WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS
The Immutability of God
Knowing God – Unit 3
Complete
Prepare for your upcoming service project
Leader Resources
Exercises
- Review the memory verse of the week.
Suggested Discussion
- TRUTH – Entertain any questions your JG may have about the in Bible passages. Especially address questions about whether God changes His mind. Help your JG understand how to apply the passages to their own lives using “I will (with God’s help) …” statements. Here are some tips for discussion:
- Exodus 3:1-15 – God’s name, “I AM”, implies a simple existence that does not evolve with time. Time does not affect God. The phrase, “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”, implies that God is the same God for Moses and Israel as He was for the patriarchs. He was present with Israel fulfilling His unchanging promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
- Numbers 23:1-20 – God’s decisions are right and final the first time. No amount of human manipulation can change this fact.
- Psalm 33:1-12 – Not only do God’s plans not change, but He is total authority to make human plans change and fail. This passage adds to the teaching of God’s immutability in that it shows that God’s plans alone do not change or fail.
- Job 23:1-15 – Job seems certain about God’s unchanging nature and plans, and understands that whatever God is doing, he cannot stop it (v 13). But he doesn’t see the point of his suffering. He doesn’t perceive God’s hand at work in his life (vv 8-9). Job doesn’t know what God knows. He wants to trust God (v 10), but he is struggling. He doesn’t seem to have a full understanding of God’s loving kindness toward him. We see this by reading Job’s story, and we can be comforted in our own trials that God’s unchanging plans for us are motivated by His love. Therefore, our trials will always produce eternal glory and blessing in our lives.
- Hebrews 6:13-19 – God’s truthfulness (He does not lie), and His promise should be enough to convince us that He will not change His good purposes for us.
- Genesis 6:5-7; 1 Sam 15:22-35; Exodus 32:7-14 – These passages do not contradict the teaching of God’s immutability. These, and others like them, should be interpreted as using figurative speech to communicate God’s sorrow over sin and the inevitable judgment that follows. Exodus 32 is challenging because it seems like God is willing to renege on His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, in light of the clear teaching of God unchanging purposes and will, it seems best to interpret this passage as a test of Moses’ leadership and a demonstration to Moses of God’s anger at sin.
- TRUTH – Make sure your JG understands the definition of immutability: God is unchanging in His person, purposes and promises; and yet He feels emotions and interacts responsively with His creation. There are no unforeseen events for God, and nothing beyond His control. So, He need never adjust His plans to react to circumstances beyond His control. The unchanging nature of God and His promises brings comfort to His people. He is stable, solid and dependable. We have assurance that He can, and will, accomplish all His good will toward us.
- EQUIPPING – Discuss the 1st and 3rd equipping questions. Emphasize that the immutability of God’s promises is a solid reason to put our hope in them.
- ACCOUNTABILITY – allow time for smaller groups of 2 or 3 to ask accountability questions and pray for one another.
- MISSION – Continue planning and discussing your upcoming mission service project. It is vital that you emphasize the purpose of this project as an exercise in developing a missional life. Discuss the gospel as the motivation for living a missional life and how that applies to your service project.
