What is God Like PT. 2 // Exodus 34:6

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Introduction

Today we continue in our series of “The Glory Encounter” by looking at the latter half of Exodus 34:6 at God’s “love and faithfulness.” Moses has been in conversation with God and through this conversation has pleaded with God to show Moses “His ways” and “His glory”. As God is passing before Moses He proclaims truths about himself and out of all the myriad of characteristics and attributes God has He chooses to use words like “love and faithfulness.”

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.

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Ice Breaker Questions

Here are some possible ways to get a conversation started:

1. What is your favorite Season? What about that season do you like the most?

2. If you learned you only had 5 more years left to live how would you spend those 5 years?

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Getting Started

1. 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.
     

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Discussion Questions

1. Have someone in your group read Exodus 34:6-7. What stands out to you from this passage or something that was said on Sunday?

2. Where have you seen God’s love and faithfulness play out in your life recently?

3. God is revealing himself to have a loyal love and to be faithful to us, but if we are honest it does not always feel like that. God can feel like he has left us or has been unfaithful to us. When God does not feel like He is faithful or in control what are the other securities that we run to for comfort or control?

4. God has some amazing attributes that He could be talking about like all-powerful, all-knowing, Holy, etc. Why do you think God talks about His loyal love and faithfulness? What does this reveal about God and what is important to Him?

   What words would you use to describe yourself? What would others use?

5. Have some people read the following verses: Romans 12:5, 1 Cor. 10:17, John 13:35, and John 15:12.

   What do these verses reveal about what the church is like? How does that work against culture or our natural desires?

   What do the final two verses reveal about how we should act toward each other? Is he talking about how we love everyone or just those in the church? How can we each take a step toward loving those in the church well?

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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 place people in your path this week to love and put into practice the truths from this week.

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Personal Spiritual Practice

This section is for anyone that wants some practical steps to try throughout their week. they are not required, but may be a great way to re-enforce 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.

Memorize: Take time this week to memorize Exodus 34:6-7. Some other memorizing suggestions could be Psalm 136:1-10, John 13:35, and John 15:12. As you are committing it to memory try and take time to meditate on them and pray for opportunities where you can apply these truths this week.

Love The Body: Take a moment this week and do something or reach out to encourage someone in your Grow Group or someone in the church. Make sure that you are specific what you love about them or with what you are encouraging them with., personalize it to them and what you know about them.

How can groups love, serve, and pray for one another and others (Rom. 12:9-13) while still being wise and loving (and honoring the authorities – see also Romans 13:1-8) by using strategies like social distancing to try to minimize any health risk we may pose to others?

For the time being, we’re recommending keeping groups small enough that you can meet in person while still following recommended health practices. (Typically ~4-7 adults.)

Here are the health guidelines we’re recommending, both for the good of those in the group and also all those with whom you’ll be interacting after you gather. (Based on CDC protection guidance, the latest DHM and guidance from NE DHHS, and WCDHD Risk Dial guidance).

• Do not attend if you (or anyone in your household):

  • have recently (starting within past 10 days) had any symptoms of respiratory illness, such as fever (check before gathering!), cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste/smell, or congestion/runny nose (see CDC illness guidance and symptoms).

  • have any reason to believe you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days (including travel to an area with high activity of the virus), or

  • are in an at-risk group (esp. older adults or those with underlying health conditions like heart or lung disease, diabetes).

• Fully disinfect all surfaces before and after your gathering (see CDC’s protection guidance or complete disinfection guidance).

• Maintain 6+ feet of social distance between households and their belongings. This includes avoiding contact such as handshakes and hugs.

• Practice good hygiene:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) upon arrival at the gathering and upon returning home.

  • Either wash hands or make use of hand sanitizer as appropriate during the gathering (see CDC’s handwashing guidance).

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

  • Cover any cough or sneeze with a tissue (and discard immediately) or your sleeve, and wash hands immediately.

