unit1_session2_personalstudyguide

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FALL 2012: Personal Study GuideEd StetzerGeneral EditorTrevin WaxManaging Editor


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A D V I S O R Y C O U N C I L

Tese Christian leaders were part of a team who consulted on the creation of Te Gospel Project.

James MacDonald

Senior Pastor at Harvest BibleChapel, Chicago, IL

Daniel Akin

President of Southeastern BaptistTeological Seminary, WakeForest, NC

J.D. Greear

Pastor at Te Summit Church,Raleigh, NC

Eric Mason

Pastor of Epiphany Fellowship,Philadelphia, PA

Kimberly Thornbury

Dean of Students at UnionUniversity, Jackson, N

Jay Noh

Director of Missional Leadershipand Mobilization, ChicagoBaptist Association

Joe Thorn

Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship,St. Charles, IL

Juan Sanchez

Pastor of High Pointe BaptistChurch, Austin, X

Collin Hansen

Editorial director, Te GospelCoalition / editor-at-large,Christianity oday

THE GOSPEL PROJECT FOR STUDENTS

PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE, FALL 2012

VOLUME 1, NUMBER 1

PRODUCTION AND MINISTRY TEAM

EDITORIAL PROJECT LEADER: Chad Jordan

CONTENT EDITOR: Chad Jordan

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST: Edward A Craword

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Charles Long

CONTRACT GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Susan Maywald

PRODUCTION EDITOR: Scott Latta

STUDENT MINISTRY SPECIALIST: Paul Turner

Send questions/comments to: Content Editor, The Gospel

Project for Students, One LieWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-

0174; or make comments on the Web at www.lifeway.com

MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

DIRECTOR, STUDENT MINISTRY PUBLISHING: Jef Pratt

DIRECTOR, STUDENT MINISTRY: Ben Trueblood

DIRECTOR, SUNDAY SCHOOL: David Francis

Printed in the United States of America

The Gospel Project for Students (ISSN 1939-0742; Item 005508013) is

published quarterly by Li feWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza,

Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President.

2012 LifeWay Christian Resources.

For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com or write LifeWay

Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville,

TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription addre ss changes,

e-mailsubscrib [email protected], fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above

address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, e-mail

[email protected],fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the

above address.

We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for i ts end;

and truth, without any mix ture of error, for its matter and that all

Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWays doctrinal

guideline, please visit www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline .

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the

Holman Christian Standard Bible, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003,

2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Scripture quota -

tions marked (NIV) are f rom the Holy Bible, New International Version,copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New

Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permi ssion of Tyndale House

Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reser ved.


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16 TGP Personal Study Guide

SESSION 2

GOD IS NOT HIDING

HAVE YOU EVER READ any Sherlock Holmes stories or

seen any o his movies? Holmes was a genius detective

that could look at the world around him and begin

placing certain pieces o inormation that other people

didnt notice in an orderly ashion and begin seeing

the bigger picture. Oten, this allowed him to solve mysteries that

stumped other people. The truth is, the clues were all around, most

people just couldnt fgure out what they were saying.

Creation is like that or us today. Creation is telling us something

literally shouting at us. The clues are all around us. I you dont

believe me, just look at a sunrise, hike through a mountain, sit next toa waterall or relax on a beach. Creation is telling us about God every

second. The clues surround us, but can we see them? Can we place

the pieces together and hear their message?


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READY YOUR HEART

1FALL 2012

Ps. 19:1-6 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work ofHis hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate

knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message

has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world. In the

heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a groom coming from the bridal

chamber; it rejoices like an athlete running a course. It rises from one end of the heavens

and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat.

I HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT. Have you ever said those words? Did you reallymean them? For example, have you ever seen a Dish Network satellite orbiting our

earth? Do you have to see it to believe that its there? Or can you trust that its out there

because youve watched TV at someones house that has a dish and a receiver?No sane person would question the existence o Dish Network satellites orbiting

our earth, even though they cant see the physical satellite Instead, they see the results

o the satellite, which are the television programs they watch No one believes in the

existence o satellites because they actually see the satellites They believe in satellites

because the video image points back to the existence o the satellite

Think about that idea or a minute We believe in satellites not because we can see

them directly, but because there is overwhelming evidence pointing to their existence

We can use this same line o reasoning when we think about God Though we dont see

Him ace-to-ace, we see a multitude o things in creation that point us to the act that

He exists In this short passage above, we see two o these many pointers The amazing

contents o the skies, including the sun, the stars, the moon, the clouds, the atmosphere,and everything else up there point to the glory o God Further, the separating o days

and nights and the components o each o these urther point to God In essence, all o

creation points us toward the reality o our God and Creator

THE SIGNS ARE EVERYWHERE

PAUSE AND REFLECT What are some other things that we cant see directly,

but have results to point back to their existence? (i.e.gravity, wireless Internet, cell phone coverage, etc.)

