1. LEADER PREPARATION

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1 apologetics: Jesus christ Lesson 1: Understanding the Trinity This includes: 1. Leader Preparation 2. Lesson Guide 1. LEADER PREPARATION LESSON OVERVIEW In this lesson, your students will examine one of the most important doctrines of the Christian church: the doctrine of the Trinity. As Christians we do not worship three different gods, and we don t worship a god who manifests himself three different ways. We have one God made up of three persons. This lesson will delve deep into this doctrine and help your students see the greatness of God. LESSON OBJECTIVES 1. WHAT: The doctrine of a Triune God is foundational to Christianity and a teaching that is distinctive from other religions and worldviews. 2. WHY: Teenagers benefit from understanding who each person of the Trinity is, how they relate to one another, and what it means for us as followers of Christ. 3. HOW: Students will look at Bible passages that reveal the character and work of each person of the Trinity, and they ll consider how their prayers can reinforce their understanding of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. PRIMARY SCRIPTURE John 14:6-26 SECONDARY SCRIPTUREs Exodus 3:14; Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4; 32:39; 1 Kings 8:60; Isaiah 45:18; Malachi 2:10; Matthew 23:9; Luke 10:21-22; John 8:50-58; 10:30; 12:45; Acts 16:6; Romans 8:9, 26; 1 Corinthians 2:10; 8:6; 12:11; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:3; 4:6, 30; Philippians 2:1 TEACHING PREP The overview below is designed to help you prepare for your lesson. We have included lots of content to help you prepare for the discussion on apologetics. While you may not want to convey this information word-for-word with your teenagers, you ll definitely want to refer to it as you lead and some of the content can help with further conversations with students.

2 Read John 14:6-26. Elohim, Adonai, Yahweh, Lord of Lords, Wonderful Counselor, Ancient of Days, The Creator, Prince of Peace. These are just some of the names, titles, and attributes that have been ascribed to God, but what do they really mean? How do they impact our lives? God is a God who is infinite or without limits. God exists outside of time and space, and our finite minds cannot comprehend all that defines God. Omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence are terms used to give us a glimpse into some of God s attributes they are descriptive terms but do not fully define God. The omniscience of God means that God is all knowing or that he has unlimited knowledge (1 John 3:20). The omnipotence of God says that he is a God of unlimited power. Scripture is full of this aspect of God s nature. Psalm 115:3 and Matthew 19:26 give us a glimpse into the great power of God. No one can escape God s presence because he is always present omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-12). Our God is a God who understands perfect relationship and love because the essence of his existence is in the context of the Trinitarian relationship. The Trinity is made up of three distinct persons the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit yet they are one in essence. The Father is the sovereign creator of all things the author of humanity and the one who initiated the redemption process. The Father resides in heaven on the throne. The Son was sent by the Father to walk with humanity and to atone for the sins of humanity. Those who believe in Jesus are purified from all unrighteousness and are reconciled with the Father. Finally we have the promised counselor, the Holy Spirit who indwells, seals (Ephesians 1:13-14), and empowers people (Acts 1:8) to do the works of God in this world. Each member of the Trinity has distinct roles, yet they reside in perfect unity with one another. Each person of the Trinity has always been, and the Holy Trinity has always been united and in relationship with one another. Because God was in perfect union

