Seeking God

Read

• Matthew 7:7 - Read NIV on YouVersion

• Matthew 7:13-14 - Read NIV on YouVersion

Think about it

1. What words or ideas stand out to you in these verses?

2. According to Jesus, what happens when someone seeks?

3. What contrasts do you notice between verses 13 and 14?

4. Why do you think Jesus describes one way as broad and the other as narrow?

5. Is there a difference between being interested in God and actually seeking Him? What do you think that difference might be?

For yourself

If I decided I genuinely wanted to seek God, what might that look like in practice?

Read

• Luke 13:22-30 - Read NIV on YouVersion

• 1 Timothy 4:7-8 - Read NIV on YouVersion

Think about it

1. What question is Jesus asked in Luke 13?

2. What does Jesus tell people to do instead of simply answering the question?

3. What surprises you about the people who are left outside?

4. What do the words 'make every effort' suggest to you?

5. In 1 Timothy 4, Paul compares spiritual growth with training. What normally makes training effective?

6. What might spiritual 'training' look like?

For yourself

Am I presently exploring God casually, seriously, or somewhere in between? Why?

Read the whole section rather than only verse 33.

Read

• Matthew 6:25-33 - Read NIV on YouVersion

Think about it

1. What are the people in this passage worried about?

2. What does Jesus tell them to look at and think about?

3. What does Jesus say God already knows?

4. What does verse 33 say should come first?

5. Are the things Jesus mentions bad things, or ordinary and necessary things?

6. What does that suggest about the kinds of things that can compete with seeking God?

For yourself

What things - even good things - are most likely to take first place in my life?

Read

• Matthew 13:44-46 - Read NIV on YouVersion

Think about it

1. What are the two things Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to?

2. What do the two people do when they recognise what they have found?

3. What similarities are there between the two stories?

4. What differences do you notice?

5. What emotion is specifically mentioned in the first story?

6. Why might someone willingly give up something valuable after discovering something they believe is worth much more?

For yourself

What would I find difficult to change or give up if following God required it?

What would have to be true about God for that trade to be worthwhile?

Look for repeated ideas across the three passages.

Read

• Jeremiah 29:10-13 - Read NIV on YouVersion

• Deuteronomy 4:28-31 - Read NIV on YouVersion

• 2 Chronicles 15:1-4 - Read NIV on YouVersion

Think about it

1. What circumstances are people in when they begin seeking God?

2. What does each passage say about seeking Him?

3. What words describe how they are to seek?

4. What does God do when people turn towards Him?

5. What do these passages suggest about someone who has wandered a long way from God?

6. What, if anything, do these passages tell you about God's willingness to be found?

For yourself

Finish this sentence in your own words: 'If these passages are true, then seeking God wholeheartedly would mean...'

Read

• Acts 17:10-11 - Read NIV on YouVersion

• Acts 17:22-27 - Read NIV on YouVersion

• Hebrews 11:6 - Read NIV on YouVersion

Think about it

1. Why are the Bereans described positively in Acts 17:10-11?

2. What did they do with what Paul told them?

3. Does their example suggest that religious teaching should simply be accepted because someone confident says it?

4. In Acts 17:22-27, what does Paul say about God's relationship to humanity?

5. According to verse 27, what does God want people to do?

6. What two things does Hebrews 11:6 connect with coming to God?

7. How could someone investigate God seriously while still asking difficult questions?

For yourself

What do I currently believe about God - and how did I arrive at those beliefs?

What would I like to investigate rather than simply assume?

Take your time with this one. It is a story rather than a collection of sayings.

Read

• Acts 8:26-40 - Read NIV on YouVersion

Think about it

1. What do you learn about the Ethiopian man before Philip meets him?

2. What is he already doing in his search for God?

3. What does he understand?

4. What doesn't he understand?

5. How does he respond when Philip offers help?

6. What role does Scripture play in their conversation?

7. What does Philip explain to him?

8. What does the Ethiopian ask when they reach some water?

9. What happens after their conversation?

10. How is the Ethiopian described at the end of the story?

Look back

1. What do these passages say about God?

2. What do they say about people who seek Him?

3. What seems to help someone seek?

4. What seems to get in the way?

5. What questions do you still have?

6. Is there anything you now want to investigate further?

For yourself

Based only on what you have read for yourself this week: what do you think your next step should be?

If your answer is 'I don't know yet', what would you need to know next?