Patches you can earn:

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Adventure 2:

The Greatness of God

Q

.Who is God?

A

. God is the only Being Who has always existed, and He is the Creator and Preserver of all things.

T

he answer above is correct and good, but there is not enough ink or paper in the world to answer fully the question “Who is God?” The Bible is everything that God wanted us to know about Him now. Someday, we will understand Who He is more fully and completely – but not until we get to heaven.

W

hen we want to find out about God, we must go to the Bible. Since God is so

much greater than we are, it is sometimes very difficult to understand exactly Who God is. But since God is a good God, He has revealed to us some important, life-saving truths about Himself. We call these truths about what God is like His attributes. An “attribute” of God is a characteristic of His (a fact about Him) that shows Him to be specially and uniquely God.

I

n this Adventure, you will learn about the attributes of God’s magnificent greatness. The attributes of God’s greatness show us that He is to be respected. A proper understanding of these characteristics will cause all of us, like the prophet Isaiah, to bow down and cry out that God is so great, and that we are so small (Isaiah 6).

Isaiah 55:8-9

–

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” saith the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

1 Timothy 1:17

–

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Begin Adventure!

Key Passages

Patches you can earn:

Adventure 2:The Greatness of God

Mission:

Adventure Key Truth

God is One of a kind and above all

in His greatness.

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Adventure 2:

The Greatness of God

Treasure Hunts Construction Zones Cases Adventures

Missions

1

G

od Is

Great

Above

All

!

Mission:

Q. Does God reveal in His Word

that He is greater than we are?

A. Yes. One passage is

Isaiah

55:8-9

– “For my thoughts are not

your thoughts, neither are your ways

my ways,” saith the LORD. “For as the

heavens are higher than the earth, so

are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

H

ave you ever built a model airplane or car? When you got done with your “creation,” which was greater (or better) – YOU, or the MODEL?

O

f course, YOU WERE GREATER. Something that has been created cannot be greater or higher than the person who created it! Even giant machinery and supercomputers that men build are still not as great as the minds that dream them up.

W

hat do we mean when we talk about God’s “greatness”? God’s greatness is manifested (shown publicly) by those attributes of His that set Him apart as higher and better than everyone and everything else.

Y

ou are a part of the handiwork of God. This whole world is a display of God’s workmanship. Since God made you and the world, He is far greater and better than you and anything else in the world. As Creator, God owns what He created, so He has power and authority over it by default, automatically.

G

od’s greatness shows His basic nature and His power. On the other hand, God’s goodness shows His excellent character that always does things right. What does this mean? We could say that a boy named Matt has brown eyes and black hair; those are his natural attributes. But if we say that Matt is helpful, we are then describing an attribute of his character or goodness.

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A

ttribute (AT-rib-yoot) – This word is used for a noteworthy quality or charac-teristic of something or someone. (For in-stance, if you have very red hair, we could say that one of your “attributes” is that you have very red hair.)

D

id you know that another word used to describe God’s attributes is “perfections”? Why do you think Christians have used this word “perfections” when describing the qualities of God’s greatness and goodness?

W

hat is the difference between the greatness of God and the goodness of God? Why is it dangerous to worship Cre-ation instead of the Creator?

T

o help you understand better the difference between God’s attributes of greatness and His attributes of goodness, read the verses below. Decide whether these attributes describe God’s goodness or His greatness. In the blank next to each attribute, write either 1 for goodness or 2

for greatness.

__

God is loving. (1 John 4:8)

__

God knows everything. (1 John 3:20)

__

God is everywhere. (Psalm 139:7-12)

__

God is merciful. (Psalm 67:1)

__

God is forgiving. (Ephesians 1:7)

__

God is unequaled. (Isaiah 40:13-25)

__

God is invisible. (1 Timothy 1:17)

__

God never changes. (Numbers 23:19)

L

ist some attributes of your best friend or a family member.

F

irst name: _______________________

H

eight: ___________________________

H

air color: ________________________

A

ttitude toward authority: ___________ __________________________________ ___________________________________

I

ntelligence: ______________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

S

pecial talents: ____________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

G

od Is Great Above All!

