During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide and Student Page, can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened. Jesus saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him.”
Matthew 3:16–17
In these verses, we see all three Persons of the Trinity. As Christians, we believe in the Trinity—One God in three Persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. There is no division between the three Persons of God. This concept is not easy to understand. We may understand God the Father who is in heaven and God the Son who came to earth to die on the cross. God the Holy Spirit is not as easy to understand. However, we know that He is in us and that He speaks to us.
What is more difficult to understand is how God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are One God with no divisions—all equally God. Perhaps you have accepted this truth. Perhaps you struggle to understand it and want to know more. Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone! Our God is beyond our understanding, and yet He has revealed Himself to us! What is important is knowing that the Bible teaches us there is only One God. God created you, God the Son died for your salvation, and God the Holy Spirit lives in you.
Encourage families to talk about what they know of the Trinity—that the God is One God in three Persons. They can ask their children to share what they learned in class.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
As the children enter, welcome them to class and ask them to tell you their names. Then, ask the children to sit at their seats.
Welcome! As you entered today, I asked you to tell me your names. I will ask for 3 volunteers to come stand by me.
Pick 3 volunteers to stand beside you. Ask each to state his or her name.
When I point to each person, please tell me who that person is.
Point to the different volunteers and have children say the person’s name.
Now I want you to tell me what each person is in my class.
Children should respond that the volunteers are all students in the class.
Correct! Each of these 3 is a student, even though they are different people.
Point to 1 volunteer.
Point to all 3 volunteers.
Point out that while each volunteer is not the same person as the other volunteers, they are all students. Thank your volunteers and have them sit down with the rest of the class.
We used this example to show us who each person is and what each person is. Now let’s think about God. He is One God, but at the same time, He is three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let’s do the same example with God.
God is One God in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
They are all God. Guide children to understand that God is One God with no division. Each member of the Godhead is fully God.
Today we will learn more about how God is One God in three Persons with no division. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all fully God.
Do you remember when we learned about God the Father? He is our heavenly Father. We also learned about God the Son, who is Jesus. The Bible tells us God the Son came to earth. Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. God is One God in three Persons with no division. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of God.
The Bible teaches us there is only One God. Let’s begin learning some motions to help us remember that God is One.
Lead the children in saying, “God is One.” Show them how to hold up 1 finger to help them remember that God is One. Repeat the words and motions 3 times.
A moment ago, I told you that God the Father is One Person of the Trinity. Remember that God is One God in three Persons. Each Person describes who God is, but He is still One God. Hold up 1 finger. Say with me, “God is One.” Let’s practice a few times. “God is One!”
Hold your index finger up and encourage the children to do this with you.
You have learned that God created all things. He has always been and always will be. Listen to what the first words in the Bible tell us:
Read this verse directly from your Bible.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
The first thing we learn about God is that He is the Creator. Let me read a couple of other verses that talk about creation. God the Son is Jesus. Jesus is also known as the Word of God.
In the beginning, the Word was already there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through him. Nothing that has been made was made without him.
John 1:1–3
The Word, who became human and who we call Jesus.
All things were created through Him.
The Word became a human being. He made his home with us. We have seen his glory. It is the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father. And the Word was full of grace and truth… In the past, God gave us grace through the law of Moses. Now, grace and truth come to us through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the One and Only is God and is at the Father’s side. The one at the Father’s side has shown us what God is like.
John 1:14, 17–18
The Word is God, which means Jesus is God.
Remember, the Word is another name for Jesus. This verse tells us that the Word was with God the Father in the beginning. The Son was there because He is God and He has always existed. Listen to what Jesus said about His relationship with God the Father:
I and the Father are one.
John 10:30
The Father is fully God. Jesus is fully God. “God is One!” (Hold up 1 finger.)
Jesus is God. Let’s do another action to help us remember that Jesus, the Son, is one of the three Persons of God.
Lead the children in saying, “Jesus and God the Father are One.” Use the following motions to help them remember that Jesus and God the Father are One.
Repeat the words and motions 3 times.
