week of 12/25

Unit 16  Session 4

GOD'S PRESENCE IN ALL PLACES

1 KINGS 8-9 ; PSALM 33 ; ISAIAH 7

God is present in all times and places for His people's good, most clearly evidenced in His dwelling with His people in Christ.

We have seen the devestating effect of sin and judgment in the destruction the Lord brought upon Judah and Jerusalem. He used the Babylonians to crush His own temple, conquer His own people, and to take many of them captive into exile. It would have been easy for the exiles to see themselves in a foreign land, under a foreign king, and surrounded by foreign gods and believe that God was no longer with them. But nothing could be further from the truth. God is present everywhere; God hears, cares for, and promises to dwell with His people.

Points to consider:

✞   God is present to hear from His people.

     * What are some ways we experience the 

        presence of God now that are mere 

        reflections of what is to come?

✞   God is present to care for His people.

     * How do we sometimes reveal that we 

        think we can save ourselves by our 

        own merit?

✞   God is present to dwell with His people.     

     * What are some reasons we might find 

        it difficult to trust God?

     * How should understanding that God 

        sent His Son as our Savior to save and 

        be with us affect our view of God?