Week 6

I. Before the meeting

Complete points 1, 2, and 3 before the next Growth Group meeting.

Read each section carefully, as the instructions may change.

1. Daily Prayer

This week's goal:

Spend at least 8 minutes each day talking to God the Father, for at least 5 days this week. Write down in your notebook what you believe God the Father showed or spoke to you during that time.

This week's goal:

Read 1 Bible passage per day on at least 5 days this week. Answer the questions in your notebook. Read the passage twice on the same day: once in the morning and once at night.

2. Daily Reading

Bible Texts:

The LORD is King forever and ever.[1]

But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King.[2]

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.[3]

The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.[4]

All your works praise you, LORD; your faithful people extol you. They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.

The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.[5]

The LORD is king! He is robed in majesty. Indeed, the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. Your throne, O LORD, has stood from time immemorial. You yourself are from the everlasting past.[6]

How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.[7]

For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.[8]

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.[9]

[1] Psalm 10:16 (NKJV)

[2] Jeremiah 10:10 (NKJV)

[3] Psalm 90:2 (NLT)

[4] Psalm 103:19 (NLT)

[5] Psalm 145:10–13 (NIV)

[6] Psalm 93:1–2 (NLT)

[7] Daniel 4:3 (NIV)

[8] Daniel 6:26 (NIV)

[9] 1 Timothy 1:17 (NIV)

Commentaries :

- There is a reality that is mentioned repeatedly throughout the Bible: our God is King, and His Kingdom, as well as His reign, are eternal.

- To properly understand the Kingdom of God, we must begin, not with the Kingdom, but with the King. The Bible does not present God as someone who became King after creating the universe. Before human beings, nations, governments, or any other created authority existed, God was already King. God is King by nature and has been King eternally.

- There are three words whose meanings in the original languages are important for us to understand:

1. “King”[a]. In Hebrew, it means sovereign, ruler, or supreme leader; one who possesses and exercises royal authority. In Greek, it suggests the concept of “the foundation of the people,” or the person upon whom society rests.

2. “Kingdom”[b]. First, it refers to the kingship or authority of the king, the exercise of his reign, and his rule or sovereignty. Second, it refers to the territory or realm over which he exercises that rule. This is important because when we hear the word “kingdom,” we normally think of a territory. However, when the Bible speaks of the “Kingdom of God,” it is primarily describing God exercising His authority and rule as King.

- Key concept: The Kingdom of God is the sovereign rule of God as King.

3. “Eternal”[c]. It can express long duration, perpetuity, permanence, or existence without end, depending on the context. When applied to God, His existence, His throne, or His reign, it expresses a reality that transcends the limits of time and remains forever.

- It is important for us to understand this: creation had a beginning; God did not. When Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created…”, God was already there. His existence, His authority, and His kingship did not arise from creation, nor do they depend on it. The God who created all things was already the Eternal King.

- By creating all things, God manifested His authority over what He had made. Psalm 103:19 says: “The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.” Everything that exists comes from Him and remains under His authority.

- Unlike human kingdoms, which arise, grow, and eventually disappear, the Kingdom of God remains. Daniel declares: “His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation,” and “His kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.” The permanence of His Kingdom is directly connected to the permanence of the King: God lives and remains forever; therefore, His reign will never end.

- Recognizing God as the Eternal King should produce a response in us. Paul declares: “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17). If He is the only God and the Eternal King, then honor, reverence, obedience, and glory belong to Him alone. He is our Father, but He is also our King. To live under His Kingdom means to recognize His authority, submit to His will, and seek to live in a way that gives Him the glory that He alone deserves.

