WEEK 1 - GLORY OF GOD

God is glorified not only by His glory's being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it. His glory is then received by the whole soul, both by the understanding and by the heart. God made the world that He might communicate, and the creature receive, His glory; and that it might [be] received both by the mind and heart. 

  • Jonathan Edwards

PRIMARY TEXT:

ISAIAH 48: 9For the sake of My name I will delay My wrath;

for the sake of My praise I will restrain it,

so that you will not be cut off.

10See, I have refined you, but not as silver;

I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

11For My own sake, My very own sake, I will act;

for how can I let Myself be defamed?

I will not yield My glory to another.

Discussion

READING:


Read this list of passages. (Take turns as a group reading one at a time as you go around the circle)


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS.


1. What stood out to you while reading. Was there anything surprising/ interesting.

2. How do you feel about the fact that God’s ultimate aim is to glorify himself.

3. If someone said to you, “God is either selfish, or simply has an Ego problem, if he expects to be the centre of everyone’s lives” How would you respond?

If you struggle to answer this watch the video below “Is God a megalomanicac’

APPLICATION


1. How does this change the motivation for telling people about Jesus

2. How does this change the way you read the bible and pray?

3. How does this change the way you understand sin and obedience? 


4. Which of these areas in particular need to be addressed in your life?


PRAYER.

Pray that you would be able to come to a deeper understanding of God’s glory.

Weekly Challenge:

  1. While reading scripture this week. Begin with the question. ‘What does this passage say about God.'

  2. Pause for 2 minutes each day, reflect on what your surroundings say about the Glory of God.