As we continue to grow in our relationship with God we realise that like all relationships we have, there are things that help make that relationship better and other things that hinder development. We want to be proactive in our relationship with God and understand what matters to God and what pleases Him. As Christians one of our goals should be to please God, therefore we need to understand things God loves.
Now that we are fully aware that God calls us friends we should seek to build upon this foundation.
Revelation 4v11 reminds us that ‘you created everything and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created’
Let’s read Hebrews 11v1-7.
Here Noah is singled out as someone who pleased God. Let’s discover what were some keys to Noah’s life that made this happen.
Go to Genesis chapters 6-9, feel free to pick out some passages that are meaningful to you, 6v6-22 is a good place to start.
Ask the group some of their ideas on how Noah pleased God as they read through this passage of scripture.
In our recent weekend message I highlighted some things God loves, there were:
- God Loves when we love Him above everything else
Hosea 6v6 ‘I don’t want your sacrifice. I want your love. I don’t want your offerings. I want you to know me.’
Read Gen 6v9 and discuss some of the characteristics of Noah mentioned here and how we can apply these things to our own lives.
Our love for things is generally represented by the priority we place it within our lives. Spend a few minutes discussing how we can keep our priorities in the correct order within our lives and what practical steps we may need to take.
- God Loves when we trust Him completely
The bible calls trusting Him as faith!
Heb 11 says that ‘without faith it’s actually impossible to please God’ so our trusting God is apart from living a life of faith
Noah acted in faith and was obedient to God in all that he was told to do.
Ask someone to share a story when they trusted in God and what they learned through this experience.
- God loves when we Obey Him Wholeheartedly
Gen 6v22 says ‘Noah did everything exactly as God commanded him to.’
2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His.”
For our relationship with God to grow there is a responsibility to obey God not from a sense of fear or punishment rather when we know that He is our Creator and that His purpose and plan for us is for our good.
- God Loves when we Fulfill His Purposes
Gen 9v1 ‘Then God blessed Noah and His sons, and said to them, be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth’
Psalm 37v23 ‘The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives’
God is pleased when we go about living our lives to please Him. Noah was told to enjoy creation and replenish the earth. He wasn’t told to follow rituals but to enjoy life!
Spend a few minutes discussing some practical aspects of understand His purpose for our lives in a greater way. Ask each person for one step they can take in the next week that they can do something practical that will see them move a step closer to fulfilling God’s purposes within their lives.
Conclusion The bible lists many things that please Him or make Him smile, lets make it our highest priority to take steps each day to grow our ‘friendship with God’, to get to know Him in a greater way and live lives that please Him.
Sample Discussion Questions - What can we learn from Noah’s life in relation to things that please God?
- What are some practical things we can do to please God?
- Why do you think God loves these things listed?
Prayer Take a few minutes to pray for each person for their friendship and relationship with God to grow and that our lives would honour Him.
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