Essentials Teacher

[Essentials Of The Christian Faith, Teacher Edition, Sample Page 1]

Course Description

Essentials Of The Faith is an introductory course to the basics of the Christian faith. It is an attempt to piece together the simple nuts-and-bolts of an infinitely profound belief system. The Teacher will be challenged to let God speak through His Word when it comes to cataloging thoughts, especially with regard to what man sorts out as theology. This brief overview will offer to each Teacher the requisites necessary to build upon their Christian worldview while at the same time cause them to meet head-on present deviant thinking about God, His Word, and The Christian Faith.

General Course Objective(s)

The Teacher will:

n Understand the basic teachings of the Christian faith;

n Appreciate the nature of God and His attributes

n Interact with basic truths about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Salvation, the Bible, Angels, Sin, and Future Things.

n Be challenged in areas of personal growth (i.e. devotional life & prayer);

n Begin using “tools” such as concordances, Bible dictionaries, and commentaries.

teaching methods and evaluation

1. Course content will be related through: lectures; Teacher involvement; reading assignments; video; and guest speakers when available.

2. All Bible reference in the syllabus will be taken from The New International Version

3. Teacher Resource Sheets in the back of the syllabus are provided to enhance specific lessons. Memory assignments are also included in this section. The SRS’s are integrated throughout course work. A parenthesis after any lesson title including (SRS # pg. ) will signal the appropriate time for their use.

4. Course accountability will include: homework; quizzes; weekly reading assignments; memorization; creative and research writing; and tests. Extra credit work can consist of Bible study worksheets; book reports; scripture topic reports, or (SRS’s #8 pg.60 ) duplicated.

5. Handouts and notes are to be kept in an orderly fashion and turned in at the end of each grading period for evaluation.

6. Extra Credit (SRS #8, pg.60) can accompany each topic being studied.

[Essentials Of The Christian Faith, Teacher Edition, Sample Page 2]

Bible I Reading Schedule (SRS # 1 Pg. 53)

SEPTEMBER

First Reading Genesis 1-9

Second Reading Genesis 10-18

Third Reading Genesis 19-27

OCTOBER

Fourth Reading Genesis 28-36

Fifth Reading Genesis 37-45

Sixth Reading Genesis 46—Deuteronomy 4

NOVEMBER

Seventh Reading Deuteronomy 5-13

Eighth Reading Deuteronomy 14-22

Ninth Reading Deuteronomy 23-31

Tenth Reading Deuteronomy 32—Judges 6

DECEMBER

Eleventh Reading Judges 7-15

Twelfth Reading Judges 16—Ecclesiastes 3

JANUARY

Thirteenth Reading Ecclesiastes 4-12

Fourteenth Reading Job1-7

FEBRUARY

Fifteenth Reading Job 8-14

Sixteenth Reading Job 15-21

Seventeenth Reading Job 22-28

MARCH

Eighteenth Reading Job 29-35

Nineteenth Reading Job 36—John 4

Twentieth Reading John 5-13

APRIL

Twenty First Reading John 14—Romans 1

Twenty Second Reading Romans 2-10

Twenty Third Reading Romans 11—Ephesians 3

MAY

Twenty Fourth Reading Ephesians 4-6; Philippians; Colossians 1-2

Twenty Fifth Reading Colossians 3-4; 1st and 2nd Peter

Twenty Sixth Reading 1st John

[Essentials Of The Christian Faith, Teacher Edition, Sample Page 4]

Theology

An Accurate Statement About The True God:

There is one and only one living and true God, an infinite Spirit, the Maker and supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection and yet executing distinct but harmonious ministries in the great work of redemption (Exod.20:2‑6; 1 Cor.8:6; Rev.4:11)

How can we know that God exists?

· His existence is taken for granted by the Scripture writers.

None of them attempted to prove or to argue for the existence of God

· To the Scripture writers God is the self‑existent One (Exod.3:14; Deut.7:9) and the Source of all life (John 5126).

· By observing the world we see (Genesis 1:1; Romans 1:18‑21) and by man who is the most complex being on earth (Gen.1:26‑28).

