Stonecroft Ministries What is God like Trinity curriculum lesson 3 adapted for youth and children in Africa"

Prayer:Eternal Father, we worship You. We have learned that You had no beginning and will have no end. We acknowledge You as the great Creator of all that exists. Help us think correctly about You as we read Your Word. We pray in the name of Jesus, amen.

During the last week, while at home, you will have read the Bible verses answered the questions. Lets discuss your answers

b. Junior Youth Sword Play
Ready…Swords up… Matthew 2:1-2 … CHARGE

Purpose of the Lesson
• Discover more about what the invisible God is like
• Learn how to know Him better and worship Him
• Appreciate the infinite nature and unapproachable holiness of God

1. Using a few simple words, describe what you think of or see when you think of God. Be honest and accurate in what you think about God. At the end of the study, this question will be asked again.

Don’t be surprised if you didn’t know what to write. Perhaps you were trying to give a very wise answer. However, it is impossible for any of us to adequately describe God. That is why the question asked us to record what we think or see when we think of God.

Our thoughts are not big enough to understand God. He is not like anything or anybody. There is nothing to which we can compare Him. Even the best of what we think about God is a poor expression of what He really is. But, in spite of this, God is a subject about which we cannot be neutral.

To be able to think accurately about God, many of us will have to break the habit of thinking of Him as having a physical body that can be seen, or even as having a ghost-like body. Such ideas limit the real nature and character of God.

“God is not the sort of person that we are; his wisdom, his aims, his scale of values, his mode of procedure differ so vastly from our own. We cannot know him unless he speaks and tells us about himself.”

The Bible is the best resource for information about God. He really wants us to know Him, so He has progressively revealed more and more about Himself throughout the Bible.

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

What does it say about God in the first part of verse 15? . . . . . (God is invisible)

God does not have a physical body. Our natural thinking is full of error when we suppose God has the same conditions of existence and limitations that we have. We did not give ourselves existence, nor did we create the air, food, or water which we need for our life to continue. However, God exists complete in Himself. He needs no other source than Himself to continue His existence forever.

Everything that we see in the world around us was either created or made. But God was not created, nor was He made. God is different from everything else. His name is I AM. He is and always has been, which means He is eternal. He will never have an end.

Another way that God is different from us is that we are human—He is divine. We are physical beings.

“For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
John 4: 24

God is not limited to a body. He is Spirit and can be every place at the same time.

The Bible teaches that God is infinite. That means that He is not limited in any way.

“Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?
They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?
Their measure is longer than the earth
And wider than the sea.” — Job 11:7-9

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
He does great things beyond our understanding.” —Job 37:5
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
Neither are your ways my ways,”
Declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are my ways higher than your ways
And my thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8-9

Our minds are limited, but God is unlimited! We are sinners; He cannot sin. He is perfect in every way. God is greater than we can grasp.

In your New Testaments or Africa Bible Verse Handbook turn to Romans 11:33-36 . . . . .

33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom
and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
35 "Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?"
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

The Bible speaks of His majesty. Psalm 145:5 says, “I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works.”

Our minds cannot contain God because He is infinite, or exceedingly great and endless. Much about God is a mystery to us because our finite or limited minds cannot understand the infinite mind of God. However, we can accept the things we do not understand by faith in what God says, because we have a trustworthy reference—the Bible. God gave us His Book to use in our search to learn what He is like.

3. A divine attribute is a quality or characteristic that is true about God. Each of these verses describes a divine character of God. Read the verse and write the attribute.

A. 1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.__________________________________________

B. 2 Thessalonians 3: 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. _____________________

C. James 1: 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. _____________________________________

D. Mark 10: 18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good-except God alone. _________________________

E. Hebrews 1: 8 8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. ____________________________________________

F. Luke 1: 78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven _____________

G. 1 Peter 1: 15 – 16 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." ________

Put on praise and worship music. Encourage the children to come to the alter and enjoy themselves as they celebrate God!

Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them'" (Matthew 19:14a)

"From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise " (Matthew 21:16b)

Dear Jesus, we seek you today because we want to worship you and crown you as our King. We Praise and worship You God for who You are and what You have done. We know you are seeking worshipers who will bring You glory, not just for an hour on Sunday, but every day through all of our activities, at home, school and even in our leisure play time. We begin this worship by turning from our sins and trusting in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Help us to worship in spirit from our hearts or from within. Not formal, ceremonial, external worship with a heart that is not right with God. Keep our hearts pure and our lives clean as we lift up holy hands to worship you. In Jesus name. Amen.

Take Home Weekly Bible Readings: LESSON #3

Print 'Weekly Bible Verse Readings', one for each youth to take home.

Every day this week read the Bible verses and write in your own words what each passage says about God.

1. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1: 9
__________________________________________________________
2. To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Romans 16: 27
__________________________________________________________
3. "For no word from God will ever fail."

Luke 1: 37
__________________________________________________________
4. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3: 16
__________________________________________________________
5. God is not human, that he should lie,
not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill?

Numbers 23: 19
__________________________________________________________
6. "Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.
4 Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed."

Revelation 15: 3 - 4
__________________________________________________________
7. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Revelation 1: 8
__________________________________________________________

Bring back your 'Weekly Bible Verse Readings' so you can discuss your answers at the next session.

NEXT WEEK: Lesson #4 we will learn the attributes of God. Love is an attribute of God, but not a definition of God. God defines love. Faithfulness, goodness, mercy, justice, and holiness all express the essence of God. We will learn God is Faithful. We can depend upon God because He is faithful. He keeps His promises. He is unchangeable, just and merciful.

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