Today is the last study in this series, the Voice of God. In this study we’ve been examining different ways in which God speaks to His world. Before beginning this study, pause and listen for His voice to guide you as you move through this sacred space in His Word.
How would you characterize the voice of God in your life? In what ways do you hear Him differently, or more clearly? Is there a sense that God seems silent? If so, why might that be?
Read Colossians 1.15-20 and answer the following questions:
1.How does this passage affirm the Divinity of Christ?
2. Of the characteristics named, which do speaks most personally to you?
Read 1 Corinthians 12 and answer the following questions:
3. In your own words define a spiritual gift? What gift has God given you? How do you offer His gift in ministry to others?
4. The text says, “You are the Body of Christ.” How do you operate within His Body, in His world?
5. How do you sense God speaking to you, and through you in your neighborhood and the nations?
Read Ephesians 1 incarnationally personalizing the text as we did on Sunday, then answer the following questions:
6. How do these truths strengthen you?
7. Which of these truths might God want you to hear afresh and anew?
8. What is the difference between being in the world for Christ, and being in Christ for the sake of the world? Explain.
9. Where in the neighborhood and in the nations might God be calling you to speak life?
10. For whom is God calling you to lift your voice in intercession?
Spend a few moments listening again for His voice. Allow your voice to proclaim praise for His goodness and grace.
John the apostle is in exile on the isle of Patmos for teaching the way of Jesus. The year is around 96 A.D. He is the only living apostle. The book of the Revelation is a difficult book to understand in many ways due to it being mostly prophetic in nature. The book claims to be an apocalypse or Revelation and should be treated as such. It is the unveiling of the Glorified Jesus Christ, and a prophecy of what is to come. The book is being written to 7 churches in Asia Minor modern day Turkey but it also has application to the church today and to us the called out ones.
There are a number of themes that emerge: End of time, tribulation, rapture, Marriage supper of the Lamb, New Heaven and New Earth. A significant theme we don’t often think about is worship. John is in a place of worship when he hears God’s voice and Jesus begins this revelation. You’ll see throughout the book references to the throne of heaven and what will take place.
Jesus has a message to the churches and continues to speak to His church. We want to see and hear God speaking to the seven churches and to us.
Read Revelation Chapters 1-3
What exhortation is repeated for each church? (Hint: 7 times in Rev. chapters 2 and 3)
God’s voice to the church: This speaks to Jesus’ power and presence, His omnipotence and omnipresence.
Authority of The One Who is speaking. How is Jesus referred to in each of these verses?
Ephesus- Revelation 2:1
Smyrna- Revelation 2:8
Pergamum- Revelation 2:12
Thyatira- Revelation 2:18
Sardis- Revelation 3:1
Philadelphia- Revelation 3:7
Laodicea- Revelation 3:14
Admonition (counsel or warning against a fault or oversight) Jesus is admonishing each church individually but also as a community. Jesus will say 8 times to the churches “I Know.” Jesus is omniscient and knows all and is fully aware of everything going on within the church, “the good, the bad, the ugly!”
As you read the following admonitions to these churches, do you see relevance in the church today? If so, what is relevant?
What can we discover about what pleases or displeases Jesus in His church listed in Rev. 2 and 3?
Application – “He who has an ear to hear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” There are roughly 54 times in scripture where this or something similar is used. It is a common idiom used in the Bible. Ezekiel and Isaiah both used the term. Jesus used it in the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) especially in reference to parables. It always involves a deeper understanding, reflection and action.
Repent is in the imperative tense; it’s an urgent appeal for instant change of attitude and conduct.
Compared to these 7 churches, how do you think Jesus would see the spiritual condition of His church today?
Are you hearing the voice of God speak to you about your spiritual condition? If so, what action do you need to take?
Conclusion – He wants each church and each of us to know Him more fully.
Read Romans 8:31-39 (v. 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. . . .)
In light of this study, what prayer topic can you find for yourself, your neighbors, your nation, and the nations?
This sermon series is entitled the Voice of God. In this study we’ll be examining different ways in which God speaks to His world. Before beginning this study, pause and listen for His voice to guide you as you move through this sacred space in His Word.
What is your preferred writing instrument (pencil, pen, electronic…)? Why?
