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LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
Wednesday Night, April 25, 2007
“Declare the Glory of the Lord”
5 Minutes - Welcome / Prayer
5 Minutes - OPEN
Describe in your own words the feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment when someone your respect and love says to you, “You make me proud!”
How much is “making someone else proud” a motivator in your life?
What is the “honor” you bring (or brought) to your parents when they swell with pride over who you’ve become or what you’ve accomplished?
15 Minutes - DIG
When Paul said in Colossians 1:27 –
“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”
- - this said volumes about Paul’s understanding of who we are and of our task as his disciples. What is the significance of these profound words?
With that in mind, read again the story of Moses’ encounter with God on Mount Sinai upon the receipt of the old law recorded in Exodus 33:12-34:10.
Spend time talking as a group about the conversation Moses had with God as he tried to better understand “the glory of the Lord.”
Moses thought the only way to comprehend the glory of the Lord was to see his face. God informed him that would never happen. Why could God never show his face?
However, a life-changing experience was recorded in this section when God passed in front of Moses, proclaiming,
“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation” (34:6-7).
What are those characteristics of God that he used to clearly define His glory? Why are these characteristics so fundamental to our understanding of Jehovah God?
What was Moses’ reaction when he realized God’s glory?
15 Minutes - REFLECT
Using just this section as our guide, what is the significance of God’s promise that if we take on these same attributes, we will declare the glory of God to the nations (see 33:16 and 34:10)?
What new meaning does this give Paul’s word in Colossians 1:27 – “Christ in you, the hope of glory” and in 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit?
How do we reflect the glory of God to those in our circle of influence such that leads them to a faith encounter with Jesus Christ? What is the significance of this transformation happening with “ever-increasing glory”? And where does Paul say the power will come from?
What new sense of purpose does this bring to our life (see 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossian 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11)?
5 Minutes - CLOSING PRAYER
From this discussion, what are those things you feel compelled to pray about tonight?
Pray about these matters one by one and bring them before your Heavenly Father.
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