The intricacy of the universe and mankind (macro & micro systems) supports the existence of God

Along with the Biblical recognition for the existence of God there are several naturalistic arguments:

1. Universality of Belief: Human beings worldwide believe in the existence of a supreme Being or beings to whom they are morally accountable and to whom “satisfaction” (propitiation ) needs to be made.

· Belief in God is not a result of logical arguments—It is by faith;

· Scriptures are a confirming witness for the knowledge of God man already has, therefore, the revelation has authority over him (Romans 1:18-20)

· Conviction for God also comes from “within” man (Eccl.3:11; Acts 17:22-31)

2. The Argument from Cause: Beyond curiosity it is natural to ask how something came into being. Was it self-originating or was its cause outside of itself? Is its cause natural or supernatural, finite or infinite? Therefore, when we consider mankind or our world, the same questions follow. Examples of Cause and Effect:

· Man is an effect; he has not always existed.

· The world we see Gen.l:l

· The uniqueness of Man (self‑consciousness; self‑determination) Gen.1:26‑28

· Natural Laws Rom.1:18‑23; Prov.8:27‑29; Col.1:16‑17

[Essentials Of The Christian Faith, Teacher Edition, Sample Page 10]

Theology

The Jurisdiction of God’s Sovereignty [Read and Discuss each passage]

· The universe is under His control

Job 38:4-6; 31-33; Psalm 104:1-5; 115:3; Amos 9:6

· All living and non-living things on this planet are under His authority

Genesis 1:3-31; Isaiah 45:12, 18; Matt.6:30; Luke 19:40; Romans 8:18-39

· He directs the nations

Psalms 2; 22:28; Isaiah 40:13-17; Daniel 4:25; Romans 16:26; Revelation 15:4

· Everything that is, submits to His glory

Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 48:11; Ephesians 1:9-11; James 4:6-7; Jude 1:25

God’s “Self-limitations” of His Sovereignty

If God were limited in any way, then we would have to conclude that He is not God. However, it is clear from the revelation of scripture that God has imposed limitations upon Himself. The areas of interest are: the existence of evil & sin, free will in humans, and the effects of prayer.

The Existence of Evil & Sin

God is not the originator of evil or sin. He did not determine their existence. He did, however, allow their manifestation in the universe. Why? Perhaps we’ll never know. On the other hand, we realize that God’s voluntary permission of these conditions, are working out His glorious purposes reflecting His absolute power and pure love.

· There is no evil or sin in God…1 John 1:5; James 1:13

· God permits and prevents sin from manifesting itself…Romans 1:18-3; Genesis 20:6

· God sets the boundaries to which Satan may tempt, try, or harm individuals…Job 1:12; 2:6; 1 Corinthians 10:13

· Every expression of sin can be overruled by God at any time demonstrating His sovereignty and glory… Exodus 9:16; Psalm 76:10; 103:6-14; Ezekiel 28:16; Revelation 12:9

Free Will in Human Beings

God could have created us with the inability to sin. In heaven we will enjoy such a blessing. But that was not His plan for humans who were to be made in the image and likeness of God. Even as God chose to create, to love, etc., He desires man to love and respond to Him by choice. Willful submission rather than forceful prescription is God’s delight.

· Humans beings have the capacity to exercise free will because we are made in the image of God…Genesis 1:26-27

· The sovereignty of God includes His determination to allow man an opportunity to choose in the matter of one’s personal salvation…John 1:11-12

· God preferred to make man capable of choosing whether or not he would obey and serve Him…Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Philippians 1:21; 3:8-14

[Essentials Of The Christian Faith, Teacher Edition, Sample Page 15]

The Study Of God’s Word (Bibliology) (SRS #4, Pg.56 )

God’s word then depends upon Himself and not the influences or interpretations of fallible man. Since God used languages to communicate to humanity, literary form is to be considered in its normal usage. Figurative language should be taken as such and narratives with dates, locations, people, and instructive lists should be understood as literal. The historical parts of scripture are to be considered as accurate as the explanations for salvation.

