1. Lesson 4

2. What is God like?

3. What are two basic ways in which God’s nature is different from ours? Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” triune

4. What are two basic ways in which God’s nature is different from ours? Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” God is is not

5. What are two basic ways in which God’s nature is different from ours? John 4:24 “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” spirit (without a body) triune

6. Key Point #1 The two basic ways in which God’s nature is different from ours are that he is triune and a spirit.

7. “God is three and one at the same time – just as a triangle has three sides but at the same time is only one thing.” In what way is this a useful illustration of the Trinity? In what way is this not very helpful as an explanation of the triune God?

8. Evaluate… Because God is a spirit, maybe we shouldn’t have any pictures or carvings at all in our churches.

9. What characteristics of God are different from ours? John 21:17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. all-knowing

10. What characteristics of God are different from ours? Jeremiah 23:24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD. present everywhere all-knowing

11. What characteristics of God are different from ours? Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. all-powerful present everywhere all-knowing

12. What characteristics of God are different from ours? Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, ‘Destroy him!’ eternal all-powerful present everywhere all-knowing

13. Key Point #2 God has characteristics that are different from ours because he is all-knowing, present everywhere, all- powerful, and eternal.

14. Evaluate… When I consider that God is all- knowing, always present, and all-powerful, it gives me the creeps.

15. What characteristics does God have that he wants us to have also? Leviticus 19:2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.’ holy God is and wants us to be…

16. What characteristics does God have that he wants us to have also? Exodus 34:6-7 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” forgiving loving gracious compassionate holy God is and wants us to be…

17. What characteristics does God have that he wants us to have also? 2 Timothy 2:13 …if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. faithful forgiving loving gracious compassionate holy God is and wants us to be…

18. Key Point #3 God’s characteristics that he wants us to have also are being holy, compassionate, gracious, loving, forgiving, and faithful.

19. The New Age Movement teaches that all things are gods. Mormonism encourages the hope that someday people will become gods. In what ways do these ideas not square with what the Bible says?

20. A friend of yours tempts you to gossip, to steal, or to hurt another person. How might the fact that you know that God is holy help you defeat that temptation?

21. Your brother or sister needs your help or your forgiveness. How might remembering that God is kind and forgiving lead you to help or forgive your sibling?

22. Lesson 4 The triune God is a spirit who is far greater than we are in power and glory.

23. Vocabulary… “Triune” three-in-one

24. Vocabulary… “Omniscient” all-knowing

25. Vocabulary… “Omnipresent” present everywhere at the same time

26. Vocabulary… “Omnipotent” all-powerful

27. Vocabulary… “Holy” perfect / without sin

28. Vocabulary… “Eternal” Outside of the boundaries of time