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W

hy do you think it is important to be-lieve that God is greater than we are?

Q

. Does God have “personality”? That is, does He have a mind, will, and emotions?

A

. Yes. The Bible tells us that God is a Person, not just a mystical force. He knows, feels, chooses, and acts. He has a name, and He communicates with people. Isaiah 42:8 – “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

Q

. How do we know that God ex-ists?

A

. We know that God exists because we see Creation around us; we know because of our own sense of right and wrong (or conscience); and we know with the most assurance because the Bible tells us about Him. Romans 1:20 – For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eter-nal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

Q

. To review what you learned in “The Difference This Truth Makes,” can

you describe in your own words what we mean when we talk about God’s “greatness”?

A

. God’s greatness is the collection of those attributes of God’s nature (His “per-fections”) that set Him apart as different and better than everything and everyone else. Revelation 19:6 – And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

G

od Is Great Above All!

KIDS4TRUTH SIGNATURE

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Missions

2

I

t Is

Impossible

To

Understand God

Fully

Mission:

Q. What is our great God like?

A. Our great God is invisible, eternal,

all-powerful, all-wise, and always

everywhere at once.

Job 40:9

– “Hast

thou an arm like God? Or canst thou

thunder with a voice like him?”

S

everal times, the Bible says that God is “in heaven” or “on high” (Psalm 93:4; Psalm 11:4). Some people think this means that God is not attentive to His Creation anymore or active within it at all because He is so high above it. But these verses do not refer to God’s location (the Bible teaches that God is everywhere at all times), but to His majesty – His absolute greatness over Creation.

G

od is so great that He cannot be totally explained, nor can He be totally understood. One of the mysteries of God is that He is far above all His Creation, yet He is directly involved within His Creation (Exodus 15:11).

T

ranscendence (tran-SEN-duns) – To speak of God’s “transcendence” is to speak of Him as distinctly greater in essence than all of Creation, because He created it! He is separate from Creation in the sense that He is distinguished from it and far above it in thought, power, and being.

I

mmanence (IM-ah-nents) – The word “immanence” is used for God’s interest and active involvement in His Creation, staying close to it, even while He is distinct from it. God Himself still cares for and works in His Creation at all times, in all places.

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Memorize It!

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H

ow has God proven Himself active within Creation? How is He still proving it right now?

L

ook up the following verses. If a verse teaches God’s independence from His Creation, put a T for Transcendence. If the verse teaches God’s activity or involvement in His Creation, put an I for Immanence. Two of the verses clearly teach both. Put a star * next to those references.

_

_____ Job 12:10

_

_____ Ephesians 4:6

_

_____ Hebrews 1:3

_

_____ Isaiah 55:8-9

_

_____ Acts 17:24-25

_

_____ Exodus 3:14

I

f we know all these things that an unlimited God has shared with us about Himself, can you imagine how much more there must be to learn about Him?

H

ow often do you think about God? Does trying to understand God sound interesting to you? Why, or why not?

Q

. Will anyone, whether in this life or the next, ever be able to comprehend (understand fully) God in all is greatness?

A

. No human being can ever totally understand God in all His greatness.

Psalm 145:3 – Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

Q

. Why can we not fully understand God?

A

. We humans cannot understand God fully because we would have to be God to do so! God is the only One Who can understand God completely. Romans 11:33 – O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Q

. Is there anything or anyone who could even come close to God in wisdom, power, and perfection?

A

. No. Isaiah 44:6 – Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; “I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”

I

t Is Impossible To Understand God Fully

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Missions

3

G

od Is

Forever

, Without

Beginning

or

End

Mission:

Q. Did God ever have a

beginning, or will He ever have an

end?

A. No. God is eternal. He always

has been alive and always will be

alive.

Revelation 1:8

– “I am Alpha

and Omega, the beginning and the

ending,” saith the Lord, “which is, and

which was, and which is to come, the

Almighty.”