Maxim #2 The Bible Professes to be God’s inspired Word

The word inspired literally means “God-breathed.” It is made up of two Greek words, theos = God; and pnein = to breathe. The use of this word reveals that the writings of scripture are the result of an influence exerted by God upon the authors. That is what the apostle Peter explained when he said, “…but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet.1:21). Another observation is that the word pnein = to breathe, suggests a “forcible exhalation” denoting God’s conscious inbreathing into man. Therefore, the combination of 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:19-21, can be reasoned out that God was speaking through men His Word as though He Himself spoke every single word of it with His own tongue.

Numbers 12:6-8 "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"

2 Sam 23:2: “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.”

Isaiah 51:15-16: “For I am the LORD your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves roar-- the LORD Almighty is his name. I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand-- I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, 'You are my people.”

Ezekiel 3:10-11: “And he said to me, "Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to listen."

Acts 1:16: “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus…”

Along with these evidences of God’s intervention in the recording of His Word, there are several observations which testify that the Bible is God’s inspired Word. The phrase “Thus saith the Lord God” and similar expressions are found over 3,800 times in the Bible. The words of Moses are coupled with the words of Jesus Christ—“If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?"(John 5:46-47) And, Jesus Christ, the Living Word, placed His seal of approval on the Scriptures—“Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ( Matt 4:4)

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Jesus, The Christ (Christology)

Question # 2 How is Jesus different from other religious leaders?

When considering Jesus Christ among the religious leaders throughout time, one must reckon with the fact that the Bible depicts Him as both 100 percent God and 100 percent man. He is both referred to as the Son of God (second person of the trinity) and Son of Man (emphasizing His humanity). Many false teachings about Jesus Christ reflect the abuse in emphasis of either His deity or humanity. Probably the most bold testimony about Jesus comes in the form of His own testimony about His departure the “way” to heaven, “ I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6) What is exclusive about that statement and distinguishes Jesus from all other religious leaders is that His statement makes following Him the only way to God. All other religious leaders and systems allow for many ways to get to God or heaven.

Since Jesus Christ was both God and man it is important to observe the Scripture’s testimony of His essence. An important theological term describing this truth about Jesus Christ is Hypostatic Union. This is defined as, “The deity and humanity of Christ as being united in one person forever without any mingling or separation of the person or his attributes.” Therefore, there was no loss in the identity of the two natures (human & divine).

Exploring the two natures in one person…

The Humanity of Jesus Christ

1. Galatians 4:4 –He was born of woman

2. Luke 2:52 –Normal human development

3. John 4:6-7; Luke 4:2 –Experienced limitations

4. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 –Died and was buried

5. John 13:14-15 –Human expressions of love and humility

6. Mark 1:35 –He prayed

7. Hebrews 5:8 –Jesus learned obedience

The Deity of Jesus Christ

1. Matthew 1:20 –Conceived of the Holy Spirit

2. Luke 5:20-24 –He forgave sins

3. John 11:38-44 –He raised the dead

4. Mark 6:45-51; John 2:6-11 –He performed miracles

5. John 10:18 –Authority take up His life from death

6. John 1:1, 14 –His pre-existence

7. Matthew 28:6; Acts 1:9-11 –His resurrection and ascension

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The Holy Spirit (Pneumatology)

What does the Holy Spirit Do?

From the past to the present, the Holy Spirit has been active in the world and among mankind. He was with the other three members of the Godhead at creation (Gen.1:2, 26). His work in the inspiration of the Scriptures over the 1500 year period of time and through approximately 40 writers is documented (2 Peter 1:21; Acts 1:16-20). He came upon the believers of old (1 Samuel 16:13) and indwells believers since Pentecost (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). He is actively involved in salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13), sanctification (Ephesians 5:18), and the edification of the church through the bestowing of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7,11).

Jesus wanted His disciples to know about the Holy Spirit and spent much of His last evening preparing them for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Read about those conversations in John 14:15-27 and John 16:5-15.

