Session 5! Thank you for joining us again! This week we looked at our own folly in light of who God is—we hope this both encouraged and challenged your thinking. For us, being reminded of God’s attributes always brings us to a place of worship. We hope this week did the same for you. We can’t wait to hear about it!
If you have any questions about how this study works, we’ve answered most of them here.
Catching up? That’s okay! We’ll leave the videos up until August 15, 2017. After that time you can purchase the video sessions here.
Questions to answer in your group or in the comments:
- How would you describe “folly”?
- Which attribute of God surprised you the most? Which implication means the most to you? Why? (page 116)
- How do you dive into God’s Word in order to know Him more? Do you have a plan that works for you? Share it with us!
This week, complete Week Five: Storm (pages 128-155) in your Bible study book. May we all come to know God even more through our study this week!
1. I would describe folly as not following God’s wisdom but rather following Earthly wisdom. Folly can be a costly undertaking in many ways.
2. The attribute of God that surprised me most was independence. i had never reflected on that as an attribute of God. He most certainly is independent. God is free of all control from others.
3. I dive into God’s word through my daily quiet times and through Bible studies. I also carefully take notes from my Pastor’s message on Sundays and look up all references to gain deeper understanding.
I so enjoyed folly. It was the one I was looking forward to because I feel like I have spent most of my like in and out of folly. I loved what Lauren said on page 102, folly is eat drink & be merry. As in live for now. While I was not a big eat, drink & be merry, I did live for now a lot. I look back now at all the wasted time away from God when I could have been walking with Him instead of telling Him tomorrow. What a folly girl.
I loved the attributes of God. It was great to go over them again. I did a study on God’s attributes in December. I love them all, most that God is Holy. Isaiah 6 is one of my favorites in the Bible.
I have been going to church since I was born. As an adult, in & out of church. One thing I always wanted to do was read the entire Bible, last year I did that with some online help. Even though I went through the worst storm ever & I so wanted to share my goal…… anyway, I am doing it again this year with the same group online.
Then I teach Ladies Bible study at my church. I normally have 2 or 3 studies I am working on. I can’t get enough. I want to know about God. I love it when it says, “hey, let keep walking on in this chapter” and then He shows me a jewel. I just want more. Bible study excites me. The ladies at my church get a kick out of me once I get started. Hahaha.
I would describe folly as any wasted effort to find hope, help, wisdom or meaning in anything or anyone other than God. Spent many years living in folly and have the emotional scars to prove it; but praise God for His steadfast love and firm pursuit of me!
God’s attributes only surprise me in the way in which He reveals them to me. The moment He spoke to a friend to have him leave work early, go home by a different route so that he could be there to pick up my rebellious son on the side of the road. As a parent, I’ve run into God’s omniscience more than any of His other attributes, except His love, which is why it is one of my favorites. He’s demonstrated so many times how He knew the storm that was coming and put all the pieces in place long before my kids ever tried the foolish things they did. He also demonstrated with me in my salvation how He knew what it would take to place me in the pastor’s living room (his wife was there too!) so that I could be assured that “whosoever” meant me and I was able to receive Jesus. I jokingly tell our staff when they ask us to pray about our buses not breaking down during a youth trip that I am unable to do that as God used a broken down bus from a youth trip to place me in the moment where I could be saved!
I am a Bible Study Fellowship student and leader, and am grateful for all the amazing teaching the Lord has allowed me to sit under for so many years through that organization each September through May. When summertime comes, it’s always a challenge to find a personal study that goes deep enough for me. LifeWay studies are really wonderful for my summer withdrawals. Mornings are the best time for me to be with the Lord as my mind is fresh, the day is new and I’m able to soak in His love and His Word better then.
1. I see folly as foolish, wasteful, careless, lack of common sense, stupidity and very costly – because I’ve been there too many times. Praise God, His grace and mercy helped me to see that, and He has been helping me to stay more focused on Him.
2. God’s attributes didn’t surprise me, they are a HUGE comfort for me. I have taken such comfort in Psalm 139 over the years knowing how valuable I am to Him, and more recently Isaiah 55:8-9 seeing how God’s ways and His thoughts are nothing like my thoughts, and His ways are far beyond anything I can imagine.
I have made the mistake of thinking “this is how God will do this or that”. Actually I’ve made several mistakes “putting God in a box”, until He took me on my new “life-changing” journey these past almost 10 years. He “took me to a place” I wouldn’t have ever considered. How God of Him!!
He knows all, sees all and understands all, and THAT gives me comfort because He will also reveal things to me about me that I don’t always see or understand with such love, grace, mercy and gentle discipline. Zephaniah 3:17 tells me that God delights in me with gladness, calms my fears, and sings over me!!
3. I’m taking this on-line bible study that is a completely new experience for me. I’ve done several classes that are based on God’s word, and I’ve attended bible studies, through my church, every year from September through May and sometimes a summer one.
Lack of using good sense
I have been a Christian all my life & I am not surprised by any of GOD’s attributes. The implication means the most to me is that GOD has a steadfast and abiding Love.
I dive into God’s Word by starting my day with Him. My husband and I start the day with a shared Bible Study (we are doing the TrueU by Focus on the Family) plus I receive a few daily devotions emailed. I also share my faith on FaceBook. We haven’t found a local church or we would be involved with Bible Studies at Church.
