Knowing God

November 13, 2022

There is a difference between knowing about someone and knowing someone personally. You can read a person’s biography to learn facts about that individual, but that isn’t the same as having a relationship with them. This also applies to knowing God. Reading the Bible and participating in religious activities may help you learn more about God, but that is not the same as knowing God. Join us for part seven of Experiencing God where we will learn that we only come to know God by experience as we obey Him, and He accomplished His work through us.

Listen to Podcast

Passage

Exodus 13:21 – 14:31

Realities of Experiencing God

1. God is ____________ at ________ around you.

2. God pursues a continuing ________ ____________________ with you that is ________ and ________________.

3. God _____________ you to become involved with ______ and His ________.

4. God speaks by the ________ ___________ through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal _____________, His ____________, and His _______.

5. God’s invitation always leads you to a ____________ ____ __________ that requires faith and action.

6. You must make __________ ______________________ in your life to join God in what He is doing.

7. You come to know God by __________________ as you ________ Him, and He accomplishes His work through you.

Practice

Identify your “______ ______” and determine to trust and obey God as He makes a way where there seems to be none.

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Small Group Questions

Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couples or family devotion, or with a small group.

HANGOUT

Describe a time when you gained a new understanding of God, His purpose, or His ways. What led to that new understanding? What has been the result of that new understanding for you and those around you?

This week we are considering Reality 7: You come to know God by experience as you obey Him, and He accomplishes His work through you.

Large Group Questions

Read Exodus 5:22-6:9

What examples of the previous six realities for experiencing God do you see in this passage?
What did God promise to accomplish? What would His people experience through Moses’ obedience?
How did God keep this promise? Briefly summarize what you know about the plagues and Israel’s escape through the Red Sea (Exodus 7-14).

Read Exodus 33:1 – 34:10, 27-35

How did Moses come to know God by experience in this passage?
What work did God accomplish through Moses in this passage (see 33:1 & 34:28)?
How did other people also come to know God by experience through Moses’ obedience?

Small Group Questions (3 - 5 people)

Review this week’s daily readings. If you did not do this week’s lesson, feel free to join the conversation anyway! If you’d like a copy of The Seven Realities of Experiencing God, please ask your group leader.

What aspects of God’s will are you currently struggling with? Why is this step of faith hard for you?
What’s been the scariest step of faith so far in your walk with God? What made it so significant? How did God prove faithful?
On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = stubborn rebellion; 10 = eager obedience), how obedient are you to God’s word?
What does your current obedience reveal about your love for and relationship with God?
What practical steps will you take to continually rely on the Lord’s power and wisdom?
Talk about it, invite accountability, and pray together.

Daily Readings

The Psalms are filled with testimonies of how individuals came to know God by experience. As you read this week’s passages, invite the Holy Spirit to remind you of encounters you’ve had with God and how you came to know Him through each one.

Day 1: Psalm 3
Day 2: Psalm 4
Day 3: Psalm 5
Day 4: Psalm 6
Day 5: Psalm 7
Day 6: Psalm 8
Day 7: Psalm 9

Think Deeper

Describe the difference between knowing about someone and knowing someone through having a personal relationship with them. Can you give an example of the difference?
Which phrase best describes you: “I know about God,” or “I know God through personal experience with Him”?
What will you do this week to come to know God by experience?