Kirk Cowman, April 28, 2019

 Scripture: Genesis 1,3; Romans 5:1-11

Main Thought:  Reconciliation is impossible without God.

Summary:  God’s presence is found in reconciliation.

Getting to Know Each Other (Start Here): 

What comes to mind when you think of reconciliation in the context of the world today?    Do any of these movements come to mind:  Black Lives Matter, Idle No More, Me Too, and Time’s Up?

Going Deeper:

1. Read Genesis 1:1-2, 1:26, 3:7-9. Let’s start at the beginning.  Who created humanity?  Why are we here?  What is our purpose?
2. You choose the chaos you live in.  In the beginning, God created order from the chaos that was all around.  How do you choose chaos over order?    Have you broken a relationship with someone else?  How do you feel when a relationship is broken?  What do you instinctively do when a relationship is broken?  What should you do when a relationship is broken?
3. God chooses reconciliation.  Read Romans 5:1-11.  Jesus lived a sin free life and paid the debt for us when he died on the cross so that we can be reconciled with God.  What does it mean for us to be reconciled with God?  How can we see things God’s way?  What are the benefits of seeing things God’s way?  
4. God’s presence is found in reconciliation. What do we need to do to be reconciled to God?   What do we need to do to be reconciled with others in a broken relationship?   What are the benefits of a reconciled relationship – with God? With others?  Have you experienced healing and peace through reconciliation?   

Apply it:

1. What is Holy Spirit saying to you?
2. Where is there chaos in your life?
3. Where are you ignoring God’s way?
4. Where do you need reconciliation?