Grow Group Questions // October 10th, 2021
What is God Like PT. 4 // Exodus 34:6-7
Introduction
Today we continue in our series of “The Glory Encounter” by looking at Exodus 34:6-7 and how God reveals Himself to Moses. Moses has been in conversation with God and through this conversation has pleaded with God to show Moses “His ways” and “His glory”. We have seen how great God is in that He is “merciful and gracious”, “slow to anger”, and “abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness”. Now we look at God’s loving lasting thousands of generations, but also how His wrath has not been forgotten and Justice will be given to those who walk against the Lord.
To get the most out of your group time, we invite you to look over the questions below and write your thoughts down before you meet with your group.
Ice Breaker Questions
Here are some possible ways to get a conversation started:
What was your favorite book or movie growing up?
What type of music do you like to listen to? What is your favorite song at the moment?
Getting Started
Open up with some prayer, some possible prayer topics:
God would lead your time of discussion
That this study would help our understanding of who God is.
As we grow in our understanding of who God is it would also stir our affections and worship of Him and lead us into loving Him and others more.
We would continue to trust God’s character even if it is beyond our understanding.
Read Exodus 34:6-7
Discussion Questions
If we read this passage, we see two sides of a coin with one focusing on God’s love and forgiveness and the other on God’s justice. Why is it important to understand God is both loving and has perfect justice? Does it matter if God has more justice than love or vice versa?
People can often see the Old Testament as the place where God shows His wrath and the New Testament as where God shows His love. How does this passage combat the idea that God in the O.T. was just an angry God? Why is it common for people to focus on either God’s love or God’s justice? Why do usually like one over the other?
When reading Scripture, it is important to see the structure and word choices that are in Scripture. Why is important that Scripture speaks to God’s kindness lasting for thousands of generations and His wrath lasting to the 3rd or 4th generation? What hope does that bring us?
Sometimes we can feel that we are doomed to struggle with the same sins as our parents or maybe our grandparents. How does the truth in 2 Corinthian 5:17 combat that? What does the work on the cross do for us regarding “generational curses”? What is a step toward freedom that we can take from the weight of past sins either our own or others?
Scripture teaches that Jesus is the human embodiment of who God is. How does Jesus display all the characteristics that we have talked about with God? How does the cross both show us the kindness of God and God’s justice? How does this lead us to act with others?
Closing Prayer
Prayer can often be somewhat of a weird time and we understand can be awkward to pray out loud so as your group grows in comfortability ask people to pray out loud. Prayer is a very effective tool the Holy Spirit uses to draw our hearts closer to God. It is also a time you as a group can come together and come before the throw of God and make requests and just experience Him.
Some suggestions:
Ask if there are any prayer requests.
Pray that Jesus would use the week to reaffirm the truths discussed here.
Pray that God would stir our affections as we remember how Christ is our intercessor.
Personal Spiritual Practice
This section is for anyone that wants some practical steps to try throughout their week. they are not required, but maybe a great way to reinforce what has been discussed during group. Maybe this could even be a way to check in either during the week or the next time you meet as a group.
Meditation: Re-read Isaiah 53 and spend time thinking and meditating on all that Jesus did for you. Think about the price He paid and the ways He would suffer, not to make you feel worse, but move our hearts toward thankfulness for Him.
Memorize: Take time this week and memorize 53:5.