• Face coverings strongly recommended for anyone over 2 years old, particularly when social distance may be difficult to maintain (see CDC’s page on cloth face coverings).

• Avoid serving food or drinks if possible. At minimum, any food or drinks should be served individually using disposable products, good hygiene, and social distancing.

Of course, gathering outdoors can be a great idea when it’s feasible (depending on the group’s allergies and other health needs), but especially as we head into fall and winter, it’s probably wise to plan for meeting indoors. So we suggest limiting your group’s size to where you can fit in your indoor gathering space while still following the health guidance above. (Typically ~4-7 adults?) That way, you’re less likely to have things get in the way of your group being able to connect in person (such as bad weather or increased health restrictions or anything like that).

For those who do need to connect digitally: Thankfully, we live in a time and place where we have lots of options for this – from phone calls to text messages to video calls, there are many alternative ways we can maintain connection in order to encourage, motivate, and love one another (Heb. 10:24-25), even at a distance. Want help getting started? See the resources we shared in this previous post.

Questions? Need further guidance or clarification? Please don’t hesitate to contact us!

How can groups love, serve, and pray for one another and others (Rom. 12:9-13) while still being wise and loving (and honoring the authorities – see also Romans 13:1-8) by using strategies like social distancing to try to minimize any health risk we may pose to others?

For the time being, for any groups gathering during the Grow Group season break, we’re still recommending connecting digitally. (Keep up with our latest recommendations on our COVID-19 page.) Thankfully, we live in a time and place where we have lots of options for this – from phone calls to text messages to video calls, there are many alternative ways we can maintain connection in order to encourage, motivate, and love one another (Heb. 10:24-25), even at a distance. So let’s use them! (For help getting started, see our previous post here.)

If your group (of 25 or fewer) is facing conditions that make it crucial to gather in person, here are the health guidelines to follow, both for the good of those who are gathering and also for the good of all the people you’ll interact with after you gather. (Based on CDC protection guidance, guidance from NE DHHS, and the latest DHM).

• Do not attend if you (or anyone in your household):

  • have recently had any symptoms of respiratory illness such as cough, fever (be sure to check before gathering!), sore throat, shortness of breath, or runny nose (see CDC illness guidance),

  • have traveled in the past 14 days somewhere with high activity of COVID-19,

  • have any reason to believe you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days, or

  • are in an at-risk group (esp. older adults or those with underlying health conditions like heart or lung disease, diabetes).

• Fully disinfect all surfaces before and after your gathering (see CDC’s protection guidance or complete disinfection guidance).

• Maintain at least 6 feet of social distance between households and their belongings. This includes avoiding contact such as handshakes and hugs.

• Practice good hygiene:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) upon arrival at the gathering and upon returning home.

  • Either wash hands or make use of hand sanitizer as appropriate during the gathering (see CDC’s handwashing guidance).

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

  • Cover any cough or sneeze with a tissue (and discard immediately) or your sleeve, and wash hands immediately.

• Consider wearing a cloth face covering, particularly when other social distancing measures may be difficult to maintain (see CDC’s page on cloth face coverings).

• Avoid serving food or drinks if possible. At minimum, any food or drinks should be served individually using disposable products, good hygiene, and social distancing.

If you have any questions or need further guidance or clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Keep growing in your relationship with Jesus: Take the message with you into your week. Reflect on the Bible passage and sermon (posts Sun. afternoon), then use the ideas below to help you talk it over with your friends, coworkers, family, or Grow Group (most groups on break for the summer).

Icebreaker idea: What was one highlight of this past week for you? What’s something you’re looking forward to?

A way to pray: Pray with us that by 2022, through God’s grace and power, we will see 2,000 people baptized and growing in relationship with Jesus through the Word, prayer, and community.

Talk It Over:

• What is God showing me about Himself? How is He challenging me to be more like Jesus? What’s my next step?

• How have I experienced God‘s love recently? How can I share His love with someone this week? Where do I see the enemy working to cause division and discord, and how does God’s love encourage and empower me to seek peace instead?