Trinity Series - small group notes #5

If you have not been following this series, please go to the post for January 22 where an explanation of the format is given. Happy studying!

All of God:
Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity
God the Father, Week of February 8, 2009

Ø We call God the Father the first person of the Trinity. Why? We have already clearly established (and will continue to stress) that Father, Son, and Spirit are coequal and coeternal. Yet, there is order in the Trinity. Each person of the Trinity has a particular role. The Father’s role is to lead. Talk about how Psalm 2, Matthew 6:9-10, and 1 Corinthians 15:28 all show God’s supreme authority, even in the Godhead.

Acts 2: Verse 7 is referenced in Acts 13:33 and Hebrews 1:5; 5:5, thus the Son of Psalm 2 is none other than Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, and God in Psalm 2 is God the Father.

Matthew 6: It is God the Father’s will that is asked to be accomplished

1 Corinthians 15:28 – a powerful verse!

Ø Ephesians 1:3-14 (the passage we covered on Sunday February 8) and Colossians 1:3-20 (the passage we will cover on Sunday, February 15) both tell us that Jesus is the centerpiece of history. He holds this position, though, at the Father’s direction and pleasure and for God the Father’s glory. Read these passages to see how the Father lovingly exalts Jesus.

Ø James 1:17 says that God the Father is the source of all good gifts. EVERY single good thing in our lives can be attributed to God’s goodness. Name some of God’s gifts to us that are listed in Scripture, then name some of His good gifts to you as an individual or family, and to Grace Community Church.

1) Jesus and salvation – John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9
2) Good works – Ephesians 2:10
3) Spiritual blessings – Ephesians 1:3 (we tend to look for blessings in all the wrong places, such as material possessions, health, etc. – our blessings are spiritual – from the Spirit – and are in heavenly places)
4) Above all, God’s presence – Romans 8:31-39

Ø How does the authority of the Father over the Son and the Spirit speak to our relationships today, such as husbands being the head of wives (Genesis 3:16; Ephesians 5:22-33), employers over employees (Colossians 3:22-25), and elders leading the church (Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Timothy 5:17a)?

The following excerpt is from Bruce Ware’s book, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles, and Relevance. Our small group leaders are using this excellent resource to help them prepare for these lessons. Absorb Ware’s cogent thoughts on a very important, yet controversial, issue in our time:

“There exists today a widespread movement to remove from Christian vocabulary, hymnody, and even from the Bible itself, references to God as Father. Motivated by misguided and radical feminist convictions that reject all male headship and see fatherhood language about God as promoting the domination of the male, some would seek to change the very language of God’s own self-revelation in order to further their social agenda. But the fact is that we as Christians are not at liberty to modify how God has revealed Himself to us. He has chosen specifically masculine language, and this includes terms such as ‘king,’ ‘lord,’ and ‘father.’ Do we claim to know better than God how God Himself should be named? It seems clear that what stands behind this movement, at bottom, is really a fundamental dislike of the very notion of authority, and in particular of male authority in settings of the home and the believing community. Sinful resistance to authority in general and to the authority of husbands and elders (both male) in particular leads to a desire to undermine the language used by God as Father. We in the evangelical church need to reaffirm and celebrate the fact that God is our Father. Rather than chafing at this language, it should inspire in us deep and profound thanksgiving, confidence, faith, and hope. It should not surprise us that something cherished in the Christian faith is despised by the world, and we should not be swept along by a movement that turns us away from Scripture’s clear teaching and from God’s own self-revelation of who He is and what He wants to be called. Yes, naming God as Father helps us see just how radical it is to be a Christian in today’s culture. May God grant us grace and strength to be faithful to Him by giving Him our most sincere respect, obedience, love and devotion, for He is none other than ‘our Father.’”

Ø The perception we have of God the Father is often clouded by the poor relationships we have/had with our earthly Fathers. Close your eyes while your leader – or, someone he designates – reads Psalm 103 to you (read notes below before doing this on your own). Consider your heavenly Father’s great love for you!

Before you close with this following exercise, it is important to note that Jesus is the only face of the Triune God we will ever see in eternity (at least, as far as I can tell). When we are confronted with images of God the Father (Ezekiel 1, Revelation 4), the picture is very, very murky and mysterious. Then, the Lamb (Jesus, of course) of Revelation 5 and Revelation 22:6-21 comes into view! .

Read from the New Living Translation if you have a copy. Close your eyes and picture yourself crawling up into the Lord’s lap and allowing the Father to put His arms around you. Then, read Psalm 103 slowly and deliberately (is that redundant?). When you finish reading, take time to thank God for His many mercies and blessings to you.