Encountering the Living Trinity: Embracing God's Dynamic Presence

Devotional

Day 1: The Majesty of God and Our Place in Creation

Psalm 8 reminds us of the vastness and majesty of God’s creation, and yet, in the midst of this grandeur, God is mindful of humanity, granting us honor and responsibility. This passage invites us to marvel at the world around us—the heavens, the moon, the stars—and to recognize that, despite our smallness, we are crowned with glory and entrusted with caring for all that God has made. It is a call to humility and gratitude, as well as a reminder of our sacred role as stewards of creation and as beloved children of God. [11:55]

Psalm 8 (NRSV):
O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Reflection: When you look at the world around you today, what is one way you can honor God’s creation and your place within it—perhaps through an act of care, gratitude, or stewardship?

Day 2: The Spirit of Truth Guides Us

Jesus promises that the Spirit of truth will come to guide us into all truth, not speaking on his own but declaring what is from the Father and the Son. This assurance means that we are not left alone to navigate the complexities of faith and life; instead, God’s Spirit is present, leading us, illuminating our understanding, and helping us discern what is true in a world full of competing voices. The journey of faith is not about having all the answers, but about trusting the Spirit to reveal what we need, when we need it, and to shape us into people who reflect God’s truth and love. [15:03]

John 16:12-15 (NRSV):
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you need the Spirit’s guidance today, and how can you make space to listen for God’s truth in the midst of noise and uncertainty?

Day 3: Experiencing God in Many Ways

God reveals God’s self in many forms—Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer—and meets us in the varied experiences and roles of our lives. Just as we may be parents, friends, workers, or neighbors, God is present in different ways: as the One who creates, the One who redeems, and the One who empowers and sustains. This dynamic, relational movement of God invites us to encounter the Holy not as a distant doctrine, but as a living presence that meets us where we are, in our joys and struggles, and calls us to deeper relationship and service. [17:29]

Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV):
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

Reflection: In what role or situation today do you most need to remember that God is present with you—creating, redeeming, or sustaining—and how might that awareness change your actions or attitude?

Day 4: Embracing the Limitlessness of God

God cannot be contained by our categories, names, or doctrines; the divine is beyond numbering and naming, and the fullness of God’s image includes all people in their diversity. We are invited to take the limits off our understanding of God, to embrace humility in the face of mystery, and to recognize that every person—regardless of gender, race, ability, or background—is created in God’s image and beloved. This expansive vision calls us to radical inclusion, to see the divine spark in ourselves and in others, and to celebrate the boundless love and grace of God. [36:20]

Galatians 3:26-28 (ESV):
For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: Who in your life or community might need to be reminded today that they are made in God’s image and beloved—how can you affirm their worth in a tangible way?

Day 5: Living Out Love and Truth in Community

The journey of faith is not solitary; we are called to be vessels of God’s love, to comfort, strengthen, and illumine one another, and to work for justice and inclusion. As we follow the Spirit’s leading, we become a beloved community—showing up for each other in times of joy and pain, standing with those who are marginalized, and embodying the radical, limitless love of God. Our calling is to let the flame of love burn brightly, to be agents of change and hope, and to reflect God’s majesty through our service and commitment to one another. [40:31]

1 John 4:11-12 (ESV):
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

Reflection: What is one concrete way you can show up for someone in your community today—offering comfort, encouragement, or advocacy as a vessel of God’s love?

Sermon Summary

Today’s gathering invites us to stand in awe before the mystery and majesty of God, especially as we reflect on the Trinity—God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Rather than attempting to fully explain the Trinity, we are encouraged to experience God’s presence in our lives in diverse and dynamic ways. Just as we each play many roles in our own lives, God meets us in different forms: as the One who creates and loves us, as Jesus who redeems and walks among us, and as the Spirit who empowers and guides us. The Trinity is not merely a doctrine to be dissected, but a living reality to be encountered, a movement of God in and through our lives.

We are reminded that our understanding of God is always limited by our language and imagination. The images and metaphors we use—like water in its different states, or the three-legged stool—are helpful, but they cannot contain the fullness of God. Even the concept of the Trinity, while meaningful, is not the only way to name or know God. Scripture itself offers a multitude of images and names for the Divine, and we are invited to approach God with humility, recognizing that God’s reality is always greater than our definitions.

