Jesus, through his person, actions and teaching, is the ultimate revelation of who God is. Through the gift of the promised Holy Spirit, the disciples of Jesus grew to know God as their Father, Jesus as their Lord and Savior and the Spirit as their helper and the giver of Life.
The Bible, along with the earliest writings of the followers of Jesus, reveals a Trinitarian God who is three persons: Father, Son and Spirit who are one in a relationship of perfect love and mutual submission. By his very nature, God is personal and relational. Out of the overflow of this love, God made human beings to be his Image Bearers. We were made to share in this triune fellowship and steward creation together with God.
The Bible further reveals that God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is uncreated and infinite in that he is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, creator, eternal, and more. Also, that he acts towards humanity and all creation in relational ways.
God does not need, but desires, intimate relationship with people. God made people in his image in order to enjoy this intimate fellowship. He was grieved when this fellowship was disrupted by the sin of all humanity.
Through his actions, as revealed through the Old and New Testament, God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – demonstrates he is appropriately just, wise, gracious, generous, compassionate, merciful, kind, forgiving, long-suffering, slow to anger, faithful and more. All his actions are governed by love. There is no other being like God. He is holy.
He made a way for people (salvation) to be present to him again through the incarnation, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. God longs for all people to come to know him through Jesus. He rejoices in those who have been adopted and united in Jesus by the Holy Spirit.
God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is sovereign and is moving human history toward his good desired goal (kingdom come/New Creation). God chooses to do this in ways that include humanity’s role to steward creation. Through our union with Jesus by the empowering of Holy Spirit, the Church is to proclaim the Gospel while we co-labor with Jesus to produce the fruit of God’s kingdom in all spheres of life. Our actions now make a real contribution to God’s coming kingdom.
Engaging your DTS in this part of the Story
We provide many opportunities for students to grow in knowledge, experience and intimacy with God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These include worshipping him for the salvation provided in Jesus, instruction/teaching on his nature and character, and growing in awareness of the indwelling Holy Spirit and cooperating with him.
We also participate in intercession to allow God to communicate with us and us to partner with him to bring his kingdom to earth. In addition, we use journal questions, small group interaction and one on ones to help students further process aspects of God they have misunderstood, not known or lost trust in, etc.
We encourage one another to share testimonies of ways God has revealed himself to them. We teach students to study Scripture and the life and work of Jesus to know God and participate in his life. We do outreach to introduce people to our God who loves and longs for relationship with them.
Key Concepts
God is a personal/relational being in that he is three persons in one: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God is uncreated
God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them.
God is infinite in that he is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, creator, eternal, and more.
All of God’s actions are loving and are consistent with his character. God is holy.
By character, God is appropriately just, wise, gracious, compassionate, merciful, kind, forgiving, long-suffering, slow to anger, faithful and more.
God is sovereign and has ultimate control of history while taking into account the very real choices of people.
God is both transcendent (outside of creation) and immanent (is present and active in creation and dwells within the Church/believer).
God created people to be relational so that he could share his love with them. (Relationship is built by a free exchange of thoughts, emotions and decisions).
Worship is an appropriate response to God. There are many different ways to worship God corporately and privately. Worship should also be reflected in our lifestyle.
God invites people to talk (pray) to him about their needs and concerns.
God longs to share things that are on his heart with his people.
Prayer in the name of Jesus makes a real difference.
God pursues everyone and desires all to be saved through Jesus Christ.
General knowledge about God is available to all people through creation.
The Holy Spirit works to bring awareness and understanding of who God is from the Scriptures and life circumstances.
The Story Line
- God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- Creation: Image Bearers
- The Fall: Broken Image Bearers
- Children of Abraham: Covenant Image Bearers Failed
- Jesus Christ: The True Image Bearer
- Holy Spirit and the Church: Renewed Image Bearers
- Jesus’ Return, Kingdom Come, Renewal of Creation: Reign of Restored Image Bearers Bearers, with Jesus, in creation under God
Key Themes
Trinitarian God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Nature and Character of God
Worship and Intercession
Co-Labouring with God
The Fear of the Lord
Hearing God’s Voice
Deepening Intimacy with God and Spiritual Practices
Suggestions for Reflection:
What are you discovering about God’s desire for relationship with you? How does God’s Trinitarian nature factor into that?
We see what God is truly like through the person and life of Jesus. Reflect on three stories about Jesus from the Gospels that reveal something specific about God’s character.
How does the Holy Spirit help us to know God in deeper or more intimate ways? How have you experienced this?
God is not obligated to love us. He chooses to love us moment by moment. How does this truth match your picture of God?
Our choices affect God’s heart. We can bring him joy or sadness. What difference does this make in the way you see and relate to God?
How has God demonstrated his faithfulness towards you?
