Home XP - God Gazing

The idea of GodView is based on one central concept - that what we think about God is the most important thing about us. It affects everything that we do. It shapes our world, each other and whatever life brings. The purpose of this Home XP is to incite wonder in the heart of your 56er. We want them to get a bigger picture of who God is - and maybe mom and dad will to!

The ideal setting for this XP is to find a scenic outdoor location in your community. Sometimes it is easier to see God when we take in his creation. If you are able, find a place with minimal distraction. Or maybe the best place is your backyard!

If you are unable to go outside, be intentional with the environment to do this indoors. Eliminate as many things as possible that could be disturbances. Maybe put some Christan music on in the background.

Now grab a Bible, something to write with and give a printed copy of these questions to each person doing the Home XP: God Gazing. It should take 30-45 minutes.

Write your answers to the following questions. Don't worry, you're the only once who is going to see this. You can share your answers with your parents or 56er after, or you can just keep this conversation between you and God.

What do you think about when you think about God?

What are some words you would use to describe God?

Look up the following verses and write out what they say about God:

Job 37:1-12
Psalm 19:1-6
Psalm 97:1-6

Psalm 103:7-22
Psalm 121

Psalm 71:1-7
Psalm 73:23-26
Romans 8:15-16
Ephesians 2:17-18

Is your view of God different from what the verses say? If so, how and why is it different?

How have you personally experienced God as he is described in the verses you read?

Do any of these verses describe God in a way that you would like to know Him in your own life?

Your almost done. Here are a just a few last things to think about...

Return to the first two questions you asked yourself at the beginning of this God-Gazing time. Has what you thought about God changed at all? Is He bigger than you thought he was?

Take the time to write out the Godview you want to have. What do you need to do to be able to view God in this way? How would your faith be different / stronger if your Godview was accurate?

What can you do to be intentional in your pursuit of knowing God this week?

Close with a short prayer asking God to show you how big He is. Now go find the rest of your family that is doing the Home XP: God Gazing and tell them something you just learned.

Now enter a comment below to let Pastor Mike know what you thought of God-Gazing. It may even earn your team some points!

GOD VIEW - Oct 24 - Nov 14

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT:
Here is an overview of what we’re talking about. Listed below the summary is a “parent cue” to help you dialog with your child about the session. The question is intended not just to be asked by you, but to be responded to by BOTH of you. Use this opportunity to find out what God is teaching your 56er, and allow your 56er to see what God is teaching you as well.

GodView:
Series Overview
What comes to mind when you think about God? Who do you believe God is? How do you believe God interacts with you personally and with your world? These are questions we are going to be addressing over the next three weeks. You see, every one of us has a Godview whether we think about it or not. For many of us, it’s just a vague impression formed when we were younger. For some, it’s an image of Someone against whom we have a strong resistance. For others, God is personal and mysterious, offering an adventure to anyone ready to pursue a relationship with Him. While we can never really know everything about God—because He’s that big and that mysterious—the things we can learn about Him shape the way we respond to whatever life brings. That’s why author A.W. Tozer said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

Session One (October 24)
No matter who we are, we all have a Godview. And the way we think about God affects how we interact with our world. Many people struggle because they have a negative or distorted view of God. This first week, we will take a look at the life of one of Jesus’ closest followers who struggled for the very same reason. In the end, we want to challenge 56erss to begin to see how their view of God shapes the way they live.

Session One Parent Cue: Both of you grab a piece of paper, and take three minutes to write down all the things that come to mind when you hear the word “God.” Both of you be honest, and don’t just write the words that you think you should. There’s no grade for this.

Peter D gets Mummified

Natalie T gets Mummified

Marcine W gets Mummified!

Keven E gets Mummified!!

John C gets mummifeid at 56er Parent Lunch

10-10-10 in 56ers

Session Three (10-10-10 – [Oct 10])
You’ve heard the words before--“love your neighbor as yourself”--but most of the time we don’t really hear the second half of that. We don’t love ourselves. Perhaps it’s because it just seems wrong. After all, as followers of Christ, we are supposed to become less as He becomes more. But for some of us, somewhere along the way we’ve confused humility with self-hatred. God wants us to be in rhythm with ourselves because when we aren’t, it throws off the rest of the song.

Session Three Parent Cue: This week students will explore the things that create tension in their own self-perception and learn the ugly truth: Being in rhythm with ourselves and being in rhythm with God go hand in hand. How we view God our Creator affects how we view His creation, ourselves. They will consider the masks they wear and the faults they try to cover up, and they'll receive a challenge to begin to shed those masks and be at peace with who they really are.

This Week with your 56er: Talk openly and candidly with your 56er this week about the things both of you have a hard time accepting when it comes to the faults you see in yourself. How can you better accept yourselves as you are?