Our relationship with God is rooted in truth, but truth is not always the same as fact. In a world overflowing with information and competing claims, Jesus promises that the Spirit of truth will guide us—not into rigid certainty, but into a living, growing relationship. Truth is found in the ongoing conversation between God and God’s people, in the context of community, and in the willingness to ask questions and wrestle with the text. We honor the Bible not by wielding it as a weapon, but by engaging it deeply, seeking to understand its context and its call to love, justice, and inclusion.

As we celebrate the diversity of God’s creation, we are reminded that all people are made in God’s image—across all genders, races, abilities, and identities. God’s love is limitless, and we are called to reflect that love in our own lives, embracing the fullness of who we are and who our neighbors are. The Spirit leads us into all truth, inviting us to be vessels of God’s radical, inclusive love in the world. Our calling is to go forth, even when we feel unworthy or unprepared, to serve, to love, and to build a community where all are welcomed and cherished.

Key Takeaways

1. The Trinity is best understood not as a rigid doctrine, but as the living, dynamic movement of God in our lives. God meets us as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, and our experience of God deepens as we open ourselves to these different manifestations. The mystery of the Trinity invites us to humility and wonder, rather than certainty and control. [16:13]
2. Our language and metaphors for God—whether drawn from tradition, scripture, or our own experience—are always limited. God is not confined to our categories or numbers; the Divine is beyond all naming and numbering. This calls us to continually expand our understanding and to resist the temptation to make God in our own image. [35:33]
3. Truth in the life of faith is not simply about facts or information, but about relationship and discernment. Jesus promises that the Spirit of truth will guide us, not into static knowledge, but into a living journey of discovery. In a world of “fake truths” and information overload, we are called to seek truth through community, prayer, and the ongoing conversation with God and scripture. [27:51]
4. The Bible is a living word, given through human hands and shaped by history and culture. We honor it by taking it seriously—studying its context, asking hard questions, and refusing to use it as a weapon. Our faith is not dependent on literalism, but on the deeper truth that calls us to love, justice, and inclusion. [25:34]
5. Every person is created in the image of God, in all our diversity and uniqueness. God’s love is radically inclusive, embracing all genders, races, abilities, and identities. As we grow in our understanding of God’s limitless love, we are called to reflect that love in our own lives, building a community where all are welcomed, valued, and empowered to serve. [36:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:52] - Call to Worship: The Majesty of God
[03:01] - Opening Prayer: Flames of Inclusive Love
[07:14] - Announcements and Community Life
[11:55] - Psalm 8: Responsive Reading
[15:03] - Gospel Reading: John 16 and the Spirit of Truth
[16:13] - Approaching the Mystery of the Trinity
[17:29] - Metaphors and Images for the Trinity
[23:19] - How We Approach Scripture at Bethel
[25:34] - Honoring the Bible: Context and Conversation
[27:51] - Truth, Facts, and the Spirit’s Guidance
[32:59] - The Trinity: Manifestations and Mystery
[35:33] - Beyond the Trinity: God’s Limitless Nature
[36:20] - Created in God’s Image: Radical Inclusion
[39:47] - Lighting the Flames: Commitment and Hope
[41:30] - Prayers for the Community and the World
[48:54] - Offering and Dedication
[56:14] - Sending Forth: Called to Serve

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 8 (ESV) — > O Lord, our Lord,
> how majestic is your name in all the earth!
> You have set your glory above the heavens.
> Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
> you have established strength because of your foes,
> to still the enemy and the avenger.
> When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
> the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
> what is man that you are mindful of him,
> and the son of man that you care for him?
> Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
> and crowned him with glory and honor.
> You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
> you have put all things under his feet,
> all sheep and oxen,
> and also the beasts of the field,
> the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
> whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
> O Lord, our Lord,
> how majestic is your name in all the earth!

John 16:12-15 (ESV) — > “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV) — > Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
> So God created man in his own image,
> in the image of God he created him;
> male and female he created them.

