Union Grove Church of CHRIST 

What Better Thing to do than to Study The Bible!
If you have a Bible question, we are ready to give a Bible, book, chapter and verse answer? Put your question on our 'Contact us', then 'Leave a Message' page; or contact us at ugchurchofchrist@gmail.com


Come learn GOD's word with us, as we study The Bible.
Sunday at 10:00 and 11:00 am and 2:00pm
Wednesday at 7:00 pm


WhatAboutGOD - Lesson 1

Are you interested in 'Truth', regrettably few are....

Please consider taking a trip with me through The 'Holy Bible'. There is no better way to spend a few minutes, preparing our soul for eternity. We are commanded to study The Bible, 2 Timothy 2:15, because in it we find The Words of Life, ~John 6:63,68~, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 1:3. There is only one GOD, one united message, one way to be saved, JESUS promised to build one Church, not denominations and confusion. Please read each verse for yourself and consider what it says, resist the temptation to answer the question according to personal beliefs. We may never personally meet, but my prayer is that this study will bless your life here and for eternity. If you have questions, please allow us to sit down with you, and read GOD's word together, and discuss it. 

Topics that will be covered over the weeks are: Does GOD exist, Is The Bible accurate, What about JESUS, Standard of Authority in Religion, What about the two Covenants O.T and N.T., What about The Church, What about Salvation. 

Use this material and send it to someone in need of The Truth.

All Bible quotations are taken from the New King James Version; ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
These materials were prepared by Roger D. Campbell. Permission is granted to reproduce and share them, but please do not sell them. (this was in tract form)

What about God?
Lesson 1
Questions to ponder: 
 Is there really a God?
 If there is a God, what is He like?
 Where can I find accurate information
about His nature and desire for my life?
 How can I be sure that He cares about me?

Before we start: Thank You for taking the time to consider the materials that are presented in this lesson. I am a Christian, and I am excited about the opportunity to share a wonderful message with you from the Bible, a message that is the most important thing in my life.

Design and Purpose
1. If a house contains floors, walls, ceilings, doors, windows, etc., do you think these items became part of the house by accident? Y N
2. If an airplane and computer demonstrate design, would we conclude that someone with intelligence designed them? Y N

3. Hebrews 3:4 -- The Bible says that "every house was built by _______________, but He who built all things is _________."

4. Some interesting truths about our universe:
a. The distance from the earth to the sun -- It is 93 million miles. Scientists tell us that this distance is just right. If the earth were just 10% closer, we would burn up. If the earth were 10% further away, living things would freeze to death. This distance from the earth to the sun: did it just happen by accident?
b. The earth spinning on its axis -- It takes one year for the earth to make a complete orbit around the sun. As the earth travels about the sun, it also is spinning on its axis at a rate of 1000 mph at the equator. What would happen if the earth were not spinning/rotating? A: One side of the world would always be dark and the other side always light. What would this do to plant life, animals, and human life? Did this necessary spinning of the earth come about by accident?
c. The tilt of the earth -- As our earth orbits the sun, it is tilted on its axis at 231⁄2 degrees. Guess what? Scientists say that this is just the exact tilt that the earth needs. Did the earth just accidentally tilt itself over to 231⁄2 degrees?! Surely not.
d. The earth's precise, predictable orbit 
around the sun -- As our planet orbits the sun, it strays from a straight line by less than 1⁄4 of an inch every eighteen miles. Because the earth's orbit about the sun is so predictable, scientists can predict exactly where the earth will be in its orbit at any given time on any given day. Amazing! Is the earth's predictable path of orbit just an accident?
e. Perhaps considering only one of these items will cause a person to shrug it off and say it is just chance. But, when you put them all together, you have convincing, undeniable proof. Proof of what? Proof of the existence of design and purpose. And what does that imply? There was a Designer!

5. Psalm 19:1 -- Like in the examples that we just noticed, what does our universe show?
_____________________________________
6. Psalm 139:14 -- What are some things about the human body which demonstrate design?
_____________________________________

Cause and Effect
7. For every effect/result, there must be an adequate cause to explain it. Y N

8. If you receive a card on which the words "Happy Birthday" are written, do you believe the words got there by accident? Y N

9. If some of the letters in those words "Happy Birthday" were black, but others were red in color, did something or someone cause that to happen? Y N

10. Our universe exists. How can we explain its existence? That is, what caused it to be? Which of the following explanations is valid?
a. The universe made itself.
b. It came into existence by accident.
c. The universe is eternal: it has always existed.
d. Something or someone created it.

11. Genesis 1:1 -- What does the Bible say about the cause of the universe and the purposeful design that we see in it? ______________________________________________

12. Though some people might have a warped or misguided idea of what is acceptable or unacceptable in a moral sense, is it true that all humans think in terms of conduct being "good and bad" or "right and wrong?" Y N

13. A tiger that escapes from a zoo and slays a helpless child is not brought to trial and sentenced to a prison term. Yet, a human who willfully kills another innocent human would face such a trial. Why the difference? Is it because man has a sense of moral oughtness but animals do not? Y N

14. Which would be more reasonable to conclude, that humans get their sense of morality from the air, rocks, animals, trees, or a Creator who made us like Him? __________________________

The God of heaven -- What is He like?

15. In the very first chapter of the Bible (Genesis 1), God is mentioned about 30 times. Does that sound like God and His activities will be the center of the Bible's message? Y N

16. Acts 17:24,25 - As the self-existent Creator, what does God supply to humans? _________________________________

17. John 4:24 -- God is ____________________. 

18. Psalm 90:1,2 -- God is __________________.

19. Psalm 145:17 -- God is _________________.

20. Psalm 147:5 -- God's understanding is
_______________________________.
21. Isaiah 44:6 -- God is ___________________. The true God must be perfect and unlimited in all of His characteristics. Thus, He does not need any additional "gods" to assist Him or to make Him complete.

22. Malachi 3:6 -- God is __________________.

23. Acts 10:34,35 -- God is _________________.

24. 1 John 4:8 -- God is __________________.
God's Care and Communication

25. Matthew 5:45 -- How does God bless all
people, regardless of how they behave?
____________________________________

26. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 -- Did God give us the Bible ("the Scriptures") because He cares about us? Y N

27. ~1 John 4:9,14~ -- What is the greatest way that God showed His love for mankind?_____________________________________

Bible Answers to Important Questions

28. Genesis 1:1 -- The world's origin: it came
about by ______________________________

29. Genesis 2:7, Genesis 2:21,22 -- Mankind's origin: we came into existence by ___________________________________________________

30. Genesis 1:26,27 -- Man's uniqueness: we are
different from all else that lives because _____________________________________

31. Genesis 1:26-28 -- What is the proper order of authority for these 3: humans, animals, and God?
_____________________________________

32. Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 -- What is our purpose in life? What should be the essence of our life?
___________________________________________________
Why should we care about whether we do good or evil in our life? ___________________________________________________

How many of our "secret things" does God know about? __________________________________________________


    
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
  
"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" "That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:"
"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:"
For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
  
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;" "Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;"
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
"Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations." "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."
"The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works."
"Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite."
"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God."
"For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:" "But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" "That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."