3 and relationship before the creation of humanity, he understands our longings for significant relationship in our lives. God created us and knows what we need before we do. God s essence is love, and because of this he set in motion a redemption plan to reconcile his creation back to himself. Each person of the Trinity plays a significant part in the redemption of humanity. Out of the outpouring of love that God feels for his creation, all of his passion was poured out to humanity in the person of Jesus. Though fully God, Jesus came to Earth in the form of a human and took on the nature of a human. Jesus always had been God (John 8:58, 10:30), and at the incarnation Jesus was given to us. Jesus is God in flesh, and as his mother, Mary, was indwelt by the Holy Spirit, she became pregnant with Jesus (Luke 1:35). This does not suggest that Jesus did not exist before he was conceived and given to us. As with the other members of the Trinity, Jesus has always existed. When Jesus was conceived, he became a human being while still being God (John 1:1, 14). Because of the incarnation of Christ, we can be certain that Jesus experienced temptation in this life and was able to identify with struggles we have in our own lives (Hebrews 2:17). Yet God, who is relational at his core, sent Jesus to be with us to atone for our sins (Philippians 2:5-11). The glory of God is revealed in all of creation (Psalm 19:1-6), yet God takes time to quietly speak to our hearts. This united God, made up of three distinct persons, understands love and the needs of humanity. God is our creator and the only one who can sustain us. THE BEFORE & AFTER [optional] Text Message Questions We ve provided a couple of different text message questions to send out to your students prior to your meeting. Feel free to use one or both of the questions below. As with the rest of the curriculum, edit these questions to fit the needs of your ministry. Ever spent time thinking about the Trinity? Join us tonight as we examine some solid truths about God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Is it possible to illustrate how the Trinity works? We ll check out some illustrations when the group meets this week.

4 Parent We ve provided you with an below that you can send to parents following the lesson. Our hope is to encourage parents to continue the conversation at home. Feel free to edit and customize the to fit your ministry needs. Dear parents, We ve begun a four-lesson study in apologetics focused on truths about Jesus that are important to know. This first week, we studied the doctrine of the Trinity. Our God exists as three separate persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. When correctly understood this great mystery has the potential to change the way we view God and relate to him as his children. Our students discussed various truths and Scriptures that show God s true nature. Many religions and cults deny the existence of a triune God, and our study gave our students a solid foundation to stand on when comparing Christianity to these worldviews. One practical way you can help reinforce what we have discussed is to pray through the persons of the Trinity with your teenager. Consider praying by: Thanking God the Father for his sovereignty Thanking God the Son for dying on the cross Asking God the Spirit to continue to empower you and your child to live the life God desires As we continue through this series, please contact me if you have any questions or would like additional resources to help answer your teenager s questions. Have a great week.

5 apologetics: jesus christ Lesson 1: Understanding the Trinity 2. LEsson guide GETTING THINGS STARTED [optional] For the opening activity, you ll need paper towels and several hard-boiled eggs. You ll also need a three-leaf clover (or a picture of one).. Welcome your students and invite them into your meeting area. Open in prayer, and then have students form groups of three or four. Give each group a paper towwel and a hard-boiled egg, and ask students to take apart the egg and lay out the three distinct parts of the egg: the shell, the yolk, and the egg white. Then SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Today we are talking about the Trinity a word used to describe the relationship between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As Christians we do not worship three different gods, and we don t worship a god who manifests himself three different ways. We have one God made up of three persons. What are some ways an egg might be similar to the Trinity? What are some ways an egg might be different from the Trinity? SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Unfortunately, the illustration of an egg comes up short when trying to illustrate the Trinity. While the egg itself is whole, each of the parts shell, egg white, and yoke is a different substance, whether we re talking about a hard-boiled egg or a raw egg. The yoke is completely separate in nature from the shell. The shell is not the egg; it s a part of the egg. The white part is not the egg; it s a part of the egg. The yoke is not the egg; it is a part of the egg. Show the students a three-leaf clover (or a picture of one on your smartphone or tablet). A three-leaf clover has three leaves that are all the same do you think a three-leaf clover might be a better illustration than an egg when trying to illustrate the Trinity? Why or why? In what way might a three-leaf clover help explain the Trinity?

