Truth. Isa 65:16; Jn 14:6; Psa 31:5



5. God is Love. 1 Jn 4:8; Jn 3:16; Eph 2:4; 2 Cor 13:11



6. God is Mercy. 2 Cor 1:3; Psa 116:5; 62:12; Exo 34:6; Mic 7:18




III. Conclusion



A. There has been much diversity of opinion concerning what 

     
     God is like over the centuries.



B. There are many, many scriptures which explain God, but 


     the most important thing to remember is that 


     understanding God begins with being known by Him.



C. The three things that will determine my understanding of 


     God are:



     1. My attitude.



     2. My effort to try to understand Him.



     3. My actions as a result of trying to please Him.