The Holy Trinity In Depth II

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this lesson is to provide the children with a familiarity of the key terminology related to the Holy Trinity, as well as building an understanding of the attributes of the Holy Trinity. Additionally, the addendum will outline and discuss the presence of the Holy Trinity within the Old Testament and the New Testament.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 7 Minutes

Please review the previous week's lesson. (5 minutes)

At the beginning of the class the teacher can ask, "Have you ever been told that Christians worship three gods or being a polytheist?" Then the teacher proceeds to light a candle and explain the three components of fire: Light, heat and flame. This helps in understanding the Trinity. The flame, its light and its heat are one entity. From the moment the flame begins, from that moment light and heat also begin.

Make sure definitions and terminology of the Holy Trinity are addressed before the lesson is given.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 7 Minutes

Memory Verse - "When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He  saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. ** **And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" (Matthew 3:16-17)

Read: Genesis 1: 1-3, John 1: 1-3, Matthew 3 and Matthew 29:19

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 15 Minutes

Terminology and Vocabulary

Essence: substance/nature or what something is

  • God's essence is shared equally and completely between all three Persons
  • Essence in Greek is Ousia; the church fathers used the "homoousios" to describe that Christ is coessential with The Father which means of the same nature.

Person: who someone is = Hypostasis

  • Explains the distinguishing features between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Monotheist: Believes in one God

Polytheist: believes in multiple gods.

Attributes of the Divine Persons

The Mystery lies in our God being One in Essence and yet Three Persons. Within the Trinity there is diversity but never division.

The Father

  • The Father is the Fountainhead of the Holy Trinity
  • The Son is BEGOTTEN from The Father and The Holy Spirit PROCEEDS from The Father from all eternity, outside of time.

The Son

  • Took flesh from St. Mary: This unity between the Two Natures (Human & Divine) took place from the first moment of the Holy Pregnancy and became One Nature (entity).
  • Two natures (Divine and Human) united without mingling, confusion, alteration or separation in One Person (Hypostasis). The two natures did not transmute from each other.
  • No change has occurred to either Nature as a result of their Unity.
  • The term used is the "Nature of the Incarnate Logos" to refer to the unity of both natures and not either of them.
  • Example: The human is made up of two elements Spirit and Body. So one person has ONE nature consisting of two elements.

The Holy Spirit

  • The Holy Spirit is of the Father, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but Proceeding.
  • The Comforter and Helper that will "abide with you forever"
  • Leads and guides us
  • Intercedes for us
  • Teaches us
  • Performs miracles
  • Inspired the writers of the Bible
  • Creates and gives life

Attributes of God

Genderless Spirit: God is limitless and infinte so having a gender puts a limit on God

Eternal: God is without a beginning or an end. "I Am the Alpha and the Omega,the beginning and the End, says the Lord who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."(Rev 1:8)

Omnipresent: All present

Immutable: Unchangeable. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above; and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." (James 1:17)

Omnipotent: All powerful.

Omniscient: All Knowing.

Holy: Source of all goodness. "Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are Holy."(Rev 15:4)

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

Have the students come up with misconceptions they have heard of about God and the Holy Trinity.

Questions:

  • Why are these misconceptions wrong?
  • How do we know when wrong theology is spoken in front of us?
  • Why is it important to know our faith?
  • How can we serve others by knowing our faith?

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Ask your students to go home and come up with the list of questions they have about theology or topics they find challenging. What challenges do they face when defending their faith?

Encourage children to pray to each Person of the Trinity: "Allow me to have the grace of Jesus Christ, the love that God shares, and the communion that the Holy Spirit provides."

The attributes of each of the Persons can be interchangeable within this short prayer: "Allow me to have the of Jesus Christ, the that God shares, and the that the Holy Spirit provides."

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Option 1: Trinity Triangle Craft

Materials:

  • Popsicle Sticks (available in plain or in colors at the Dollar Tree)
  • Markers
  • School Glue or Glue Dots
  • A piece of yarn or string

Add the verse of the day on the back of the triangle.

Option 2:

Have the children write the down memory verse associated with Matthew 3:16-17 on the back of the printed icon of the Baptism. Following that, have the children label the different parts of the Holy Trinity presented in the icon.

  • God the Father - The beam of light presenting the voice of God
  • God the Son - Jesus Christ within the waters of the Jordan
  • God the Holy Spirit - The dove

Materials Needed:

  • Image of the Icon of the Baptism
  • Markers
  • Sticky Notes or labels

SERVANT RESOURCES

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Parents should encourage children to keep the memory verses in mind and to reach out in prayer to each Person of the Trinity.

LESSON ATTACHMENTS

Grade 7 Week 2 Addendum (Faith).pdf