Week 4 Recap
In this week's lesson, we explored the first phrase of the Apostles' Creed: "I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth." We discovered that God is not just "something out there" but a Father who is personal, powerful, and purposeful.
Core Question
What do you picture when you hear the word "God"?
Be honest — describe your first impression. Is it an old man with a beard? A force? A feeling? An idea? Something else?
Questions to Help You Dig Deeper
- Knowing vs. Known — Psalm 139 says "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me." Does it comfort you or scare you that God knows everything about you — your worst thoughts, secret fears, and things you've never told anyone? Why do you feel that way?
- Safe vs. Good — Aslan in Narnia is "not safe, but he's good." Which would you actually choose: a safe god who does whatever you want, never challenges you, never lets anything bad happen OR a good God who is powerful, does things you don't understand, sometimes lets you go through hard things? Why did you pick that one? How does this change how you think about God?
- Not an Accident — If God is Creator and made you on purpose, what does that mean about your life? How might this affect how you view your struggles, your gifts, and your purpose?
- God's Presence — Psalm 139 asks "Where can I go from your Spirit?" The answer is "Nowhere." Is that comforting or terrifying to you? Why?
Personal Application
- Read Psalm 139 once a day this week. Underline the verses that hit you hardest. Bring one observation next Sunday.
- Write down one thing you're glad God knows about you and one thing you wish he didn't know. Then ask God to help you trust him with both.
- Talk to a trusted friend or mentor about what it means to you that God is "not safe, but he's good."
- Memorize Matthew 6:9 ("Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name") and pray it daily this week.
Scripture Focus
Psalm 139:1-18
Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.
How I'm Growing
On a scale of 1–10, how much do you believe that God knows you completely and still loves you?
- 1 = I struggle to believe this, it feels too good to be true
- 5 = I'm not sure, sometimes I doubt it but sometimes I feel it
- 10 = This is becoming real to me — I know God sees me and loves me anyway
Why did you choose that number?
Next Steps
If you're ready to trust more that God is Father, Almighty, and Creator, consider this:
If you're still unsure, that's okay. Keep asking questions. The God who made you can handle your doubts.
Journal Prompt
If you could ask God one question about what it means that he knows everything about you, what would it be?