I

f we believed that God had a beginning, then that would raise a new question: “Who or what ‘caused’ God”? If there were something or someone before God, then that would mean there could be something or someone greater than God. But God says, “There is none like me” (Isaiah 46:9).

G

od created time. Before there was

time, there was a time when time did not exist as we know it. (Wow! Think about that for awhile, and smoke might start coming out of your ears!)

G

od is above time, but He chooses to act within the boundaries and limitations of time. The Bible teaches us that God is the great un-caused One. Nothing caused God to happen – but God has given us life!

Q

. Does God have to depend on anything for His existence (life) or His happiness?

A

. No. God is uncreated and self-existent. He has no beginning or end. He calls Himself “Jehovah.” “I AM.” Christ declares, “The Father hath life in Himself.”

G

od has always been fine on His own. Some people think that God needs them. They think that God needs them so that He can have worshippers to love Him and make Him happy. But just the opposite is true: We need God in order to be happy. (See Psalm 16:11.)

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Memorize It!

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D

id you know that your next breath is in the hand of God? Not only is He alive, but all life comes from Him! He is the Source of all living things. Daniel 5:23b – [It is] God in whose hand thy breath is.

D

id you know that even though we will live forever, we are not eternal like God is eternal? Unlike God, we had to have a beginning, and we will always live in time. Even when we are living in heaven forever and ever, time will still exist for us. Look at this verse in Revelation, and see that even in eternity there will still be recognizable periods of time (months, for example): Revelation 22:2 – In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the

river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

H

ave you ever considered that God really has no birthday? Most Christians celebrate Christmas, which is a celebration of when Jesus Christ was born on Earth. Since we know that Jesus Christ is totally God, how can it be that God was born? Was Jesus’ birth on Earth His beginning – or did He exist before that? Jesus may have had a human birthday, but technically, He has always been alive, because He has

always been God. Look up the following verses, and explain why each verse proves that Christ existed before He was born on Earth:

John 1:3

_________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________________________

Colossians 1:16

___________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

John 17:5

_________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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I

f God had not decided to create, could anything or anyone besides God exist?

E

ternal (ee-TUR-nal) – To exist forever without a beginning or an ending is to be “eternal.”

I

f God had had a beginning, would He really be God? Why, or why not? Since God had no beginning, what does that teach us about Him?

W

hat feelings or thoughts do you have when you think about living somewhere forever and ever? How can you show you believe that you will live forever somewhere?

Q

. What verse teaches that God is dependent upon nothing and no one for His existence?

A

.John 5:26 – “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.”

Q

. Is God really alive?

A

. Yes. He is the great I AM, which means He is the self-existent One, alive on His own. Exodus 3:14 – And God said unto Moses, “I AM THAT I AM:” and he said, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”

Q

. What is one verse that teaches that God is eternal?

A

.Psalm 90:2 – Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

G

od Is Forever, Without Beginning or End

WORD PERFECT

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Missions

4

G

od

Does Not

Change

Mission:

Q. Does the LORD ever give up,

get tired, or change in any way?

A. No. The LORD is unchanging,

eternally great in every way.

Malachi

3:6a

– “For I am the LORD, I change

not.”

G

od is immutable (never-changing, unchangeable). Since He is perfect and eternal, He never needs to change. If we believed that God might change His mind like we change our minds, then our confidence in Him would be very small. How could you trust someone who constantly changed his mind about whether or not he cared about you?

I

t would have to shake our faith if we let ourselves start thinking that God might change His mind about us based on our performance of Christian duties. Why? If our beliefs about God and His character were based in ourselves, that would be a very shaky foundation. We change! Through His Word, the unchangeable God has shown us what is right to believe about Him. God and all of His characteristics stay true whether you believe rightly or not, or whether you do right or not.

S

ome people say that you need to “believe in yourself” or “trust yourself.” But think about how often you change your mind. Can you remember something that you changed your mind about? Perhaps it was liking a certain food or a friend – whatever the case, you have changed your mind, and you’ll probably end up

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changing it again soon. Human beings are constantly changing their minds. Aren’t you glad that God did not have to decide this morning whether or not He loved you? God never changes!

