Known: Understanding Our Identity in Christ (Part 1: He knows your heart).

Introduction:

Magic answer machine (slide)

God knows

Read Psalm 139:1-4

“Omniscient” (all-knowing).

Scary

Remember He is watching

Jesus beside me

“Omnipresent” (He is present everywhere)

If you wouldn’t… then you shouldn’t

Intimidating, yet relieving

Bad impression?

Disappointed or hurt?

Blamed?

Relieving: no convincing; He knows

YOU HAVE NEVER DISAPPOINTED GOD, BECAUSE GOD ALREADY KNEW.

Definition of disappointed (getting your hopes up)

Can’t happen to God.

Sin = “God, do you still love me?”

But then I remember… He knew

The cross

Not surprised or disappointed; loves in spite of

HE ISN’T MAD AT US. HE IS MADLY IN LOVE WITH US.

Read Jeremiah 1:5a

Visual Lesson: Cars comparison

Judging by appearance.

Have any of you ever felt judged/judged others by appearance?

This series:“IDENTITY.”

Who you are on the inside

IDENTITY MEANS “WHO YOU ARE” / “THE REAL YOU.”

Defined by God

All knowing: He knows the REAL you.

Read 1 Samuel 16:7b

Don’t have to convince or impress

But also can’t fool

You can fool everyone else, but not God

GOD KNOWS YOUR HEART, BECAUSE HE CREATED YOUR HEART.

EVEN THOUGH GOD KNOWS YOUR HEART, HE STILL WANTS YOU TO OPEN IT TO HIM.

Example: taking a cookie

God knows > still loves > wants you to open your heart .

Where is your heart?

Does God have your heart?

Will you open your heart to him?

PRAY

Small Group Questions:

If you could ask God anything about your life, what would you ask him?

Does that fact that God knows everything you’ve ever done make you more happy or more worried?

Do you think our bad choices define who we are?

Do you know what the word “identity” means?

What do you think gives us our identity?

What do you need prayer for?