So, now you know that the Father is God and the Son, Jesus, is God. Let’s talk about the third Person of the Trinity. God is also the Holy Spirit. I will read a couple more verses about creation to you from the Bible. As I read, listen carefully to who the verses talk about.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth didn’t have any shape. And it was empty. There was darkness over the surface of the waves. At that time, the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Genesis 1:1–2
God the Spirit.
In the beginning, the Spirit of God, also known as the Holy Spirit, was hovering over the waters. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were all present when the earth was created. All three have always existed. The Holy Spirit is God. “God is One!” (Hold up 1 finger.)
Lead the children in saying, “The Holy Spirit, Jesus the Son, and God the Father are One.” Teach them the following motions to help them remember God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are One God.
Repeat the words and motions 3 times.
Remember that Jesus, God’s Son, lived here on earth. The Holy Spirit was with Him while He was on earth. Listen to these verses that show us all three Persons of God at the baptism of Jesus. Jesus came to His cousin, John, at the Jordan River to be baptised. Listen to what happened.
If possible, show The Action Bible images of Jesus’ baptism.
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he came up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened. Jesus saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him.”
Matthew 3:16–17
Wow! In this verse, the Bible tells us that when Jesus was baptised, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit were there with Him! Jesus could not be there alone, because even though God is in three Persons, God is One! (Hold up 1 finger.)
Lead the children in saying, “The Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God the Father are One.” Use the following motions to help them remember that the Holy Spirit and God the Father are One.
Repeat the words and motions 3 times.
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are One God. God is One! (Hold up 1 finger.) All three Persons are fully God, without division.
You just learned from the Bible that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are One God. They are three Persons with no divisions. I need 3 volunteers to help me demonstrate how God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are One God.
Call on 3 children to come to the front of the teaching space with you. Make sure you know each child’s name.
We are going to see how these 3 children can come together to form 1 shape.
A triangle.
Let’s see how (list the children’s names) can come together to form 1 triangle.
Ask 1 volunteer at a time to lie on the ground. Ask each child to keep his body as straight as possible. As each child lies down, assist her in moving to a place that helps to form a triangle. Once all 3 volunteers are lying down, they should each represent 1 side of a triangle.
Very nicely done! Now, let’s pretend for a moment that each child in the triangle represents one of the three Persons of the Trinity. Together, the 3 form 1 triangle. But unlike the triangle where each side is just a part of the shape, the Trinity cannot be broken into parts. Each Person is not a part of God—each is fully God.
Thank you for your help, volunteers! You may join the rest of the class. Now, I will divide all of you into groups of 3.
Create groups of 3 children. Give each child a stick as you count out the groups. If there are 1 or 2 children remaining, join that group to help them with the following activity.
Each of you has a stick. In a moment, you will use your stick to help you make a triangle. As each child places a stick on the ground, he will say the name of One Person of the Trinity. For example, I will place my stick and say, “God the Father.” Then, another member of my group will place his stick to make the next part of the triangle and say, “God the Son.” The last group member will place her stick and say, “God the Holy Spirit.” Once all the sticks have been placed in the shape of a triangle, say, “One God.” Are you ready? You may begin!
As the children make their triangles, walk around and offer to help any of the children who need it. Once the groups have all made a triangle, allow the children to pick up their sticks and repeat the process 2 more times, rotating which Person of the Trinity they say. For example, the first time the child may say, “God the Father,” the second time, “God the Son,” and the last time, “God the Holy Spirit.”
Optional: If you are using Student Pages, give each child a pencil and help the children write the word “God” in the middle of their triangles. Then, ask them to trace their triangles while saying, “The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One God!”
Very nicely done! Our example helps us to understand the Trinity, but it is important to realize that there is not a perfect example of how the Trinity works. That is because God is mysterious and there is not a human on earth who completely understands Him. Our memory verse tells more about who God is.
May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy. May you have perfect peace as you trust in him. May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.
Romans 15:13
As you read the verse, do the following motions with the children. Repeat the memory verse and motions 3 times.
If you are using the Memory Verse poster, show it to the students now.
End class by saying this blessing, based on Matthew 3:16–17, over the children.
Blessing: May you come to know God in three Persons—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. May you continue to grow in your understanding of our One God.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
