Exploring the concept of the Trinity can feel daunting, but this discussion breaks it down into digestible pieces. We dive deep into how the Trinity is reflected throughout the Bible, starting with its earliest mentions in the Old Testament. The very first verses of Genesis set the stage, with the plural form of 'God'—Elohim—hinting at a complexity beyond a singular entity. We also tackle the Shema, a cornerstone of Jewish faith, scrutinizing its proclamation of God’s oneness while uncovering layers that suggest a multifaceted nature. This examination leads us into the roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, revealing how each person of the Trinity interacts with humanity across biblical narratives. Through various scriptural references, we see the distinct functions of the Trinity: God the Father as the initiator of divine commands, God the Son as the pre-incarnate Christ who appears to key figures, and the Holy Spirit empowering and guiding individuals for specific tasks. We conclude by emphasizing that understanding the Trinity is not about parsing complex theological jargon, but about recognizing the relational nature of God as He reveals Himself to us. Whether you're new to these concepts or looking to deepen your understanding, this exploration of the Trinity is designed to illuminate and clarify.

Takeaways:

1. The Bible offers profound insights into finding meaning, purpose, love, and peace, essential for our lives today.
2. Understanding the Trinity can be complex, yet the Bible provides clarity through its teachings across both the Old and New Testaments.
3. The use of the plural term 'Elohim' in Genesis indicates a foundational understanding of the Trinity right from the start of Scripture.
4. God's presence is revealed through the actions and interactions of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit throughout biblical history.
5. The concept of the Trinity is illustrated through various roles within Scripture, highlighting their unique attributes and unity as one God.
6. Each person of the Trinity plays a significant role in our relationship with God, offering us guidance, support, and spiritual gifts.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. bible805.com
2. blueletterbible.org

Understanding the Trinity is a complex yet crucial aspect of our faith, and today we're diving into Part 2, focusing on the one substance of the Trinity. As we explore this topic, we'll look at the shared attributes among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, emphasizing that they are equally holy, just, merciful, loving, truthful, omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, immutable, and eternal. Each of these characteristics not only defines God but also serves as a model for how we should strive to live our lives. We'll discuss how these divine attributes relate to us personally and how we can imitate them in our daily actions and interactions. This episode is packed with insights that aim to deepen our understanding of who God is and what it means for our journey of faith.

Takeaways:

1. Understanding the Trinity reveals that God exists as one substance in three persons, which is foundational to Christian theology.
2. The attributes of the Trinity—holiness, justice, mercy, and love—are shared equally among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to imitate God's characteristics in our daily lives, striving for holiness and kindness.
4. God's omniscience means He knows us completely yet still loves us unconditionally despite our flaws and mistakes.
5. The eternal nature of God assures us that His promises and love will never change, providing us with stability and hope.
6. By grasping God's attributes, we can deepen our relationship with Him and reflect His character in our interactions with others.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. www.bible805.com

Learning God's word and applying it to our lives is essential for all of us as followers of Jesus, and that's the heartbeat of our discussion today. I’m Yvon Prehn from Bible 805, where my mission is to help you know, trust, and apply the Bible effectively. Each week, I’ll share lessons that dive into various topics, from deep studies of specific books in the Bible to important themes like the Trinity and life after death. These lessons are designed not only to help you grow in your faith but also to equip you to teach others, and I provide a wealth of free resources to support this. So, whether you're looking to enhance your personal understanding or share these insights with your community, we’ve got you covered with materials that are accessible and easy to use.

Takeaways:

• Learning and applying God's word is essential for followers of Jesus, as emphasized in this podcast.
• The podcast offers lessons on various biblical topics, including trust in the Bible and the Trinity.
• All teaching materials provided are completely free and designed for easy use in church settings.
• Listeners are encouraged to share these resources with others to help spread knowledge of Jesus.
• Each lesson in the podcast typically runs between 30 to 40 minutes, making them accessible and manageable.
• The Bible 805 Academy website offers a wealth of resources including editable PowerPoints and notes for teachers.

Links referenced in this episode:

• bible805academy.com
• bible805.com

Many people think the Trinity is one of the most complex and hard to understand concepts in the Bible and I totally disagree!

God wants us to know HIM! He went to extraordinary lengths for that to be possible in sending Jesus to live and die for our sins and to come back to life so that we can live with Him forever.

This is the first lesson in a series of three that will help you understand the Trinity from clear passages in the Bible that you most likely simply never put together.

This isn't deep theology, but a joyful exploration of the wonderful God you have as Creator, Savior, and forever Friend!

Takeaways:

1. The Trinity comprises three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are co-equal and eternal.
2. Understanding the Trinity is essential for a meaningful relationship with God as it clarifies His nature and our faith.
3. Misconceptions about the Trinity often arise from erroneous analogies that oversimplify the complex nature of God.
4. The biblical portrayal of the Trinity emphasizes the personal relationships among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in their divine unity.

As you have read through the Bible from first to last, it’s all been about Jesus.

He created a perfect world for humanity to enjoy and to walk with Him. When they disobeyed, He promised a Redeemer.

