Teaching ▹ Groups Resources ▹ The People of God

If you have been to more than one church, you will notice how many things can change: music, preaching style, worship service flow, communication, style of prayer—and even what the pastor’s wear. More than this, churches themselves change over time. As churches get older, certain things look different and other things continue to look the same. As churches grow, different staff and volunteers and expectations come. The church in 2020 took a massive change as so much went digital. We are freshly aware of how malleable God’s family really is.   

And it’s not just the exterior things that change—we actually change too. Our preferences, beliefs, dreams for the future, relationships, likes and dislikes all can change over the course of a few months.

We are not static beings and we do not live in a static world. This is why our faith is so helpful for us. In following Jesus, we know the Creator and Sustainer of all life. We know the Designer. As he reveals himself to us, he shares with us things that never change. Things we can count on. In Scripture, there are things about God that do not change (his goodness, justice, etc.), but did you know that there are things about humanity that never change? Did you know there are things about you and those who surround you that will always be the same?

This curriculum is called “The People of God” and seeks to trace eight things that have always been true about God’s family. From the Old Testament to the New and to today, God has shaped and fashioned his people in a particular way for a particular purpose. He’s the Designer! In his design of his people, we see some things that will not and cannot change. In fact, it is precisely when God’s people lose these unchanging things that we are going to study that they get into major trouble. 

Your local church is an expression of a worldwide movement often called “the capital C Church.” This worldwide movement of Jesus followers can also be called, “The People of God.” Those who claim the True and Living God as their Lord are those who are “called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). What “purpose” are we called to? And what must always be true of us no matter what changes? Join us for eight weeks as we study all of the things that will always be true about “The People of God.”

Week 1 – Identity: We Are Image Bearers

Watch: The Bible Project, “Image of God”

Read:

• Genesis 1:26-28
• Genesis 2:5-9. 18-25
• 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

Discuss:

1. After watching the video and reading the Scriptures, how would you define “the image of God?”

2. Consider that Genesis 1 is a “zoomed out,” wider view of creation and Genesis 2 is a more “close up,” intimate story of creation—what do each of these passages teach us about who we are as human beings?

3. What is the significance of the “image of God” doctrine when we think about people who go to our church? What’s the significance of this doctrine for those who are not Christians or do not go to our church? 

4. What current issues either in culture at large or in your personal life could benefit from a reminder of “the image of God” in all of us? Why?

5. In the passage listed above from 2 Corinthians 5, Paul calls us “ambassadors” (NIV and ESV translations) for Christ. How does that word inform your understanding of “image bearer?”

6. What does being an “image bearer” look like in your day this week? How can you reflect the glory of God right now?

Week 2 – Belonging: We Are Family

Read: Excerpts

“Spiritual formation occurs primarily in the context of community. People who remain connected…in the local church almost invariably grow in self-understanding, and they mature in their ability to relate in healthy ways to God and to their fellow human beings…Long-term interpersonal relationships are the crucible of genuine progress in the Christian life. People who stay also grow. People who leave do not grow…God’s intention…is not to become the feel-good Father of a myriad of isolated individuals who appropriate the Christian faith as yet another avenue toward personal enlightenment.”

Joseph H. Hellerman, When the Church Was a Family

“Let him who cannot be alone beware of community. Let him who is not in community beware of being alone. Each by itself has profound perils and pitfalls. One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and the one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation and despair.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

Read: Scripture

• Genesis 12:1-4
• Isaiah 2:2-4
• Matthew 12:46-50
• Matthew 28:16-20
• Acts 1:6-8

Discuss:

1. According to Genesis 12:1-4, what is the purpose of Abraham’s future family and offspring?

2. Reading the passages above, what is God’s heart for “all nations?” 
3. Why is our collective belonging to God important in today’s context? 

4. The predominant metaphor for the early church was that of a “family,” with early followers of Jesus addressing one another as “brother” or “sister” predominantly. How has the familial aspect of faith informed your walk with Jesus?

5. How does the truth that we are family in Christ both help you and challenge you in current Christian relationships? 

Week 3 – Mission: We Are Ambassadors

Watch: The Bible Project, “The New Humanity” 

Read: Scripture

• Ezekiel 36:26-27, 31-32
• Joel 2:28-29
• Luke 24:44-49
• 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:3

Discuss:

1. After watching the video and reading those passages of Scripture, what is the “mission” we are on as followers of Jesus? And how does this mission move forward?

2. In reading these passages, why do you think the Holy Spirit is mentioned as such an essential part of this mission we’re on with God?

3. Why is it important that this mission is unchanging?

4. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says that God is “making his appeal through us.” Does this embolden you or scare you? Why?

5. Who has been an “ambassador” of Jesus for you? How did their life and witness shape your understanding of your own mission? 

Week 4 – Care: We Are Priests

Read: Excerpts 

“We cannot really begin to know the truth of ourselves until we discover we have difficulties. Community is the place where we discover our own fragilities, wounds and inability to love, where our limitations, our fears, and our egoism are revealed to us. We cannot get away from the negative in ourselves. We have to face it. So community life brings a painful revelation of our limitations, weaknesses, and darkness, and the unexpected discovery of the monsters within us.” 

Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel, The Way of the Dragon and the Way of the Lion

“A priest is someone who represents God to His people and then, the people to their God. The priest is the one in between. The priest comes from the presence of God and tells the people what he has seen and heard. The priest then returns to the presence of God and tells God what the people are going through.”