What evidences of Gods existence do you see? Why do so many people have to see something in order

to believe it?


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READY YOUR HEART

Rom. 1:20 From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal powerand divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made.

As a result, people are without excuse.

IMAGINE YOURE A REPORTER or your school newspaper and your school hasagreed to host a neutral-site ootball game That is, two teams that you know nothing

about are going to be playing on your schools feld You are given the assignment o

covering the game or the paper

As you arrive to the game and make your way through the stands to the press box,

you see multiple things that give clues as to peoples roles and responsibilities: You

notice a woman who is wearing a big button containing the photo o number 87 and

quickly discern that she is a proud parent You see a man standing on the feld wearinga black and white striped shirt, and know immediately he is there to reeree the game A

man wearing a headset is obviously the coach A group in uniorm carrying instruments

plays in the band The list goes on and on

Even though you know nothing about either school, within seconds you can discern

parents, coaches, players, band members, cheerleaders, reerees and more by looking

out and seeing their distinguishing characteristics You can know important qualities

about these people simply by noticing key traits they posses

In a similar manner, we can know much about God by looking at His creation None

o those individuals tries to hide his role in the ootball game, and God does not try to

hide His role in the creation o the world Beaches, mountains, orests, deserts, stars,

sunrises, sunsets, rainstorms, and everything else we encounter in this world point usto the reality o who God is Paul says that when we stop and really think about all the

amazing things we see in this world, we cannot help but be conronted with the reality

o a powerul and creative God!

PAUSE AND REFLECT What are some things we can learn about God by simply

looking at the world around us?

What are some things that we cant learn about Godsimply by looking at the world around us?

Why cant we learn everything about God simply bylooking at His creation?

WITHOUT EXCUSE


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1FALL 2012

READY YOUR HEART

Acts 14:15-17 Men! Why are you doing these things? We are men also, with the samenature as you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you should turn from

these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and

everything in them. In past generations He allowed all the nations to go their own way,

although He did not leave Himself without a witness, since He did good: giving you rain

from heaven and fruitful seasons, and satisfying your hearts with food and happiness.

HAVE YOU EVER GONE INTO A DEPARTMENT STORE to look or a new pair o jeans,and about fve steps in encounter an overeager sales clerk asking you, Is there anything

I can help you with today?

What causes us to be so hesitant to take them up on their oer? Is it because we

genuinely dont want any help at all in the process o locating and purchasing jeans?Or is it because were araid that the sales clerk is more interested in padding her

commission check than helping us fnd a pair that fts right?

This dilemma is a regular occurrence in our allen world We struggle to discern

what others intentions are Do they really want to help with something, or do they

simply want to receive something in return? Compare this eeling to when a riend

oers to go along and help It is easier to accept a riends help because you generally

know his motives

What about the conversations and relationship you have with God? Do you ever

wonder about His intentions or us? Do you ever question your intentions or Him?

God does not hide His intentions He intends or us to worship and obey Him He

gave us the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in it to enjoy so that we mightcome to know Him He gives us rain and ood to sustain our physical needs He gave His

only Son to die on a cross to purchase our salvation He has met and continues to meet

every one o our needs so that we understand and accept the truth o the Gospel

Gods intentions are crystal clear He created us, this world, and everything in it so

that we might know Him and make Him known

NOT A SALESMAN

PAUSE AND REFLECT Why do we so often question other peoples intentions? Have you ever questioned Gods intentions for your life?

Why or why not? When you approach God in prayer, what are your

intentions? Are you more sales person or friend?


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Despite the nonstop speech andcommunication, some people simplyignore it as if it doesnt exist;the voice is not heard.

Think about the ways people attempt to guardthemselves rom Gods revelation. What aresome o the most common ways we try to hiderom Gods voice?

What are some o the common ways we try todrown it out?

What we learn rst aboutGod rom His generalrevelation is that Godwill not settle or beingacknowledged. He wantsto be known!