[a] “king”: melekh (H4428) / basileus (G935)

[b] “kingdom”: malkuth (H4438) / basileia (G932)

[c] “eternal”: ʿolam (H5769) / aiōnios (G166)

Answer these questions in your notebook:

1. What does it mean that God is the Eternal King, and what distinguishes His Kingdom from human kingdoms?

2. When the Bible speaks of the Kingdom of God, what does the word “kingdom” primarily refer to?

3. What idea or concept from today’s reading stood out to you the most, and why?

Bible Texts:

How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.[1]

For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.[2]

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness.[3]

The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.[4]

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face.[5]

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.[6]

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.[7]

[1] Daniel 4:3 (NIV)

[2] Psalm 47:7–8 (NIV)

[3] Psalm 45:6–7 (NKJV)

[4] Psalm 103:19 (NIV)

[5] Psalm 89:14 (NKJV)

[6] Romans 14:17 (NKJV)

[7] Hebrews 12:28 (NIV)

Commentaries:

- The Kingdom of God is an eternal reality that becomes visible when God’s rule is expressed in His creation. Although God is our eternal Father, we must not forget that He is also the Eternal King of an eternal Kingdom.

- The Kingdom of God is His sovereign rule as King and, therefore, cannot be separated from who He is. His Kingdom expresses both His authority and His character. Therefore, if God is eternal, righteous, sovereign, and good, His Kingdom also manifests these realities.

- It is an eternal Kingdom. Unlike human kingdoms, which have a beginning and come to an end, the Kingdom of God remains forever. Its permanence is connected to the nature of its King: if God is eternal[a], His rule will never end, it is "eternal"[a]. His reign describes a reality that transcends the limits of time and remains forever. This is why Daniel declares: “His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:3).

- It is an unshakable Kingdom. Hebrews 12:28 declares: “we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,” The word “unshakable”[b] describes something that cannot be shaken, removed, or overthrown. The context of Hebrews contrasts created things, which can be shaken and removed, with the Kingdom of God, which remains. No event, power, crisis, or transformation within creation can cause it to falter or destroy it. Everything created can be shaken; the Kingdom we receive remains firm.

- It is a universal and sovereign Kingdom. Psalm 47 declares: “God is the King of all the earth” and “God reigns over the nations.” His Kingdom is universal because His authority extends over everything He created, and it is sovereign because there is no authority higher than His. Human rulers have limited and temporary authority; God, by contrast, is the supreme King over all. Everything exists under His authority, even though not everyone recognizes or willingly submits to His rule.

- It is a Kingdom of righteousness and justice. Psalm 45 declares: “A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom,” and Psalm 89 states: “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.” The scepter represents the authority of the King, and the foundation represents that upon which His rule rests. Both images express the same truth: God always rules according to what is righteous and just. His righteousness flows from His own character; God rules righteously because He is righteous. In His Kingdom there is no corruption, favoritism, or abuse of authority. His judgment is right, and His dealings are impartial. His power is never separated from His righteousness: everything He does as King is in perfect harmony with who He is.

- It is a Kingdom of peace and joy. Romans 14:17 declares that “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” These realities originate in God and express the nature of His rule. When God created, His purpose was for creation to reflect this reality. This is why Genesis 1–2 presents an ordered and good world, where human beings could live in right relationship with God, with themselves, with one another, and with creation. They could also enjoy with pleasure and joy everything that God the Father had graciously given them. Before sin, we find order, fellowship, provision, and life under the rule of God.

- This helps us better understand Genesis. When God created, He was not beginning His Kingdom or becoming King; the Eternal King was making His rule visible in creation. The order, life, fellowship, and goodness of Genesis 1–2 reflect a creation under His rule. The Kingdom of God, therefore, is the rule of the Eternal King being expressed in His creation according to His will and character.

- Hebrews 12:28 shows us our response: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful.” While human kingdoms rise and fall and everything created can be shaken, we receive a Kingdom that remains forever. Therefore, our response should be gratitude, reverence, and worship of the King.

[a] “eternal”: ʿolam (H5769) / aiōnios (G166)

[b] “unshakable”: asaleutos (G761)

Answer these questions in your notebook:

1. Why can we say that the characteristics of the Kingdom of God reflect the character of the King?

2. What are the five characteristics of the Kingdom of God that we studied today?

3. What idea or concept from today’s reading stood out to you the most, and why?

Bible Texts:

For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.[1]

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.[2]

The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters.[3]

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the LORD’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.[4]

[1] Psalm 95:3–5 (NIV)

[2] 1 Chronicles 29:11–12 (NKJV)

[3] Psalm 24:1–2 (NKJV)

[4] Romans 11:33–36 (NLT)

Commentaries:

- God is the Creator, Owner, and Lord of everything that exists. Everything was created by Him, everything belongs to Him, and therefore, everything remains under His authority.

