God is Good (TOV: week 1)
TEACHING SUMMARY:
God created everything good because creation reflects its Creator—and God alone is good. Human sin began by doubting God’s goodness. Sin distorted our view of God and one another, bringing suffering and death.
God did not abandon His creation. He revealed Himself to Moses as compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving sin, and administering justice. Israel returned to this revelation as the picture of God’s character.
Jesus Christ is the complete picture of God. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus reveals God’s compassion and grace, provides forgiveness, satisfies justice, and begins restoring what sin has cursed. We cannot achieve goodness through moral effort; we can only receive and reflect the goodness that originates in God.
Only God is good, and goodness originates in Him. As we see and trust God’s goodness revealed in Jesus, we can embody His goodness for the sake of others.
TALK-IT-OVER:
How does your personal definition of good differ from the biblical definition of goodness as seen in Jesus?
In what areas of your life do you find it easiest to doubt the goodness of God?
What would your life look like if you made decisions through the filter of embodying God’s goodness?
What is one next step you need to take today?
Who do you need to tell about what you’ve learned?
FURTHER READING:
Psalm 34:8
Micah 6:8
Genesis 50:20
Matthew 5:1-12
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Romans 12:9-10