Made In Our Image
Introduction to Made in Our Image
Dear Ladies of Valley,
My calendar for this month has the following quote on it: “Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower”. Now, some of you might argue with me on the merits of that little quote as, indeed, the colorful leaves are an indication that they are dying…but we can take that “argument” up at church.
None the less, the quote did get me thinking about spring, when things are new, fresh, and growing…and when I think of Ladies Bible Study, I have similar thoughts! It’s a new year of study where we are able to take a fresh look at our never-changing, ever-faithful God and, as we gaze deeply into His Word we find ourselves growing up “into Him who is the Head”. So, for me, the start of Bible study is like a second spring….and I can’t wait to share together and grow alongside each other again this year through our study!
In this study, we will be reading “Made in Our Image” by Steve Lawson. The heartbeat of the book is the attributes of God and I am so excited to study along with you. I love books that highlight the character of God! As I read, I truly find myself standing in awe of our great God and find myself falling deeper in love with Him. In a world that says there is no God and in a church-age that seems to often minimize the holiness and awesomeness of God and instead, exalt man….we need to be constantly reminded about who God really is as He has revealed Himself in His Word.
We will begin chapter 1 on October 10th. Each time we meet, in addition to going over the questions we answered from our chapter in the book, we are also going to be watching a short (23 minute) lecture by Steve Lawson on the attribute we are reading about. They are fantastic and I can’t wait to watch them again myself.
If you happen to miss a week, at some point, there are a couple of ways you could watch the lecture, even if you don’t have the DVD. Of course, PLEASE don’t feel pressure to do so…I just had a few ladies ask this morning so I thought I would share it with you all.
If you go to http://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/attributes-god/ , you will have several options. You can purchase all the lectures for download to your computer or you can purchase each lecture individually to download. You can also purchase a subscription to all the lectures available at Ligonier and spend many hours growing and learning
Looking forward to “springing into” a new year of study with you all…for the glory of God and the good of our souls!
With love in Christ,
Kristin
Chapters & Links
Chapter 1 – Encountering the Almighty
– Introduction to the Attributes of God by Steve Lawson*:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/attributes-god/introduction-attributes-of-god/?
It is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself.” John Calvin
“Who will you compare Me or make Me equal to? Who will you measure Me with so that we should be like each other?” Isaiah 46:5
Chapter 2 – Spray Painting the Masterpiece
– The Truthfulness of God by Steve Lawson*:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/attributes-god/the-truthfulness-of-god/?
Truth holds together. Therefore, there is no phase of truth that is not related to every other phase of truth. All things that are true are part of the truth and stand in a proper and inescapable relationship to God, who is himself the truth.” James Montgomery Voice
“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.” John 14:6
Chapter 3 – Reducing the Irreducible
– The Aseity of God by Steve Lawson*:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/attributes-god/aseity-of-god/?
God was under no constraint, no obligation, no necessity to create. That he chose to do so was purely a sovereign act on His part caused by nothing outside of Himself, determined by nothing but His own mere good pleasure.” – A.W.Pink
“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36
Chapter 4 – So, Who Really Is God?
– The Spirituality of God by Steve Lawson*:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/attributes-god/spirituality-of-god/?
“God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth” – Westminster Shorter Catechism
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24
Chapter 5 – Wholly, Wholly, Holy!
– The Holiness of God by Steve Lawson*:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/attributes-god/the-holiness-of-god/?
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/the-hole-in-our-holiness/
“Infinite purity, even more than infinite knowledge or infinite power, is the object of reverence…”The Holy One of Israel” is He who is to be feared and adored.” Charles Hodge
“Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?” Exodus 15:11
Chapter 6 – He Is the King
– The Sovereignty of God by Steve Lawson*:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/attributes-god/the-sovereignty-of-god/?
“He is King of kings and Lord of lords, ruling over all earthly rulers, governing all governors, dictating to all dictators, leading all leaders.” Steven Lawson
“But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.” Psalm 115:3
Chapter 7 – The Black Velvet Backdrop
– The Wrath of God by Steven Lawson
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/attributes-god/wrath-of-god/?
“God’s wrath is His righteousness reacting against unrighteousness.” J. I. Packer
“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness…” Romans 11:22a
Chapter 8 – The Most Profound Truth Ever Known
-The Love of God by Steven Lawson
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/attributes-god/love-of-god/?
“God’s love is the most awesome thing about Him. It is not His justice, nor His majesty, nor even His blazing holiness, but the fact that He has made and keeps a covenant of personal commitment and love to His people.” Sinclair B. Ferguson
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” John 3:1a
Chapter 9 – Pursued by His Mercy
-The Goodness of God by Steven Lawson
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/attributes-god/goodness-of-god/
“The goodness of God…is the loveliness, benign character, sweetness, friendliness, kindness, and generosity of God. Goodness is the very essence of God’s Being, even if there were no creatures to whom this could be manifested.” Wilhelmus å Brakel
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
Psalm 23:6
Chapter 10 – Only God is Great!
-The Greatness of God by Steven Lawson
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/attributes-/the-omnipotence-of-god/
“Glorifying God is to be the consuming purpose that dictates and dominates the whole of who we are.” Steve Lawson
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
Chapter 11- The Greatest Glory
–The Glory of God by Steven Lawson
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/attributes-god/grace-of-god/
“For in the cross of Christ, as in a splendid theater, the incomparable goodness of God is set before the whole world. The glory of God shines, indeed, in all creatures on high and below, but never more brightly than in the Cross.” John Calvin
“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14
Chapter 12 – Up Close and Personal
–The Omniscience of God by Steven Lawson
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/attributes-god/the-omniscience-of-god/
“It has been said that money can buy a bed, but not sleep; acquire books, but not wisdom; purchase a house, but not a home; obtain medicine, but not health; gain entertainment, but not contentment; secure a piece of rock, but not peace of mind.”
Steve Lawson
“Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Chapter 13 – Whatever Happened to the Fear of God?
– The Fear of God by Steven Lawson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlHSbiSYJ90
“Those who fear God can lie down at night and sleep peacefully because they trust Him with their problems. Instead of being consumed with anxiety, God-fearing people are consumed with God.” Steve Lawson
Chapter 14 – High and Lifted Up
-A High View of God by Steven Lawson
“We must never rest till everything inside us worships God.” AW Tozer
“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” Isaiah 6:1
* Study guide to go with the messages can be downloaded here for free:
http://www.ligonier.org/blog/attributes-god-new-teaching-series-steven-lawson/