D

id you know that sometimes God communicates sorrow (a feeling of being both sad and sorry) for something that He did or allowed? For example, see

1 Samuel 15:11 – It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments.

B

ut God does not feel regret or sorrow the same way a human would – because God has complete knowledge and control of the past, present, and the future.

Numbers 23:19 – God is not a man, that

he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

I

mmutability (im-MYOO-tuh-BIL-uh- tee) – This word means unchangeableness. God has always been the same, and will forever remain the same, in His purposes, His promises, and His person.

S

ome people think that since God is is immutable, He also must be impersonal. They think that He must be like a rock that never moves, never feels emotion, and never acts – because to do so would mean change. It is important to realize the ways in which God does not change.

God’s promises do not change.

(Numbers 23:19)

God’s purposes do not change.

(Isaiah 46:10)

God’s person does not change.

(Hebrews 13:8)

W

hy is it dangerous to trust in ourselves over God?

G

od is an unchanging Spirit, but He is not a vague, impersonal force or power. God is a real living Being with real personality. Something impersonal cannot “love” or “hate.”

L

ook up the following verses, and fill in the blanks.

Ephesians 4:30

– God is ______ over the sin of humankind.

G

od Does Not Change

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Jeremiah 9:24

– God can be _______.

Exodus 3:14

– He has a name that He says is ___________________.

Psalm 7:11

– He is _____________ at sin and sinners.

John 3:16

– God ______________ the world.

Genesis 3:8-9

– He ______________ with humans.

T

hese verses show not that God is an impersonal force or power, but that God is a real Person with real personality.

W

hy do you think it is that your eternal destiny depends upon God’s eternal immutability?

H

ow can believing the truth about God’s immutability help you to trust Him more?

Q

. How are we to understand those events in the Bible which seem to show God repenting or changing His mind, as in Jonah 3:10? (For example, see

Jonah 3:10 – And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.)

A

.Jonah 3:10 and verses like it show us that God did not do what He said at first, because the situation changed. (God did not change, but the situation did.) It may

be that God’s threat of future judgment was just the thing that caused the people to turn from their sin!

Q

. Will any of God’s plans and purposes ever be changed at all?

A

. None of God’s plans and purposes can ever be changed. Psalm 33:11– The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Q

. Is there the least reason to wonder if God might change the laws by which He governs His creatures, or the plan of mercy by which He saves souls from sin and guilt?

A

. No. We can trust that God will keep His promises. James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

G

od Does Not Change

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Missions

5

G

od Is an

Invisible

Spirit

Mission:

Q. Does God have a body like

human beings do?

A. No. God is a Spirit, invisible to

our human eyes.

John 4:24

– “God is a

Spirit: and they that worship him must

worship him in spirit and in truth.”

M

any people want to know what God is made out of. But since God created all space, all time, and all matter (living creatures, plants, minerals, waters, etc.) – it is wrong to think of Him as being made out of anything that we might know about. Everything we can observe with our five senses has been created by God. God is different from anything He created. And we can see most of what He created.

B

ut God also wants us to believe in that which we cannot see with our eyes. He wants us to have faith in Him, and He is invisible.

Hebrews 11:1

– Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I

f God were not invisible, then we would not need faith to believe in Him. If we did not need faith, then we would not need God. If we did not need God, then we would start worshipping ourselves as our own gods.

Hebrews 11:6

– But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

J

ust because you cannot see something does not mean it is not real. In fact, God’s invisible reality (realness) is so real that He caused everything else that you know and see to become real (Colossians 1:16).

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Memorize It!

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I

s it strange to think that there is an invisible world that is just as real as the world we can see? Why, or why not?

W

hy does God hate it so much when people worship images that can be seen (i.e., statues, figures, idols)?

T

hings that are seen do not last forever. Things that are unseen are eternal. The things of God are better than the visible things of our world because He is an unseen, eternal Spirit.

