Published July 2, 2017 by in
Discussion questions:
- Is there a time when you have felt truly known by another person?
- How often does that happen?
- Think of a few examples. What are some things that people rarely know about you that you would like more people to know about you?
- Why is it important to be known?
- What are some ways that we categorize or put our identity into words?
Related Scriptures:
- Genesis 1:27
- “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created Him; male and female He created them.”
- Jeremiah 1:5
- “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
- Jeremiah 29:11
- “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
- 1 Corinthians 12:27
- “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
- Galatians 2:20
- “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
- “Or do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
- Is this thought a comfort, or is it kind of uncomfortable?
- Why?
- Consider the negative parts of our “identity” we cast off in this process”…
- “Or do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
- Galatians 3:27-29
- “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no make and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”
- Ephesians 2:10
- “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
- John 15:15
- “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
- Ephesians 4:21-25
- “…when you heard about Christ and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
- Note that honesty about yourself, genuineness, is an essential instruction to be a part of the body of Christ
- “…when you heard about Christ and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
- 1 John 3:1-3
- “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure.”
- Psalm 139:1-7
- “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
You perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
- “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
Further Discussion:
- Skim back over the scriptures above. In a quick list of key words, what are the implications of our identity in Christ, our identity as God’s children?
- Ex: responsibilities
- What might it change in us to know we have identity in Christ, and that we are known by God?
- Is this a comforting thought?
- Why or why not?