Publisher's Synopsis
We live in a culture that values achievement and success. We must prove our worth if we want to be accepted. It is easy for us to believe that God is like us. We imagine him looking down from above, judging our worth by the quality of our performance. So, we labor to excel, to impress, and to prove ourselves worthy. But we never feel worthy. What if God is not like us? What if God is love? What if our biggest need is to quit trying to earn God's favor so that we can start listening to what he has revealed to us in his word? The purpose of the 12 week study "Under His Smile" is to spend time studying God's nature, beginning with Creation and the Fall. From there we study God's plan for our reconciliation - Jesus. In order to help you move God's words from your head to your heart, each chapter concludes with meditation questions on a short passage of Scripture. The process of meditation may unearth some of our hidden doubts and fears, as well as attitudes about God which we have inherited from our culture that have led us to experience God as a task master rather than a beloved comforter, teacher and nurturer. We learn to remove the masks we have put on God so we can see His Smile, which has been over us from the beginning. This leaders guide will help anyone who desires to guide others in the process of listening to God rather than performing for him. I have included background information for each chapter and the questions which are blank in the course workbook are answered.
