The Trinity & Spiritual Gifts: Introduction

Steven Lake Posted on Posted in Life Well-Lived

The Bible teaches there is one God in three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Yet our finite minds will never fully comprehend the Trinity.

Someone has said, “”Deny the Trinity and you will lose your soul; try to explain it and you will lose your mind.” Analogies have helped me. The parts of an egg are the shell, the white, and the yolk. Which is the egg? Or water takes the form of liquid, ice, and gas. Which is the water?

Each Person of the Trinity plays a role in spiritual gifts. It’s helpful to understand these roles so you can use your gifts most effectively.

The key verse is 1 Corinthians 12:4-6. “4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” (NIV)

Each member of the Trinity is mentioned in the passage – Spirit (v 4); Lord (v 5); and God (v 6). Before each name is the word “same.” The wording emphasizes that although there are three distinct Persons, they are one God in three Persons.

The most important wording comes after the word “different.” The Spirit is associated with “different kinds of gifts.” Next, “different kinds of services” are connected with the Lord. Finally, “different kinds of workings” are linked to God.

The next three postings will examine these “different kind” roles of the Trinity with spiritual gifts.

About

Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.