SERMON SERIES: What’s The Difference? WHO IS GOD? August 11th & 12th, 2012 Pastor Collette Paul
The basic form of Buddhism understands ‘god’ as the ‘Ultimate Reality’ – the All. Use of the term Brahman in Hindu faith is used in much the same way as we use God and refers to the highest most exalted entity known – the Absolute. Islamic Creed: “There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is Allah's messenger.” “He is Allah, there is no god but He--the Knower of the Unseen and the Visible, He is the Most Gracious,
Most Merciful...His are the most beautiful Names. All that is in the Heavens and the Earth glorifies Him. He is the Almighty, the Wise.” (Qur’an 59:22, 24b-c) We share the closest concepts about “Who is God” with our Jewish cousins. God is creator of the UNIVERSE God created HUMANITY in God’s own image, and God and humanity have an everlasting COVENANT. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… Then God said, ‘Let us make humanity in our image, in our likeness.’” (Genesis 1:1 & 26a) “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) “Impress [the Law] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” (Deuteronomy 6:7-8) “Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:13-14)
Attributes of God
(The above is the Holy Name for God in Hebrew!)
God is all powerful – OMNIPOTENT God is all knowing – OMNISCIENT God is all present – OMNIPRESENT “A being [of which] which no greater can be conceived [or imagined]. ” Anselm of Canterbury Christian thinking about “Who Is God” is defined by our belief and faith in the Human and Divine Son of God; the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. “Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’ Jesus answered: ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.’” (John 14:8-11a - NIV) The answer to the question “Who Is God”?
GOD IS GOOD What’s your answer?
Sermon Discussion Guide WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE WHO IS GOD? Pr. Collette Paul
OPEN YOUR GROUP TIME WITH PRAYER. THIS IS ONLY A GUIDE. SELECT THE POINTS YOU WISH TO DISCUSS. 1.
What are some of God’s attributes that you know God has from your personal faith, or that you have heard others say that God has that stems from their faith?
2.
Google Pranitha Timothy. Her faith story has led her to believe strongly in the following: a. We are called to serve others. b. Our life belongs to God. c. And even when what we see in the world is painful, broken and impossible to understand, we can answer the three word question “Who Is God” with three words– “GOD IS GOOD!” How can faith in Jesus help lead you to a better understanding of “Who Is God”?
3.
Look at the descriptions of God from the different perspectives of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. How can a better understanding of our similarities help us better our relationships with others of those faith practices? Or, do you think this is impossible and why?
4.
The Trinity (God in Three Persons, Father-Creator, Son & Spirit) is a difficult concept. In scripture, the word trinity isn’t even found. Read Matthew 28:19. Also read John 1:1-3 & 14; John 14:16-20 & 26; John 15:26; John 16:13. How do these verses help you in understanding the Trinity? Google the term Trinity. Also find and read the Nicene & Athanasian Creeds (they are both in the Green LBW Hymnal). Share with your group what you discover about the idea of the Trinity!