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Lesson 3: Made For His Glory

0.Main Point

God’s glory is revealed though his people’s worship, his commitment to justice, and ultimately, His Son.

1. Essential Doctrine: The Glory of God

The glory of God is His manifest work, the way He represents His perfect character through His activity. It also refers to His excellent reputation and is given as one of the reasons we are to praise His name. Another sense of the word is the inherent beauty of God, the unbearable brightness and beauty of His being as He radiates His own attributes and characteristics for all to witness. The Scriptures speak of humanity as having “fallen short” of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23) because we have rejected the purpose for which God created us—to glorify Him.

God’s chief manifest work through all his activity (everything he does)

Humans chief mission is to glorify God

5 Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with that glory I had with you before the world existed

4 I have glorified you on the earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

Jn 17:4–5.

2. God’s Glory is Revealed Through Worship

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Psalm 96:1-9 (CSB)

1 Sing a new song to the Lord;

let the whole earth sing to the Lord.

2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

proclaim his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his glory among the nations,

his wondrous works among all peoples.

4 For the Lord is great and is highly praised;

he is feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

6 Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;

bring an offering and come into his courts.

9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;

let the whole earth tremble before him.

WHAT DOES THE PSALMIST COMMAND US TO SING AND DECLARE?

Sing of God’s Glory

God’s glory is distinct and unique from the idols

WHAT IS GOD LIKE AND WHAT HAS HE DONE TO DESERVE THIS KIND OF PRAISE?

God and his glory is indescribable, meaning although we can know God, we can’t fully express with words all that he is. The psalmist is commanding us to sing about God’s glory for this reason

What hasn’t he done to deserve praise?

3. God’s Glory is Revealed Through Judgment

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Psalm 96:10-13

Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns.”

The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;

he will judge the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;

let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,

he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness

and the peoples in his faithfulness.

WHAT, ACCORDING TO THE PSALMIST, KEEPS THE WORLD TOGETHER, AND WHO IS IN CHARGE OF IT?

God keeps it together, he is sovereign over every detail

29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent.

30 But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.

Mt 10:29–30.

WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD “JUDGE”? WHY DO YOU THINK THE PSALMIST LOOKS FORWARD TO GOD COMING TO JUDGE THE WORLD?

God is perfectly fair and just. We don’t like the word judge because we often exercise and receive judgement unfairly from other humans. God is always fair with his judgement

The Psalmist looked forward for God to bring judgement so that he could make things right

How would you feel if a serial killer who committed 15 home invasions was finally caught, and served the death penalty? Would you be sad or happy?

4. God’s Glory is Revealed Through His Son

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2 Corinthians 4:1-6 CSB

Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth. But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.

WHAT HAS GOD DONE TO SHOW US HOW GREAT AND GLORIOUS HE IS? WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH OUR KNOWLEDGE OF HOW GLORIOUS JESUS IS?

If we know the glory of Jesus, and embrace him as Lord, he is our priority now, not ourselves

When we prioritize Jesus, we’re able to commit ourselves to living and spreading the truth, even if it means putting ourselves in hard situations.

5. Christ Connection

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HOW HAS GOD REVEALED HIS GLORY TO US? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO REMIND OURSELVES REGULARLY OF GOD’S GLORY?

God’s glory is revealed in everything He has created (Ps. 19:1). There are countless reminders all around us of God’s power and authority (Rom. 1:20). God reveals Himself to us even more clearly and precisely through His Word (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 1:1-4). The story of the Bible is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus (Matt. 5:17). In other words, the Bible is a tremendous tool for growing in our understanding of God’s glory and our love for Him (see Ps. 119:9-16).

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON DISTRACTIONS IN OUR LIVES THAT KEEP US FROM CELEBRATING HOW GLORIOUS OUR GOD IS? HOW CAN WE OVERCOME THESE DISTRACTIONS?

We all have a tendency to become wrapped up in our own little worlds, and if we are not careful, social media can make things even worse. Remember what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:1-6: the gospel has the power to open our eyes to how great and glorious God is. It also invites us to a new, meaningful ministry of sharing the mercy of Jesus with others.

In other words, the gospel invites us to a new life, free from the disappointment of constantly worrying about our own reputation or popularity. The gospel tells us that we are eternally loved by a good and glorious God and invites us to embrace an incredibly meaningful and important life purpose—living for and spreading His glory to the people around us.

WHAT IS ONE STEP YOU CAN TAKE THIS WEEK TO TAKE YOUR FOCUS OFF YOUR OWN DESIRES AND NEEDS AND FOCUS ON GOD’S GREATNESS INSTEAD?

The step your students take could be as simple as setting aside a few minutes each week to read the Bible and pray. Or perhaps their step could be to set up a group text message with some other students in their group to check in on how they are doing in overcoming whatever distractions are keeping them from seeking God.

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