- Psalm 95 begins by declaring: “For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.” This expression affirms the absolute supremacy of the LORD (Yahweh) over any other power or authority that might be recognized as a “god.” The LORD is not one among several equal gods, but the one true God, incomparable and sovereign over all.

- The psalmist immediately connects this supremacy with the fact that God is the Creator: “The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.” The expression “for he made it” establishes a direct relationship between creation and ownership. This contrasts with the accounts of peoples in the ancient Near East, where gods fought among themselves for dominion and supremacy. God did not receive creation from someone else, nor did He take possession of something that belonged to another; everything has its origin in Him and, therefore, everything rightfully belongs to Him.

- King David expands on this reality in Psalm 24: “The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” The word “fullness”[a] describes everything that fills or is contained within something. The statement therefore includes everything that exists and is found on the earth, including its inhabitants, possessions, and resources. Nothing within creation falls outside His rightful ownership, presence, and rule, including us.

- There is, therefore, a relationship between ownership and authority. Because everything was created by God and belongs to Him, He possesses the legitimate right to rule over all. This is why David declares: “All that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all” (1 Chronicles 29:11). God rules over what He Himself created and what rightfully belongs to Him.

- This also changes the way we understand what we call “ours”: we may own things in relation to other human beings, but before God we are stewards of what ultimately belongs to Him.

- The apostle Paul summarizes this reality in Romans 11 with three extraordinary expressions: “For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.”

“From Him”[b] expresses origin and source: God is the source of everything that exists; nothing created has its origin independently of Him.

“Through Him”[c] expresses mediation and dependence: creation not only has its origin in God, but nothing created exists autonomously or independently of Him. Everything exists through His power and depends on Him to fulfill the purpose for which it was created.

“To Him”[d] expresses direction, ultimate end, and purpose: creation does not ultimately exist for itself, but finds in God the ultimate reason and purpose for its existence.

- We could summarize it this way: everything comes from God, everything depends on God, and everything ultimately exists for God.

- Finally, Paul declares: “All glory to him forever! Amen.” This declaration flows naturally from what he has just affirmed: if all things come from God, exist through Him, and find their ultimate purpose in Him, then all glory belongs to Him. Creation does not ultimately exist to exalt itself, but to fulfill the purpose of its Creator and manifest His greatness, wisdom, goodness, and power. This includes us as well: our lives do not exist for our own glory, but for Him. If everything comes from God, everything depends on God, and everything exists for Him, He alone deserves to receive the glory of all creation.

[a] “fullness”: melo (H4393)

[b] “from Him”: ex autou (G1537 “from, out of” + G846 “him”)

[c] “through Him”: di’ autou (G1223 “through, by means of” + G846 “him”)

[d] “to Him”: eis auton (G1519 “to, toward, for” + G846 “him”)

Answer these questions in your notebook:

1. What is the relationship between God being the Creator and His right of ownership and authority over everything He created?

2. What do the expressions “from Him,” “through Him,” and “to Him” mean in relation to creation?

3. What idea or concept from today’s reading stood out to you the most, and why?

Bible Texts:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so… And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars… And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good…

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.[1]

[1] Genesis 1:1–25, 31 (NIV)

Commentaries:

- God is the Eternal King, and His Kingdom is eternal. Therefore, the Kingdom of God did not begin with creation. Before the heavens and the earth existed, God already existed, and His authority did not depend on anything created. Genesis 1 now shows us how the Eternal King begins to express His rule within creation.

- “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The verb “created”[a] presents God as the author of creation, the One who produces or brings something into existence. God did not receive a territory from someone else, nor did He have to conquer it: creation belongs to Him because He created it.

