God is Both Transcendent and Immanent

Big Idea: God is so far above us (transcendent) that we could never reach Him, but He came down to us (immanent) in Jesus.

Scripture to Read:

• Philippians 2:5-11 - Jesus emptied Himself and became human

• Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts

• Psalm 139:7-12 - God is everywhere present

Reflect:

• If God hadn't revealed Himself, would we be able to figure Him out on our own?

• What does it mean that Jesus "did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped"?

• How does God's transcendence make you feel? His immanence?

Action: Thank God for taking the initiative to reveal Himself to you. Without Him turning on the light, you'd be completely in the dark about who He is.

General Revelation: God's Clues in Creation

Big Idea: God has left fingerprints of Himself in nature, history, and human conscience so that everyone can know He exists.

Through Nature (Cosmological & Teleological)

Scripture to Read:

• Psalm 19:1-4 - The heavens declare God's glory

• Romans 1:19-20 - God's invisible attributes are clearly seen in creation

Reflect:

• When you look at creation, what does it tell you about God?

• Everything has a cause (cosmological). Everything has a purpose (teleological). What caused the universe? What's its purpose?

Through Human Conscience (Anthropological)

Scripture to Read:

• Romans 2:14-15 - The law is written on human hearts

Reflect:

• Why do all cultures have a sense of right and wrong, even if they differ on details?

• If there's no God, how can "good" and "evil" objectively exist?

• What does your conscience tell you about God's existence?

Through History

Scripture to Read:

• Deuteronomy 7:6-8 - God chose Israel as His people

Reflect:

• How has God preserved the nation of Israel against all odds?

• What does history reveal about God's purposes and plans?

Action: Go outside this week. Look at the sky, trees, mountains, or ocean. Ask: "What does this tell me about the Creator?" Write down 3-5 attributes of God you see reflected in nature.

Special Revelation: God Speaks Directly

Big Idea: General revelation shows us God exists, but special revelation shows us WHO He is and how to be saved.

Scripture to Read:

• Hebrews 1:1-3 - God spoke through prophets, but finally through His Son

• John 1:14, 18 - Jesus made God known

• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is God-breathed

Reflect:

• Why isn't general revelation (nature) enough? What does it lack?

• How is knowing ABOUT God different from KNOWING God personally?

Three Characteristics of Special Revelation:

1. PERSONAL - God reveals Himself to persons, not just facts

• He revealed His name to Moses (Exodus 3)

• He made personal covenants with Noah, Abraham, David

• He calls us friends, not servants (John 15:12-15)

2. ANTHROPIC - God speaks in human language and categories

• The parables speak in ways people understood

• When Jesus said the mustard seed is "the smallest seed," He was speaking in their context, not giving a botany lesson

• God meets us where we are

3. ANALOGICAL - God uses human concepts to help us understand divine truth

• When we say "God loves," we understand it through our experience of love

• God's love is infinitely greater than ours, but we grasp it through analogy

Action: Read John 15:1-17. Circle every time Jesus uses relational language (abide, friends, love, choose). How does Jesus describe His relationship with you?

How God Revealed Himself

1. Through History

Example: Parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14)

Reflect: When have you seen God act in your life or someone else's in an unmistakable way?

2. Through Divine Speech

Example: The prophets saying "Thus says the LORD"

Reflect: How does God speak to you today through Scripture?

3. Through Jesus (The Ultimate Revelation)

Scripture to Read:

• John 14:9 - "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father"

• John 1:1, 14 - The Word became flesh

• Colossians 1:15 - Jesus is the image of the invisible God

Reflect:

• Why is Jesus the ultimate revelation of God?

• What does Jesus reveal about God's character that you couldn't learn from nature alone?

Action: Read one Gospel chapter this week. As you read, ask: "What does this show me about who God is?"

Scripture: God's Written Revelation

Big Idea: The Bible is divinely inspired—God superintended the writers so their words accurately record His revelation.

Scripture to Read:

• 2 Peter 1:20-21 - Prophecy never came by human will

• Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet

• John 17:17 - Your word is truth

Reflect:

• Do you treat the Bible as God's actual words to you?

• How much time do you spend reading Scripture vs. scrolling social media?

• What keeps you from reading the Bible more consistently?

Action:

Today:

• Read Psalm 19 slowly. Notice how it moves from general revelation (vv. 1-6) to special revelation (vv. 7-14)

This Week:

• Read one chapter of a Gospel each day

• Ask: What does this teach me about God? About myself? About how I should live?

This Month:

• Memorize one verse about Scripture (try Psalm 119:105 or 2 Timothy 3:16)

• Start a simple Bible reading plan—even 10 minutes a day makes a difference

Putting It Together

General Revelation tells us:

• God exists

• He is powerful, creative, orderly

• He is moral (we have conscience)

• We are accountable to Him

Special Revelation tells us:

• Who God is (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

• What God has done (creation, redemption, salvation)

• How we can know Him personally (through Jesus)

• How we should live (His commands and promises)

Without Jesus, we'd know God exists but not know Him personally. Without Scripture, we'd have no clear guide for life and faith.

Final Reflection

Big Question: How will you respond to God's revelation?

God didn't have to reveal Himself. He could have stayed hidden. But He chose to make Himself known—in creation, in history, in conscience, and ultimately in Jesus Christ. The Bible is His love letter to you, His sacred announcement of His plan to redeem you.

Final Action: Write a prayer thanking God for revealing Himself to you. Ask Him to help you see Him more clearly through His Word this week.