Q&A#2: Verses for Reflection

Q/A#2
Q: Who is this God we are to love?
A: This God is the LORD, the one true God in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Verses for Further Reflection

Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.
– Isaiah 44:6

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
– Isaiah 45:22

Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, you transgressors,
remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, “My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose.”
– Isaiah 46:8-10

Discussion Questions Related to the Verses

Who is the one true God?

What do you learn about the one true God from these verses, and what significance does each truth have for your life?

Q&A#2: Our God

Q/A#2
Q: Who is this God we are to love?
A: This God is the LORD, the one true God in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King.
Jeremiah 10:10a (ESV)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19 (ESV)

Passion Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Practical Suggestions for Cultivating Communion with God – Kelly Kapic (Crossway)
Communion with God is a deep need for every human, whether we acknowledge the need or not. Communion with God is how we were made to function, and it is ultimately about a loving and very present relationship with the triune Creator.

Two Gifts You Give To Others in Your Sanctification – Tim Challies
Your sanctification is a gift to others. Your continual growth in holiness is not something you emphasize merely for your own benefit or your own assurance, but something you pursue for the benefit of others.

One Man’s Dream Destroyed Millions – Jon Bloom (DG)
We must confront our own wicked proneness to objectify others and resolve all the more to war against it. We humans have a horrible, sinful tendency to view others as roles — too often expendable “extras” — in the epic moving picture of our story, not souls in the real epic of God’s story.  The fallen human nature, unhinged from God’s reality, seeks to construct its own preferred reality. And it uses other people to do it.

Are You a Healthy Church Member? – Thabiti Anyabwile (Crossway)
A healthy church member is someone that, in one sense, shares all the sensibilities of a good pastor. They’re going to have a concern for the spiritual growth of others, they’re going to have a concern for the right teaching of God’s Word, and they will have a concern for the church’s witness to the community, for reaching their neighbors and friends.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church!

Passion Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Alienation from God – Sinclair Ferguson (Ligonier)
Our worldview is self-focused. Man is, in Martin Luther’s words, “incurvatus in se”— turned in on himself, self-obsessed. We belong to what Christopher Lasch has called a culture of narcissism.

The Five Key Factors in Every Christian’s Sanctification – Tim Challies
How does God go about this work of sanctification? David Powlison helpfully narrows it down to five means or five streams through which God pours out his sanctifying grace. These factors work in tandem, each one contributing to our lifelong gain in godliness.

When Did Solomon Write Proverbs 5-7? – Mike Leake (Borrowed Light)
The life of Solomon should serve as a warning to us. The Scriptures are true. Solomon’s words are true. But that mere fact doesn’t protect us unless we actually apply and live out these words. Just knowing that adultery will kill you isn’t enough. You have to actually live in light of those facts. Solomon didn’t and he got burned.

12 Principles on How to Disagree with Other Christians – Andrew David Naselli and J. D. Crowley (9Marks)
But human nature being what it is, the stricter group was always tempted to judge those they saw as too free (“And they call themselves Christians!”), while the free group tended to look down on those with unnecessary restrictions (“those poor legalists!”). Fortunately, Paul condemned both attitudes.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church worshiping our great God!

Passion Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Why Believing That God Is Sovereign Makes All the Difference – Erik Raymond (Crossway)

Finding Peace When the Whole World Is Going To Pieces – Stephen Altrogge

10 Things You Should Know about Your Smartphone – Tony Reinke (Crossway)

2 Ways To Look at the People in Your Church – Tim Challies

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church!

 

What God Hates, Part 2

Tim Challies recently finished an excellent series on eight things God hates.  In Challies’ words:

The God who loves must also hate. The God who loves all that is good and pure and holy must hate all that is evil and defiled and perverse. 

Last week I provided links to the first four posts.  Below are links to the final four.  Again I encourage you to take the time to read them, and examine your life.  Where do you see these tendencies in your life?  For which of these might you need to repent and find forgiveness in the sacrifice of our Savior?

God Hates Deceit

God Hates Pride

God Hates Evil Thoughts

God Hates Wicked People

 

What God Hates

Tim Challies recently finished an excellent series on eight things God hates.  In Challies’ words:

The God who loves must also hate. The God who loves all that is good and pure and holy must hate all that is evil and defiled and perverse. 

If we are going to love God, we must hate what he hates.  If we are going to love people, we must hate what God hates since these things that he hates are also hurtful to people.

So below are links to the first four.  I encourage you to take the time to read them, and examine your life.  Where do you see these tendencies in your life?  For which of these might you need to repent and find forgiveness in the sacrifice of our Savior?

God Hates Idolatry

God Hates Sexual Immorality

God Hates Injustice

God Hates Hypocrisy

Psalms 81-90: Our Great God

(86, 89) How does God compare to other gods (86:8-10, 89:5-8)?

How should we respond?

81:8-10 –

82:1-8 –

83:18 –

86:9, 89:5 –

(90) How does God compare to people (v2-4)?

How should we respond (v12)?  What does that mean?

(85-86, 89) What attributes of our great God do you find in 85:10-11, 86:5 & 15, 89:14?

How should we respond?

85:1-7 –

86:1-4, 16-17 –

89:1 –

(84, 89) Our great God is present with his people.  How should we respond to his presence (84:1-12, 89:15)?

(89) Describe the covenant our great God made in v3-4, 19-37.

In what ways does this covenant point to Jesus?

What does it mean for us?

(81-90) Which verse(s) or psalm especially speaks to you, and why?