Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Wrapping Up lesson ONE -- RIGHT WITH GOD

Hello M Family!

On Sunday we gathered at the D's and went through the reading and questions I had sent all the teens this past week.  It was great to get the younger generation participating more and hear their thoughts.  I shared the answers that Johanna and Nicole had sent to me, so both of you were with us in spirit.  :o)  Here are some final thoughts and notes I made on Sunday during our discussions:

- how does God reveal himself to people? -- Jordan changed his answer to, "through His people."  Lori shared that God has revealed Himself to her through events, things she has read, answers to prayer, etc.  We also discussed how it is important to be seeking God.

how have some people provoked God to anger?  --  Paul summed it up by saying people knowingly sinned, they knew better and chose to sin anyway.

God's wrath directed at...???  -- verse 21 and 28;  God loves His creation, He hates sin.

-   "Why is the truth of the gospel hidden from some people?
     -  If we don't seek the truth, we won't see it.
     -  As a person hardens their heart, they choose to hide from God and that is why the the truth is hidden... a person chooses to hide from it.

-  Paul questioned the wording of this next question - "What happens when God lets people go their own way?"  When it is worded this way, it makes it sound like God made them choose the wrong path.  Paul offered that it should be worded this way - "What happens when people choose their own way (instead of God's way)?
     -  Josh's answer - "CRITICAL FAIL!!!" 

-  What is sin? Josh answered, "not fulfilling what is right with God."

-  "How would describe righteousness to a new believer?" -- Being right with God, believing on One He has sent.  I added we might define what it means to believe.  A person can believe there is a God or that Christ existed but this is not the belief we would be talking about here.  Belief would mean trust... putting your life and your choices in His hands, following His ways.

-   How do we get right with God and why is it important?  (Wes asked this question at the end and we never did discuss/answer it.)  Any thoughts?  I would would offer that we don't get right with God, God makes us right with Him.  Agree?

-  "So if people can know God through His creation and He will teach us, why do we need missionaries/evangelists/etc?"
     -  Jordan answered, "because we are too stupid to catch on."
     -  someone answered, "to serve."  For example missionaries that go and build a school.
     -  We discussed how quite often people need help working through who God is and maybe more importantly, who God isn't.  So many of us have wrong ideas about who God is or what He does.  So our job as Christ's body is to walk with people on their journey to know God and help with the renewing of their mind (there is a bible verse that talks about renewing the mind, but I don't have the reference for it).  We need to show people God's love, model it for them.  (
Go into all the world and preach the gospel, and, if necessary, use words.)

NEXT -- I will send out the lesson 2, KNOWING CHRIST.

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