6 In what way might a three-leaf clover fall short when trying to explain the Trinity? SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Like the egg illustration, this illustration would be good if we had three separate gods who were just like one another. This is called tritheism three different gods. In the illustration, each leaf of the clover is itself a separate leaf. The leaf in the middle is not the same as the leaf on either side of it; it is only similar. But in the Trinity, each person shares in the exact same nature. Another illustration that is sometimes used when trying to describe the Trinity is a man being a father, a son, and a husband all at the same time. But this illustration also falls short in trying to explain the Trinity. Father, son, and husband describe different functions of the same person. Each function cannot exist in a simultaneous relationship with each other, can t talk to each other, and cannot exist in an eternal relationship with each other. All of these illustrations have weaknesses and fall short of fully and accurately capturing the marvel of the Trinity. Here s the bottom line: The Trinity is not like anything in creation. Creation cannot mimic its Creator. TEACHING POINTS The goal of the Teaching Points is to help students capture the essence of each lesson with more discussion and less lecture-style teaching. The main points we have chosen are (1) The Trinity is about perfect relationship, (2) The Father is God, (3) The Son is God, and (4) The Holy Spirit is God. Remember: All throughout these lessons, it s up to you to choose (1) how many questions you use, and (2) the wording of the main points keep ours, or change the wording to make it clearer for your audience. Read John 14:6-26 together as a group. Consider dividing verses among your students so everyone has a chance to read. SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Even though the term Trinity is not found in the Bible, the entire Bible speaks to the idea of a Triune God. As we ll see today, Scripture does reveal that the Father is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God.

7 1. The Trinity is about perfect relationship Tell us about the best, most perfect friendship you ve ever experienced or what you d expect to experience in that kind of friendship. Why do we love and value the friendships that reach this level of perfection or at least come close to it? Look through our passage from John 14. How does this Scripture reveal the interaction between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit? SAY SOMETHING LIKE: It can be difficult to grasp the idea that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are each equally one God, but it is one of the core truths and doctrines of the Christian faith. Different world religions have ridiculed the Christian teaching of a Trinitarian God. Many religions believe in multiple gods, but Christianity s teaching of a Triune God is significantly different from what other religions teach. Each distinct person of the Trinity understands his role and each person of the Trinity not only fulfills his role, but also perfectly submits to each other person of the Trinity. Read the following passages about God: Deuteronomy 4:35, Deuteronomy 6:4, Deuteronomy 32:39, 1 Kings 8:60, and Isaiah 45:18. What do these verses speak to you about the character, actions, and nature of God? What do you think was happening in the broader culture that made it important for God to remind his people so many times that he was one God? Does this reflect our culture today? Why or why not? If it s true that the Trinity is a mystery we can never fully understand, why worry about it or discuss it? SAY SOMETHING LIKE: There is so much about God that we as his creation cannot comprehend and in fact, even if it were all revealed to us, we wouldn t be able to comprehend. If a creation could fully understand its creator, then that creator would cease to be sovereign over it. The Triune Godhead is a mystery that we will never fully comprehend on this side of eternity. But it s important to study and understand the Trinity as best as we can, to help us gain confidence in the truth of Scripture and the reality of God.

8 2. The Father is God SAY SOMETHING LIKE: The Christian view of God as Father and the Jewish view of God as father are very different. Judaism uses the term father as a metaphor for what God has done for his children, how he gives life, how he grants laws to abide by, and how he judges the actions of his children. This title speaks of what God is like, rather than him actually being our Father. Through the words of Jesus, Christianity, like Judaism, teaches that God is our provider, creator, lawgiver, and judge. However, Christianity raises the bar by declaring that God is the Father of all creation, not simply one who acts like a father. And taking it one step further, Christianity views God the Father as a person, specifically the first person of the Triune Godhead. What is the difference between viewing God like a father and viewing him as your Father? Read the following verses, which say some specific things about God the Father: Malachi 2:10, Matthew 23:9, Luke 10:21-22, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 1:3, and Ephesians 4:6. What are two or three specific aspects of God the Father discussed in these passages that confirm him to be God? 3. The Son is God Ask students to form groups of two or three for these questions. Why is Jesus such a polarizing figure, even so many centuries after he walked the face of this world? Look back at our passage from John 14. Which statement do you think is the most polarizing or divisive, and why? Bring everyone back together, and ask for volunteers to share answers to the previous questions, as time permits. SAY SOMETHING LIKE: John 1 tells us that Jesus, the Word, has existed since the beginning of time and that the Word became human when Jesus came down in the flesh. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah reveals that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. Throughout his ministry, Jesus cast out demons and cured the sick and did miracles in his own name. This drove the religious leaders crazy. In their mind, only the great

