Session 6 - The Trinity: Part 2

The Trinity – The Triune Godhead – Part 2

Topic:      We talked about it last week, but let’s take another look at one of the most perplexing things - our God is one and yet He is three—the Triune Godhead.

Verses to Consider:     Genesis 1:1 &1:26; Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:5

Articles:  
  Part 1 - Basic Overview with Key verses. http://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html

  Part 2 - There’s not a ‘Trinity verse’ — and that’s a good thing  http://magazine.biola.edu/article/11-winter/think-bigger/    

              - The Study of God  http://ichthys.com/1Theo.htm                
              - The Trinity (Triunity) of God  http://bible.org/article/trinity-triunity-god

Key Questions:

• Theologians often describe God as one essence and three persons.  Can you explain that?  

• Is this “trinity concept” a logical contradiction and therefore is not believable?

• This is from the Los Altos Grace Brethren Church in Statement of Faith:
  We believe:  THE ONE TRUE GOD:  existing eternally as three persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22; Matthew 29:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14).

Do you agree? Why or why not?

• Who do you pray to: the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit?

Application:

Divine Truth:
            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:

            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:
Nurturing Relationships:
    How does this truth affect relationships…
                        ...with my spouse (if appropriate):
                        ...with my child/parent:
                        ...with my employer/employee:
                        ...with my friends:
                        ...with my brother/sister:
                        ...with those in authority:

Apostolic Mission:   
     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?

     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?



What's One Thing I will Do this Week because of What I've Learned?

1. 

Session 5 - The Trinity

The Trinity – The Triune Godhead

Topic: ​One of the most perplexing things is that our God is one and yet He is three—the Triune Godhead.

Verses to Consider:     ​Genesis 1:1 &1:26; 
Deuteronomy 6:4; 
Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19-20; 
2 Corinthians 13:14;
Galatians 3:20; 
1 Timothy 2:5

Article: ​http://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html 
<http://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html>


Key Questions:

• Who are the three persons of the Godhead and how do they relate to one another?

• What are the roles or tasks of the three persons of the Godhead—how are they different in what each does?

• What are key passages to talk about the unity/oneness of God?  What are key passages to explain the three persons of the Godhead?

• Is there a helpful diagram or illustration to explain the triune Godhead?

• If you studied only the Old Testament, could you come to know that God is triune? What about from General Revelation alone (meaning no Scriptures)?


Application:

Divine Truth:
​What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:

​What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:


Nurturing Relationships:
  How does this truth affect relationships…
​...with my spouse (if appropriate):
​...with my child/parent:
​...with my employer/employee:
​...with my friends:
​...with my brother/sister:
​...with those in authority:

Apostolic Mission: ​
   How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?

   How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?

---
One Thing I Will Do This Week:



Take Home:
1) God is one
2) The Godhead has three persons
3) The differences between the three

The Authority of the Bible

Our Topic...what is the actual authority of the Bible.

Verses to Consider:     John 10:35; Revelation 22:18-19; Matthew 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 14:37

Article:     http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_Bible_Authoritative.htm  

Key Questions:

• How high in the pecking order is the Scripture?

• I’m responsible to know the Scriptures (interpret it myself), so does it still have authority over me?

• How does church history/tradition relate to the Scripture?

• Is the Bible sufficient for what God wants us to know?

• How does the Bible relate to science

Application:

Divine Truth:

            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:

            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:

Nurturing Relationships:

    How does this truth affect relationships…

                        ...with my spouse (if appropriate):

                        ...with my child/parent:

                        ...with my employer/employee:

                        ...with my friends:

                        ...with my brother/sister:

                        ...with those in authority:

Apostolic Mission:    

     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?

     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?

