March 6, 2022
The Trinity
Pastor Ricky Smith

Sermon Notes

I. Biblical Distinctive

II. Critical Warning

Common Heresies:
1. God exists in three persons, and not three personalities – Modalism
2. God is one, not three different Gods – Tritheism
3. Jesus is not eternally subordinate to God – Arianism

III. Central Picture

Matthew 3:16-17
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

IV. Helpful Framework

1. The unity of God is basic
2. God is three equal persons every moment
3. The Godhead is eternal
4. Functional submission does not mean inferior
5. The Trinity is a mystery

The beauty and complexity of the Trinity is a reminder of our dependence on Him

Next Steps

• The greatness of God leads me to confess Him as my Savior for the first time
• I commit to studying more this week to grow more in the knowledge of the Trinity
• I choose to walk by faith and not by sight

Deep Dive

1. Reflecting on this week’s sermon, what heresy is most easily accepted related to the Trinity?
2. Why does it matter that we trust by faith the reality of one God in Three Persons?
3. Read Matthew 28:19-20. Why is acknowledging the Trinity in our baptism important?

Springboard

1. Read Genesis 1 and discuss what we learn about who God is as Creator.
2. Read Colossians 1:15. What role does Jesus play to reveal that we are created in God’s image?
3. Does it matter that we fully understand creation science?