WEEK 4 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

The practices that changed me: stories of everyday transformation. The presence of God.

Introduction:

There’s nothing quite like the presence of the Lord. We read in the Bible of prophets, disciples, and followers of Christ who have experienced God’s presence, but when you have your own experience, it’s something special. Spending time in God’s presence is essential to our Christian journey. If you don’t spend time with a person, how can you know them? If you don’t spend time with God, then how do you expect to know Him?

Something To Talk About:

The presence of God is always available. As Northstar Church encourages, actively seek and cultivate an awareness of His presence in daily life. In doing so, you can experience the blessings and transformative power that come from dwelling in Him.

Ultimate future presence of God: This is the presence of God that the Apostle Paul refers to in 2 Corinthians 5:8: “Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8 – NIV). This doesn’t require much, if any, explaining. It’s concerned with the transition from this life to the next. Being “home with the Lord” refers to a deep, abiding relationship with God, where one finds rest and security in His presence, and ultimately, the promise of eternal life in His eternal dwelling place. It’s about recognizing that while earthly homes are temporary, our true and lasting home is with God.
Magic moment presence of God: The Lord often appears in unexpected ways, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. It shakes your world with a presence that you can physically feel. Our own lives can sometimes prevent us from recognizing God’s unexpected presence. This can be due to busyness and distraction, predetermined expectations of how God should appear, or a lack of “margin” or space in our lives. Unexpected encounters with God can bring life-changing messages, offering confirmation of God’s promises, correcting our limited perspectives, and challenging our areas of unbelief. We need to live with expectant faith by inviting God’s presence into each day. Doing so can help you to recognize and receive God when He comes unannounced.
Continuous presence of God: Experiencing the continuous presence of God, also known as practicing the presence of God, is a spiritual practice that involves cultivating an awareness of God’s presence in all aspects of life, not just during formal prayer or worship. In Psalm 139:7-10, David writes, “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.”It’s about recognizing God’s constant nearness and allowing that awareness to shape thoughts, actions, and emotions. You can experience the continuous presence of God in your kitchen, workplace, shopping, driving, or doing anything. Students, you can experience God’s presence in your classrooms, on the bus, or while driving. Men, you can have a continuous presence of God at your workplace, mowing your lawn, playing golf, fishing, working in your garden, working out, or anywhere, anytime, and any place.

Discussion Questions:

How do you understand the concept of God’s presence? Is it a feeling, a location, a relationship, or something else entirely?
In what ways have you experienced God’s presence in your life? What are some common obstacles that prevent people from recognizing or experiencing God’s presence?
How does the concept of God’s presence influence your daily life and choices?
What does the future presence of God mean to you?
What role does faith play in experiencing God’s presence?
Have you ever felt God’s presence in nature? In relationships? Through a song or other art form?
Have you experienced a magic moment, the unexpected presence of God?
How can we cultivate a more receptive heart to God’s presence, even when we don’t “feel” it?
What does the continuous presence of God mean to you?
What specific points from the sermon resonated most with you regarding God’s presence?
How did the sermon challenge or deepen your understanding of God’s presence?
What is one thing you can take away from the sermon and apply to your life this week?

Take one thing home with you:

What does God’s presence feel like? What does that friend mean when he or she says, “I felt God’s presence this week in a special way.” Others hear someone say something like that, and they don’t get it, they don’t understand. It makes them wonder if I’m getting all this God stuff, or am I doing something wrong. I want to feel God’s presence, but since I don’t, I must be a weak, immature Christian. As we talked about this Sunday, God’s presence “feels like” different things to different people, and even in different ways in different circumstances. It goes beyond a feeling, or a sense of presence, or an emotion. The difficulty arises when people seek manifestations of His presence rather than simply seeking Him.

The fact is, you are never alone. God promised never to leave you nor forsake you. It may seem like you are alone, that you cannot sense His presence. But it is at these times that you must choose to believe that He is there. You must believe that He is there solely based on the fact that the Bible says it.