The entire Old Testament talks about this future Redeemer, the importance of salvation by faith, and how the sacrificial system was a picture of what was coming. The prophets continually reminded the people that the Redeemer, the Messiah was coming.

And the New Testament records the life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus and the creation of the church He left to represent Him.

Jesus, reminding ourselves that the book of Revelation is not a puzzle to be solved but as the first words in the book remind us, it is a REVELATION of Jesus Christ.

In this lesson, after introductory comments on Revelation, we’ll look more closely at a revelation of Jesus, we’ll take an in-depth look at the “I Ams” of Jesus in the book of John.

We’ll end with a reminder that though this is the end of our reading in the Bible, it is only the beginning of “the great story, which has no end and in which every chapter is better than the one before (C.S. Lewis).”

Link to blog, notes, and videos: https://wp.me/pazrJD-10M

Our study of the New Testament is about so much more than an overview of books, or a historical tour. It is the culmination of God’s rescue plan for the people He created.

The development of God’s changed, redeemed people is what we’ve been learning about.

All else will fade (churches, buildings, denominations); God’s people will not. And it is those people (you) who will reach the world with God’s message of salvation.

How we become that, the spiritual formation of God’s people is what these “Pastoral Epistles” are about.

Earlier New Testament writings clarified the theology of salvation--that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone—in other words, Jesus’s death on the cross accomplished all the WORK of salvation.

By faith, we accept it—without any work or merit of our own. That is the foundation of our faith.

But once we are saved—God expects us to live as HIS saved, redeemed people.

Though previous books taught this; how we are supposed to live is the emphasis (instead of theological issues) in these books. We will look at various passages in the books that explain and clarify this, and we only have time for a few—please study more to understand and apply fully!

Here is the link to the blog, notes, and transcript of the lesson: https://wp.me/pazrJD-114

How do we act when bad things happen to us?

We always have a choice—we can retaliate; we can throw a pity party; we can blame others.

Or we can trust God no matter what and try to respond in a way He wants us to.

In what are called the “Prison Epistles” Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon we’ll look at how the Apostle Paul responded in a very difficult situation. This lesson about them is much more than a history lesson about Paul because what we do, how we respond to challenging situations is the clearest evidence possible of what we truly believe and WHO we truly believe in.

We can voice all sorts of positive things, affirm things that sound good— but how do we react in the realities of life?

NOTHING outside us causes/forces us to act in a certain way; we respond based on what is already there.

From bad language to bad actions, difficult times give us a chance to see what is in our hearts and work on changes if necessary. In these letters Paul helps us respond in ways that please God and make life much better for us.

Link to the Blog, PDF of Notes, video and teaching resources is at: https://wp.me/pazrJD-10W

This podcast episode delves into the profound imperative of engaging deeply with the Scriptures to prevent the degradation of one's moral compass, which can lead to monstrous behavior. I explore the troubling societal tendency to define truth through subjective lenses, often influenced by external authorities, rather than through the steadfast principles found in God's Word. Using the film "Zone of Interest" as a poignant illustration, I highlight the danger of complacency in the face of evil, urging listeners to reflect on their own responses to contemporary moral challenges. I assert that true understanding and discernment come from a thorough reading of the Bible, which serves as an essential guide in navigating the complexities of life. Ultimately, I encourage the audience to choose life through a committed engagement with Scripture, allowing it to shape their hearts and actions in a world rife with uncertainty and moral ambiguity.

The content here may seem an overly intense way to encourage you to read through the Bible in Chronological Order, which Bible805 (https://wp.me/pazrJD-OO) has a variety of ways for you to do, but we are living in a time when truth seems to have lost its connection with objective reality in the minds of many and a simple encouragement to read through your Bible in the coming year didn't seem like enough.

Times are tragic when now truth for many is defined by whatever social media we follow or whatever we tell ourselves is true.

Jesus succinctly summed up our situation when he said, "You are in error, because you don't know the Scriptures." Truth, goodness, and beauty, the truly good life, and salvation are all found in the Scriptures, in God's Word. Truth is not humanly generated and when we forget that, when we listen to an authority other than God's Word to guide our lives, life does not go well.

The following example that I'll be sharing, inspired by the movie, Zone of Interest, though extreme I pray will be instructive and motiving for you to consider.

For the links to all resources go here: https://wp.me/pazrJD-OO

Link to the video: https://youtu.be/4w_frPQrPco?si=RC9PK7hATX6i4mVS

Takeaways:

• The importance of adhering to God's Word cannot be overstated, as it serves as our ultimate guide in navigating the complexities of life.
• In a world rife with misinformation, it is essential to ground ourselves in the objective truths found in the Scriptures.
• Our values and beliefs, which are often formed unconsciously, dictate how we respond to moral challenges in our lives.
• The film 'Zone of Interest' compels us to examine our own moral compasses and the potential for indifference in the face of evil.
• It is vital to recognize that our choices shape our character, and we must actively seek spiritual nourishment through God's Word.
• Daily engagement with Scripture equips us to handle life's adversities and fosters a life marked by love, kindness, and mercy.

Links referenced in this episode:

• bible805.com
• https://wp.me/pazrJD-OO --link to the many resources, schedules, motivational videos and other materials that will enable you to read the Bible in Chronological order in the coming year.