Life Group Discussion Guide
2.7.21
ONE Series
One God
Genesis 1:1a; Deuteronomy 6:4-9

In the beginning, God . . .

OPEN
February begins a series of interrelated sermons that will focus on the basics of the Christian
faith – God, Scripture, salvation, the church, discipleship, worship, sexual ethics, etc. What
need do you see for this sort of periodic examination of core biblical teaching?

NEXT
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is central to the faith of Jews and Christians. Called the Shema (Heb,
“Hear”), why is it such a critical affirmation? How did it distinguish Israel from the pagan
nations surrounding it?

The Christian doctrine of Trinity (one God in three persons) confuses many people because
of a failure to distinguish numerical oneness from covenantal oneness. Pre-Christian Judaism
discussed the nature of Israel’s Deity in terms of the latter in view of such texts as Genesis
1:26 and Daniel 7:9. How would these texts have raised the issue?

The simplest way to understand the “oneness” of the Trinity is to think in terms of biblical
teaching about marriage and family. What does Scripture teach about two separate persons
becoming one in marriage? Is this numerical or covenantal oneness? How does the same
notion of multiple persons being one apply to the church – the family of God? See Paul’s
language at 1 Corinthians 12:12-14.

The word “god” or “God” is not a personal name so much as a category or class term – like
“human” or “man(kind).” Perhaps it helps to think in terms of “family” again. The Jones family
is “one” family made up of separate individuals – Mom, Dad, Son, and Daughter. Similarly, the
Divine family is “one” family made up of separate individuals – God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Holy Spirit.

What critical insight to this subject do you see in John 17:20-21?
The fact that we are created in God’s image means, among other things, that we are meant to
be “one” in human community. How important is this fact to culture (i.e., race, gender, nation,
language, etc.)? Families? The larger Body of Christ? The Harpeth Hills Church?

CLOSING
How does your reflection on the nature of God influence your self-understanding? The nature
of unity in the divine scheme of things? How will this influence your prayer as this study ends?