Name:__________________ the fundamentals of the faith. class syllabus | ccc youth group geoffrey r. kirkland | associate pastor a study for the youth group of christ community church in hopes of understanding theology, knowing how to live theology, and being equipped to better communicate and teach this theology to others. long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation —1 Peter 2:2 Fundamentals of the Faith 1 Geoffrey R. Kirkland Fundamentals of the faith a study for the CCC youth group | by Geoffrey R. Kirkland Overview of the 13 Lessons : Lesson 1: Introduction to the Bible Lesson 2: How to Know the Bible Lesson 3: God: His Character and Attributes Lesson 4: The Person of Jesus Christ Lesson 5: The Work of Christ Lesson 6: Salvation Lesson 7: The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit Lesson 8: Prayer and the Believer Lesson 9: The Church: Worship and Fellowship Lesson 10: Spiritual Gifts Lesson 11: Evangelism and the Believer Lesson 12: Obedience Lesson 13: God’s Will and Guidance “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation. ” —1 Peter 2:2 Fundamentals of the Faith 2 Geoffrey R. Kirkland Lesson 1: Introduction to the Bible I. What is the Bible? a. The Word of God given to man The phrase “Thus says the LORD ” is found 1,900+ times in the Old Testament! This means that God spoke to man, and therefore gave to man His perfect Word! This means that when the prophet said: “ Thus says the LORD” he was speaking the word from God Himself to the people! It was an inspired, perfect, and God-given word! Exodus 5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD , the God of Israel, 'Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.'" Isaiah 44:6 6 " Thus says the LORD , the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. Ezekiel 2:4 4 "I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD .' Deuteronomy 4:1-2 "Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you (compare with Revelation 22:18-19). Here Moses is telling the nation of Israel that they are not to add anything to the Word that God has spoken to them through Moses! And Revelation 22:18-19 says the exact same thing . The Bible is THE complete and perfect Word FROM God TO Man . 1 Thessalonians 2:13 13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. Fundamentals of the Faith 3 Geoffrey R. Kirkland When Paul spoke the gospel to the Christians in the city of Thessalonika, they received what Paul had to say not as mere words of men, but just as it is, the true Word of God! Hebrews 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, b. The absolute authority NOTE this: The Bible is the absolute authority and standard by which the Christian lives his life. -everything must be compared with the Bible -everything must be measured by the Bible WHY? Because God has spoken in HIS Word and the only book in the world that contains the words from Almighty God is the Bible . Therefore, it is the absolute authority ! Hebrews 4:12-13 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. See how powerful and authoritative God’s Word is! NOTHING in your life is ever hidden from God—not even your thoughts! 2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. Mark 1:27 27 They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." Even when Jesus was living on earth, he would command unclean spirits (=demons) to depart from people and when he commanded, they obeyed! Why? Because God always speaks with authority so that even the strongest of foes (Satan, demons) must obey Him! c. The standard of holiness Fundamentals of the Faith 4 Geoffrey R. Kirkland If you want to get to heaven by being “good”, then all you have to do is be perfect—absolutely perfect (no mistakes, no sins—none!). Matthew 5:48 48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Isaiah 57:15 15 For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. John 17:17 17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth God’s Word is TRUTH . The point of the verse in John 17 is that the Word that God has given to mankind is the truth and the means by which humans are saved and are sanctified (that means, becoming more Christlike, or more like Jesus). John 16:13 13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. Of course, this is believed by faith : Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. And it continues… Hebrews 11:6 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. d. How we know about many different realities: i. God ( Theology Proper—the Doctrine of God) 1. John 17:3 3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 2. Hosea 6:3 3 "So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth." ii. Man (Anthropology—the Doctrine of Man) Fundamentals of the Faith 5 Geoffrey R. Kirkland 1. Romans 5:12 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 2. Genesis 1:27 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 3. Psalm 51:5 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. iii. Others ( Anthropology cont’d—the Doctrine of Man continued) 1. Philippians 2:3 but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 2. Ezekiel 18:20-21 20 "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. 21 "But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. iv. Sin ( Hamartiology—the Doctrine of Sin) 1. Romans 3:23 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 2. Ecclesiastes 7:20 20 There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins. 3. 1 Kings 8:46 for there is no man who does not sin 4. Psalm 143:2 2 And do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no man living is righteous.