Understanding God's Nature: Goodness, Love, and Grace
Summary
Today, we gathered to reflect on the true nature of God the Father—our King above all kings. As we marked the King’s Birthday weekend, we shifted our focus from earthly royalty to the eternal King, exploring who God is and what it means for us to know Him personally. Through simple objects—a flashlight, a rope, a rock, water, and a blank piece of paper—we uncovered deep truths about God’s character: His goodness, faithfulness, nearness, invisibility, and, above all, His love.
God’s goodness is not just a comforting phrase but a foundational reality. He is good all the time, and everything He does flows from that goodness. Even when life feels unstable or unpredictable, God remains unchanging and faithful, a rock beneath our feet when everything else shifts. He is not a distant monarch but a close companion, always near to those who call on Him, attentive to our lives, and present in every circumstance.
Though we cannot see God or capture His likeness, we see His heart revealed in Jesus. Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God, showing us what God is like through His life and love. At the core of all God’s attributes is love—not just as an action, but as His very essence. God is love, and everything He does is an expression of that love.
Grace is the outworking of God’s love, His power at work in us, enabling us to shine His light in the world. Grace is not something we earn; it is a gift we receive, and it continues to shape us, giving us strength to forgive, courage to speak truth, and power to love as Jesus did. God’s invitation is an open door—He calls us to step through, to receive His grace, and to let it transform us from the inside out. The challenge is not just to accept God’s love and grace for ourselves, but to pour it out to others, becoming living reflections of His goodness in a world that desperately needs it.
Key Takeaways
- God’s Goodness Is Foundational
God’s goodness is not dependent on circumstances or our behavior; it is intrinsic to who He is. Every act of God flows from His unwavering goodness, and we can trust that He will never act in a way that is not good for us, even when we don’t understand His ways. This truth anchors us in times of uncertainty, reminding us that God’s intentions toward us are always loving and kind. [31:21]
- God Is Faithful and Unchanging
Unlike the shifting ground of life, God is a steadfast rock—unchanging, reliable, and eternally faithful. His promises do not waver with time or circumstance, and His commitment to us is not seasonal. When everything else feels unstable, we can stand firm on the certainty of God’s faithfulness, knowing He holds our lives securely in His hands. [34:29]
- God Is Near and Personally Involved
God is not a distant ruler but a close companion, intimately involved in our daily lives. He is attentive to our needs, hears our prayers, and walks with us through every season—joyful or painful. This nearness means we are never alone; God’s presence is a constant source of comfort, strength, and hope. [37:44]
- God’s Love Is the Core of His Being
Love is not just something God does; it is who He is. Every attribute—His goodness, faithfulness, holiness, and desire to be near us—flows from His deep, unwavering love. This love is stronger than anything we can imagine, and it is the foundation for His grace, mercy, and salvation offered to all. [42:25]
- Grace Is God’s Love in Action—An Open Door
Grace is the practical expression of God’s love, empowering us to live as His children and to reflect His light in the world. It is a gift we cannot earn, only receive, and it continues to shape us, enabling us to forgive, love, and serve others. The invitation is to step through the open door of grace, allowing God’s love to transform us and flow through us to those around us. [48:41]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:57] - Opening Prayer and Focus
[23:13] - Reflections on King’s Birthday
[24:19] - Introducing God the King
[25:27] - Exploring God’s Character
[26:21] - Interactive Object Lesson Begins
[27:22] - Discovering God Through Objects
[28:34] - God’s Goodness Illustrated
[30:33] - God Is Good All the Time
[32:48] - God Is Faithful and Unchanging
[34:29] - Trusting God in Uncertainty
[36:09] - God’s Nearness and Presence
[40:16] - God Is Unseen, Jesus Reveals Him
[42:25] - God’s Love Is Stronger Than Anything
[45:24] - Grace: God’s Power in Us
[48:41] - The Open Door of Grace
[49:50] - Responding to God’s Invitation
[51:33] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The True Nature of God the Father—Our King Above All Kings
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### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 107:1
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever."
