Big idea
We began a brand-new series over the weekend called Big God, Little Me, where we are trading a small view of God for the truth that God is able to accomplish exceedingly, abundantly more than anything we could imagine. This week, we are talking about two attributes of God: He is everywhere and He knows everything. As we learn about these attributes of God, we will discover just how big and powerful our God is.
Break the ice
What attribute of God stands out to you the most? Why?
Small group questions
Bible study
1. Read Psalm 139:1-12. What does David, the author of this Psalm, reveal about God’s presence in this passage of Scripture?
1O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
7I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,[1] you are there.
9If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
Translation notes (1)
- 139:8 Hebrew to Sheol.
2. Read Psalm 139:13-18. Describe the extent of God’s knowledge, according to this passage of Scripture?
13You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17How precious are your thoughts about me,[1] O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
Translation notes (1)
- 139:17 Or How precious to me are your thoughts.
3. Read Psalm 56:8. How does God relate to us when it comes to His knowledge of us, from our greatest joys to our deepest disappointments?
8You keep track of all my sorrows.[1]
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
Translation notes (1)
- 56:8 Or my wanderings.
4. Read Deuteronomy 31:8. How are we to respond to the truth that God is always with us?
8Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Application
- Share your response to the truth that God sees everything and knows everything.
- Is there a fear or challenge you are facing? How will you respond in light of the truth that God is with you?
- How have you experienced God’s deep care and concern for you in your own life?
Moving forward
Take a moment to soak in the truth that God is with you. What is something God has called you to do, a God-sized dream or calling, that you have yet to do? Share that with your group, along with one step you can take this week toward obedience. After everyone has shared, pray. Ask God to give each one of you the courage to take those steps this week.
Going deeper
There are so many implications to the truth that God is with us and God knows everything. Today, we will turn to Scripture to discover three of them. As we study the Bible today, we will discover that because God is with us and knows everything, He guides us, He helps us, and He convicts us of sin.
God Guides Us:
Because God is with us, we can be confident that He will lead and guide us. Because He is all-knowing, we can trust that He will guide us and lead us perfectly to good places. In other words, we can trust Him as He guides us. The question is, will we listen for His guidance and follow?
1. Read Isaiah 48:17 and Proverbs 3:5-6.
Isaiah 48:17
For This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.”
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
- Where does God lead us, according to these passages of Scripture?
- How can we follow God's guidance, as outlined in Proverbs 3:5-6?
- What is an area of your life where you need God to guide you?
God Helps Us:
Because God is with us and knows everything, we can look to Him for help. In fact, throughout Scripture, God is described as a helper. He walks with us and helps us every step along the way.
1. Read Psalm 121:1-8.
1I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
3He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
5The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.
7The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
8The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.
- How does the Psalmist describe the Lord, according to this passage of Scripture?
- In what ways did the Psalmist experience God’s help?
- In what way do you need God’s help in your life today?
God Convicts Us of Sin:
Because God is all-knowing and always with us, He sees everything, including our sins and mistakes. Not only that, the Holy Spirit also convicts us of our sins and calls us toward repentance. He offers forgiveness and restoration to all who place their faith in Him.
1. Read John 16:5-11, a passage of Scripture where Jesus taught His disciples shortly before His crucifixion.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
5“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. 6Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. 7But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate[1] won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
Translation notes (1)
- 16:7 Or Comforter, or Encourager, or Counselor. Greek reads Paraclete.
- Describe the role of the Holy Spirit, also referred to as “the Advocate” in this passage of Scripture.
- How have you found the teaching in this passage of Scripture to be true in your own life?
- Is there a sin that the Holy Spirit has been convicting you of? Will you be brave enough to share it today?
Reflect:
Take a few moments to reflect on the Scripture that you read today. Which of these three aspects of God's care and provision do you need to learn in today: God's guidance, God's help, or God's conviction of sin? Share that with your group, along with one thing you will do to seek God's guidance, help, or conviction and forgiveness of sin. End your time in prayer, thanking God for the gift of His knowledge and presence
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