Study Questions – Essentials #1 – God
Essentials – What We Believe – Week #1
Who is God? (Genesis 1 & 2)
INTRODUCTION: This week, we embarked on our fall teaching series through the EFCA’s Statement of Faith. As an EFCA church, this is our statement of faith (SOF). The first article of faith that we examined was on God.
Genesis 1 & 2 reveals to us the act of creation. But more than a scientific text on the process of the creative act, it is first and foremost (i.e., primarily) a theological text. In that, it reveals to us the character, nature, and person of the creator, God. Everything that he promises hangs on the reality of his character. His promises mean nothing if he isn’t able to deliver on them.
“In the beginning God . . .” (Gen. 1:1). So begins the Bible, and so, too, begins our statement of central theological convictions that expound the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many historic confessions start with a statement on the Bible,33 and that is entirely appropriate, for our knowledge of God comes most clearly from that written Word of God. But we have chosen to speak of God before speaking of the Bible,34 even though what we say about him is based on the Scriptures. The Bible is the story of God’s work in creation, redemption and restoration, and it is a story that has its center in his revelation in Christ. The structure of our Statement of Faith reflects the flow of this biblical story. The eternal God acts, and he acts by speaking—calling creation into being and, later, revealing his actions and his own character in human words which now come to us in the Bible. It all begins with God. This starting point is also appropriate because any statement about the Bible as the Word of God must assume that there is a God who can speak. Moreover, our trust in the truthfulness of that Word must be based on a confidence in the character of the God who speaks. Though one can make a case for beginning a Statement of Faith at either point, with God or with the Bible, we have chosen to begin with God as the ultimate starting point for everything else, including our own knowledge of God himself. Beginning with a statement on God is also significant in that it emphasizes that the gospel itself begins with God. In the gospel we are recipients of God’s grace, a grace that comes at his initiative, not ours. The gospel is God’s saving work from first to last; it flows from within himself as the expression of his essential character. His actions always conform perfectly with his own nature. In other words, God does what he does because he is who he is. Thus, God’s gospel originates in and expresses the wondrous perfections of the eternal triune God.[1]
Article #1 – We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.
GETTING STARTED – As you begin your group time, talk about your first formative convictions about God. That is, what did you first believe about who God is? And, who taught you that belief?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage. It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions about the article of faith we are studying that week.
- What is a crucial passage in the Bible for you that describes the character, nature, and person of God?
- Consider the following passages: Isaiah 46:9; Exodus 15:11; Acts 17:24-28; Rom. 11:35-36; 1 Cor. 2:28-29 and discuss what they reveal about the character, nature, and person of God.
- What is core to this article of faith? That is, what is something that, if you took it away or changed it, it would significantly alter the article of faith about God?
- What is clarified for you in this article of faith about the person, nature, and character of God?
- What is confusing for you in this article of faith? Take time as a group to chat through and offer perspectives on the things that are confusing. The beauty of a group is that often, when we study together, we help sharpen and clarify what is confusing for one another.
- How does this article on God apply to my everyday life? That is, how does it change my outlook and approach to my Monday-Saturday life?
[1] EFCA. Evangelical Convictions, 2nd Edition (pp. 34-35). Free Church Publications. Kindle Edition.