2. Psalm 145:18
"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."
3. 1 John 4:8
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
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### Observation Questions
1. What are some of the simple objects used in the sermon to help us understand God’s character, and what did each one represent? (flashlight, rope, rock, water, blank paper) [[27:22]]
2. According to Psalm 107:1, what is the reason given for giving thanks to God? How is this echoed in the sermon? [[31:21]]
3. In Psalm 145:18, who does the Lord promise to be near to? How was this idea explained in the sermon? [[37:44]]
4. The sermon says, “God is love.” How does 1 John 4:8 describe the connection between knowing God and loving others? [[42:25]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says God’s goodness is not just a comforting phrase but a foundational reality. Why is it important to believe that God is good all the time, even when life feels unstable? [[31:21]]
2. The rock was used to illustrate God’s faithfulness and unchanging nature. How does knowing God is unchanging help someone during times of uncertainty or disappointment? [[34:29]]
3. The blank piece of paper represented God’s invisibility, but the sermon said we see God’s heart in Jesus. What does it mean that Jesus is the “visible image of the invisible God”? [[41:32]]
4. The sermon described grace as “God’s love in action.” How does understanding grace as a gift, not something we earn, change the way we relate to God and others? [[47:25]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon said, “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.” When was a time in your life when it was hard to believe God was good? How did you respond, and what might you do differently now? [[31:21]]
2. Think about a situation right now that feels unstable or uncertain. How can you remind yourself that God is your “rock”—faithful and unchanging—even when everything else shifts? [[34:29]]
3. The message emphasized that God is not a distant king but a close companion. In what ways do you sense God’s nearness in your daily life? Are there times when He feels far away? What helps you notice His presence? [[37:44]]
4. The sermon said, “God is love—not just as an action, but as His very essence.” How does this truth affect the way you view yourself and others, especially those who are hard to love? [[42:25]]
5. Grace was described as an “open door” that God invites us to step through. Is there an area of your life where you need to receive God’s grace more fully? What might it look like to accept that invitation this week? [[48:41]]
6. The challenge was not just to accept God’s love and grace for ourselves, but to pour it out to others. Who in your life needs to experience God’s goodness through you right now? What is one practical way you can show them grace or love this week? [[49:50]]
7. The sermon ended with the question, “What will be your next step?” What is one specific step you feel God is inviting you to take in response to His love and grace? [[50:50]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to thank God for His goodness, faithfulness, nearness, and love. Ask for help to receive His grace and to reflect His love to others in the coming week.
Devotional
Day 1: God Is Good All the Time
God’s goodness is not just a comforting phrase but a foundational truth; everything God does flows from His unchanging goodness, and He is good to everyone, not just to those who are good. We can rely on His goodness in every circumstance, knowing that even when life feels uncertain or difficult, God’s love and goodness remain steadfast and unshakable. When we recognize that all good things come from Him, it humbles us and reminds us that we cannot do good apart from His presence in our lives. Let this truth anchor your heart today: God is good, all the time, and His faithful love endures forever. [31:21]
Psalm 107:1 (ESV)
"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust that God’s goodness is present, even if you can’t see it right now?
Day 2: God Is Faithful and Unchanging
Unlike anything or anyone else in our lives, God never changes—He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and His faithfulness is eternal. When everything around us feels unstable or unpredictable, we can stand firm on the solid rock of God’s unchanging character, knowing He always keeps His promises and holds our lives together, even when we feel like we’re falling apart. His trustworthiness does not shift with circumstances or seasons; we can rely on Him in both the joys and the sorrows of life. Let your heart rest in the assurance that God’s faithfulness will never fail you. [34:29]
James 1:17 (ESV)
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
Reflection: Where have you experienced change or instability recently, and how can you lean into God’s unchanging faithfulness today?