2 Corinthians 4:18

– While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

L

ook up the verses below. What do they say about things that are invisible?

Romans 1:20

______________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Colossians 1:10-15

________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ _____________________________________

1 Timothy 1:17

_____________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

L

ook up John 14:9. What did Jesus say was true about those who had seen Him? ___________________________________ ___________________________________

D

id you know that since God is invisible, He is not pleased when we try to imagine Him as a created, visible object?

Exodus 20:4

– Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

I

f God were not invisible, do you think we would still need faith? Why, or why not?

W

hat difference might it make in a person’s life when he or she believes that the things that can’t be seen are more important than the things they can see?

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Q

. Has anybody ever seen God?

A

. Nobody has ever seen God’s Spirit (His natural, invisible Being), but God has revealed Himself visibly in the Person of Jesus Christ in order to make Himself known. John 1:18 – No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Q

. Does anybody have a good reason for not believing that God exists?

A

. No. It is actually both foolish and wicked to say there is no God. Psalm

14:1 – The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Q

. How do we know that God exists?

A

. We know that God exists because we see the worlds He has made; we know because of our own sense of right and wrong; and above all, we know from what the Bible tells us of Him. Romans 1:20 – For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that

are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

G

od Is an Invisible Spirit

WORD PERFECT

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Missions

6

A

ll

Power

Comes from

God

Mission:

Q. How powerful is God?

A. God is omnipotent, which means

He is all-powerful and can do anything

He pleases.

Jeremiah 32:17

– Ah

Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made

the heaven and the earth by thy great

power and stretched out arm, and

there is nothing too hard for thee.

I

f we did not believe God had all power, then we would probably trust in ourselves or go looking for some other thing that has a little power. If God did not have all power, then it would be possible for someone or something to defeat Him. But God is all-powerful!

R

emember God’s question to Job? Job 40:9 – “Hast thou an arm like God? Or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?”

N

ot only is God all-powerful, God is also unlimited. Nobody or no thing could ever exhaust (wear down, run out) or limit God’s awesome power – not even in the smallest way! Cars run out of gas, batteries lose their charge, and all living things eventually get old and die. But God will never run out, wear out, get old, or cease to be.

H

aving all power means that God is in complete and absolute control.

P

salm 115:3 – But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

P

salm 103:19 – The LORD hath

prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

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D

id you know that the Bible refers to God as “Almighty” more than 50 times? It is capitalized as a title: The Almighty.

D

id you know that God is able to do more than He actually does? Matthew 3:9 – And think not to say within

yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

O

mnipotent (om-NIH-puh-tent) – This is an adjective that means “all-powerful,” and it is used to describe how God has complete and total authority and matchless strength over all. God is unique in His omnipotence, which means no one else can claim to be omnipotent. Only God is all-powerful.

H

ow can we help ourselves remember that all power comes from God? Does the fact that God cannot or will not do some things take away from His being God? Why, or why not?

T

here are some things God cannot or will not do. And the very fact that God will not do them proves all the more that He is a truly good and great God!

L

ook up these verses, and list some things that God cannot do:

Hebrews 6:18

_____________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

James 1:13

_______________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Hebrews 13:8

_____________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Psalm 66:7

_______________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

Numbers 23:19

___________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________

S

omeone might hold doubts about whether God really is omnipotent. After all, if He cannot sin, is it really true to say that He has no limits? But God is perfect and unlimited in His power, which means that His actions and abilities are governed by His perfect and unlimited moral strength

A

ll Power Comes from God 44

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and character. God can do anything and everything that is right to do – and everything God does is always right!

N

ative Americans gave their children meaningful names, some of them

describing a particular attribute of the child or a special hope for the child’s future. God has many names, and all of them tell us something about Who He is. Why would it be wrongful to address any other person as “the Almighty”?

H

ow do you think that the truth that God has all power might help a believer

to overcome sin? How would it affect our prayer lives if we really believed the truth that God is all-powerful?

Q

. What do we mean when we say that God is “unlimited”?

