This Life Group season runs from February 8-March 21, 2025.
- God is holy, God is love. These two characteristics sum up God’s goodness. There are some included scriptures below, take some time to read these passages together. What passage catches your attention most and why?
- Where do you see God’s holiness in these verses? Where do you see God’s love?
- The Old Testament is written primarily written in Hebrew. There is a strong Hebrew word that is often used concerning God’s love: chesed. The meaning of this word is: God’s loyal love; unfailing love; loving-kindness. Look at the key passage from this week’s sermon again, Lamentations 3:22-24. How have you experienced God’s compassion?
- How have you experienced God’s faithfulness?
- In what why can someone make God their portion?
- Finally, take a look at the promises of 1 John 4:7-12. How does our interaction with other believers help us understand and experience God’s chesed love?
Scriptures to Ponder
All Scriptures NIV 2011. Feel free to use other translations as well.
Lamentations 3:39–40. 39 Why should the living complain when punished for their sins? 40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
Psalm 103:11. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
Psalm 78:38. Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.
Psalm 130:7. Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
Psalm 119:57. You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey your words.
Psalm 116:1–2. 1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
Psalm 46:1. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 34:22. The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
Exodus 34:6–7. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
Psalm 86:15. But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Psalm 136. 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. 4 to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. 5 who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. 6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. 7 who made the great lights— His love endures forever. 8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. 9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever. 10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever. 11 and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever. 12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever. 13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever. 14 and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever. 15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever. 16 to him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever. 17 to him who struck down great kings, His love endures forever. 18 and killed mighty kings— His love endures forever. 19 Sihon king of the Amorites His love endures forever. 20 and Og king of Bashan— His love endures forever. 21 and gave their land as an inheritance, His love endures forever. 22 an inheritance to his servant Israel. His love endures forever. 23 He remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever. 24 and freed us from our enemies. His love endures forever. 25 He gives food to every creature. His love endures forever. 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
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