Distorted Images of God lesson 2, Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-10 We are emotional beings who long for emotional connection with others. When others tune in to our emotions with understanding and empathy, we experience being seen and valued. A bond is formed, a relationship is created. However, when significant others discount or judge our feelings, whether joy or fear or sadness, we can feel cut off and alone. We might even feel shame. The result is often emotional distance in the relationship. When we suffer from such emotional distance with significant others, whether parents, pastors, or friends, we may start to see God as unsympathetic and emotionally distant, cold, and unapproachable. We may be left wondering, “How could God understand my problems? Why would God even care about what I feel?“ However, the image of an emotionally distant God is dramatically different from the image of Immanuel, “God with us.” God came and lived with us, as one of us. God, in Jesus, experienced our temptations and struggles and feelings.. GROUP DISCUSSION: Think about a relationship in which you have experienced emotional closeness. What are the benefits to you of having someone know and care about you emotionally? PERSONAL REFLECTION: What experiences in your life may have impacted your ability to see God as sympathetic and approachable? Scripture teaches that God empathizes with us and offers us an intimacy that includes the emotional closeness for which we long. READ Hebrews 4:14-16 and 5:1-10. 1. What do you learn about the role of a priest in these verses? 2. According to these verses, what was it that allowed a high priest to “deal gently” with people? 3. From these verses, what qualifications does Jesus have to serve in this capacity? 4. What valuable roles might the high priest have played in the lives of the people? 5. Given these descriptions of Jesus’ experience, what does it mean that Jesus can “sympathize with our weaknesses”? 6. Whey is it important to know that Jesus can sympathize with our weaknesses? 7. According to this passage, how can we expect God to respond to us when we are in need? 8. How does this text’s image of God-who-sympathizes-with-our-weakness compare or contrast with the image of a god-who-is-emotionally distant? 9. Picture yourself approaching Jesus confidently. Picture Jesus understanding your feelings and saying to you, “Receive my mercy; here is grace for you in your time of need.” Describe how you feel in meditating on this scenario. 10. What difference would it make to you as you face your current struggles to know that God deeply understands what you are going through and empathizes with you. Take some time to share your needs and feelings with God-who-sympathizes-with-your-weaknesses. NOW OR LATER: Continue to identify your feelings this week and share them with the God who sympathizes with you. Keep a journal of the feelings you share with God and any sense you have of God providing you the help and compassion you need.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 21:07:05 +0000
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