A

. For God to be “unlimited” means that the knowledge and power of God can never be measured or stopped or held back. He is cannot be tied down. He is not restricted by space and time, and His knowledge and power cannot be measured.

Q

. Are life, death, health, and sickness all in the hand of God?

A

. Yes. Your very next breath is in the hand of God. 1 Samuel 2:6 – The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

Q

. Are the mind and will of man subject to the power and control of God?

A

. Yes. The mind and will of man are subject to the power and control of God.

Proverbs 21:1 – The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

A

ll Power Comes from God

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Missions

7

G

od Knows

Everything

–

Even the

Future

Mission:

Q. What does God know?

A. God is omniscient, which means

He knows all things, even the secrets

of our hearts.

1 John 3:20b

– God is

greater than our heart, and knoweth all

things.

I

f God did not know everything, including the future, then He would not be an all-wise God. If we were to doubt that God knows the future, we might begin to trust our own judgment and desires over His. Our selfish ways are never the best ways!

Proverbs 14:12

– There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

P

salm 147:5 – Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

M

any times in His Word, God assures people that He knows everything for certain – even the future. Look at Isaiah 42:9 – Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

T

he reason God knows everything (past, present, and future) is that He is above time. The things that have happened in the past are just as real as the things happening right now. That is not how we humans can view time! It should be comforting to know that no matter where or when – past, present, or future – God is there.

O

mniscient (om-NISH-unt) – This is an adjective that means knowing” or “all-wise.” It is used to describe how God has infinite knowledge and boundless wisdom. He knows all things – past, present, and future – even the secrets of our hearts. God

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is unique in His omniscience, which means no one else can claim to be omniscient. Only God is all-knowing.

“

Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?” – Unknown

D

id you know that God knows not only what is going to happen, but He also knows what could’ve happened? In other words, God knows every potential future.

Matthew 11:21

– “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”

I

n the verse above, God shows that He even knows what could have happened.

W

hat are two things God knows? Look up the following verse for the answers:

Luke 12:7

________________________ and _______________________________

H

ow can God know the future? How does believing that God knows the future affect your willingness to trust and obey Him?

H

ow does it make you feel that God knows everything you have ever done or ever thought – even your deepest secrets?

Q

. How can we know for sure that God knows everything?

A

. The Bible tells us that God knows every time a sparrow falls to the ground, and that He has numbered all the hairs of our head! Matthew 10:30 – “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

Q

. What do we mean when we say that God is “omniscient”?

A

. That God is “omniscient” means that He is all-knowing.

Q

. What is a verse that teaches the truth that God is omniscient?

A

.Hebrews 4:13 – Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

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od Knows Everything – Even the Future

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Missions

8

G

od Is

Everywhere

– All at

the

Same

Time

Mission:

Q. Where is God?

A. God is omnipresent, which

means He is everywhere, all the time.

Jeremiah 23:24

– “Can any hide

himself in secret places that I shall not

see him?” saith the LORD. “Do not I fill

heaven and earth?” saith the LORD.

I

t is wrong to think of God being places in terms of geographical location, because He is the One Who created space and matter. If God created space and matter, He has to be much greater that His Creation and could never be contained by His own universe. That is very hard for us to understand, but it helps us realize why God is everywhere. There is no place where God cannot be found.

I

f we did not believe that God was everywhere, we might come to the conclusion that we could hide from God when we sin, or that God is not nearby when we are frightened and need Him. But God is always near us – at all times – even when we do not feel like He is.

O

mnipresent (om-nih-PREZ-unt) – This is an adjective that means “all-present.” It is used to describe how God is in all places at all times. There is no hiding place from Him, and He knows no boundaries. Wherever it is, God has been there from eternity. God is unique in His omnipresence, which means no one else can claim to be omnipresent. Only God is able to be always everywhere at once.

W

e might think that since space is so absolutely huge it would be impossible

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for God to be everywhere at once. But which came first – space, or God? God has always been, and He created space, so He is greater than space and has all power and authority over space.

