I Don’t Need the Bible or Worship to Have a Relationship With God”
Prayer
Introductory Activity
Focus: YouoftenhearpeopletalkabouthavingapersonalrelationshipwithJesus.However, thoughindividualshavepersonalfaith,theBiblespeaksofourlifewithJesusascommunal. Christianityisaboutthechurch’srelationshipwithChrist.Justaddupallthe“oneanother” passagesintheNewTestament!WearebaptizedintothebodyofChrist.Sowhenweaddress havingarelationshipwithGod,weneedalsotoaddressourrelationshipwithGod’speople.
Activity:
In Another World. Imagineyouliveinaworldexactlylikeourownbutwithoneexception:the Bibledoesn’texist.ArmedonlywiththenaturalknowledgeofGod,discusswhatyoucould knowaboutthefollowingquestionsinsuchaworld.
• HowdoesGodviewme?
• WhatdoIknowaboutGod?
• HowdoIgetclosertoGod?
• WhatdoesGodwantmetodowithmylife?
• HowdoIgettoheaven?
God’s Word and God’s People
1. ThenaturalknowledgeofGodisnotenoughtogiveapersonarelationshipwithGod.Asyou readthefollowingpassages,identifywhatwelearnfromthenaturalknowledgeofGod.
Psalm19:1 “TheheavensdeclarethegloryofGod;theskiesproclaimtheworkofhis hands.” Romans1:20 “ForsincethecreationoftheworldGod’sinvisiblequalities hiseternal poweranddivinenature havebeenclearlyseen,beingunderstoodfromwhathasbeen made,sothatpeoplearewithoutexcuse.”
Matthew5:45 “Hecauseshissuntoriseontheevilandthegood,andsendsrainonthe righteousandtheunrighteous.”
Romans2:14,15 “IndeedwhenGentiles,whodonothavethelaw,dobynaturethings requiredbythelaw,theyarealawforthemselves,eventhoughtheydonothavethelaw. Theyshowthattherequirementsofthelawarewrittenontheirhearts,theirconsciences alsobearingwitness,andtheirthoughtssometimesaccusingthemandatothertimeseven defendingthem.”
Acts17:27—“Goddidthissothattheywouldseekhimandperhapsreachoutforhimand findhim,thoughheisnotfarfromanyoneofus.”
2. Agree/Disagree:AllpeopleknowthatGodexists.
3. TohavearelationshipwithGod,apersonneedstheBible!Godsays,“SoinChristJesusyou areallchildrenofGodthroughfaith”(Galatians3:26). Godbringsusintothatrelationship throughfaith!GodworksfaiththroughtheBible.Godsays,“Faithcomesfromhearingthe message,andthemessageisheardthroughthewordaboutChrist”(Romans10:17).Infact, God’sWordisourlife!“Manshallnotliveonbreadalone,butoneverywordthatcomes
fromthemouthofGod”(Matthew4:4).Jesussaid,“IfyouremaininmeandIinyou,youwill bearmuchfruit;apartfrommeyoucandonothing”(John15:5) WeremaininJesuswhen welistentohisWord!
ReadHebrews1:1,2.
• Imagineifyourspouseorboyfriend/girlfriendonlytalkedtoyouonceaweek,ormonth, oryear.Whatwouldthatdotoyouemotionally?Howdoesthatrelatetothetopicof readingtheBible?
ReadPsalm1:1-3.
• Whatdoes meditate mean?
• Inmetaphoricalterms,thisScripturedescribesthebenefitsofdailyreadingtheBible. Explainthemetaphors.Whatismeantby“yieldsitsfruitinseason”and“whoseleafdoes notwither”?
4. WeneedtheBible,butwealsoneedtoworshipwithourfellowbelievers.Jesussaid,“Where twoorthreegatherinmyname,thereamIwiththem”(Matthew18:20). “TheLORDsaid . . .
‘WhereverIcausemynametobehonored,Iwillcometoyouandblessyou’”(Exodus 20:22,24).
• WhathappenswhenweworshiptogetherwithourfellowChristians?
Hebrews10:24,25 “Letus...not[give]upmeetingtogether,assomeareinthehabitof doing,butencouragingoneanother andallthemoreasyouseetheDayapproaching.”
• Listsomewaysweencourageoneanotherinworship.
• TakeoneminutetothinkofanexampleortwothatdemonstratehowGoddesigned humankindtofacelife,notasaruggedindividualbutwiththeencouragementand assistanceofothers Writedownyourthoughtsandsharewithyourgroup
Group Discussion
• Respondtothisstatement:“IknowIhaven’tbeentochurch,butGodandme we’re good Iprayeverynight.”
• Listwhatyoufeelarethekeysforahealthyrelationship.Howdoesbelievingthislieline upwithfulfillingthosekeys?
• ReadHebrews3:12-14.Whatdoeachofthesetermsorphrasesteachusaboutreading theBibleorworshipingtogether?
“...daily” “...sothatnoneofyouarehardenedbythedeceitfulnessofsin” “ ...hold...firmly”
• Read1Corinthians12:3andRomans1:16.Comeupwithananalogythatwillhelp answerthislie.
Closing Activity
Tabloid Headline. WriteaheadlinetoexplaintheblessingsorneedofGod’sWordand worship.