RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL 18 September 2022, Lesson 3 – DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
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RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL
LESSON: THREE
DATE: SUNDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER 2022
TOPIC: DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN
- O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Thy friend friendship suits me well,
Both young and will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds be black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
OPENING PRAYER
Father, unravel the mystery of the Trinity to me.
MEMORY VERSE: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one”. –1John 5:7
BIBLE PASSAGE: MATTHEW 3:16-17
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
INTRODUCTION
The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to the Christian faith. It is the revelation of who our Almighty God is. God is an infinite Being, existing eternally as three co-equal and infinitely distinct Persons also called the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit. The origin of the doctrine of the Trinity is the Bible, although the word Trinity is not used in the Bible. The word ‘Trinity’ was coined by one of the early Church fathers, by the name ‘Tertullian.’ This doctrine is called ‘Trinitarianism’ and it’s adherents are called ‘Trinitarians.’ The focus of the study is to clarify the concept of the Trinity by providing the biblical basis for it with further clarifications.
TEXT REVIEW: MATTHEW 3:16-17.
One insightful piece of evidence of the existence and operation of the Trinity is found in the above text. It records that the Trinity in council was present at Jesus’ baptism.
A. Jesus: After he went out of the water straight from baptism ……….V16a.
………………….V16b.
B. Holy Spirit: Jesus saw………….V16c.
C. God the Father: and a voice from heaven………..V17b.
LESSON OUTLINES
- BIBLICAL BASIS
- THE EXPLANATION
BIBLICAL BASIS
A. The old testament provides glimpses of the Trinity. For example:
i. The Hebrew word for God-“Elohim” – is a plural form of the word ‘El’: hence, in Genesis 1:26, God says (in the plural) “Let us make man in our image.”
ii. When God created the Heaven and the earth, Jesus was the instrument of God’s creation (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-16), in the company of the Holy Spirit who hovered over the waters (Genesis 1:2).
iii. Genesis 11:7, “Go to, let us go down…” also provides us with the evidence of the three-in-oneness of God.
iv. The Torah (the first five books of the Old testament, also called the law or the Pentateuch) hinted at the idea of God existing in three Persons and predicted His coming in the flesh (Genesis 49:10) to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). He is not only God’s Son (Isaiah 9:6) but a Messiah who would be God in the flesh (Zechariah 2:10-11).
Also Read: Open Heaven 18 September 2022 Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – BENEFITS OF WITNESSING III
B. From the very beginning of the church in the New testament, Christians understood the mystery of the Trinity. For example:
i. John the beloved knew the Son was the Creator (John 1:1-3), the “I Am” of the Old testament (John 8:58; Exodus 3:14), same with the Father (John 10:30-49), and the Judge of all the earth (John 5:22), who is to be worshipped as only God is allowed to be (Matthew 14:33).
ii. Also, the first Christians knew the Holy Spirit was a separate person (John 14:26) who intercedes for us with God (Romans 8:26-27), proving he is a distinct person from God the Father. The early believers knew that the Father and the son sent the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit- “another comforter”- to live our hearts (John 14:16-17, 26;16:7).
C.New testament writers mention all three persons of the Trinity together numerous times. For instance:
i. At Jesus’ baptism- Matthew 3:13-17 (voice of the Father, Son baptized, Spirit descending like a dove).
ii. At salvation- 1Peter 1:2 (chosen by the Father, sanctified by the Spirit, sprinkled with the blood of Jesus).
iii. At Sanctification- 2Corinthians 13:14 (grace of the Lord Jesus, love of God, fellowship of the Holy Spirit).
iv. At Christians baptism- Matthew 28:19 (baptised in one name, yet, three Persons- Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit).
v. For a witness- 1John 5:7- For there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
CLASS ACTIVITY 1
Why do you believe in the Trinity?
THE EXPLANATION
A. As Christians:
i. We do not believe in three Gods, which is a heresy called ‘Tritheism.’
ii. We do not believe that the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are three “forms” of God -like steam, water, and ice. This is the heresy called ‘Modalism.’ The egg is comprised of three parts: the yellowish part, the whitish part, and the shell. Despite this, the egg is not three but one.
B. The doctrine of the Trinity holds that:
i. God is ‘one being’ but ‘three persons’. ‘The ‘three persons’ define who God is (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) while the ‘one being’ defines what God is (Infinite, Omnipresent, Omniscient, etc).
ii. God has ‘one nature,’ but ‘three centres of consciousness.’ This means the Father is God (Galatians 1:1), the Son is God (John 20:28 and the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4). They are not three gods but only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4).
C. The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, the Spirit is not the Father, but each is God individually and yet they are together: co-equal, co-eternal, having precisely the same nature and attributes (Almighty, unchangeable, infinitely powerful, wise, just, holy, etc.) and worthy of precisely the same worship, confidence, and obedience.
CLASS ACTIVITY 2
What is your view of the Trinity?
SUMMARY
The doctrine of the Trinity is a valid mystery across ages and holds that they are not three gods but only one God with three consciousness.
CONCLUSION
The doctrine of the ‘Trinity’ is Christianity’s most unique, defining awesome mystery.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, let me daily enjoy the presence of the Trinity.
ASSIGNMENT
Mention five (5) heretical belief/doctrines you have heard on the Trinity. (2×5=10 Marks).
Open Heavens 2021 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
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