What is thedierence betweenbeing acknowledgeand being known?

His Existence.According to the direct revelation o Psalm 19:1-6,the heavens (and the sky) are every day pouring outspeech and every night communicating knowledgethat God exists. The picture we receive rom thepsalmist is o a world that acts as a loudspeaker, a

stage, and an art galleryall pointing to Gods glory.The sky proclaims that all this work has a Designers

hands behind it. When you observe the world around you, what

thoughts come to mind? Do you see beautiulscenery or His handiwork?

When is the last time you really noticed Hishandiwork? Describe what you saw.

Creation teaches about..The created world is constantly saying something aboutits Creatoror more accurately, the Creator is constantlysaying something about Himsel through His createdworld. By observing Gods handiwork in creation, wegain awareness o His existence, His character, and His

motives.


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Acts 14:17 & Romans 8:22 give us theimprint o the gospel story! Looking atthe world around us, we recognize thatthis place is broken but there is pleasureto be had. God intends or the happinesswe experience in sports, relationships,and His other good gits to point us backto Him. The gits everyone enjoys in thislie lead to the Giver. Yet not everyonehas eyes to see. While we cant receive thegospel message in general revelation, wecan certainly see its echoes.

His Character.The created world tells us we have a God, and what wsee in the created world tells us some general thingsabout Him. By seeing the general revelation o theheavens and the rest o the world, we can get a senso Gods glory and the sum o His attributes.

What knowledge o Gods character do we gain blooking at creation?

General Revelationdoes not tell us allthere is to know about God, nor can we hear the specicgospel message o salvation in the declarations o theheavens. Still, enough is communicated that peopleare without excuse. Paul says the visible world revealsGods invisible attributes, namely, His eternal powerand divine nature, and that is enough or people to

seek Him out in special revelation.

Despite the destructive orceso tornadoes, hurricanes,earthquakes, lightning, tsunamis, foods, volcaniceruptions, and asteroids alling rom the sky,this place keeps on keeping on. I we cannot seethe sustaining power o Gods providential care increations endurance, we likely will not see it in thepages o Scripture.

What does the complexiand variety o nature telus about God?

I God is revealing Himsethrough creation andcreated things, what migthe implications o this b

on our own creativity? Name some o Gods

attributes revealed in thBible. How might some othese be communicated the visible world? Whereand how do we see themproclaimed in nature,including in general humexperience?

His Motives.As the pagan demand or more sacrices toa dead god continued, Barnabas and Pauldesperately wanted these people to knowthe good news that Jesus had made thesacrice to end all sacrices, and He did soto honor the will o a Heavenly Father whohad been ar better to the unsaved people oLystra than Zeus had been.

ConclusionThe Reormers thought o the world as a grand theater in which Godshowcases His glory. One thing we must say about this theater, o course, ithat it is not itsel the story but the stage or it. Like a good stage set, it telus something o the story beore the players even enter and begin recitingtheir lines. But it is the script that really reveals.

What are some other general revelation signposts we fnd in creatthat illustrate the gospel o Jesus lie, death, and resurrection?

Why is it wrong to think that experiencing God in nature is enough? How will the truth o general revelation help or otherwise aect your

mission to be a witness to the gospel o Jesus?

What does thedescription of Paand Barnabasactions in Acts14:11-18 tell usabout evangelistmotives,demeanor,strategy, andmessage?


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ENCORE

1. HIS EXISTENCE (PS. 19:1-6).

Just like the presence o a watch on a sidewalk indicates a watchmaker, our nely tuned bodiesliving in this nely tuned world hanging in this nely tuned cosmos point to the logical existenceo a Creator. Nobody looks at a Mercedes, or example, and assumes there was an explosion at a

junkyard. According to the direct revelation o Psalm 19:1-6, the heavens (and the sky) are every daypouring out speech and every night communicating knowledge that God exists.

Te sense we receive in these verses is o continual revelation. Creation never presses pause onproclaiming that it is an eect, not a cause, and that it has an Originator. Creation always proclaimsits Creator. Unortunately, many either dont hear it or they hear it but reject it.

Te general revelation in the created order o the universe doesnt just tell us that there is a God,it also tells us something about that God. o borrow a phrase rom C. S. Lewis, general revelationdoesnt merely tell us aGod exists, it tells us thisGod exists.

What we learn rst about God rom His general revelation is that God will not settle or beingacknowledged. He wants to be known! So there is something about the heavenstheir vastness,their beauty, their complexity, their power, their impression upon little ol usthat tells ussomething about Him.