Observation Questions

In Psalm 8, what does the psalmist notice about humanity’s place in creation compared to God’s majesty?
According to John 16:12-15, what is the role of the Spirit of truth in the lives of Jesus’ followers?
The sermon mentions that the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, but that scripture uses many images and names for God. What are some of the metaphors or images for God and the Trinity mentioned in the sermon? [[17:29]]
In Genesis 1:26-27, what does it mean that humans are made in the image of God? How does the sermon expand on this idea? [[36:20]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon suggests that the Trinity is not just a doctrine but a living reality to be experienced. How might this change the way someone relates to God day-to-day? [[16:13]]
The preacher says our language and metaphors for God are always limited, and that God is “beyond all naming and numbering.” What are the risks of trying to fit God into our own categories? [[35:33]]
Jesus promises that the Spirit of truth will guide us into all truth, not just facts. How does this affect the way we approach questions of faith, doubt, and understanding? [[27:51]]
The sermon emphasizes that every person is made in God’s image, across all genders, races, abilities, and identities. How does this shape the way a church community should treat one another? [[36:20]]

Application Questions

The sermon says that the Trinity is best understood as God’s movement in our lives—as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Can you think of a time when you experienced God in one of these ways? How did it affect you? [[16:13]]
The preacher warns against using the Bible as a weapon and encourages asking hard questions and studying context. Is there a Bible passage you’ve struggled with or questioned? How might you approach it differently after hearing this sermon? [[25:34]]
The sermon talks about “truth” as something found in relationship and community, not just in facts. When have you experienced the Spirit guiding you or your community into deeper truth? What did that look like? [[27:51]]
The preacher says that God’s love is radically inclusive and that we are called to reflect that love. Are there people or groups you find it hard to include or love? What is one step you could take this week to move toward greater inclusion? [[36:20]]
The sermon invites us to approach God with humility, recognizing our understanding is always limited. Is there an area of your faith where you need to let go of certainty and embrace mystery? What would it look like to do that? [[35:33]]
The preacher mentions that we are called to serve, even when we feel unworthy or unprepared. Is there a way you feel called to serve right now, but feel hesitant? What support or encouragement do you need to take a step forward? [[56:14]]
The sermon says we honor the Bible by engaging it deeply and seeking its call to love, justice, and inclusion. What is one practical way you can honor the Bible in your life this week? [[25:34]]

Sermon Clips

We believe that the Bible is God’s own holy word passed down through us through fallible human beings. We believe in the Bible so much that we think it deserves our best questions. We believe that the Bible is the opening of a conversation in which God is still speaking. [00:24:49] (22 seconds) #QuestioningSacredText

We do not think the Bible will shrivel up and die because we dare to question why it says what it says. We believe that the Bible has withstood similar questions for thousands of years and that in asking the questions together in communities of faith over time, we are part of a life-changing conversation that will go on forever. [00:25:10] (24 seconds) #EnduringFaithConversation

We honor the Word so highly that we do not take one phrase out of context and fling it around. We do not use phrases as stand-alone weapons to prove our point or to injure another person. Rather, we read the phrase as it has been nested in the text. We read the story around it. [00:25:34] (23 seconds) #RespectingScripturalContext

A life of faith develops from experience, from participation, and Jesus invites us into a relationship based on presence, rather than a relationship based on a rigid set of doctrine or facts. [00:31:54] (19 seconds) #JesusChallengesHypocrisy

``See, all too often we try to make God in our own image. Instead of understanding that we are created in the image of God. We’re all created in that image. We’re male, female, non-binary, cis and non-cis-gendered, straight, bi, gay, trans, queer. We’re old, young, tall, short, many races. We have differing physical and mental abilities. We are in infinitely varied states of physical and mental health. And we are all loved by God. We are all created by God and in God’s image. And we are all a vital part of each other. [00:36:56] (37 seconds) #LimitlessLoveLimitlessGrace

Jesus promises the spirit of truth, will lead us into all truth. It takes a journey, it is a journey, and along the way, God shows up in manifold ways—the comforter in times of grief, the encourager at times of despair, the healer when we experience illness and disease, the righteous and just when the world is not. [00:38:08] (25 seconds) #GodInAllCircumstances

God is everlasting when we are overwhelmed by the temporary. God is love when hate surrounds us and consumes us. God is friend, companion, power, and source, alpha and omega, and so much more. [00:38:33] (16 seconds) #ReflectingGodsImage

Let the spirit lead us so that we may show up in many and boundless ways ourselves with the all truth. Let’s follow God’s example and love each other so much that we are willing to give, to experience each other’s joys and pains and to comfort and to illumine each other, to strengthen one another, and to be the vessels of God’s love for all. [00:39:08] (23 seconds)

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