1. Renew: Week 5
Seek the Presence of God
Exodus 33:7-11
Over the past 4 weeks we have examined four beliefs that have the power to change the trajectory of our
entire life, and get us back on track so that we are living the renewed life of God.We’ve established some core
beliefs: Commit to Pursue God, Invest in Biblical Community, Live with Courageous Faith, and Serve with
Extravagant Generosity. This week we learn about the how we can seek the presence of God. Let’s discuss
some practical steps on how to make seeking God’s presence a reality in our own lives.
***Life Group Leaders: Please prayerfully prepare for this week’s meeting. We are asking you to model
meditating on God’s Word (question #5) as a way to seek God and some of your members may have never
tried. We are asking that you leave time for people to meditate on God’s Word and then share what God is
speaking to them about. As you talk through it, explain that it may feel awkward at first. That is ok. It may be
distracting if you have kids in the house. That is ok. It may seem overly ‘religious’ or ‘liturgical’ at first. That is
ok. God will bring fruit from the experience and it will feel more comfortable as people practice it more often.
1. Read Exodus 33:7-11. Drawing near to God and seeking his presence is not about geographically changing
our location or having more knowledge of God. It is about developing an intimate relationship with a God
who is personal and desires intimacy with us. The people of Moses’ day had awe-filled reverence for
God’s presence, but only Moses and Joshua were actually seeking God’s presence. Why is it easier in
life to be awed by God from a distance and but not really seek His presence?
2. What choices have you made in life that have brought you closer to God? What choices have you made that
have distanced you from God and his purposes?
3. Read Psalm 46:10. One of the best ways to pursue God is in stillness. Why is it so hard for us to be still,
to be quiet, and to be un-busy in life in order to know God?What happens if we are not still?
4. We also seek God’s presence through prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says that we should “pray without
ceasing.” How can we practically do that throughout our day?What are some specific things we can do
to help overcome the challenges we face about praying and choose to pray on a regular basis?
5. Read Psalm 119:15-16 and John 14:23–24. Here we see another means in which Christ-followers can
intimately seekGod’s presence isthrough meditating on God’s Word. Why arereading, listening, and
obeying God’s Word so important for our intimacy with God? What are the dangers of failing to read
God’s Word?
6. Even though most Christ-followers believe the Bible is extremely important, very few ever read it daily.
If your growth in godliness and intimacy with God were measured by the quality of your Bible intake,
how intimate would you say you are with God right now? Why do you think most Christ followers do
not spend quality time reading the Word of God on a daily basis?
7. Meditating on God’s Word is not the ‘Eastern’ meditation of pop culture where people attempt to
‘empty’ themselves and reach a ‘peaceful nothingness’. Godly meditation is a concentrated, focused
pursuit to study Scripture and ask the Spirit to applyGod’s truth to our lives.We are going to practice
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2. meditating right now as a group. The process is simple: Read-Listen-Think-Pray. Let’s open our Bibles
to Psalm 1 and use this time to meditate on God’s word.
READ:For 3-4 minutes, we are going to be quiet and read Psalms silently, beginning at Psalm 1.
LISTEN: When the Holy Spirit draws out a specific characteristic of WHO God is (Savior,
Provider, Healer, Protector, etc.), stop reading and praise God for that.
THINK: Think about all the ways that God shows Himself to you in that way. How would your
life be different if you allowed that truth to shape your life?
PRAY: Thank God for being who He is to you. Ask the Spirit to make that characteristic even
more evident in your life and allow you to live in that truth.
After a few minutes of meditation, we will all share what characteristic stood out to each of us.
8. Let’s challenge ourselves as a life group: this week commit to practicing each of these ways to seek
God’s presence: Stillness, Prayer, and Meditation on God’s Word. Which one will be the most
challenging for you this week?
Accountability
1. Last week we asked ourselves who in our life we could bless and serve. Were you able to bring
“relief”(2 Corinthians 8:4) to someone this week?
2. In big group time, we committed this week to practicing the three ways of seeking God’s presence in
our life: Stillness, Prayer, and Meditationon God’s Word. What is your biggest struggle in seeking God’s
presence?
3. When will you seek God through these three ways this week?
4. How can we as a group help you to do each of these faithfully for seven days until we meet again?
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