9 I AM was able to do such things. Jesus knew what they thought about him and how his words and actions would offend people, but to deny his deity was a greater offense. Read Exodus 3:14 and then John 8: Based on the words from Exodus, what statement was Jesus making when he said, I am that I am? Read the following verses: John 10:30, John 12:45, and Romans 8:9. What do these three verses reveal to you about Jesus? SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Scripture teaches us that Jesus is the creator (John 1:3) as God is the creator (Job 33:4). Jesus is the first and the last (Revelation 1:17) as God is the first and the last (Isaiah 41:4). Jesus is the I AM (John 8:58) just as God is the I AM (Exodus 3:14). Jesus is the judge (2 Timothy 4:1) as God is the judge (Joel 3:12). And ultimately, Jesus is the good shepherd that Isaiah (Isaiah 40:11) and David (Psalm 23:1) refer to in the Old Testament. God the Son gave his life for his creation and sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven awaiting the moment when he returns to redeem his people. 4. The Holy Spirit is God Why is it essential to know that the Holy Spirit is God? Why is it so important to know the Holy Spirit is a person and not a thing or an it? SAY SOMETHING LIKE: It is essential for us to know that the Holy Spirit is a real person and not a presence, a power, or a natural force. Knowing him as a person will open you up to hearing him when he speaks to you, realizing that he prays for you, and knowing he will teach you to open your heart and mind as he guides you in your decisions and life. Scripture reveals that the Spirit is distinct from the Father and the Son. Jesus himself said over and over in the Gospel of John that an advocate would come when he went back to the Father. This Advocate would guide, teach, and lead the disciples in the ways God wanted them to go. It would be impossible for Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be the same person when Jesus referred to the Advocate as a different person that would come.

10 Read the following Scriptures that describe the attributes of the Holy Spirit: Acts 16:6, Romans 8:26, 1 Corinthians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 12:11, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Ephesians 4:30, and Philippians 2:1. Which attribute do you find most appealing or intriguing, and why? Read Galatians 5: When have you seen this Fruit of the Spirit in your life or in the life of another person? Do you find it easy or difficult to allow God the Spirit to work in your life? Why? SAY SOMETHING LIKE: The Holy Spirit is the Advocate sent by the Father to take up personal residence inside of his people. We can have a joy-filled life with the presence of the Holy Spirit, no matter what our circumstances might be. God the Spirit loves us, and he desires to encourage and empower us as we receive the gifts he gives us and display the Fruit of the Spirit in this world. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION [optional] SAY SOMETHING LIKE: The triune nature of God is one of the most important doctrines of Christianity. This teaching separates Christians from all other religions, including Christian-like cults. Christianity holds to the truth that while there is only one God, this God reveals himself in three persons, each being eternally separate from the other. There is one compelling argument for the triune nature of God that no one can deny. Love is the most widely accepted attribute of God. If God truly loves, then he must be able to fully understand, participate in, and express relationship and love. God did not become love at some point but has always been a God of love. For love and relationship to exist, multiple people must be present to give and receive love. How does God being triune explain whom and how God loved before creation? If a religion does not believe in a triune God, does that mean that religion s deity can t be fully loving toward humanity? Why or why not?

11 APPLICATION How can today s conversation help you talk with people who have questions about the Trinity specifically or about God in general? SUMMARY What new insights have you gained about God today? How can these insights help you as you follow, honor, and worship God? Consider how understanding the persons of the Trinity has the potential to impact your prayer life. Spend some time praying together as a group. Use the persons of the Trinity as a prayer guide. Thank the Father for being sovereign over all creation, thank the Son for dying on the cross on our behalf, and ask the Holy Spirit to continue to empower you to live the life God wants you to live. End your lesson here. Provide your teenagers with a quick summary or take-home challenge based on (1) the content of this lesson, (2) the dialogue that took place during the lesson, (3) your understanding of the issues and struggles your teenagers are facing, and (4) the big picture of your youth ministry and what your leadership team wants accomplished with the teaching and discussion time. FOR KEEPS [MEMORY VERSE] Encourage and/or challenge your teenagers to memorize the verse below. Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6).