Read Acts 9:1-2 & Acts 7:54-8:3
1. How do you think Saul would have described the work he was doing to stop the early church?
2. How does Philippians 3:4-6 shed light on who Saul was prior to meeting Jesus?
Read Acts 9:3-6
3. Put yourself in Sauls’ place on the road to Damascus. What do you see in the words of Jesus to Saul?
In the Bible, we find 8 people whom God calls by name twice, and every time it is a sign of love and intimacy. Which one of these stories do you relate to most today?
Abraham, Abraham – Sacrificing Isaac (Genesis 22:11–13)
Jacob, Jacob – A promise to see Joseph and that his descendants will be a great nation (Genesis 46:1–4).
Moses, Moses – Speaking from the burning bush (Exodus 3:1–10).
Samuel, Samuel – Calls to Samuel in the middle of the night (1 Samuel 3:1–10).
Martha, Martha – Invitation for Martha to sit with Jesus (Luke 10:38–42).
Simon, Simon – Foretelling Peter’s denial (Luke 22:31–32).
Eli, Eli (My God, my God) – Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:46)
5. How does it encourage you to see that when God speaks to correct Saul, He does so with tenderness and love?
In Acts 9:10-19 God sends Ananias to Saul.
6. What would you have done if you were asked to do what Ananias was asked to do?
7. What do these verses show us about Paul’s conversion story?
8. What is your conversion story?
9. When did God call you from death to life?
10. How does it encourage you to be reminded that people come to faith in a variety of ways?
Read Galatians 1:13-16
11. How does this passage speak to the reality that Saul was set apart before he was born and then he was called on the road to Damascus?
12. What does this tell us about our lives?
Read 1 Timothy 1:12-16
13. When God speaks to correct His children, we often find that He uses our mistakes and failures to demonstrate the depth of His love and mercy. How have you seen the truth of 1 Timothy 1:12-16 play out in your story?
14. What does your story “display” about God (v.16)?
Read Acts 13:28-33a & Acts 26:22-23
15. What dothese verses tell us about how God continues to confirm the same ongoing story of redemption?
16. How does it encourage you to remember that God doesn’t change the story based on circumstance, but He has always been at work bringing to completion the same story that started at creation?
17. Through the story of Saul’s conversion, we see that the voice of God calls, converts, corrects, and confirms. Is God speaking to you in one of these ways today?
The Voice of God…
Calls – with love and compassion
Converts – invites us to move from death to life
Corrects – brings us back in line with the truth
Confirms – affirms that God’s plan never changes
18. What do you think is God’s favorite writing instrument?
19. How does it encourage you today to be reminded that God never needs to erase anything, but is working to redeem everything?
Spend a few moments listening again for His voice. Allow your voice to proclaim praise for His goodness and grace…
This sermon series is entitled the Voice of God. In this study we’ll be examining different ways in which God speaks to His world. Before beginning this study, pause and listen for His voice to guide you as you move through this sacred space in His Word.
Read Matthew 13.44-46 and answer the following questions:
1. What does this text say about God’s character?
2. What does it tell you of the nature of God?
3. How do you see God’s love prevailing?
4. Do you believe and live into the truth of being God’s treasure?
5. How does your life reflect His truth?
Read Luke 3.15-22 and answer the following questions:
6. What portion of this text speaks most personally to you?
7. What is the theological and relational significance of this text?
8. How does hearing the voice of God shape the life and love, the identity of Jesus?
9. Jesus hasn’t done anything significant, yet God comes Him beloved. Why?
10. What can you glean from this scene in what heaven believes about you?
Read Isaiah 43.1-5 and answer the following questions:
11. Where do you see yourself seen, named, and known in this text?
12. What’s your greatest fear in allowing God’s Word to speak directly to you?
13. What would change in you if you freely and fully accepted the gift of grace and become the beloved?
14. How does His view of Scripture encourage you?
Read Luke 9.28-31 & Matthew 17.4-8
15. What is the primary significance of what is transpiring on the Mount of Transfiguration?
16. Why do Moses and Elijah appear? What do they each represent?
17. In this scene we again hear God’s voice. Why would God speak this same blessing over Jesus?
Read 2 Peter 1.16-18 and answer the following questions:
18. How has Peter’s life been impacted by what he experienced while being with Jesus?
19. Do you consider yourself the beloved one of Jesus? What’s the greatest hinderance in fully living into this truth?
Rest and receive the blessing of Jesus: You are my beloved, with you I am well pleased.
