Knowing the God Who Is

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How do we know God exists?
Is being a Christian worth it?
What is God like?
Why do we suffer?

Even if your students haven’t asked these questions out loud, they are wrestling with putting into their own words what they believe. They want to know how to have a relationship with Christ that is authentic and deep. Take your students on a journey through Scripture to discover the truth about our awesome God—who he is and our relationship to him, his attributes, his names, and what that says about him. 3- and 4-week studies (13 sessions in all). Download a free lesson!

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Sessions in this Study

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UNIT 1: Problems in Knowing God (3 weeks)

Session 1

Q. How do we know God exists?
A. God exists and reveals his invisible attributes—his ­eternal power and divine nature—in creation.

Scripture: Romans 1:16–32

Session 2

Q. Creating idols—who, me?
A. People create false idols rather than believe in the true God who reveals himself in the Bible.

Scripture: Isaiah 44:9–23; 45:18–22

Session 3

Q. Is being a Christian worth it?
A. Yes, nothing is more desirable than knowing God and being secure in him.

Scripture: Psalm 73

UNIT 2: Getting to Know God (3 weeks)

Session 4

Q. Why are people separated from God?
A. Sin separates people from God.

Scripture: Isaiah 59:1–21

Session 5

Q. Who makes the first move?
A. People cannot be redeemed unless God makes the first move in their salvation.

Scripture: Romans 3:10–11; John 6:35–44; Matthew 11:20–27; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:6–16; Romans 5:8–9; Ephesians 1:3–10

Session 6

Q. What is a Christian?
A. A Christian is a person who is born again by the Holy Spirit, repents of his sin, and believes in Jesus as Savior.

Scripture: John 3:1–8, 16–21; Ephesians 2:1–10; Matthew 11:28–30

UNIT 3: Loving God (3 weeks)

Session 7

Q. How is marriage like Christ’s relationship to the church?
A. Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her. Marriage is designed to reflect that relationship.

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22–33

Session 8

Q. How do believers demonstrate their love for God?
A. Believers respond to God’s love by trusting him and obeying his commands.

Scripture: 1 John 5:1–5; Matthew 22:34–40; Deuteronomy 4:1–14; 5:6–21

Session 9

Q. How do we honor God’s name?
A. We show our love for God by reverently treating his name with awe through worship, trust, and obedience.

Scripture: Exodus 20:7; James 1:22–26

UNIT 4: Knowing God’s Character (4 weeks)

Session 10

Q. Why are God’s omniscience and omnipresence important to us?
A. Because God’s dependable character helps us trust him more and changes how we think and live.

Scripture: Psalm 139

Session 11

Q. What is God like? (Part 1)
A. There is only one God. He is triune, self-sufficient, eternal, and unchanging.

Scripture: selected topical passages (printed in Examine)

Session 12

Q. What is God like? (Part 2)
A. The one true God is wise, good, loving, holy, righteous, and sovereign.

Scripture: selected topical passages (printed in Examine)

Session 13

Q. God is with us … so why do we suffer?
A. God’s ways cannot always be understood, but he can be trusted because he is always wise, good, and sovereign.

Scripture: Job (selected passages)