Teaching on the triune nature of God can feel daunting, I know, because I'm preparing to do it now in another language.  The topic is difficult to teach in English let alone in a second language, especially when one wrong word can lead you down a heretical path, but God is worth the effort.  He doesn't want people worshipping some vague deity, who in the end isn't the God of the Bible.  He wants people knowing him intimately and loving him deeply, and that means delving into the doctrine of the Trinity.

I'm meeting more Christians these days who are supposed to be mature believers, who either hold heretical views of the Trinity or who don't think the doctrine is important enough to probe.  So, my plea to pastors is, please, whatever you do in your churches throughout the year, make time to preach at least two sermons every year on the Trinity.  If some missionaries don't understand the doctrine maybe it's partly due to the scarcity of teaching from their churches back in the States. 

I've included below what I think ought to be the bear minimum that Christians start out their Christian walk knowing about the triune nature of God.  My hope is that all Christians know at least these basics.  (And for you pastors who are already teaching on the Trinity, your reward will be great in heaven, and probably even here on earth as you fellowship with a group of believers who savor God for all he is in his glorious self.) 

There is one God

Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one."

The Father is God

Ephesians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The Son is God

Colossians 2:9, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form."

The Spirit is God

Acts 5:3-4, "But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit . . . ?  You have not lied to men, but to God.'"

The Father is not the Son

John 3:16, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son. . . ."

The Son is not the Spirit

John 14:16, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper."

The Spirit is not the Father

John 14:26, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name. . . ."

The Father is a Person

Luke 22:42, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."

The Son is a Person

Ephesians 5:25, "Christ also loved the church."

The Spirit is a Person

Ephesians 4:30, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. . . ."

Also see:

Praise the Triune God