Discussion Questions, October 9th, 2016
Opening
What stood out to you from Sunday’s message?
Summary
Read 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 & Psalm 66:1-4
The glory of God is a major theme in the Bible and yet one that we struggle to get our minds around. The idea of glory is related to significance, reputation, and honour. For some, the thought of God acting for his glory seems oddly vain and self-serving. But the Bible shows us that God’s glory and our joy are not opposites but are in harmony. We glorify God best by enjoying him. It’s only as we live for his glory that life works as it was meant to be.
Discussion Questions
- How does creation glorify God? What does it proclaim about him?
- How can we best glorify God? What attitude or posture most glorifies him?
- If someone examined your life (priorities, choices, time spent, passions) what would they conclude was most important to you?
- What would it look like if you made God and his glory the most important thing in your life? What 1 or 2 things could look differently right away?
- If God is most glorified in our joy, what is one thing that you could do right now to cultivate more joy in God?
Further Study
Isaiah 40:10-11: "Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young."
1. Creation Reflects God’s Glory
Psalm 19:1-2: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge."
Isaiah 6:3: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
2. Humans Reflect God’s glory
Psalm 8:3-5: "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor"
Isaiah 43:6-7: “bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
3. Sin is a failure to glorify God
Romans 1:20-23: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."
Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Eph 1:5-6: "In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace"
2 Cor 4:4-6: "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
Rev 4:10-1: "the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
Rev 5:11-13: "Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
How do I glorify God?
1. We glorify God as we ascribe him glory in our words and songs.
Psalm 29:1-2: "Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness."
Psalm 66:1-4: "Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.”
2. We glorify God with our lives and decisions and choices.
I Cor 10:31: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Rom 15:5-7: "May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."