Day 3: God Is Near to All Who Call
God is not a distant king, but a close companion who is attentive to every detail of your life; He is near to all who call on Him, ready to listen, help, and walk with you through every season. No matter how overwhelmed, uncertain, or even ashamed you may feel, God does not pull away—He leans in, sits with you, and journeys beside you. His nearness is personal and constant, offering comfort and strength whether you are celebrating or struggling. You are never alone, for the Lord is near to all who call on Him in truth. [37:44]
Psalm 145:18 (ESV)
"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."
Reflection: When was the last time you called out to God in a moment of need, and how did you sense His nearness?
Day 4: God Is Love—The Very Essence of Who He Is
God’s love is not just one of His many attributes; it is the very core of His being, the foundation for everything He does, and the source from which His goodness, faithfulness, and nearness flow. His love is stronger than anything we can imagine—unbreakable, unwavering, and extended to everyone, regardless of what we have done. Because God is love, He offers us grace, salvation, and a relationship with Him, inviting us to rest in the security of His unending affection. Remember today: God is not just loving—He is love itself. [45:24]
1 John 4:8 (ESV)
"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience God’s unbreakable love through you today, and how can you show it to them?
Day 5: Grace—God’s Love in Action
Grace is God’s love poured out in action, opening the door to His heart and inviting us to receive what we could never earn—His forgiveness, companionship, and transforming power. Like a flashlight without batteries, we cannot shine or live as we were meant to without God’s grace filling us and empowering us to love, forgive, and serve others. Grace is not just for salvation; it is the ongoing power that shapes us, strengthens us, and enables us to share God’s love with a world in need. Will you step through the open door of grace today, receiving and extending it with open hands and an open heart? [48:41]
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Reflection: What is one area where you need to stop striving and simply receive God’s grace—and how can you extend that same grace to someone else today?
Quotes
You're invited to be a child of God, shaped by grace, marked by love, and walking in holiness. You're invited to step through the door that is God's grace. The door that God opened wide. When because of his love and goodness and by his grace, he sent Jesus to pray the price for your sins. So that you can enjoy his friendship and companionship now and forever. [00:49:41] (30 seconds)
The Lord is near to all who call on him. He's always near to us, not just in the good times or when things are going well, but also when we feel overwhelmed, uncertain, maybe even ashamed. God doesn't pull away. He leans in. He sits with us. He walks beside us. He journeys with us, with me and with you. He is always near. [00:39:09] (33 seconds)
So what is grace? Grace is God's love in action. It's how he brings his goodness, his power and his love to us. It's through his grace that he offers us salvation, his friendship, his companionship, now and forever. We don't and we can't earn it on our own. It's something he gives us without us even asking for it. [00:47:00] (30 seconds)
God is good. Not just some of the time. Not just when He feels like it. God is good all the time. And all the time. God is good in every way because it's part of His very being. It's part of who He is. Everything He does and why He does it flows out of that goodness, out of His love and goodness. [00:31:26] (25 seconds)
Grace keeps shaping us, transforming us, giving us strength to forgive others, courage to speak truth, power to love even when it's hard. The power to help us to be like Jesus and to do as he did. Shine the light and love of God the Father into a world that so desperately needs it. [00:47:41] (24 seconds)
The good news though is that while God is unseen, Jesus wasn't. Well, we don't know exactly what Jesus looked like. We know that he was a real person, a real person who walked this earth. People saw him, they touched him, they ate with him, they listened to him. And Paul tells us in Colossians 1 verse 15 that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. [00:40:58] (34 seconds)
This isn't just another love isn't just another quality that God has it's who God is it's the very core of who He is the very essence of who He is right inside in His innermost being everything else His goodness His holiness His power His faithfulness His desire to be near us they all flow out of His strong love His strong deep unwavering love. [00:44:18] (32 seconds)
The Lord is near to all who call on him. And when I say near, I don't mean in a general sort of vague way. He's around here somewhere. He's near to each of us in a very personal way. In a way where he hears you. Where he sees you. Where he cares about you. He is attentive to your life. [00:37:54] (28 seconds)
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