List eight (8) things that the Spirit does from these passages:

What the Spirit Does Verse

1. He is our Helper 14:16

2. He is with us forever 14:16

3. He is the Truth we receive 14:17

4. He lives with us and in us 14:17

5. He teaches and reminds of us all things 14:26

6. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, & Judgment 16:8-11

7. He guides and speaks what He hears 16:13

8. He glorifies the Son 16:14

The Holy Spirit is also involved in the works that only God can do. Match the correct verses with the activity of the Spirit.

_____ Luke 1:35 [A] Work of conviction in salvation

_____Genesis 1:2 [B] Act of Inspiration

_____2 Peter 1:22 [C] Act of Begetting Christ (birth of Christ)

_____John 3:6 [D] Work of intercession

_____John 14:16 [E] Work of regeneration

_____John 16:8 [F] Act of Creation

_____2 Thess.2:13 [G] Work of comforting

_____Romans 8:27 [H] Work of sanctification

[Essentials Of The Christian Faith, Teacher Edition, Sample Page 32]

The Study Of Angels (Angelology )

Meaning and use of the word "angel"

1. Meaning: One who brings a message; a messenger.

2. Usage: The term usually refers to spirit beings.

Sometimes the term is used of men as messengers (for example, Matt. 11:10, John the Baptist; Luke 7:24; 9:52; James 2:25; Rev. 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14). For the most part, when the word refers to spirits, the messenger is viewed as one who serves. On some occasions, at least, they are designated as "sons of God" (job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; and possible Gen. 6: 2, 4).

Their order in creation

A. Their origin.

1. They are created beings Col. 1: 16

2. The time of their creation was before the creation of the material world, Job 38:4‑7. They do not seem, however, to have been created before the first day in light of Col. 1:16 and Exodus 20:11, cf. Ps. 33:6. Thus it would appear that they were created at the beginning of the first day since they rejoiced over the creation of the earth.

3. The entire angelic host was evidently created simultaneously and immediately since they do not reproduce, Matt. 22:30. Note, too, that they are sons of God, not sons of angels.

B. Their nature.

1. They are spirit beings, Heb. 1:14.

2. They are incorporeal, Luke 24:39, cf. Heb. 1:14, although they can assume bodily form, Gen. 18:119:1.

3. They do not propagate after their kind, Matt. 22: 30.

4. They do not die, Luke 20:36.

C. Their number.

They are innumerable, Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11, and since there is neither birth nor death the number seems to be fixed.

D. Their rank.

They are identified as: archangel, cherubim, seraphim, messengers, destroying angels, guardians, rulers, authorities, power, and dominions. Jude 9, Eph. 1: 21; 6:12; Col. 1:16; 2:15.

E. Their relationship to men.

1. They are not glorified human beings, Heb. 12:2-3. (See Luke 20:36 which should be understood as "like the angels" not "equal to angels").

2. They are above the sphere of men, Ps. 8:4‑5, cf. Heb. 2:7.

3. They rejoice over the salvation of men, Luke 15: 10.

4. They will be judged by the saints, 1 Cor. 6:3.

5. They are not to be worshipped, Col. 2:18.

6. At least once they transported a soul to heaven, Luke 16:22, cf. Jude 9.

7. They are not omniscient but do have great knowledge, 2 Sam. 14:20.

8. They are not omnipotent but do have great power, Ps. 103:20, cf. 2 Pet. 2:11.

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The Study Of Angels (Angelology )

disobedience may bring it on so willing obedience to God's Word will bring deliverance.

b. Demon influence.

This would refer to external demonic activity from outside an individual through pressure, suggestion, and temptation. Such activity is with a view to the hindrance of God's purposes for mankind and the extension of Satan's sphere of authority. Among other things this involves the misleading of the unbelievers, 2 Cor. 11:13‑15, and the waging of war upon the believer, Eph. 6:12.

5. Their destiny.

a. Temporary: Tartarus, 2 Pet. 2:4; the abyss, Luke 8:31; Rev. 9:1‑11; 20:1‑3.

b. Final: The lake of fire, Matt. 25:41.

