Who is God? - MSQ
Part of True North
July 23, 2023

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Who is God? - Message Study Questions

Message Summary

Theology matters. Our understanding of God impacts our relationship with God. God doesn’t change. The truths about God are the same today as they were two thousand or two million years ago. Christianity teaches there is one infinite and eternal God who created the universe. He is self-existent. That is, He existed before the creation and does not need it to be God. He is a personal God whose divine attributes include the highest moral characteristics of love, justice, and mercy.

The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself and progressively tells us what we need to know. God exists in three distinct persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each Person is fully God, and there is only one God. We call this the Trinity, which means three in one. While the three members of the Trinity are distinct, this does not mean that any is inferior to the other. Instead, they are all identical in attributes. They are equal in power, love, mercy, justice, holiness, knowledge, and all other qualities. The Trinity reveals that God is relational in His essential nature. This has great implications in humankind’s relation to God.

  1. Since God is relational in His essential nature, what does the Trinity mean to you?

  2. Do you think it is possible for humans to fully understand God? Why or why not?

Consider This

Peter told the early disciples to be prepared to give an answer for what they believed. Therefore, we should know why we believe what we believe. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,…” 1 Peter 3:15.

  1. What do the following verses say about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?

    • Philippians 1:2

    • Titus 2:13

    • Acts 5:3-4

  2. The Bible clearly teaches there is only one God. Which of the following verses stands out the most to you?

    • Deut. 6:4-5
    • Isaiah 43:10, 44:6, 45:5, 46:9-10
    • Romans 3:30b
    • 1 Timothy 1:17

  3. Which of the following verses that demonstrate the plurality of personages in the Godhead are most impactful to you?

    • Genesis 19:24
    • Psalm 45:6-7, 110:1
    • Zechariah 2:8-11
    • Isaiah 48:16-17
    • Luke 3:22
    • Matthew 28:19 (note “name” is singular)
    • 1 Peter 1:2

  4. Read Mark 1:10-11. Could the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be the same person with different names? Why or why not?

  5. Read Genesis 1:26-27. How does the bible describe people in relationship to God? What does this mean to you?

  6. The New Testament in particular reveals Father, Son and Holy Spirit interacting with one another and working together. They are the same essence, yet have different emphasis of function. Read 1 Peter 1:1-2. Believers are chosen (saved) by God (singular). What emphasis of function does the Apostle ascribe to:

    • The Father:

    • The Son:

    • The Holy Spirit

  7. Read Colossians 2:9. Are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each fully God, or only one third God?

  8. Eastern religions such as New Age and Yoga seek the impersonal, sending their disciples inward, denying all the attributes of personhood, reality and ultimately ALL personal relationships. Read Ephesians. 4:17-19. In addition to ultimate isolation, what are some other results of this self-deification?

Moving Forward – Application

The Bible reveals what we need to know about God, but our finite minds cannot understand everything about the infinite, almighty creator of the universe.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT2).

Still, we are called to devote ourselves to the Word of God so that we may know him better (2 Timothy 2:15).

  1. How can you devote yourself to the Word of God this week?

  2. God doesn’t need humankind, and yet He seeks to restore relationship with each person.

    • What does that tell you about God’s love for people? His love for you?

    • What can you do this week to show care for other people?

    • What can you do this week to deepen your understanding of God’s infinite love for you?

  3. Since God is personal and relational, what thoughts, attitudes, and actions does He desire for you this week?