Life Group
Session 1: GOD – September 19 & 20, 2015
Welcome!
Welcome to Session 1 of Believe. Take a moment to introduce yourselves to each other.
Getting Started
Let’s begin by reciting the Key Verse and Key Idea together as a group.
Key Verse: May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
Key Idea: I believe the God of the Bible is the one true God- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Group Discussion
As a group, let’s discuss our thoughts and feelings toward these declaration statements. Which
statements are easy to declare with certainty? Which declarations are more challenging, and
why? I believe the God of the Bible is the one true God. I believe the God of the Bible is one in
essence but distinct in person ---Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I believe Jesus is God in flesh---who died and rose bodily from the dead.
I believe the Holy Spirit is God and dwells in Christians to empower them to live the Christian
life.
Take a few moments to think about today’s Key Idea and answer the following questions
together.
1. If you only had two minutes to answer the question, “Who is God?”, how would you respond?
Who is God? - The Fact
The fact of God’s existence is so obvious, both through creation and through man’s conscience,
that the Bible calls the non-believer a “fool” (Psalm 14:1).
> The Bible never attempts to prove the existence of God;
< It assumes His existence from the very beginning (Genesis 1:1).
< What the Bible does is reveal the nature, character, and work of God.
Who is God? - The Definition
Thinking correctly about God is important because a false idea about God is idolatry.
> In Psalm 50:21, God reproves the wicked man. What is God’s accusation?
> To start with, a good summary definition of God is:
< “the Supreme Being”
< the Creator and Ruler of all that is
< the Self-existent One who is perfect in power, goodness, and wisdom
Who is God? - His Nature
We know certain things to be true of God for one reason: in His mercy He has condescended to
reveal some of His qualities to us.
> God is spirit, by nature intangible (John 4:24)
> God is One, but He exists as three Persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17)
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> God is infinite (1 Timothy 1:17)
> God is incomparable (2 Samuel 7:22)
> God is unchanging (Malachi 3:6)
> God exists everywhere (Psalm 139:7-12)
> God knows everything (Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 40:28)
> God has all power and authority (Ephesians 1: 21; Revelation 19:6)
Who is God? - His Character
Here are some of God’s characteristics as revealed in the Bible:
> God is just (Acts 17:31)
> God is loving (Ephesians 2:4-5)
> God is truthful (John 14:6)
> God is holy (1 John 1:5)
> God shows
< compassion (2 Corinthians 1:3)
< mercy (Romans 9:15)
< grace (Romans 5:17)
> God judges sin (Psalm 5:5)
< but also offers forgiveness (Psalm 130:4)
Who is God? - His Work
We cannot understand God apart from His works, because what God does flows from who He
is. Here is an abbreviated list of God’s works – past, present, and future:
> God created the world (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 42:5)
> He actively sustains the world (Colossians 1:17)
> He is executing His eternal plan (Ephesians 1:11) which involves the redemption of man from
the curse of sin and death (Galatians 3:13-14)
> He draws people to Christ (John 6:44)
> He disciplines His children (Hebrews 12:6)
> He will judge the world (Revelation 20:11-15)
Who is God? - A Relationship with Him
In the Person of the Son, God became incarnate (John 1:14)
> The Son of God became the Son of Man and is therefore the “bridge” between God and man
(John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5)
> It is only through the Son that we can have forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7 )
< reconciliation with God (John 15:15; Romans 5:10)
< eternal salvation (2 Timothy 2:10)
> In Jesus Christ “all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9)
So, to really know who God is, all we have to do is look at Jesus.
2. How does your understanding of God impact your day-to-day decisions?
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3. What are the most common reasons people struggle to believe that the God of the Bible is
the one true God? What helped you get past these obstacles? Or, what obstacles are you still
facing?
Read Luke 3 together and answer the following questions.
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of
has none, and anyone who has food should
Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was
do the same.”
governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of
12 Even tax collectors came to be
Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea
baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what
and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of
should we do?” 13 “Don’t collect any more
Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of
than you are required to,” he told them.
Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came
14 Then some soldiers asked him,
to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
“And what should we do?” He replied,
3 He went into all the country around the
“Don’t extort money and don’t accuse
Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance
people falsely—be content with your pay.”
for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written
15 The people were waiting
in the book of the words of Isaiah the
expectantly and were all wondering in their
prophet:
hearts if John might possibly be the
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I
‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight
baptize you with water. But one who is
paths for him.
more powerful than I will come, the straps
5 Every valley shall be filled in, every
of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.
mountain and hill made low. The crooked
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
roads
shall
become
straight,
fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to
the rough ways smooth. 6 And all people
clear his threshing floor and to gather the
will see God’s salvation.’”
wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the
7 John said to the crowds coming out
chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with
to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!
many other words John exhorted the people
Who warned you to flee from the coming
and proclaimed the good news to them.
wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with
19 But when John rebuked Herod the
repentance. And do not begin to say to
tetrarch because of his marriage to
yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our
Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the
father.’ For I tell you that out of these
other evil things he had done, 20 Herod
stones God can raise up children for
added this to them all: He locked John up
Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of
in prison.
the trees, and every tree that does not
The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus
produce good fruit will be cut down and
21 When all the people were being
thrown into the fire.”
baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he
10 “What should we do then?” the
was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the
crowd asked.
Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily
11 John answered, “Anyone who has
form like a dove. And a voice came from
two shirts should share with the one who
heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with
you I am well pleased.”
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1. In what ways is the Trinity a challenging concept to comprehend?
2. If God (the Trinity) is a community within himself, and we are made in his image, what does
that tell us about ourselves?
In Christianity, God is a Trinity.
> This means that God is three persons, not three gods.
> Technically, the doctrine of the Trinity states that in the one God is the person of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
> Each is not the same person as the other, yet there are not three gods but one.
< This is similar in analogy to the nature of time. Time is past, present, and future.
^ The past is not the same as the present, which is not the same as the future.
But, there are not three times. There is only one thing called time.
The reason the word "person" is used in describing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is
because each exhibits attributes of personhood -- not in a body of flesh and bones, but in
personality.
> Each has a will, loves, speaks, is aware of others, communicates with others, etc.
> These are attributes of personhood and we see the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each
demonstrate these qualities.
Because of the Trinity, God can become flesh in the form of the Son, and still exist in such a
way so that He can run the universe.
> Therefore, the Son can communicate to us on our level.
Following are a couple verses that hint at the Trinity.
Matt. 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."
2 Cor. 13:14, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit, be with you all."
The Bible says there is only one God: "I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is
no God," (Isaiah 45:5). Yet, the Bible teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each
called God.
On the next page is a very brief chart that shows that each of the persons in the Trinity share
the same attributes that only God shares. But remember – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
each have wills, and speak, etc. Therefore, we say there are three persons.
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Called God
Creator
Everywhere
All knowing
A Will
Speaks
FATHER
Phil. 1:2
Isaiah 64:8
1 Kings 8:27
1 John 3:20
Luke 22:42
Matt. 3:17;
SON
John 1:1,14;
John 1:3;
Matt. 28:20
John 16:30; 21:17
Luke 22:42
Luke 5:20; 7:48
HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 5:3-4
Job 33:4, 26:13
Psalm 139:7-10
1 Cor. 2:10-11
1 Cor. 12:11
Acts 13:2
3. How does today’s culture help or hinder us from experiencing the community we were
created for?
4. What specific actions can this group do to create healthy community?
Case Study
Use the following case study as a model for a real life situation where you might put this week’s
Key Idea into practice.
Mike is one of your favorite co-workers. He is funny, hard-working, and passionate about life.
Your conversations are always enjoyable and thought-provoking. Occasionally, the subject of
religion comes up in conversation. He mentions that his parents brought him to church as a kid
and for the most part he agrees with the teachings of the Bible, but he has two issues that are
holding him back.
1. He has a hard time understanding who God is, therefore he finds it difficult to wholly put his
trust in someone/something he doesn’t know.
2. Throughout his life he has had moments when he wants to get to know God, but he doesn’t
know where to start.
What could you say or do to help Mike find the answers to his questions?
Closing Prayer: Share your prayer requests with one another. Ask God to help you put this
week’s Key Idea into practice.
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