Is God Real? - Week 1

Big idea

According to recent surveys, 94% of Americans believe that there is a God. Of the 6% who say there is no God, only 4% would say they are atheist. You probably already believe there is God or you most likely wouldn’t be here in this small group. However, there are going to be plenty of times in your life where you come across people who doubt God’s existence or people who want to challenge your beliefs. You also may have moments of doubt yourself. What do we do when we come across these scenarios? How can we be really sure that there is a God and He really did create everything around us? In our Bible study today, we are going to answer these questions today and talk about three things to know and share with other people who are doubting that God exists: 1. Every effect has a cause, 2. Every created thing has a Creator, and 2. Every design has a Designer.

First, every effect has a cause. For example, the effect of studying hard (the cause) is a good grade. When it comes to the world, it’s clear that someone, or something, must have caused the world to come into being. It did not just come from nothing. The claim that evolutionists make that the world was created from gasses that came from nothing and collided with each other leaves us with too many questions: Where did the gasses come from and what caused them to collide together? These are just a few questions that evolutionists are unable to answer. The Bible teaches us that we know the cause of the world, and that is the Creator God. Genesis 1:1, the very first verse in the entire Bible, tells us such. It says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Everything that was ever created comes from Him. Every effect has a cause, and the creation of the earth (the effect) comes straight from God (the cause).

The second thing that points to God’s existence is Every created thing has a Creator. This makes sense, right. If something did not come from nothing, everything that was created must have a Creator. When you listen to your favorite song, you know that there was a creator behind that song. When you read a book, someone created that book through writing. When you find a new shirt or hat, someone created it by designing that piece of clothing. In the same way, because the world was created, it has a Creator, God. When we see the most beautiful sunset over the Sandia Mountains, that beauty points to God, the Creator of the mountains. All of God’s creation, including you and me, points to Him.

Lastly, every design has a Designer. Every part of creation, from the annoying fly to the amazing ocean, was perfectly and carefully designed. This includes humans, too. Our bodies are so intricately and perfectly knitted together. This cannot just happen by accident. There is an intelligent Designer, God, behind it all. He created us, and He created us for a purpose.

These three truths that point to God and His existence are just a few things to keep in mind when answering the question “Does God exist?” All of creation points to Him. Because something cannot come from nothing, all of creation points to God as our perfect and intelligent Designer and Creator. As we think about these truths, there is something else we have to think about: our purpose. After all, because you and I are part of God’s creation and designed perfectly and purposefully, we can also be confident that God has a purpose and a calling for each and every one of us. The first and most important purpose is to have a relationship with Him. It is true, He cares about us and loves us and wants us to know Him and have a deep relationship with Him. He also wants us to tell others about Him so that they, too, can understand their purpose and know Him. When we live out this purpose, we find peace that so many people are searching for and we find purpose. We do not have to look for our contentment and hope in the things of the world because we know that those things will not matter in the end. Friends, you and I are not here by chance. We are here because God is a Creator and a designer, and He loves each one of us so very much.

Break the ice

If you could invent anything, what would you invent and why?

Small group questions

1. What do the people around you think about God? How would they describe Him?
2. Do you think God’s existence is undeniable? Why or why not?
3. Read Genesis 1:1. What things do we learn about God in this short verse?
4. Read Romans 1:20. How does God’s creation (the world and people, including us!) point us to Him?
5. What does creation teach us about God?
6. How does that fact that we are part of God’s creation change the way you we think about yourself and other people?
7. In what ways has God specifically and uniquely designed you to make a difference for Him?

Moving forward

Romans 1:20 is clear. All of creation points us to the fact that God exists. When we look around at the earth and at the people in it, we can see clearly that our God is an intelligent, creative, loving designer. Just like every art piece has an artist who created it we can know when we look at ourselves that there is a designer who created us with care and intentionality. We know God created us with gifts and talents that He can use on this earth to point back to Him. Spend some time this week thinking about how God uniquely created you and ask yourself what He might want you to do with the gifts He has given you. Share this with your group and tell them one way you can use your gifts and talents to serve Him this week.