- “And God said…” This expression, which is repeated throughout the chapter, reveals an important reality: God exercises His authority through His word; He speaks, and what He determines takes place. The word “said”[b] describes His executive power or authority. God commands light to exist, separates the waters, causes dry land to appear, produces vegetation, establishes the heavenly bodies, and fills the waters and the sky with living creatures. Then, repeatedly, the text confirms: “And it was so.” The King expresses His will, and creation responds to His Word.

- God not only creates; He also establishes order, boundaries, and functions. He separates light from darkness and sea from land, and assigns functions to the heavenly bodies. He also names elements of His creation and determines that living creatures reproduce according to their kinds. Creation does not determine for itself how it should function; God establishes the order within which it functions.

- After each action, God observes His work and declares that it is “good.” The word “good”[c] does not describe only something that is morally right, but also something that is appropriate, beneficial, and functions according to the purpose for which it was established.

- Creation responds to the Word of the King and functions within the order He has determined, producing life and well-being. Therefore, His rule expresses not only power and authority, but also His wisdom and character. At the conclusion of His work, God looks at creation as a whole and declares that it is “very good”: not only were its “individual elements” good, but everything functioned together in an integrated and orderly way according to His will. The character and order of the Kingdom reflect the nature and character of the King.

- All of this helps us better understand how God’s eternal Kingdom begins to be expressed within creation. Genesis 1 presents the King as the Creator and, therefore, the rightful Sovereign over everything that exists. His rule becomes visible as His Word expresses His will and creation responds to it, functioning within the order, boundaries, and purposes He has established. The Kingdom of God, then, is the expression of the King’s rule making His will effective in that which belongs to Him.

[a] “to create”: bara (H1254)

[b] “to say/to speak”: amar (H559)

[c] “good”: tov (H2896)

Answer these questions in your notebook:

1. What does Genesis 1 reveal to us about God’s authority over everything He created?

2. How is God’s rule expressed in Genesis 1 through His Word, His will, and the order He establishes?

3. What idea or concept from today’s reading stood out to you the most, and why?

3. Weekly Reflection

Listen to the following audio after completing the readings.
Listen to it two or three times before meeting with your Growth Group.

soonArtist Name

00:00 / 00:04

II. During the meeting

Complete the following activities together during the Growth Group meeting. Remember to bring your notebook to share what you wrote during the week and to write the insights, reflections, and commitments that emerge during the meeting.

1. Group Prayer

[15 minutes]

Each person in the group will participate by praying aloud.

This prayer could include:

Gratitude to God the Father for His blessings.
Praise for who He is and what He does each day.
Confession and a request for forgiveness for attitudes or actions contrary to His will.
Asking God to guide them as they reflect together on what they read.

[60 minutes]

Accountability questions. Everyone answers all the questions.

1. Were you able to set aside 5 minutes for prayer 5 times a week? If not, what can you do this week to achieve this?

2. Did you complete this week's 5 readings—one per day for 5 days? If not, what can you do this week to complete the reading?

3. What did you hear from the Father during your prayer time and through the readings? (You may share what you wrote in your notebook)..

Reflection questions based on the reading. Everyone answers all the questions.

1. question.

2. question.

3. question.

4. question.

5. question.

2. Conversation

[5 minutes]

Take about 2 or 3 minutes to meditate in silence. The goal is to reflect on what you discussed and listen to the voice of God the Father. Write down in your notebooks whatever God the Father speaks to you during this time of silence..

God the Father may wish to convey a message to a member of the group through another member. Share what God the Father speaks to you.

3. Meditation

4. Intercession

[10 minutes]

Spend some time praying for personal requests and interceding for others. You can share the prayer requests among yourselves.

Is there any personal situation (family, relationship, work, financial, or health-related) for which you need us all to pray today? (Share a little about that situation.) Pray specifically for that situation.
Take some time to pray for the two people who are part of your "oikos" (family members, friends, or colleagues/classmates) who are far from God the Father, and whom you wrote down in your notebooks.
Pray for the congregation based on this passage: "17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better". Efesios 1:17

Week -: completed

Complete the form at the end of the Growth Group meeting. Do not do it beforehand. Write down any questions you have.

Week 5