Finding God

by Dr. Larry Crabb

• ISBN13: 9780310205449
• ISBN10: 0310205441
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1995-11-01
• Publisher: Zondervan

Summary

Dr. Larry Crabb helps readers understand that instead of using God to solve their problems, they need to use their problems to find God.

Table of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgments9

A Personal Note

Introduction: Solving Problems Isn’t the Point

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING GOD

1. APersonal Journey

2. There’s More to Life Than Merely Living

3. Natural Passions

4. Supernatural Passion

II. THE OBSTACLE TO FINDING GOD

5. Something Is Seriously Wrong

6. When God Won’t Let Us Find Him

7. The Foundation of the Fallen Structure: Doubting God

8. Why God Won’t Let Us Find Him

9. The Foundation of a Solid Structure: Trusting God

10. First Floor: I Need You

11. Second Floor: I Hate You

12. Third Floor: I Hate Me

13. Fourth Floor: I Will Survive

14. Fifth Floor: Here's How I Will Survive

III. THE PATHWAY TO FINDING GOD

15. Darkness Before Light

16. Mistakes People Make

17. Our Good Passions Are Too Weak

18. The Nature of Good and Bad Passions: Toward Disrupting the Bad and Releasing the Good

19. Telling Our Stories

20. Stories That Disrupt and Entice

21. Coming Home Again

Epilogue

About the Author

Excerpts

Discussion Guide
Larry Crabb reports in his epilogue to this book that his answered prayer for a clearer glimpse of Christ has intensified to, “Lord, unless you reveal yourself to me in a way that draws me to you more than to anyone or anything else, I’d rather die.”
God has responded to him, “You cannot control your life. You are therefore free. You are not trapped by the need to arrange things as you want. Trust me more fully than you ever have before. Do what I am leading you to do even though the risks from your perspective are enormous. I am thoroughly good, and I am good enough to trust thoroughly.”
As you go through this discussion guide to Finding God, may you too learn how to trust God with your life.
Here are some tips on how to use this discussion guide:
Prepare. The questions flow directly out of the context of the chapters of this book. If you do not become familiar with the material, your discussion is likely to be stilted and artificial.
Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Don’t feel like you have to answer each and every question. Because of the different dynamics of individuals and groups, some questions will spark intense discussion, while others will generate yawns. Pay attention to the levels of passion, volume, and interest in the group.
Maintain a balance between structure and spontaneity. It’s important that the group choose a leader, preferably one who has gifts of leadership and discernment. The leader should take responsibility for guiding discussions, determining relevance, and making sure that everyone participates.
Practice openness to God and others. Don’t just accept something because the book or someone in the group says that it’s true. If you have a question, ask it—no matter how “ignorant” or “unspiritual” you might think it will make you seem. If you have trouble formulating questions, ask short ones like “What do you mean by that?’ “Can you give an example?” or “I’m troubled by that statement; could you please help me understand it?” Remember that the path to finding God often starts with a question.
Develop accountability. In addition to sharing in the group discussions you might want to consider establishing a relationship with a person within the group. This one-on-one relationship would be an opportunity to “tell your stories” and pray for each other in your continuing journey toward finding God.

Introduction: Solving Problems Isn’t the Point
1. Up to this point in your Christian experience, what has drawn you toward finding God? What hinders you from finding him?
2. Dr. Crabb states that in today’s world we have shifted away from finding God toward finding ourselves. How have you seen this shift in yourself? your Christian community? How do you feel about this shift?
3. How does the shift from finding God to finding self affect you?
4. This introduction presents three options for dealing with our lives: (1) being completely absorbed in understanding how our souls have been wounded and how to be healed; (2) obeying God with a resolve that completely ignores our pain; or (3) a combination of sensitivity to our struggles with an insistence that God matters more than how we feel. Which of these has been the way you have mostly dealt with life? Explain.
5. Which of these three options would you choose to be the way you deal with life? Explain.

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Excerpted from Finding God by Larry Crabb
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.