2b. Discovering God - postmodern

Written By Gunnar Gunnarsson

All materials are from www.thejesusstrategy.com

Who is this for?

Younger to middle-aged adults and postmodern thinkers who view the universe as broken or disorderly.

Overview

This narrative makes the connection between people’s spirituality and the problematic world around them—a journey that allows them to discover God as the Creator who responds to the needs of the defenseless and offers a new world to humanity through Jesus’ message. Readers will discover how to live the way Jesus taught His followers to live and learn how to find a spiritual community.

Subject - Passage

  1. God Creates People - Genesis 2:4–25

  2. God Holds People Responsible for Disobedience - Genesis 3:1–24

  3. God’s Covenant with Abraham - Genesis 12:1–8, 15:1–6, 17:1–7

  4. God Hears the Cry of the Defenseless - Exodus 1:1–14, 2:11–25

  5. God Responds to the Cry of the Defenseless - Exodus 3:1–22

  6. God Defends His People from the Oppressor - Exodus 14:5–31

  7. The Commands of God - Leviticus 19:1–18

  8. The People Take Responsibility for Disobedience - Nehemiah 9:5–31

  9. The Promise of a New Day - Isaiah 61:1–9

  10. God’s Covenant with the People - Jeremiah 31:31–34

  11. Jesus Announces His Purpose - Luke 4:14–21

  12. Jesus and the Religious Leader - John 3:1–21

  13. Jesus and the Samaritan Woman - John 4:1–26, 39–42

  14. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand - Mark 6:30–44

  15. Jesus and the Paralyzed Man - Luke 5:17–26

  16. Jesus Gives the Great Commandment - Matthew 22:34–40

  17. Jesus Talks about His Betrayal and Covenant - Matthew 26:17–30

  18. Jesus is Arrested - Matthew 26:47–57

  19. Jesus is Crucified - Luke 23:32–56

  20. Jesus is Resurrected - Luke 24:1–35

  21. Jesus Ascends to Heaven - Acts 1:3–11

  22. People Respond to the Message about Jesus - Acts 2:22–41

  23. People Create New Community as Jesus-Followers - Acts 2:42–47

discovering God discussion

getting started

  • Discuss if participants would like to read the “Read Passage” and/or write answers to the discussion questions before your meeting (or wait to work on this together).

  • Show them how to make 4 columns on a piece of paper, preferably in a notebook.

  • Instruct them to label each column: 1) Scripture 2) Own Words 3) Questions 4) I Will

  • Ask each participant to write their answers as follows:

    • In column 1, write the “Write Out Verses” word for word.

    • In column 2, rewrite the same verses in your own words. (Write as much or as little as you wish.)

    • In column 3, write the answers to the Discovery Questions below.

    • In column 4, write what you will do with what you learned from this passage.

Use the following discussion format when you meet together:

I) Community Questions

  • What are you thankful for?

  • What are you struggling with, and how can we help? (Or what is causing you stress?)

  • Is there someone outside this group that we should help?

II) Review Questions

  • What did we read about last week?

  • How did you act on it, and how did that go?

  • Who did you share your experience with?

III) New Scripture (Participants can read what they have written.)

Bible Passage

  • Ask someone to read the Scripture.

  • Ask someone to retell the Bible story in their own words.

  • Ask others if anything was left out of the story.

Discovery Questions (Participants can read their answers to the following questions.)

  • What does this story teach us about God?

  • What does this story teach us about people?

  • What do you think God wants people to do as a result of reading this passage?

Application Questions

  • What action do you think God wants you to take as a result of reading this? What will you do? (Start your answer with: “I will . . .”)

  • With whom can you share about your experience with God through this passage?

  • Would you like to do this again next week?

Gunnar Gunnarsson
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