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The Be-With Factor Student Guide

Zondervan

Chapter One

big idea

God wants a personal relationship with us and has taken steps to make himself known.

discussion questions

(1) What are some of your earliest memories of what you thought God was like?

(2) How has your view of God changed since then?

read these passages from the Bible:

3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers - the moon and the stars you have set in place - 4 what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us? Psalm 8:3 - 4 NLT 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. Psalm 19:1 - 4 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made. Romans 1:20

(3) How would you sum up what these verses are saying about God's message to humanity through his creation?

(4) How does God use his creation to speak to you personally?

God also speaks to us through the Bible, his written Word, and Jesus, his Word (message) made flesh.

John 1:1 - 5 says:

1 In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. TNIV

Hebrews 1:1 - 3 says:

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. TNIV

(5) What do these passages teach us about Jesus' role in helping us understand God?

now read John 1:10 - 14.

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only [Son], who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. TNIV

Many people saw and heard Jesus without being changed. In our day, too, lots of people know some facts about Jesus but are not among his followers.

(6) According to verses 12 - 13, how does someone go from being a creature made by God to a child born of God?

(7) Tell the story of when and how that happened for you.

In John 10:10, Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

(8) What do you think keeps some people who follow Christ from having "life to the full" as he promised?

(9) What do you think is your role in making sure you experience the kind of abundant life Christ wants for you on a day-to-day basis?

Here's one way Jesus put it:

"5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love" John 15:5 - 9 TNIV

(10) Summarize in your own words the analogy Jesus used to explain this concept.

scripture memory

God wants his Word to be deep in our hearts. A great way to make his Word part of our lives is to memorize parts of the Bible. We include a short verse each week so you can have some ready tools for God's Spirit to use to help you grow. Here's this week's verse:

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

how I see this verse applying to my life:

Share with others, or simply write a paragraph explaining how you see this verse affecting your daily life.

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personal challenge

When you meet, your mentor may occasionally give you a challenge or some "stretch" - an activity or behavior that gets you out of your comfort zone a bit as a way to grow. If that happens, jot it down here (and if you're not doing this study with a mentor, come up with your own challenge each week to help you apply what you have learned).

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my life

One way to understand and know God better is to read his Word. We need to read the Bible to feed our spiritual life just like we need to eat a little bit every day to feed our natural body (Matthew 4:4). It's also a good idea to keep a journal - a record of your thoughts, questions, prayers, and whatever else is going on in your life. At the end of every discussion, we'll give you some ideas you can think about and journal on between now and the next time you get together. There are some blank pages between each lesson you can use, or if you need more paper, start your own journal. Or, if you're a blogger, put it all out in cyberspace.

This week, notice the ordinary ways God reveals himself to you through nature, people, your conscience, and quiet promptings in your mind. At the end of each day, jot down how he showed you he was real that day. Be prepared to share your thoughts at the next meeting when you discuss "Big Question #2: What Does God Want from Me?"

my life journal

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Excerpted from The Be-With Factor Student Guide by Bo Boshers Judson Poling Copyright © 2006 by Willow Creek Association. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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