Week 3, God in the Three Persons (Trinity)
Discussion Questions
1. When we read our Bible, we see there is clearly only one God and yet the Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit are all spoken of as ‘God’. Have a look at some of these verses (which have been
replicated from last week’s reading notes) to remind one another of these truths.
a) There is just one God
Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6, 1 Corinthians 8:6 (relevant for following point also)
b) The Father is described as God
Malachi 2:10, John 5:18, John 6:27, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2-3, 1 John 3:1.
c) The Son is described as God
Isaiah 7.14, Isaiah 9:6, Titus 2:11-14, 2 Peter 1:1, John 20:28, Revelation 1:8, John 8:58
d) The Holy Spirit is described as God
Acts 5:1-4 (where lying to the Holy Spirit is equated with lying to God), Psalm 139:7-8; John 14:23,
1 Corinthians 2:11, 1 John 4:13, 1 Peter 4:14.
So how are we to understand this? Are Christians required to live as the White Queen did in Alice
Through the Looking Glass, who made it her practice to believe six impossible things before breakfast?
It doesn't fit our understanding of mathematics, nor our sense of logic! Share with the group how you
have grappled with this doctrine (teaching) in the past. Have you simply put it in the ‘too hard’
basket? Have you accepted it without question? Have you dismissed it or denied it as ‘impossible’?
2. What did the sermon claim was the main danger if we make any of the three main historic errors
when it comes to the Trinity? (ie Polytheism, Modalism, and that which makes Jesus a created being.)
3. There were six implications of the doctrine of the Trinity. Let’s briefly discuss each in turn.
a) The whole of the Christian life – how we relate to God - is defined by the Trinity. For example,
the Father loves me and sent Jesus to die for me, who in turn sent the Spirit to transform me.
What are some of the other unique ways we know the Father, Son and Spirit to be at work in our
lives? (For example, some describe the Trinity as “Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier”.)
b) The Christian life is loving because God in Trinity is loving. Where do we see that? And what
does it mean for an understanding both of God and of love?
c) The Christian life is communal because God in Trinity is communal. What does this say about
God and what he intends for us? In what ways can our church give greater expression to this?
d) The Christian life is transparent because God in Trinity is transparent. What does this say about
God and what he intends for us? In what ways can our church give greater expression to this?
e) The Christian life is humble because God in Trinity is humble. What did this humility mean for
the Lord Jesus? What are the implications of this for us? (Option: refer to Philippians 2:5-11).
f) This Christian life is joyful because God in Trinity is joyful. “There’s no jealousy. There’s no conflict.
There’s no disrespect. There’s no lying. There’s no hiding. There’s no blaming. There’s just love: perfect
love, perfect unity, perfect communication, perfect affection, perfect adoration, perfect connection.” How
can we move toward a greater expression and experience of this joy?
4. Any fresh insights from today’s study (or on the Ascension or Pentecost) to share with the group?
The Anglican Church of Noosa