The Gospel Project: God is Here (Doctrine Session: Immanence)

Introduction:

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Some Thoughts:

We can experience loneliness even if we have friends.

Believers are never alone because of God’s presence in our lives.

God is personal and relatable; He wants to be a part of our daily lives.

Immanuel literally means “God with us.”

ESSENTIAL DOCTRINE: GOD IS IMMANENT

When we say God is immanent, we mean God is personable and relatable to those made in His image while remaining completely distinct and unique from all of His creation. It means God is not a distant deity (as imagined by the deist) who only sits on His heavenly throne with no interaction; instead, He is a personal God who created people in His image to be in personal relationship with Him.

ESSENTIAL CONNECTION:

In this unit, we saw Jesus appear to the disciples and others after the resurrection. He settled their doubts with His physical presence, leading them to acknowledge Him as Lord and God. Through Jesus, God proved His desire to dwell among us and be intimately known by us.

Main Point:

God made a way to be with His people through His Son, Jesus.

3 Different Ways that God is With Us:

The Lord is with His people from high above

Isaiah 55:8–11 (ESV)

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

and do not return there but water the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Q. What parts of this passage speak of God’s immanence?

God’s word going out of his mouth from on High?

Q. Why can it feel as if God’s promises aren’t being fulfilled in our lives?

Q. How would it affect our view of God if we could fully understand Him?

3 Different Ways that God is With Us:

The Lord is with His people from high above

The Lord is with His people with full authority

Matthew 28:16–18 ESV

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Q. Where do you see God’s immanence in this passage?

Jesus “came” to them

Jesus speaks to them

Q. In response to seeing Jesus, some of the crowd worshipped while others doubted. How can we relate to this?

Q. “Jesus came near” to the people (see v. 18). How does this and His response comfort you?

3 Different Ways that God is With Us:

The Lord is with His people from high above

The Lord is with His people with full authority

The Lord is with His people forever and always

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Q. where do we see God’s immanence in this passgae?

All that “I have commanded you”

“I am with you always.”

Q. Why do we complicate our purpose? Why should we fulfill the Great Commission?

Q. In what areas of our lives do we need to be reminded that God is with us?

Christ Connection:

God is immanent, meaning that although He is distinct from His creation, He is also personable and involved within it. Of the many ways God demonstrates His immanence, the greatest is through the earthly ministry of Jesus. Jesus came from above, lived a perfect life, gave up His life on the cross, and rose from the dead so that all who trust in Him might have a personal relationship with God.

HEAD: Knowing Jesus has all authority is important, but how can you better submit to His authority?

HEART: What situations in our lives feel like they aren’t under Jesus’ authority?

HANDS: What steps can you take to fulfill the Great Commission?

The Bottom Line:

Allow God’s immanence to impact your day-to-day life.

PRAY