1. I would describe folly as foolishness or lack of wisdom. Acting in a way contrary to what the Word of God says.
2.God loves me flaws, scars and all. He knows everything about me and I don’t have to make sure I keep the curtain up with him. There are some areas of my past that I keep hidden from everyone and it scares me to think that those areas could be revealed at some point. But when it’s just God and I alone I finally get to breath and let the curtain fall away and be true with God.
3.I always ask for Lifeway gift cards for Christmas. The last week of the year I go and have a list of the bible studies I want to go through the following year. I purchase my bible studies for the year and then on January 1st I begin my year long adventure with God. I typically chose my studies by things going on in my life at the time. I don’t always get too each one I picked out due to time or something new (such as this one) comes out and grabs my attention. I set aside time each day to spend time in the study and with God. I have found that the times I get lazy or let other things distract me from spending that time with God I have an overwhelming feeling that something isn’t right and that something is missing. This has been what works for me for the past 4-5 years.
I am going thru a storm right now. I have just recently experience a miscarriage. I am having trouble. It is something I have prayed for years. God finally answered my prays all to go to the first OB appoint and no heart beat. I don’t know why he would answer my prays all to take it away. I am trying to pray through it and read his word. I know he hears me and see my distress. I guess I just want answers. I am enjoying your videos. I don’t have a book because I was saving all my money for upcoming expeces.
Chastity, I am so sorry to hear that. What heartbreaking news. Praying for you during this time.
Oh Chastity, I am so sorry. I feel your pain. Something’s that happen to us on this fallen earth we will not understand until we get to heaven. Some of the things we want & desire God has better plans for another time. We just do not know the high thoughts of God & His amazing plan. I lost my daughter last year, every day I would love to talk to her, hug her. However, God took her home for a better reason than I know. All I can do is trust Him, praise Him & tell others about how much He loves her & she loves him.
I am sorry you don’t have a book, if I knew that I would of sent you one. You really need a book. Also if you can, find Laura Story, When God Doesn’t Fix It. I did it last year it really helped me in my loss. You can find it sometimes for $5.
I am praying for you my sister whom God loves so very much. Hugs, hugs, hugs
I am sorry for your loss Chastity. The loss of a child is an awful pain. God hears your cries and will comfort you.
My 15 year old daughter went to her eternal home four years ago. She was critically ill for three years. I am just now coming back to functioning.
God has been me through this awful journey and I know and trust that this is part of His plan for good. I have recently received an answer to prayer that has set me in a new direction in life. It is one that I am sure is God sent and God’s will.
God’s wisdom is beyond ours and and we will never fully understand it until we join him and our loved ones in Heaven. I am praying for you for peace and comfort.
I’m praying for you. I know this is hard. We tried for 10 years to get pregnant only to have a miscarriage. I pray God will comfort you only as He can.
Chastity, I am so sorry for your loss. I also lost a baby between my two boys. You just feel so empty. I loved that baby desparately and I lost the baby at 13 weeks. I also lost my youngest son very suddenly 5 years ago when he was 29. I don’t know why those things had to happen but I know God loves me and He loves you, too. Just keep praying, seeking His face and I know from experience that He will always honor that. I am praying for you sister!
I would describe folly as: lack of good sense; foolishness. I’ve been following Jesus for a long time so, surprised is not a word I would use…maybe caught off guard. I’m always a little caught off guard when I study about God’s wrath. Especially when our world (even Christians) focuses on love. We gloss over the fact that there are a good many things that our God has to be angry about! We may receive God’s punishment as a consequence of His anger.
I try and stay engaged with other women through studying God’s Word. I am in a new place where I don’t know anyone so, it’s been a bonding time with the Lord as I seek ways to read His Word. I am a bible journaling fan. I love the way this art form causes me to stay put in one place as God speaks to me through a verse or passage.
Folly is counterfeit. It is a distraction from God’s purpose in your life, it never bears good fruit.
Two attributes jumped out for me- Omniscience: God knows everything! He cannot learn anything new. It made me think that must be boring for him but then the holy spirit brought to mind the delight we humans take when we a parent or teacher learns something. The scriptures say the he takes delight in us💙
Omnipotence: God is the highest authority! Therefore He cannot rebel. Who is he going to disobey? He is over all. We humans are by nature in rebellion but praise the Lord, he is waiting with arms wide to take us back and lead us💙
I have been a part of or led a couples or women’s study for all of my Christian life. Almost 20 years😊 I also use the bible app devotions or other devotional guides.
Lisa, I love how you likened God watching us learn something like a parent or teacher watching a child or student. How true! Thank you for sharing.
1.Folly is anything that doesn’t keep me on God’s path. I have diverted from the path many times in my life to chase what I thought would give me strength, happiness, security, they were all folly.
2. It was a lot of work to go through all the scriptures on God’s attributes, but so worth it. What an awesome God, how blessed that he chose to call us his children.
3.This Bible study is such a blessing help me continue my time in God’s word. I usually read through the scriptures, not in any time plan, but just a little from the old testament, and a little from the new Testament each day and stop when something strikes me to either meditate on, gives me an answer, or gives me a question to research.