Satan “chief of fallen angels”

I. Introduction.

Actually, the study of Satan belongs under "fallen angels" but it is so important we make a separate division. His existence is established by the testimony of Christ throughout the Gospels, for example, John 14: 30. He is a created being. Ezek. 28:13, 15 establishes that he is a creature and, therefore, while he is superhuman he is not divine; while he is very powerful he is not omnipotent; he has a large sphere of influence but on a restricted scale. For example, see Job 1:12; 2:6. He is a spirit being. He is an angel of the order of cherubim and apparently the highest of all, Ezek. 28:14.

II. His names.

Chafer states that there are at least forty appellations (descriptive titles and proper names) for this creature (Systematic Theology, 11, 33). Some of the more common follow.

Lucifer.

This is found in Isa. 14:12 and was his pre-fall title. It means "day‑star" and is accompanied by the title "son of the morning" (cr. 2 Pet. 1: 19). The Latin term means "light--bearer."

Satan.

This term is from the Hebrew shatan and means adversary, resistor, Zech. 3:1; 2 Cor. 11:14; cf. 1 Pet. 5:8

Devil.

This term is from the Greek diabolos which means slanderer, false accuser, Matt. 4:1, cf. Rev. 12: 10.

Serpent.

The Hebrew word means "shining one." The term also suggests subtlety and guile, Gen. 3:1; 2 Cor. 11:3; Rev. 12:9; 20:2.

[Essentials Of The Christian Faith, Teacher Edition, Sample Page 40]

Our Great Salvation (Soteriology)

Examine the following scriptures and observe the character and activity of God in relation to His people and the need for salvation:

Psalm77:13 - Thy way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God?

Joshua 24:19 - "…You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins.

James 1:13 – 15 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

1Peter 1:10-16 - As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry… announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit… As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy

1 John 1:5 – “…God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”

1 John 3:4 – 6 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.

As noted earlier, let's turn our attention to a brief consideration of what sin is and where it came from.

The Origin Of Sin [Where Did It Come From?]

A. Sin pre‑dates man

1. Presence of the "serpent" (as a host for the evil one) in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3: 1; Rev. 12:9; 2 Cor. 11:3; 1 John 3:8)

2. In John 8:44f, "...from the beginning" refers to Satan's activity during his fall 3. Romans 5:12 states that "sin" entered the world

B. Satan and Angels Sinned

1. Isaiah 14:12‑15; Ezekiel 28:12‑18 (Refer to Angels Section of Syllabus)

2. It seems likely that Satan’s "sin" was the temptation and attempt to be like God. That was how the serpent made his appeal to “mankind” in Gen. 3:15

3. Other reference regarding angels and sin: Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4; Rev.12:7‑9

[Essentials Of The Christian Faith, Teacher Edition, Sample Page 48]

Looking Ahead (Eschatology)

Since the main theme of the Bible, from cover to cover, is concerned with God’s plan through the Lord Jesus Christ, then our focus will be highlighting future events connected with Him. The “snapshots” we will look at are: The Intermediate State of Believers and Unbelievers, The Second Coming of Christ, The Church Gathered “Raptured” To The Lord, and Resurrection, Divine Judgment, and The Eternal State.

The Intermediate State of Believers and Unbelievers

The intermediate state refers to the existence of the souls of people before the resurrection of the body.

I Thessalonians 4:13-17 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope… and the dead in Christ shall rise first…”

I Corinthians 15:51-54 “…I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed… For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality...”

2 Corinthians 5:1-2 “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven.”

This existence is for both the righteous and the unrighteous. This intermediate existence is conscious regardless of one’s spiritual condition.

Luke 16:22-23 “Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom.

For the unbeliever, it will be suffering.

Deuteronomy 32:22 “… a fire is kindled in My anger, And burns to the lowest part of Sheol,”

Isaiah 14:15 “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit.”

Luke 16:24-28 “… he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me… dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame… you are in agony…I beg you, Father, that you send him to my father's house-- for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.

For the believer, it will be comfort, rest, and in the presence of Jesus Christ.

Luke 23:42-43 “…Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

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Teacher Resource Sheet #2 Name_______________

Theology Unit Vocabulary

Self-Existent

A God incapable of proof and the source of all life

Conscience

The God given inner sense of one’s own moral goodness; the feeling of obligation for one’s conduct and character to be good or do right.

