Title: vbase
Author: Vern Poythress

Class 1, Sept. 13, 2026

The Trinity: Introduction--Importance for Living
God's Trinitarian Involvement in Your Life
Vern S. Poythress, Lansdale Presbyterian Church

I. What is the Trinity? God is three persons. Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19.
II. Ways that God is at work in you and for you
	A. You are a child of God: Gal. 4:4-6; Gal. 4:1-7; Rom. 8:14-17; Eph. 1:5; John 1:12-13.
	B. You hear the word of God: John 17:8; John 1:1; 15:26; 16:12-15; Heb. 1:1-2.
	C. You reflect God: 2 Cor. 3:17-18; Rom. 8:29; 1 Pet. 1:15-16; Lev. 19:2; Matt. 5:13-17.
	D. You have new life: Rom. 8:11; 6:3-11; Eph. 2:6; Col. 2:20; 3:1-4; 1 Pet. 1:3-5.
	E. You pray: Rom. 8:26-27; Eph. 1:15-17; Heb. 7:23-25; 10:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:5.
	F. You are being saved: Gal. 4:4; Eph. 2:17-22; 3:9-11; 1 Pet. 1:10-12; Rev. 5:1, 6-10.
	G. You are indwelt: Rom. 8:9-10; John 14:23; 17:21-23; 1 Cor. 6:19.
	H. You are under care: Eph. 1:22; Eph. 1:20-23; Heb. 13:20-21; John 10:14-18.
	I. You are serving: Eph. 2:10; Eph. 4:10-13; Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 3:10-13.
	J. You are created: Gen. 1:1-3; Ps. 33:6, 8-9; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:15-17.
	K. You are sustained: Heb. 1:3; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:20-23; Rev. 1:18.

Class Title: God in three Persons: Who is God, how does he work in history to save us, and how does he work in us?

Description:

In this class we study what the Bible says about the Trinity, and how it impacts us. How does the Trinity impact what it means for us to be children of God, disciples, displays of God's grace, saved, serving, and praying? You can grow in knowing God and in serving him, as you see the wonder of who is he and what he is doing. He is the God who is Trinity and who works in you as Trinity. Step away from self-centeredness and stand in awe of God.
	Jesus Christ himself states how people obtain eternal life: "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (John 17:3). You have to know God. There is no other way to eternal life--that is, living forever in communion with God. Do you know him? The words of Christ imply that you can know God. If you are a follower of Christ, you already do know God, because you know "Jesus Christ whom you have sent." In this saying of Jesus, who is "you"? It is "the only true God," whom we also know as "the Father" (17:1). Jesus Christ is distinct from the Father, who has sent him. This distinction shows one aspect of the Trinity. You already know the Trinity. The Bible teaches us more.

This Class
Poythress, Vern. https://frame-poythress.org/special-lectures-and-sunday-school-lessons/#Trinity. After each class, I intend to add files from that class.

Resources
Short:
Perman, Matt. "Understanding the Trinity: A Christian Core Belief," CRU, https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/core-christian-beliefs/understanding-the-trinity.html.
Wells, David F. What Is the Trinity? P&R Publishing, 2012. (40 pages)
Westminster Confession of Faith 2.3:
 In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost: the Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son.

Medium:
Owen, John. "Brief Declaration and Vindication of the Doctrine of the Trinity." https://www.ccel.org/ccel/owen/trinity.html

Book length:
Letham, Robert. The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship. Revised and Expanded. P&R Publishing, 2019. 
Poythress, Vern S. Knowing and the Trinity: How Perspectives in Human Knowledge Imitate the Trinity. P&R Publishing, 2018. frame-poythress.org/ebooks/.
Poythress, The Mystery of the Trinity: A Trinitarian Approach to the Attributes of God. P&R Publishing, 2020. frame-poythress.org/ebooks/.
Sanders, Fred. The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything. 2nd ed. Crossway, 2017.