Mike Glenn

Read: Scripture

• Exodus 19:3-6
• Isaiah 61:5-7
• 1 Peter 2:1-12

Discuss:

1. What are some of the similarities in all of the previous Scripture passages?

2. From the reading above, and considering any previous Biblical knowledge you have, what does it mean that we are called “priests” as the people of God?

3. In Christian history, there is a phrase, “the priesthood of all believers,” which is basically what we’re studying in this session. What this means is that all people can serve in the power of the Holy Spirit—there are no “professional Christians.” How have you experienced “the priesthood of all believers” either at Awakening or at a previous church you’ve been a part of?

4. If all of us are to be viewed as “priests,” what does that change about your small group or your role at Awakening? What should be true of our lives if we are “priests?”

5. What role does vulnerability and weakness play in our role as “priests?” Why is humility important to think about when considering how we are priests?

6. What is one way you can take a step forward in being a priest this week?

Week 5 – Repentance: We Are Worshippers

Watch: The Bible Project, “Sacrifice and Atonement” 

Read: Scripture

• Romans 12:1-5
• Isaiah 66:1-2
• Psalm 51:15-17

Discuss:

1. Why is “worship” so often equated with “sacrifice?”

2. From the passages you read above, what is “worship?”

3. Worship is often equated with singing. What ways does this potentially limit both the idea of “worship” and the idea of singing praises to God? 

4. In Romans 12, Paul says our “spiritual worship” is to “offer” our bodies as “living sacrifices.” Then, starting in verse 3, he outlines the importance of serving in our gifts. What is the connection between verses 1-2 and verses 3-6? What does worship have to do with serving with our gifts?

5. With this new understanding in mind, how will you plan to worship this week?

Week 6 – Leadership: We Are Servants

Read: Excerpts 

“True greatness, true leadership, is found in giving yourself in service to others, not in coaxing or inducing others to serve you. True service is never without cost…the real spiritual leader is focused on the service he and she can render to God and other people, not on the residuals and perks of high office or holy title. We must aim to put more into life than we take out.” 

J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership

“Christian leaders cannot simply be persons who have well-informed opinions about burning issues of our time. Their leadership must be rooted in the permanent, intimate relationship with the incarnate Word, Jesus, and they need to find there the source for their words, advice, and guidance.”

Henri Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus 

Read: Scripture

• Mark 10:35-45
• Philippians 2:1-11
• Matthew 18:1-6

Discuss:

1. Have you heard the term “servant leadership?” After reading these passages, how would you define that term?

2. Who has been a leader in your life who has modeled servant leadership to you? How did they do that and what did their example teach you?

3. These truths about leadership in the passages above certainly are true in the church, but they’re also true for the people of God wherever they go. How do you demonstrate servant leadership outside of the church or how have you seen it done well beyond ministry contexts?

4. Pulling the term apart a bit, where do you see God desiring to grow you more in—more towards the “leadership” side or more towards the “servant” part? Put another way, do you need to step out in leadership more or take a bigger step in humility towards servant-heartedness? 

5. What is one thing you can do this week that contributes to your growth as a servant leader?

Week 7 – Generosity: We Are Givers

Read: Excerpts 

“Ownership of land and resources does not entail an absolute right of disposal, but rather responsibility for administration and distribution…We are as responsible to God for what we do with what we proceed, as we are for what God has given us…[We have] a mutual responsibility for the good of the whole human community…which cuts across the idea that ‘what’s mine is mine.’”

Christopher J.H. Wright 

“Higher income ought to adjust the Christian’s standard of giving, not their standard of living.”

Randy Alcorn

Read: Scripture

• Proverbs 14:21 + 31
• Luke 12:13-21
• 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Discuss:

1. When have you experienced a profound moment of generosity? Who has been generous to you and how has it affected your life?

2. In what ways is our financial life connected to our spiritual life? Why does God care about what we do with what we have?

3. In the Proverbs listed above, there are just two examples of many where God commands generosity to the poor. Why is it important for us to remember the poor as Christians? 

4. What, do you think, is the main meaning or “point” of Jesus’ parable listed above in Luke 12?

5. What is the reason, according to Paul, for generosity? What is our generosity to be rooted in?

6. As Americans especially, money can be a touchy subject and a difficult aspect of Christian life. How have you worked to grow in generosity through your life? What practices have you begun? What practices do you feel you might need to begin?

Week 8 – Teaching: We Are Learners

Read: Excerpts 

“Too often the Christian faith is not considered seriously, merely looked upon as one of a number of truth claims and not seen as built on any verifiable truth. Faith and superstition look like partners. However the opposite is true. The Bible itself stresses the importance of revealed rational process.”

Paul E. Little, Know Why You Believe

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it, I see everything else.”

C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Read: Scripture

• Deuteronomy 6:1-9
• Psalm 119:65-68
• Matthew 5:19
• 1 Timothy 4:6-16

Discuss:

1. How has learning about God fueled your love for him? What relationship does learning have with love?

2. Who has been a teacher of God’s ways to you in your life? What made them effective and most helpful?

3. The passages above show the people of God’s passion for knowing God, but also obeying what they know. How have you experienced or witnessed the danger of separating our obedience of God’s commands  from our knowledge of God’s commands?

4. Many of the passages above suggest that we will not only learn things about God, but teach those things to others. How have you practiced teaching the ways of God to others? How can you grow as a “teacher” of God’s word?

5. What is one step you can take to grow as a learner of God and his word? What is one step you can take to grow as a teacher of God and his word?