Out of Darkness, Light
GOD IS PERSONAL
Bible Time: Day 2 & 3
(Scroll down for Day 2)
Day Two: God is a Personal Friend
Because GOD IS A PERSONAL SPIRIT, I can get to know Him better every day.
Preparation: Before you begin today's study, retrieve the branch or stem you cut from the plant yesterday. Does it look any different today than it did yesterday?
Memory Verse:
"Yes I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5
GOD IS YOUR FRIEND
Think of your best friend. Why is he/she your best friend?
How did you become best friends?
Read Exodus 33:11,17.
"Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting. The Lord replied to Moses, "I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name."
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What kind of friendship did Moses have with God? (He spoke face to face with God just as friends do.) (God said He was pleased with Moses and knew him by his name.)
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Read James 4:8.​
"Come close to God, and God will come close to you."
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What kind of friendship does God want with you?
(Jesus said the Disciples and all who follow Him are His friends - John 15:14.)
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How is having a friendship with God different than having a friendship with someone else?
How is it the same?
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It can seem difficult to have a friendship with someone you can't see. Many people use letters, e-mail, and phone calls to stay in touch with friends they can't see face-to-face.
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God talks with us. How does He do that?
(Through the Bible; His letters to us -- 1 Peter 1:24, 25)
(Through Prayer; talking with God -- Philippians 4:6, 7)
(Through the words of other people; God speaks to us through the wise counsel of others who abide closely with Him)
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Because God is a Personal Spirit, we can talk with Him. Every friendship starts with a conversation. We know that God hears us, and we know that He speaks to us. We will learn more about how to hear Him speak later this week.
TALK WITH GOD AND STAY CONNECTED TO THE VINE!
Take a moment to let God know what kind of friendship you would like to have with Him and thank Him that He sent Jesus to make that friendship possible. If you are having trouble talking with God, try becoming His pen pal and write Him a letter (short or long) every day. You can tell Him everything and ask Him anything!
All Bible Times for God is Personal
Day 3: You Can Get To Know Him!
Because GOD IS A PERSONAL SPIRIT, I can get to know Him better every day.
Preparation: Before you begin today's study, retrieve the branch or stem you cut from the plant at the beginning of the week. How has it changed?
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Read or quote the memory verse:
"Yes I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5, NLT
If you could meet one famous or powerful person, who would it be, and why would you want to meet him or her?
Remember Freddy, the microscopic mite? (Day 1) He wanted to know the king desperately, but it was impossible until the king went looking for Freddy.
God created us to have a relationship with Him. He wants desperately for us to know Him. So, He sent His only Son, Jesus, to show us the way.
Read John 10:14.
[Jesus said,] "I am the good shepherd; I know My own sheep, and they know Me." (NLT).
Jesus is trying to help us understand the close relationship He wants to have with us.
What is the job of the Shepherd? (To know, protect, and lead His sheep.)
What is the job of the sheep? (To know the Shepherd's voice and follow Him.)
Read John 10:3-5.
"He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his voice." (NLT).
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Why do the sheep follow the shepherd? (Because they know his voice; they know he's not a stranger.)
Why don't the sheep follow a stranger's voice? (Because they don't know if he is good or bad.)
How do we get to know God so that we can recognize His voice? (God speaks to us through His Word (the Bible), and in our hearts as we pray.)
If you ever "hear" something that is against what the Bible says, it is the voice of a stranger. Don't follow it!
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Because God is a Personal Spirit, we can learn to recognize His voice just like sheep recognize the voice of their Shepherd. Why does that matter to you?
TALK WITH GOD AND STAY CONNECTED TO THE VINE!
Ask God to help you recognize His voice and to stay away from voices of those trying to lead you away from God.