The God Experiment Week 2

 

Welcome to Week Two of The God Experiment! During these 12-weeks, we are personally testing the extreme nature of God and talking about it with others.  Building on Pastor Josh’s weekend message, we will be unpacking his content and taking it further. Feel free to use this guide or change it to fit the dynamics of your unique huddle. Reminder: While people can journey at their own pace, Monday (January 10) starts Week Two of The God Experiment. Pastor Josh will be teaching on the weekends and huddles will be written on this schedule. In this discussion, we will be unpacking Revelation 4. For study help or explanations, we found THIS link to be helpful.  

Icebreaker: Getting the conversation started. 

  1. In your daily readings, do you have any “ah-ha” moments, questions, or challenges to what you’ve been reading? Maybe share something you wrote in the “Seek and Simmer”section for this week – pages 43 & 44. (Reminder: Major themes of Week One include God’s goodness and forgiveness.)
  2. Optional: Need something lighter to open your huddle? Try this…What was a meal or side dish that you were forced to eat growing up?

Focus Questions: Going deeper together.  

  1. Pastor Josh opened his weekend’s message on the theme of eternity. Do you remember your earliest thoughts of eternity? How has that changed over the years? (Note: If you are leading a huddle of not-yet believers or skeptics, think about asking a more general icebreaker: People have different views about eternity. What are your thoughts on this?)
  2. In Isaiah 6, we get a front row seat to the prophet Isaiah getting a greater glimpse of God. Has God ever given you a greater glimpse of who He is? If so, what do you think God was trying to show you through that experience? 
  3. Turn to Revelation 4. Similar to the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, the apostle John is invited to get a glimpse of God in heaven. As we read John’s description, be looking for what detail or aspect stands out to you the most. (Ask for a volunteer to read Revelation 4:1-11.) 
  4. What detail or aspect of John’s description stands out the most to you? (Pastor Jeff’s favorite: The encircled rainbow in verse 3. A circle rainbow?! Amazing!)
  5. In verse 3, John uses the phrase “had the appearance of” and in verses 6 he writes the phrase “what looked like.” He even had to take his best guess at what the four living creatures looked like in verse 7. In many ways, John was finding it difficult to explain all that he was seeing. What does this teach us about God?
  6. In this season, why do you personally need to hear these truths today?
  7.  Pastor Josh taught us this weekend that when God gives us a glimpse of Himself, we benefit with a renewed purpose (Remember Isaiah? “Send me!”). What purpose or Kingdom assignment can we gain from this incredible picture of God in Revelation 4?

Final Challenge: This week we are discovering that God is all-powerful, all-places, and all-knowing (pg 54-62 of The God Experiment)! Matthew 7:7 and James 4:2 call us up to boldly ask for God to show up and show off. Believe it today, ask for it today, and experience it this week. 

Close by praying for one another and gathering names/contact information for your weekly report.