Does God Matter?

I. Introduction (SLIDE 1)

a. Prayer Request

b. New Series – DOES IT MATTER [clipboard]

c. Gen 1; John 1

d. Read Gen 1.1

II. Does God Matter? Yes He Does

a. Seminary – Intro to Theology (SLIDE 2)

i. Omniscient; Omnipotent; Omnipresent

ii. Epistemology; Imago Dei

b. Knowing theology words only helps you know ABOUT God.

c. What I would like to focus on is Knowing and being in relationship with God!

III. Who is the God that Matters (SLIDE 3)

a. Atheistic – There is no God

b. Agnostic – There might be a God, but I don’t know

c. Polytheistic – There are many Gods

IV. Monotheistic

a. Deuteronomy 6:4 (ESV) “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

i. Islam

ii. Judaism

iii. Christianity

b. What we Agree on

i. God is ONE

ii. God is ALL Knowing

iii. God is all Seeing

iv. God is all Powerful

v. God is Eternally Existent

c. What we Disagree on

i. Nicene Creed [clipboard]

ii. Village Chapel Statement [clipboard]

iii. Trinitarian Monotheism (SLIDE 4)

1. Gen 1.1-2, 26

2. John 1. 1-3

3. John 10:30

4. Matt 28.19 - …”baptizing in the name of the F,S, & HS”

iv. The Safest thing to say about the Trinity [clipboard]

V. Why Should God Matter to Me (SLIDE 5)

a. Relationships Matter to God

i. God is in relationship with Himself

ii. God as Trinity gives you multiple ways to relate to HIM

iii. Mark 14:36 (ESV) — 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

iv. FATHER

1. PERFECT Father

2. PROVIDENT – future is in his hands

3. PERSONAL – Not far off – Abba, daddy

4. Protector – His intention to keep us safe

5. MY EXPERIENCE of God as Father

v. Son – Jesus – Sufficient Savior - sermon

vi. Holy Spirit – Helper – sermon

b. You Matter to God

i. Made in God’s Image Gen 1. 27

1. Relational

2. Meant to be in relationship with Him

ii. He died for you – John 3.16

iii. Made to be His Child – Gal. 4.1-7

VI. Action Steps

a. Try out a LifeGroup/1st group to know God better (SLIDE 6)

i. What are the questions?

ii. Why are the important?

iii. Why is it helpful to talk about these questions with other believers?

b. Take Communion

i. Renew your relationship with Him

ii. Commit to a relationship with Him

iii. Tom Heil (SLIDE 7)