Take Home:

    The Scripture is superior to me

            The Scripture has a claim on my life

            Its authority leads us to a right relationship with God

            Have a learning, submitting, growing, awe-filled approach to the Scriptures

How We Got Our Bible: The Canon of Scripture - Session 3

How We Got Our Bible: The Canon of Scripture

Topic:

     The Old Testament was in put together by the Jewish religious leaders years before Jesus came to earth.  The early church accepted the books of the New Testament after passing certain criteria.  The accepted collection was called the “canon” of Scripture.  The word “canon” means “measuring stick.”  There were three main criteria:

1)            Did an Apostle or someone with Jesus write it?

2)            Was the book consistent with known Scriptures?

3)            Did the early church universally accept the book as Scripture?

Check out the following article for more introduction:   http://bible.org/seriespage/bible-holy-canon-scripture

Key Questions:

• Why these books?

• How did it get to this list of books?

• Can more books/letters be added to this list?

Application:

Divine Truth:

            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:

            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:

Nurturing Relationships:

    How does this truth affect relationships…

                        ...with my spouse (if appropriate):

                        ...with my child/parent:

                        ...with my employer/employee:

                        ...with my friends:

                        ...with my brother/sister:

                        ...with those in authority:

Apostolic Mission:    

     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?

     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?

One Thing I Will Do This Week:

Take Home:

1. General outline of how we got the Bible

2. Confident of the 66 books in our Bible

3. Awe of God using humans to accomplish His purpose over time, space, cultures

10 Passages that reflect the Scriptures talking about their own inspiration

What the Bible says about itself. . .

1) 2 Timothy 3:16‑17 

All Scripture is inspired.  Inspiration is literally “God-breathed.”  Inspiration in the biblical definition means that all the very words of Scripture were God-breathed.

            This text emphasizes that divine inspiration applies to the whole original text of the Bible.  It doesn’t say that all Scripture is equally important, but that it is equally inspired by God (cf. Judges 3:16 and John 3:16).

ALL SCRIPTURE IS INSPIRED

 2) 2 Peter 1:20‑21

This text explains something of the "how" in divine revelation. It emphasizes the Holy Spirit's superintending work over the human authors.  Both the human and divine elements exist, but the divine is in control.

THE HOW OF INSPIRATION INCLUDED GOD AND MAN

 3) Mark 7:8‑13

Christ endorsed

1)    the fact that Moses authored the Pentateuch (first 5 books of OT) and

2)    the divine inspiration of the Pentateuch. 

As a corollary, the emphasis is once again, as in 2 Timothy 3:16‑17, on the written product as being divinely inspired and preserved (see Matthew 5:18).

THE PENTATEUCH IS INSPIRED

 4) Matthew 24:15

Christ endorsed the Prophets.  In this case, Daniel is mentioned by name.  Thus this becomes an important proof text since Daniel, more than any other book outside the Pentateuch, is ridiculed and rejected by liberal "scholarship."

THE PROPHETS ARE INSPIRED

 5) Mark 12:36

Christ endorsed the Psalms, in this case also attesting to David’s authorship.

THE POETIC BOOKS ARE INSPIRED

 6) Luke 24:25‑27

Christ endorsed the entire Old Testament (called the "Law and the Prophets" in this verse‑ see Matthew 5:17, 7:12, 11:13).

THE ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT IS INSPIRED

 7) Mark 13:31

Christ declared that his own words were eternal and infallible.

THE GOSPELS ARE INSPIRED

 8) John 16:12‑13

Christ declared that His teaching did not represent the sum of new revelation.  He stated that the Holy Spirit would give further, complete truth to the Apostles.  This verse teaches two things: (a) further revelation would be given to the Apostles, and (b) this revelation would be completed in the Apostles' lifetimes, since Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would guide them into "all" truth.  Correlate this passage with John 17:17, where Jesus, speaking to the Father, says, "Thy word is truth [aleithia, same word as 16:12‑13]."

FURTHER REVELATION WOULD FOLLOW THE GOSPELS

 9) 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Paul taught that his teaching carried divine authority (see also 1 Cor 14:37).

THE LETTERS/EPISTLES ARE INSPIRED

10) 2 Peter 3:15‑16

Peter affirmed the inspiration of Paul's letters, equating them with the "other Scriptures."  (The Greek word for "other" is loipos, meaning rest, further, remaining.)

