In this enlightening episode of "Dazed & Apologized," **Pastor Scott Hand** delves into the profound and often misunderstood doctrine of the Trinity. The episode, rich with theological insights, seeks to clarify the complexities surrounding the belief in a triune God by defining key terms and addressing common objections. Pastor Scott brings a pragmatic approach, his explanations underscored by centuries of theological discourse.

The episode explores the foundational definition of the Trinity, emphasizing its uniqueness and the challenges inherent in fully comprehending an infinite God. Pastor Scott methodically critiques popular analogies and highlights their limitations, advocating instead for a Scripture-based understanding. Highlighting passages like Matthew 28:18-20 and 2 Corinthians 13:14, he demonstrates the biblical basis for the Trinity, countering objections about the term’s absence in the Bible. The episode also previews a deeper dive into the deity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, promising a thorough exploration in the subsequent installment.

### Key Takeaways:

* **Definition of the Trinity**: God is one in essence, three in persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity is both a theological mystery and a foundational Christian belief.

* **Common Objections Addressed**: Pastor Scott explains why the term 'Trinity' not being in the Bible doesn't invalidate the doctrine, using historical context and other theological terms coined later.

* **Biblical Basis**: Scripture passages, including the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16-17), provide strong evidence for the Trinitarian belief.

* **Flawed Analogies**: Analogies like the triangle, water states, and personal roles are discussed, revealing their inadequacies in fully capturing the essence of the Trinity.

* **Practical Advice**: Christians should deepen their understanding of Trinitarian doctrines by studying scripture and engaging in thoughtful discussions to effectively communicate the belief in the Trinity.

### Notable Quotes:

1. "We cannot fully comprehend the Trinity because we cannot fully comprehend God."

2. "The word Trinity is not found in the Bible. But, its absence hardly discredits the doctrine."

3. "Every act of God is accomplished by the Trinity in unity."

4. "We must educate ourselves on trinitarian passages of scriptures and brush up on our explanations."

5. "Analogies for the Trinity are always inadequate because God is all three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - all the time."

### Resources:

* **Books Mentioned**:

* *"Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer*

Encourage your theological curiosity and understanding of the Trinity by tuning into this episode and stay tuned for the next installment where Pastor Scott Hand will explore the deity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Subscribe for more insightful episodes from "Dazed & Apologize."

In this compelling episode of "Days and Apologize," Pastor Scott Hand delves into the contentious issue of division within the Christian Church. Addressing a common concern, he explores why the plethora of denominations and differing beliefs might deter individuals from embracing Christianity. Pastor Scott navigates through the history and origins of the three major branches of Christianity—Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism—explaining their development and specific doctrinal differences.

Throughout the episode, Pastor Scott emphasizes the importance of doctrinal purity while acknowledging the practicality and necessity of certain divisions within the Church. By using historical context, biblical references, and personal anecdotes, he underscores that although some divisions are healthy and essential, many are petty and counterproductive. Listeners are encouraged to understand the significance of these distinctions while also recognizing the extensive efforts towards unity and cooperation among various Christian groups in recent years.

### Key Takeaways:

* **Historical Context and Denominations**: A deep dive into the historical origins and doctrinal distinctions of the three major Christian branches: Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism.

* **Theological Triage**: Understanding the concept of theological triage, which categorizes issues into tiers of importance, highlighting which religious differences are worth dividing over and which are not.

* **Healthy vs Unhealthy Divisions**: Distinguishing between necessary doctrinal divisions and trivial, counterproductive separations that harm the Church's unity and mission.

* **Empathy and Engagement**: Engaging skeptics by demonstrating empathy towards their concerns and helping them see the broader picture of Christian unity.

* **Biblical Basis for Division and Unity**: Emphasizing the biblical mandate for unity within the Church and the importance of adhering to sound doctrine.

### Notable Quotes:

1. "There are over 45,000 denominations of the Christian church globally. That blew my mind."

2. "There are times when separation is necessary, when division is needed over doctrinal differences."

3. "One of our most missional proclamations of the gospel to the world is how we treat one another."

4. "We strive to obey the commandment Jesus gives in John 13... By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another."

5. "The world looks at \[trivial divisions] and laughs at us. We need to understand that when that kind of stuff happens in our churches, we become a laughingstock to the world."

### Resources:

* **Gospel Coalition Article**: Mentioned by Pastor Scott Hand as a detailed resource for understanding church divisions.

* **Pew Research Center**: Referenced statistics on Eastern Orthodox (260 million), Roman Catholics (1.2 billion), and Protestants (over 1 billion) globally.

* **Quick Guide to Christian Denominations*** by Trevin Wax: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/quick-guide-christian-denominations/

Stay tuned to this episode of "Days and Apologize" for an educational and enlightening discussion, helping you better understand the complexities of church divisions and the importance of unity in faith.

In this thought-provoking episode of "Dazed and Apologized," Pastor Scott Hand delves into the daunting question, "Why would God allow natural disasters?" This episode, part three of the mini-series on “God and Evil,” explores the intersections of faith, scripture, and the realities of the natural world. Pastor Hand meticulously breaks down the theological and scriptural stands on natural disasters, providing a refreshing perspective grounded in biblical truths.

Pastor Hand establishes the foundational concept that God is sovereign over nature and uses a series of biblical examples to illustrate this point. He discusses natural disasters within the framework of God’s sovereignty, detailing how events like earthquakes, hurricanes, and disease can play a role in God's divine plan. Through an engaging deep dive into scriptures like the Book of Job and Romans 8:18-23, Pastor Hand articulates how God's control over nature serves multiple purposes, including judgment, teaching, and leading the lost to salvation. This episode equips listeners with the insights needed to understand and discuss these complex issues from a place of faith.

### Key Takeaways:

* **God's Sovereignty over Nature**: God created nature and maintains control over it, using it to fulfill His purposes in the world.

* **Biblical Precedents**: Instances in scripture such as the flood, plagues in Egypt, and the calming of the storm by Jesus illustrate God's use of natural events to carry out divine intentions.

* **Purposes of Natural Disasters**: Natural disasters and diseases can serve as judgment, a means to draw the lost to Him, or to teach and discipline His children.

* **Human Perspective and Response**: The episode emphasizes the importance of empathizing with those affected by natural disasters and avoiding assigning reasons for God's actions, focusing instead on offering comfort and pointing to hope through the gospel.

* **Impacted Creation**: Sin's entry into the world corrupted both mankind and creation, leading to the decaying state of the world that manifests through natural disasters and diseases.

### Notable Quotes:

1. "In order to answer this question properly, we need to back up a little bit and just explain some things." – **Pastor Scott Hand**

2. "God respects the rules that He set up... He created man in His image, and one of the attributes we share with God is moral choice, libertarian freedom." – **Pastor Scott Hand**

3. "God uses nature to carry out His purposes in the world." – **Pastor Scott Hand**

4. "The psalms are filled with emotion. David is upset — 'God, where are you? Why have you hidden your face from me?' It's okay. Let them vent." – **Pastor Scott Hand**

5. "For the believer, nothing that happens in this world, no natural disaster, no suffering, no illness, nothing is a punishment for our sins in a salvation sense because Jesus took the punishment for our sins on the cross." – **Pastor Scott Hand**

By diving deep into scripture, Pastor Scott Hand brings light to the complex issue of why God allows natural disasters. For anyone grappling with these questions, this episode offers rich theological insights and compassionate guidance. Tune in to this week's episode for a Bible study like no other and stay tuned for more enlightening content from "Dazed and Apologized."