Written and Administered by Samantha Shrock
Target Audience: Adult believers (18+)
Setting: Small group or classroom
Duration: 60-75 minutes
Materials: Bibles, paper, pens, whiteboard
Lesson Overview
The intent of the lesson is that the audience should gain and apply understanding of God’s multifaceted character. Many learn of God’s unconditional love, mercy, power, and grace, yet project human fallacy and fallibility onto the character of God. These misconceptions about the Father can quietly undermine the framework of faith when left unaddressed.
The key thematic focus of this lesson is that actionable faith is not intended to check boxes. Actionable faith is gradual sanctification. Believers are biblically called to express their love for the Lord by obeying His commands in a posture of trust–especially when outcome is unknown. Biblical sanctification reflects the character of Jesus without hinging on earthly qualifiers such as performance or external validation. Foundational understanding of Christ’s true character is imperative, as a Christian’s fruit naturally begins to reflect Christ’s character in a surrendered, daily pursuit of truth. Even so, saints on earth remain sinful by the nature of their flesh. Expecting perfection is fruitless, but finding peace in His promise to redeem those who are sealed by His blood is fruitful. Jesus has already paid the price, atoning for sin and claiming victory over death for the saints to stand blameless before the Father’s throne. We remain imperfect, but we are washed clean and renewed day by day. The surrender that invites that renewal is actionable faith, because we are choosing to trust in the biblical character of God.
Practical Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, participants should be equipped to identify at least five scriptural attributes of God, contrast cultural misconceptions of God with scriptural truth, and articulate how accurate theology shapes daily obedience.
Educational Activity
Opening Prayer:
“Father, we meet you here with humble hearts. I pray that Your presence would fill this place, for where two or more are gathered in your name, you are near. I pray that you will speak through me during this time, Lord. Use me as a vessel to communicate your will–and may your will be done. Fix our eyes and our hearts on you, Jesus. Train us to be receptive to your Word. Train your sheep to know your voice. Thank you for meeting us where we are. It’s in your mighty and matchless name we pray, amen.”
Introductory Question: What is a common lie people believe about God?
Creative Element: Take a few minutes to connect with those around you. Share a characteristic you know to be true about God. Then, come together as a group and compile a list of the truths you spoke to one another about who God is.
Book: Let’s measure the consistency of these traits with what scripture says about God’s identity.
James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavens, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Observation: 2 Major Characteristics: Perfect, Constant
Interpretation: Sin and resultant suffering are not God’s doing. His perfection means he is without fault; therefore, he cannot commit sin. No part of his nature is corrupted by evil. If any characteristics on the list harbor sinful motive or action, we will eliminate them, because they are incongruent with Scripture.
Interpretation: The biblical law by which God desires his children to live is unchanging. His consistency means He will not change His mind about the conditions of His commandments over time. God’s declared truth is the singular, unwavering Truth. Let’s add this to the list and eliminate any traits that coincide with fluctuation or flippancy, because they cannot be true.
Integration: Anxiety and stress are often reactions to unpredictability. When outcome is uncertain, we brace ourselves by mentally preparing for potential scenarios. Even so, earthly outcomes shift, disappoint, and defy expectations. When misplaced trust leans toward our own predictions, how do we redirect that trust to the Lord? How do we find rest in God’s perfect, unchanging love?
Application: Write down one current uncertainty in your life. Beneath it, write: “God’s character is constant even when outcomes are not.” Pray over that statement daily this week, asking the Lord to align your emotions with His unchanging nature.
Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds in the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Observation: 2 Major Characteristics: Provisional, Sustaining
Interpretation: God is for his children. He desires that his children be satiated and fulfilled. The only permanent form of fulfillment is derived from His love. When we entrust him with our lives, he cares for us and sustains us. Our lives are not our own to manage, and our provisions are not our own to meet. The Lord alone is our provider–he equips us with the strength and stamina to succeed, fulfilling his role as our sustainer. Let’s add these to list and eliminate any traits that embody negligence, because they cannot be true.
Integration: Earthly security–careers, relationships, finances, health–is not guaranteed. How does God’s provision remain centered as our foundation when these earthly fixtures are shaken? What does trusting in God as our provider look like in the face of job loss? Unwanted divorce? Chronic illness? The death of a family member? The end of a friendship?
Application: Identify one area where you feel financially, relationally, or emotionally insecure. This week, surrender that area in prayer each morning before making daily decisions. Practice seeking God’s wisdom before seeking control.
Numbers 23:19: “God is not a human being, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”
Observation: 2 Main Characteristics: Honest, Faithful
Interpretation: When God speaks, God delivers. Though the format or timeline of the story may unfold differently than expected, He is always faithful to fulfill his word.
Interpretation: You’ll start to notice that these different passages overlap and describe many of the same traits of God. This verse in Numbers also addresses God’s consistency, as we saw in James 1:17. Also, we note his faithfulness in sustaining us as demonstrated through Matthew 6:26.
Integration: When persistent prayer doesn’t yield desired results, the enemy often tempts us to doubt the Lord’s trustworthiness. Where have we mistaken our perception of “delay” for God’s denial or abandonment? How would our behavior change if we truly believed that God cannot lie or fail?
Application: Choose one promise of the Lord that still feels distant. Read it aloud for seven days, asking the Lord to strengthen your trust in his timing over your own expectations.
Closing Prompt: As these elements of God’s character come together, how do they compare to the ideas we expressed before we revised the list?
Interpretation: God’s discipline is not rooted in condemnation, but in loving correction. His candor validates his convictions and prophecies, which have been repeatedly fulfilled. His love is reflected in his desire to train us in the way we should go, and he is faithful keep his promises.
Final Application & Theological Thesis: False notions of God taint our understanding of His character. The only infallible, inerrant, and communicable testament to God’s character is his Word–where he explicitly tells us who he is. The Bible defines and exemplifies God as perfect, constant, provisional, sustaining, honest, and faithful. Sin does not corrupt God’s nature, so God’s identity cannot inhabit sin.
To experience the fullness of a relationship with God, we reject and combat the enemy’s contortions of God’s character. We commit to actionable faith in God’s promises by allowing him to sanctify us. The enemy seeks to corrupt what is holy, righteous, and pure. Manipulation characterizes the father of lies. Jesus promises abundant life to those who follow him, and his biblical character is consistent with that commission. As believers, we remain sober-minded and vigilant, guarding against the lion who seeks to devour. We stand firm in faith, supported by the Rock. We practice discernment, attuning to Father’s voice. These actions demonstrate our love for him, signifying our trust in his infallible character.
Samantha Shrock 