INTRODUCTION
We live in a world that is so dark. Before we look around us and curse all the darkness we have to take an honest look inside and realize we are also part of the problem. God brought Light to bring hope and life to all. He wants us to experience His fullness and He wants the world around us to experience His fullness through us. These next three weeks we will explore Light in the Bible and discover how we can experience His Light in deeper ways. Let’s take a deep look inside and say, “Let there be Light!”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. With Christmas quickly approaching what is something that you are really looking forward to?
Can you name someone who you sense might need some extra support for the upcoming Holidays as they are dealing with some challenges that might make this time of year especially challenging for them?
As Pastor Cory started us on our series entitled Let There Be Light, he talked about us taking some intentionality to see the Bible like a gem which shows us so many things from so many different angles. When you consider God as Light what is the first thing that comes to your mind in terms of what that means to you?
God created all life. Your breath, your heartbeat, your everything was given to you by God. Realizing our lives are a gift to us from God should change how we live, but most of us do not have that reality at the forefront of our minds as we strive to get stuff done. How might your life be different if you were more frequently aware of your life being a gift from God?
God hovered over chaos. What does the word chaos mean to you?
When you consider the fact that God hovered over chaos how can that change the way you respond to the chaos (or impending chaos) in your life?God asserted His authority into the chaos. What do you want God to assert His authority into in your life?
All thought out the creation narrative God often said, “It was good.” What is something in your life that, when you take a moment to ponder, you can say, “That is good?”
What is an area of your life that you know you have recently made choices and God would love to say, “That was good,” but due to your role in the process it really did not turn out so good?
What is something the Lord may be leading you to do so He can redeem your choices and bring something “good” to what now is not good at all?
God created us all in His image to reflect Him to the world. What is a way that your reflection of Him to the world could go from being good to being very good?
God takes us through seasons of preparation and separation (the first three days of creation) and then seasons of completion and filling (the last three days of creation). How can you be more faithful in the preparation so that your later seasons are more fruitful?
Your life has a purpose. Your failures, shortcomings, and mistakes are all part of the story He is writing though your life. Our enemy wants us to think that we have messed up or disqualified ourselves. God has factored our humanity into the plans He has for us. What is something that the enemy is using to slow you down or distract you that you know the Lord wants you to leave behind so you can move forward in your walk with Him?
MOVING FORWARD
Light. The world needs it and we do not naturally have anything to offer them. But God! God brought Light to the world and to our lives. He continues to shine that Light into us to reveal our remaining shadows and invites us to become more whole, alive, and fulfilled in Him. This week allow Him to shine deeply in you and powerfully through you. Do not allow your shortcomings or mistakes to dissuade you. Allow Him to use every bit of your life to make Him look awesome and to make you look…surrendered to His awesomeness. It is not about us looking good, It is all about His Light shining through our brokenness. Shine on!