2. HIS CHARACTER (ROM. 1:20).

In the same way, the created world tells us we have a God, and what we see in the created world tellsus some general things about Him. By seeing the general revelation o the heavens and the rest othe world, we can get a sense o Gods glory, and the sum o His attributes.

Paul is teaching here that no one can rightully say, I never heard the gospel message containedin the Bible, so I am not responsible or my own sin, because there is enough evidence o Godssovereign rule (over both people and their sin) in general revelation that nobody can say they werentdirected to seek Him out in special revelation.

Again, we need to realize that general revelation does not tell us all there is to know about God,nor can we hear the specic gospel message o salvation in the declarations o the heavens. Still,enough is communicated that people are without excuse. Paul says the visible world reveals Godsinvisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature.

We see that Gods power upholds eternity when we really begin to ponder the clocklike ordero the universe. Te planets are precisely aligned or earths specialness. Te conditions on earthare precisely balanced or lie. Te chemicals in human lie are precisely proportioned or growth,intelligence, and creativity. Also, despite the destructive orces o tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes,lightning, tsunamis, oods, volcanic eruptions, and asteroids alling rom the sky, this place keeps onkeeping on. I we cannot see the sustaining power o Gods providential care in creations endurance,

we likely will not see it in the pages o Scripture.

GOD IS NOT HIDING

Creation teaches about...


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2FALL 2012

3. HIS MOTIVES (ACTS 14:15-17).

In Acts 14, Barnabas and Paul are in Lystra when a priest o Zeus begins to lead a crowd in makingsacrices to them. Barnabas and Paul, in dramatic ashion, interrupt the proceedings, tear theirclothes, and begin teaching. What did Barnabas and Paul want the people o Lystra to know? As thepagan demand or more sacrices to a dead god continued, Barnabas and Paul desperately wantedthese people to know the good news that Jesus has made the sacrice to end all sacrices, and Hedid so to honor the will o a Heavenly Father who had been ar better to the unsaved people oLystra than Zeus had been. Te missionaries pointed to the evidence: You have a witness that this istrue! they cried. He has given you rain and harvest and good ood and happiness.

Acts 14:17 and Romans 8:22 give us the imprint o the gospel story! Looking at the world aroundus, we recognize that this place is broken but there is pleasure to be had. Tis is the concept ocommon grace, which we also see in Matthew 5:45: For He causes His sun to rise on the eviland the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Te benevolent heart o God ismade visible through common grace.

God intends or the happiness we experience in lie to point us back to Him. Te gits everyoneenjoys in this lie lead to the Giver. Yet not everyone has eyes to see.

Te general revelation we receive in the created world has the Givers ngerprints everywhere, andthese prints tell us something o His intentions. We cannot receive the gospel message in generalrevelation, but we can certainly see its echoes. Tings like the metamorphosis o the buttery canhelp us illustrate Christs death, burial, and resurrectionand ours in response. Even the cycle o theseasonsrom the death o winter to the newness o springhelps us see the imprint o the gospel.

CONCLUSION

Te Reormers thought o the world as a grand theater in which God showcases His glory. One

thing we must say about this theater, o course, is that it is not itsel the story but the stage orit. Like a good stage set, it tells us something o the story beore the players even enter and beginreciting their lines. But it is the script that really reveals.

InMere Christianity, C. S. Lewis tells o the time an old Air Force ofcer interrupted his talk tosay: Im a religious man too. I knowtheres a God. IvefeltHim: out alone in the desert at night:the tremendous mystery. And thats just why I dont believe all your neat little dogmas and ormulasabout Him. o anyone whos met the real thing they all seem so petty and pedantic and unreal!

Lewis goes on to honor the mans experience o eeling Gods presence out in the wilderness onature, but he denies that that sort o experience is sufcient. He writes: You see, what happenedto that man in the desert may have been real, and was certainly exciting, but nothing comes o it. It

leads nowhere. Tere is nothing to do about it. In act, that is just why a vague religionall abouteeling God in nature, and so onis so attractive. It is all thrills and no work; like watching thewaves rom the beach. But you will not get to Newoundland by studying the Atlantic that way, andyou will not get eternal lie by simply eeling the presence o God in owers or music.

Tankully, while God does communicate His presence, His attributes, and His intentionsthrough the git o general revelation, He wants to be even clearer than that.

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