G

od remains present everywhere. He is omnipresent – punishing, blessing, or simply keeping things going.

L

ook up the verses below and decide how God showed His presence in that place and time. Put a P for Punishing, a

B for Blessing, or a K for Keeping things going.

_

_______ Amos 9:1-4

_

_______ Colossians 1:17

_

_______ Hebrews 1:3

_

_______ Psalm 16:11

_

_______ Revelation 21:3-4

W

hy does the truth that God is everywhere at the same time cause some people to feel afraid and others to feel comforted?

H

ave you been living your life as though God were with you, watching you every moment? When was the last time you stopped a wrong action, thought, or word because you remembered the truth that God sees you?

Q

. What Scripture verse teaches the truth that God is uncontainable – that is, that He is not able to be limited by space or time?

A

.1 Kings 8:27 – But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

Q

. Will God be with me everywhere I go?

A

. Yes, He will! Isaiah 43:2 – When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Q

. Is it ever possible to escape God?

A

. Some people try to run from God, or forget God, but it is impossible to escape God since He knows all, and since He is always in all places. Psalm 139:8-10 – If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

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od Is Everywhere – All at the SameTime

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Missions

9

G

od Is

Unique

and

Greatest

of

All

Mission:

Q. Can anyone else come

even close to matching God’s

greatness?

A. No one can match God. He is

infinitely greater than anyone else.

1 Timothy 1:17

– Now unto the King

eternal, immortal, invisible, the only

wise God, be honour and glory for

ever and ever. Amen.

G

od wants us to know that nobody even comes close to His perfect, awesome greatness. If anyone else were as great, then God’s glory would be reduced. When we talk about God’s “glory,” we are talking about God’s honor and His excellent Name (His reputation). In a very simple way, God’s glory refers to God’s fame. God is famous because no one else is as wonderful and powerful as He is.

O

ften, sports heroes are given glory and fame because they have special abilities and talents. But think about God’s special abilities! The talents of any sports hero are less than God’s abilities. Why is that? Because God is the One Who gives sports heroes any abilities they have (1 Corinthians 4:7)!

W

ithout God, there could be no talent. Nobody else deserves to be famous like God is famous – and God wants the glory He deserves. He makes sure He will be famous. Isaiah 42:8 – “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

D

id you know that Satan’s sin was that he tried to make himself as great as God? In Isaiah 14, we find out that Satan’s (Lucifer’s) attitude was prideful because he wanted the glory that rightly belongs only to God!

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I

n Romans 3:23, God teaches us that whenever we sin, we fall short of His glory. Is anything that falls short of God’s glory “sin”? Why, or why not? Is it true that all sin falls short of God’s glory? Why, or why not?

W

hat are some things that make God truly unique?

G

lory (GLOR-ee) – When we speak of God’s “glory,” we are referring to the fame, honor, and excellent reputation that He rightly deserves because of His unique greatness and goodness.

W

hat are things in your life that you put above God? How can you get victory over idolatry (the sin of giving God less than first place)?

L

ook up the following verses, and answer the questions.

Isaiah 48:9-11

– Why does God show mercy?

_

__________________________________ ___________________________________

Exodus 9:14

– Why did God send plagues upon Pharaoh and Egypt?

_

__________________________________ ___________________________________

Isaiah 46:9-10

– What is one of God’s special abilities or attributes that makes Him truly unique?

_

__________________________________

G

od commands us to be holy as He is holy, so why was it a great sin for Satan to want to be like God?

Q

. Why is God the most glorious One?

A

. He is completely unique because He is perfect and without measure in His greatness and goodness. Psalm 24:8 – Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Q

. Is God dependent upon any other being for life and happiness?

A

. No. God does not need anyone else to help Him be alive and happy.

Revelation 1:8 – “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,” saith the Lord, “which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

Q

. Does any human, or angel, or anything else that exists come close to God’s greatness?

A

. No one else even comes close. Isaiah 45:21b – “There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.”

