What do you enjoy doing with the people who are closest to you?
How does knowing someone well make a difference in what you do together?
INVOLVE GOD IN EVERY PART OF LIFE
The people we know well are an important part of our lives.
Discuss: What is implied by the image of Jesus coming into our lives in Apocalipsis 3:20?
Apocalipsis 3:20
Mira, que estoy a la puerta y llamo. Si alguno oye mi voz y abre la puerta, entraré, y cenaré con él, y el conmigo.
Reflect: What level of involvement and intimacy does God want to have in your life?
There is a wonderful allegory called My Heart, Christ’s Home about a person who welcomes Jesus into his life. As time passes, he realizes Jesus does not just want to remain by the door but wants to come into every part of the home. In room after room he is urged to allow Jesus to be involved with what goes on in that part of his life. For example, in the “living room” Jesus joins his family and guests; in the “office” Jesus affects what he reads and how he does his work; in the “bedroom” Jesus impacts his personal relationships, and so on.
Share: What areas of your life have been changed by knowing God? How?
Reflect: Have any areas of your life not yet been touched by God’s presence?
This image of God living with us is also conveyed by the Bible’s use of words like “abide” and “dwell.” They give a picture of God settling in and being at home with us. His desire is for us to live life together. This is what Jesus did with His disciples. Mark 3:14 says, “He appointed twelve . . . so that they might be with him.”
Reflect: What do you think was Jesus’ purpose in having them “be with Him”?
DEVELOP A LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
This picture of dwelling together is also in Paul’s prayer for believers found in Ephesians 3:17-19.
Ephesians 3:17-19
. . . so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Discover: What enables us to experience the fullness of God’ presence?
Reflect: How is faith involved in Christ dwelling in our hearts?
Share: How would you describe your comprehension of God’s love?
God loves us and wants us to love Him in return. This is what God considers the most important thing in our lives, as Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-38.
Matthew 22:37-38
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.”
Reflect: We cannot force people to love us, so why do you think God commands us to love Him?
Discuss: What will loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind look like in our everyday lives?
En Revelation 2:4 Jesus praises the church in Ephesus for their service, but He calls them to change because they had “abandoned the love you had at first.”
Discuss: Consider the difference between loving someone, being in love, and falling in love. What does God want our love for Him to be like?
God’s thoughts and actions towards us flow out of love. Likewise, what we do should flow out of our love for Him. This will happen if we cultivate that love relationship.
Share: What are some things that have helped you experience God’s love more fully and grow in your love for Him?
PRIORITIZE KNOWING GOD
En Luke 10:38-42 we read about Martha who welcomed Jesus into her home. She and her sister Mary responded to His presence differently.
Luke 10:38-42
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Discover: What was Martha’s greatest concern? What does Jesus say about it?
Discover: What does Jesus say about Mary ‘s focus?
Reflect: What would Jesus say about your response to Him being in your home (your life)?
Discuss: What does Jesus’ gentle correction of Martha and His words “one thing is necessary” tell us about how God wants us to respond to Him?
We spend time on the things that we value. In Philippians 3 the apostle Paul lists many things that people value and put their confidence in, and he compares them to knowing God. Read Philippians 3:7-8.
Philippians 3:7-8
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ . . .
Discover: What value does Paul put on knowing God?
Reflect: In your life, how does knowing Christ compare to the things you value or that society values?
Share: What changes could you make in your life to prioritize knowing God?
REFLECT GOD
When we are in love with someone and spend time with them, we become like them: we talk like they do,
gesture like they do, and begin to think like they do. This also happens as we get to know God better and better. Read 2 Corinthians 3:18.
2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Discover: Into what are we being transformed?
Discover: How does this happen?
NOTE: The passage contrasts Moses’ experience with ours. His face reflected God’s glory whenever he was in God’s presence, then it gradually faded after they parted. We now have the constant presence of God’s Spirit in our lives, continually transforming us into God’s image.]
Discuss: How will getting to know God better make a difference in how you reflect Him?
1 Peter 1:15-16 y 1 Juan 2:6 address how we are to live.
1 Peter 1:15-16
. . . but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Discover: What standard and model do we have for our lives?
Discussion: How is studying the Bible essential to discovering who God is and how Jesus lived?
Share: Is there a particular character trait of God or something from Jesus’ life that has impacted how you live? What changes have taken place?
Discover: Based on 2 Corinthians 3:18, how does God cause these changes in our lives to happen?
Reflect: This may be difficult to answer, but if you feel you do not reflect God, what might be hindering that?
SEEK TO PLEASE GOD
Growing in our knowledge of God and love for Him are both critical parts of our becoming more like Him. Read Colossians 1:9-10.
Colossians 1:9-10
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God . . .
Discover: What does knowledge of God and His will equip us to do?
Reflect: How have we already been made acceptable to God?
Ephesians 2:8-9 assures us that our acceptance by God is based on His grace, not our works. (We will explore acceptance more fully in our next topic, our identity in Christ.) But Efesios 2:10 states that good works are to be a part of our lives.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Efesios 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Share: What are some of the ways God has equipped you for good works?
When we love someone, we want to please them. In John 14:23, Jesus says, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word.” John reminds us of this in 1 John 2:3-4.
John 14:23
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
1 John 2:3-4
And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him . . .
Discover: When we know God, what result will there be in our lives?
Discuss: Truly knowing God implies that we keep His commandments. If we are not keeping them, what does it say about our lives? What could we do about it?
As we get to know God, our love for Him will grow and motivate us to please Him by doing what He says.
As we read His Word and discover His desires and commands, we should ask the question, “Is God pointing out anything He wants me to do, or any change He wants to make in my life?”
GOING FORWARD
Clarify: What thoughts or questions do you have?
Summarize: How does knowing God change how you live?
Apply: From our discussion today, is God pointing out anything He wants you to do, or any change He wants in your life? Is there something you want to ask Him to help you apply?
Pass it on: With whom could you share how much God means to you?
Reinforce:
As you read these passages, reflect on how knowing God will deepen your love for Him and affect your life.
• Ephesians 3:14-21
• Colossians 1:9-12
• Psalm 116
• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Ephesians 5:1-21
• Jeremiah 9:23-24