Propitiation

Satisfaction appropriated to the only true God

Agnosticism

The belief that the existence of an ultimate reality, such as God, is unknown and probably unknowable.

Materialism

Matter and that which can be understood by the five senses is the only true reality.

Incorporeal

God is invisible, without parts, without body

Anthropomorphism

Human expressions used in order to bring the infinite God within the comprehension of finite man.

Pantheism

God is all, all is God.

Deism

Although God is the Creator, He maintains no further relation to creation. He has left it to run itself without interference on His part

Polytheism

Belief in a multiplicity of gods.

Dualism

Teaches that there are two independent divine beings or eternal principles, the one good and the other evil.

Unitarianism

The belief that God exists only in one person

Omniscience

God knows all things past, present, and future. He is absolutely perfect in knowledge.

Omnipotence

God can bring to pass everything that He wills. His power has no limitations.

Omnipresence

God’s presence is spiritual, real, and everywhere at all times simultaneously.

Immutability

God’s nature is absolutely unchangeable.

Holiness

God is entirely apart from all that is evil and which defiles His relation with His creation. This describes His perfection, purity, and the absolute sanctity of His nature.

Righteousness

Through laws, precepts, commands, and principles, God’s love for holiness and doing right

Justice

Actions executing God’s hatred of sin.

Loving Kindness

The kindness, goodness, and compassion of God in relation to both the obedient and the disobedient

Love

The active and unconditional display of care and acceptance of God toward His creation.

[Essentials Of The Christian Faith, Teacher Edition, Sample Page 59]

Teacher Resource Sheet #7 Name_______________

BIBLE STUDY METHODS

There is nothing magical about understanding the Bible. Being a “teacher” of the Scriptures is something expected by God of all believers (Hebrews 5:12)! The prerequisite for such learning and teaching rests primarily not with a Bible college degree, but with the regeneration and the “anointing” of the Holy Spirit (1John2:27). Several approaches to discovering what God intends for us to know include:

1. Prayerful/Devotional Reading - Here you are asking the Lord God to speak to you and your situation personally. This interaction is purely between you and God. His grace ministers to your specific needs as He relates His Word to your life.

2. Literal, Historical Reading - The emphasis here is understanding the “then and there” of the Bible story and characters. The Scriptures would objectively be viewed like a “textbook” with facts, locations, real people, and their particular life situations.

3. Inductive Study (i.e. Ingredients, Recipe) - At this stage you are combining methods 1 & 2 and “asking” the Bible text many questions. Three significant steps are employed as you proceed:

A. Observation - The act of seeing, taking notice of things as they really are. The art of awareness. Good observation depends on two root attitudes: an open mind and a willing spirit. Six important questions will help you make accurate observations:

Who.....Who are the people involved?

What....What happened? Ideas are expressed? What are the results or actions?

Where..Where does this take place? Locations, atmosphere, and settings?

When...When does this take place? What was the historical period?

Why.... Why did it happen? The purpose? Cause and Effect?

How....How are things accomplished? By what means? Was method effective?

B. Interpretation - “Remember, there is only one true interpretation!” This step causes us to clarify what the Holy Spirit, through the particular Bible author, intended to communicate to the readers. Here you seek to understand why the Holy Spirit included this information. The following process helps make a proper interpretation:

i.....List all questions which may arise in your mind about this passage.

ii....Identify all significant words, lists, illustrations, and commands.

iii...Discover other passages which address same or similar content.

Iv...Identify literary styles and genre of writing

C. Application - This is the putting of God’s Word into practice in your life. Here one recognizes the personal message to individuals or groups. The following questions help answer the question, “How does it work?”....

1. How are my strengths and weaknesses illustrated in this passage?

2. What is the best way for me to relate this passage to other people?

3. What can I do as a result of studying this passage?

1. Am I willing to commit myself to meditating on this passage in order to fill and renew my mind as God intended?

Choose a passage in the Bible which contains a minimum of 10 verses and apply the Inductive Bible Study Method....

Choose a minimum of three chapters from any book in the Bible and apply the Prayerful/Devotional Method...[Answer “Application” questions for responses]