SESSION SUMMARY

The names of God in Scripture reveal something of His nature, activity, or character. You come to know God by experience - at His initiative - as He allows you to learn something new about Him. As you experience God, you grow to know Him more intimately and personally. As you grow in your knowledge of Him, you will naturally want to express your praise, gratitude, and worship to Him. One of the ways to worship Him is to praise and honor Him by acknowledging His names (p.23). 

Knowing God and doing God’s will depends on how well you know Him and His nature. Because God is love, His will is always best. As you follow and obey Him, He will direct you in ways that are best for you and for the situation into which He calls you. Since God is all-knowing, you’ll never have to question the wisdom of His directions - even when they don’t make sense to you. His plans are always right. God is all-powerful, so you need not doubt your ability, strength, or resources to complete His assignments. He will equip you to accomplish all He calls you to do. 

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
(1 John 4:7-8)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• How have you experienced God since our last meeting?
• What stood out or impacted you from the chapters?
• What are some characteristics of God you have come to know by experience?
• Which name of God (p.23) currently seems most significant in your life? Why is that?
• Describe the experience that most permanently settled your belief in God’s love.
• Did you ever doubt God’s love? How can you be sure God loves you today?
• What has been your response when God has asked you to do something?
• Has God ever asked you to do something that didn’t make sense to you? What did this teach you about God and yourself? 

EXPERIENCING GOD TODAY

Watch for ways God may bring you to a deeper knowledge of Him, through the experiences of your life. Then take time to worship God as you have come to know Him. The list on page 23 of your book may help you recall some ways you have come to know God better. As you review the many ways the Bible describes God, try to remember experiences in your life that similarly helped you to know God.

Meditate on the truths below and ask God to reveal his nature to you. Ask Him to develop in you a confidence to trust Him anytime He has an assignment for you. 

• God is love. His will is always best.
• God is all-knowing. His directions are always right.
• God is all-powerful. He can enable you to accomplish His will. 

*This content is a condensed and consolidated version ends of chapters 1 and 2. This is in no way original content to Fellowship Greenville. This content is from the book Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby, and Claude King (copyright 2008). We are thankful for the use of the content and the impact it has had.