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od Is Unique and Greatest of All

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Missions

10

G

od Wants Me To

Respect

Him for His

Greatness

Mission:

Q. How should you respond to

God as you learn more about His

greatness?

A. Learning about God’s greatness

should encourage me to honor Him

faithfully and to depend upon Him

humbly.

Exodus 15:11

– Who is like

unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?

Who is like thee, glorious in holiness,

fearful in praises, doing wonders?

W

hen we believe rightly about God, it changes our lives! God commands us to fear and respect Him, because it is truly beneficial for us, and it brings Him glory.

P

eople who do not fear the Lord properly do not believe rightly about God. When we believe in God as He has revealed Himself in the Bible, then a right kind of fear and respect for God comes into our hearts.

D

id you know that the Bible says “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11)? In His Word, God often reveals Himself as One to be feared, and we are commanded to fear Him. Does that mean we should be so scared of God that we will not go near Him? Does it mean that God is mean? No. The Bible also says that “the LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him” (Nahum 1:7). God is good and great and holy. We must believe that God is all the things He says He is, and we should act in reverence and respect before Him. That is what is means to be “God-fearing.”

W

hy do you think that wisdom cannot truly begin in a person until he or she fears the Lord? Psalm 111:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good

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understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

W

hat characteristics of God have you been learning about that cause you to fear and respect Him?

L

ook up these times in Scripture when people feared the Lord. Next to each of these verses, briefly describe the event that caused people to fear the Lord.

Exodus 14:31

______________________ ___________________________________

Joshua 4:13-14

____________________ ___________________________________

1 Samuel 12:18

____________________ ___________________________________

W

hat is one thing that all the events above have in common that caused people to fear the Lord?

_

__________________________________

H

ow does God’s greatness inspire you to respond to Him? Does it cause you to respect Him? Love Him? Both? Please explain your answer. How might your view of God’s greatness affect your life?

W

hat do you think God’s opinion might be about your respect for Him? Could you respect God more? How can you show your respect for God?

Q

. Does God sustain all things?

A

. Yes. God upholds everything by the Word of His power. Hebrews 1:3 – Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and

upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Q

. Does God command us to fear Him?

A

. Yes. We ought to honor Him and live in awe of Who He is. Psalm 33:8-9 – Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Q

. How should knowing about God’s greatness cause you to respond?

A

. These truths should make me humbly depend on God, in reverence and fear, recognizing that He is great and I am small.

Exodus 15:11 – Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

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od Wants Me To Respect Him for His Greatness

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Q

. Does God reveal in His Word that He is greater than we are?

A

. Yes. One passage is Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” saith the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Q

. What is our great God like?

A

. Our great God is invisible, eternal, all-powerful, all-wise, and always everywhere at once. Job 40:9 – “Hast thou an arm like

God? Or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?”

Q

. Did God ever have a beginning, or will He ever have an end?

A

. No. God is eternal. He always has been alive and always will be alive.

Revelation 1:8 – “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,” saith the Lord, “which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

Q

. Does the LORD ever give up, get tired, or change in any way?

A

. No. The LORD is unchanging, eternally great in every way. Malachi 3:6a – “For I am the LORD, I change not.”

Q

. Does God have a body like human beings do?

A

. No. God is a Spirit, invisible to our human eyes. John 4:24 – “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

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Q

. How powerful is God?

A

. God is omnipotent, which means He is all-powerful and can do anything He pleases. Jeremiah 32:17 – Ah Lord GOD! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.

Q

. What does God know?

A

. God is omniscient, which means He knows all things, even the secrets of our hearts. 1 John 3:20b – God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Q

. Where is God?

A

. God is omnipresent, which means He is everywhere, all the time. Jeremiah 23:24 – “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?” saith the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” saith the LORD.

Q

. Can anyone else come even close to matching God’s greatness?

A

. No one can match God. He is infinitely greater than anyone else.

1 Timothy 1:17 – Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Q.

How should you respond to God

as you learn more about His greatness?

A

. Learning about God’s greatness should encourage me to honor Him faithfully and to depend upon Him humbly.

Exodus 15:11 – Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?