Active Learning Bible Studies
Trinity:
Who Is God?
"Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past?
Was it not I, the LORD?
And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior;
there is none but me. Turn to me and be saved!"
(from Isaiah 45:21–22)
These weekly active learning studies aim for growth in leaders and learners alike. Each onscreen study has a link beneath it to a printable version, leaving these flexible for in-person groups, remote classes, or people studying solo.
New studies are being added throughout the year!
Trinity
"Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other." —Dt 4:39
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Image: Dt 4:39 on Bible Hub Interlinear
GOD IS ALIVE.
Many think of God as a set of facts, an ancient tradition, or a useful myth. But the LORD himself speaks and acts, showing that he lives. How do our beliefs about what God is affect our relationships with him?
In each passage below, how and why is God's life emphasized?
INNATE TRAITS OF GOD
What else do we know about the one and only Living God's intrinsic nature? He is:
eternal: without _________ or ____
(Psalm 90:1–2, Revelation 1:8, Romans 1:20)
self-sufficient: needing ________
(Genesis 1:1*, Job 35:5–8, Acts 17:24–25)
the source of ____ created things**
(Nehemiah 9:6, Colossians 1:15–17, Psalm 104:27–30, Psalm 139:13)
*Our beginning... not God's.
**God didn't create evil. As cold is the absence of heat, evil is the absence of good. Sin (evil) came here when we fell prey to Satan; why he became sinful isn't told. God tells of salvation: see John 8:44, Romans 5:12, Colossians 2:13–15, Romans 16:20 (foretold in Genesis 3:15).
INNATE TRAITS OF GOD
What else do we know about the one and only Living God's intrinsic nature? He is:
all-powerful
(Psalm 89:7, Proverbs 21:30, Proverbs 16:33, Ephesians 1:17–23)
all-knowing
(Hebrews 4:13, Isaiah 42:8–9, John 13:19, Psalm 139:1–6)
in all __________
INNATE TRAITS OF GOD
What else do we know about the one and only Living God's intrinsic nature? He is:
all-good: holy, perfect
This means God perfectly unites two traits:
WHO HE IS
"I Am" (Ehyeh) and "LORD" (YHWH) sound similar; "LORD" = "I Am" or "He Is."
Genesis 1:26–27: Singular "said," yet plural "elohim," "us," "our" in verse 26.
Matthew 28:19–20: Singular "name," yet Father, Son, Spirit.
the LORD
When God introduces himself to us, consider how these innate traits are reflected in his name, the LORD, and in his divine actions.
WHAT HE DOES
1 Peter 1:10–12: What are the Spirit's names? His actions? Sent by whom?
Psalm 2:7: Who speaks?
Zechariah 7:12: Whose words?
THE LORD IS TRIUNE
The Father is the LORD (Psalm 2)—he sent his Son to save sinners; he also sends the Spirit.
The Son is the LORD (compare Joel 2:32 with Romans 10:9–13)—he was born human to be our substitute.
Fully God and fully man, Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose for us.
He reigns with the Father and sends the Spirit.
The Spirit is the LORD (compare 2 Samuel 23:2 with Mark 12:36)—he anointed Jesus to save sinners and knows the deep things of the Father.
There is one God: he is the LORD.
THE TRINITY
How does it "work" that God is Three in One? We aren't told... but we know he's all-powerful, outside space and time, and is our world's very engineer. A wiser question might be, "Why would we assume God is limited by our constraints?" (If you draw a picture, does that mean you're 2D?)
The Bible does reveal what we need to know: because we are weak and the devil is strong, the Almighty Living LORD came down to be our brother.
Because of you.
Because of me.
Deuteronomy 4:39* answers human questions:
How many gods are there? ______.
Who is that god? He is the _______.
What should our relationship with God be like?
"God" is "el" in Hebrew, the primary language of the Old Testament. El, its main variant elohim, and occasional variant eloah, all have the same root meaning: ________.
What does this tell us about the type of being God is?
*Bonus: Do Genesis 2:7, Job 40:6–14, Isaiah 45:20–22, Mark 12:29–30, and Romans 14:11–12 present those same truths?
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Ascension
Photo: Szabo Viktor on Unsplash
Christ's triumphant ascension to the right hand of the Father is often considered a relatively minor church festival. But Scripture teaches the importance of this great event...
PRINTABLE ASCENSION
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Ascension
Photo: Szabo Viktor on Unsplash
Christ's triumphant ascension to the right hand of the Father is often considered a relatively minor church festival. But Scripture teaches the importance of this great event...
PRINTABLE ASCENSION
Try It!
Ascension
Photo: Szabo Viktor on Unsplash
Christ's triumphant ascension to the right hand of the Father is often considered a relatively minor church festival. But Scripture teaches the importance of this great event...
PRINTABLE ASCENSION
Try It!
Ascension
Photo: Szabo Viktor on Unsplash
Christ's triumphant ascension to the right hand of the Father is often considered a relatively minor church festival. But Scripture teaches the importance of this great event...
PRINTABLE ASCENSION
Lord
Christ's triumphant ascension to the right hand of the Father is often considered a relatively minor church festival. But Scripture teaches the importance of this great event...
Try It!
Photo: Szabo Viktor on Unsplash
PRINTABLE ASCENSION
LORD
What does God's personal name, LORD, reveal about who he is?
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Photo: Szabo Viktor on Unsplash
PRINTABLE ASCENSION
God
What does the word "God" mean?
"Then Melchizedek... blessed Abram, saying, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.'" —Ge 14:18,19
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Photo: Szabo Viktor on Unsplash
PRINTABLE ASCENSION