THE LETTERS OF PAUL ARE INSPIRED

Facebook Group

All...we started a Facebook group too...so we can contact those who we can catch better that way.  If you want to join...go to the group here:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_135535699856377

Topic for Session 2 (Sun. 6/12) - Inspiration, Inerrancy and Reliability of the Bible

Article to check out:    http://bible.org/article/inspiration-inerrancy

            

Verses to check out and see what they say about themselves (The Scriptures affirming the Scriptures):

1) 2 Timothy 3:16‑17 

2) 2 Peter 1:20‑21

3) Mark 7:8‑13

Christ endorsed

            1.  

                        2.                    

 Matthew 5:18

 4) Matthew 24:15

 5) Mark 12:36

 6) Luke 24:25‑27 

 7) Mark 13:31

 8) John 16:12‑13

 9) 1 Thessalonians 2:13

 10) 2 Peter 3:15‑16

Session 1 Worksheet -- Revelation

Revelation

Topic: 

Revelation defined.       These are two kinds of revelation- Specific and General Revelation

Verses: Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:20, Hebrews 1:1-3

Article: http://ldolphin.org/reveln.html

Key Questions:

•           How has God revealed himself to us?

•           How do we know He has? 

•           What means does He reveal himself to us today?

•           Why would God communicate with us?

•           What can you know about God and His expectations of man from General Revelation

Application:

Divine Truth:

            What are some old beliefs that I need to lay aside and new beliefs I need to adopt:

            What are some old behaviors I need to lay aside and new behaviors I need to adopt:

Nurturing Relationships:

    How does this truth affect relationships…

                        ...with my spouse (if appropriate):

                        ...with my child/parent:

                        ...with my employer/employee:

                        ...with my friends:

                        ...with my brother/sister:

                        ...with those in authority:

Apostolic Mission:    

     How does this truth help me in overcoming the enemy’s schemes?

     How does this truth help me in pursuing the mission I have in God’s kingdom?

___________________

One Thing I Will Do This Week:

Take Home:

1. Means by which God reveals Himself

2. A sense that God wants to be known by you

3 passages to look over about God revealing Himself:

Psalm 19
Romans 1:20
Hebrews 1:1-4

Here's an article to consider on the subject of Revelation:

http://ldolphin.org/reveln.html

Topic 1- Revelation

Revelation -- God unveiled Himself to us how?

College group - we're starting new material tomorrow - in-depth theology discussions with Phil and Mike - 9 AM sharp. David Deaton

Introduction

Introduction                                                  

TruthQuest is a learning system that encourages a learning community rather than a lecture/listen format. We are seeking to grow deeper in knowledge and understanding of the Scripture and to apply those Scriptures to our lives in the present. To that end we will spend time at the end of each session working on how the Scriptures actually work themselves into the fabric of our lives.

Each session will have a topic and we encourage everyone to scour the Scriptures to inform the group about the topic. The goal is actually becoming good, life-long learners, rather than having every bit of minutia nailed down. There are also many who have studied and written down their understanding on these theological topics.  We recommend learning from those who have gone before as well.  You might want to pick up one or two of these resources to aid your learning. (see below) 

Recommended Books

Since we are going to be learning together...and from those who have gone on before, we thought we would post some of the books we recommend for you to consult in your learning...

Recommended Theology Books: 

Dispensational:
Ryrie, Charles.  Basic Theology

Thiessen, Henry C. Lectures in Systematic Theology

Covenant/Reformed:

Boice, James M. Foundations of the Christian Faith

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

Charismatic:

Williams, J. Rodman. Renewal Theology: Systematic Theology from a Charismatic Perspective

Other:

Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology

Grenz, Stanley. Theology for the Community of God

Welcome to the Blog for Truth Quest

Hey...here's a spot we can post and comment and more about our Truth Quest learning community. Just carving out some space.