BASIC BIBLE STUDIES

If we acquire great understanding of the story and facts of the Bible but do not personally know its "Author", we will have fundamentally missed the mark. Therefore, this portion of the web page is directed toward the end of knowing the God of the Bible.

Seven "BASIC BIBLE STUDIES" have been developed and offered here for your direct access. They focus on the "essentials" of the Christian faith using over 120 Bible texts from 26 books in both the Old and New Testaments. If you have never had the opportunity to carefully study "Biblical Christianity" as opposed to "Religious Christianity", you will want to spend some time in this portion of the web page.

These seven Basic Bible Studies are grouped into three categories in an effort to address the essentials of the Christian faith.

REPENTANCE --- FAITH --- THE NEW BIRTH

These three subjects are vital to the issue of "salvation". REPENTANCE involves a change of mind, a desire to turn away from our former wrong ways to a new right way. FAITH is a decision to turn toward the God of the Bible and implies not only an intellectual assent for what He has done to enable our salvation, but also a heartfelt desire to trust in Him to accomplish His work in our lives. THE NEW BIRTH is His response to our FAITH, and is the step required to get us to Heaven. Therefore, these three Basic bible Studies are essential for becoming a "Christian" in the Biblical sense.

GOD'S NATURE --- GOD'S JUDGEMENTS

Who is the God of the Bible and how does He operate? Christianity is really a relationship with this God, so it is essential that we understand Him in a personal way. God's nature is clearly spelled out in the Bible and these Basic Bible Studies will help us to appreciate His nature, desires, and requirements.

THE CHURCH --"A-C-T-I-O-N-S"

When we experience THE NEW BIRTH and become a Christian, we also become a member of THE CHURCH. There is much misunderstanding concerning this body of believers, so it is important to learn what the Bible says about THE CHURCH. If you have never looked into this question, you may be very surprised by what it says. Moreover, membership in THE CHURCH is not only positional but also to be dynamic. Therefore, it is important to understand that a Christian is not to remain spiritually "static", but is to dynamically progress by certain A-C-T-I-0-N-S for Christian growth.

This Basic Bible Study will initially deal with "who" must REPENT and "why". After defining the word REPENTANCE, two stories are used from the Bible. One involved a false REPENTANCE that God did not accept, while the other was one to which He responded positively. You will be asked certain "Questions To Ponder" so that you may examine your own form of REPENTANCE relative to God's standard of acceptability.

"REPENTANCE" (33 KB)

FAITH

This Basic Bible Study begins with a Scripture that declares the importance of FAITH. It then moves to a discussion of the meaning of FAITH. However, the real issue raised time and time again in group discussions is not the definition of FAITH, but rather how much FAITH is required to please God? This issue is dealt with by way of another story in the Bible involving a man who we now know had "enough" FAITH to please God. You will be asked to compare your FAITH with his, and to identify the critical elements of his FAITH that caused God to respond. It concludes with a specific application of FAITH for you to determine whether or not you have "enough".

"FAITH" (30 KB)

THE NEW BIRTH

There are a lot of questions concerned with THE NEW BIRTH. Just what is it? How can it be received? Why is it important? What are its specific elements? Is water baptism a part of it? How can you know if you have received it? All of these issues are taken up in this Basic Bible Study using numerous Bible texts. THE NEW BIRTH is an essential issue of the Christian faith, and you need to be certain that you understand and have experienced it.

"THE NEW BIRTH" (30 KB)

GOD'S NATURE

One way to study the nature of God is to study the names that the Bible uses for Him. This Basic Bible Study sets forth three primary Old Testament names for God and discusses each of them. With each name, you are asked certain "Questions To Ponder" concerning the implications of that "name" and your personal reaction to it.

This Basic Bible Study concludes by citing two sets of Bible texts that define "two" potential ways to come to God. This strikes at the heart of religion in general versus Biblical Christianity in particular, finally challenging you to decide which way it will be for you.

"GOD'S NATURE" (29 KB)

GOD'S JUDGEMENTS

In our quest to have a relationship with God and to get to Heaven, we sometimes forget what we are being "saved from". This Basic Bible Study drives home the point that God is not only love but also justice. Moreover, that perfect uncompromising justice will ultimately be manifest by some form of "JUDGEMENT" against each and every principality or person in His universe. This Basic Bible Study begins with a litany of JUDGEMENTS that have already occurred or will occur, citing the results of each. It then raises a question often asked. Do members of God's CHURCH still face a possible JUDGEMENT of condemnation? Finally, is there a way to avoid God's JUDGEMENT altogether? These perplexing questions have answers directly from the Bible, and you need to understand them to equip yourself with the essentials of the Christian faith.

"GOD'S JUDGEMENTS" (31 KB)

THE CHURCH is greatly misunderstood in our time. This Basic Bible Study begins with two diverse views of THE CHURCH, one is the view of most people while the other is God's view. Since this is such a prevalent issue in modern times, you are asked some "Questions To Ponder" concerning your own views about THE CHURCH. God's Plan for His CHURCH is revealed in a New Testament text, where those who become "members" of God's CHURCH are identified as part of a five-step process involving "foreknowledge", "predestination", "calling", "justification", and "glorification". This study walks you through each of these steps by incorporating related Bible texts, and concludes with other Scriptures that define resulting relationships with the "FATHER", the "SON", and the "HOLY SPIRIT".

"THE CHURCH" (27 KB)

The purpose of this Basic Bible Study is to define some A-C-T-I-O-N-S that you may want to consider to make Christianity become a life-changing experience for you. The title of the study is actually an acronym, where each letter of the word stands for an "action" to be taken that does not involve works but rather a decision that needs to be made. These A-C-T-I-O-N-S are broken down into three sub-groupings:

"A-C" relate to two decisions you need to make before you can honestly say you are a Christian in a Biblical sense.

"T-I-O" relate to three more decisions you need to contemplate if you want to grow spiritually as a Christian.

"N-S" relate to decisions you must consider if you want to serve effectively as a Christian.

Thus these "A-C-T-I-O-N-S" describe a path whose goal is Heaven on which the race is to be run. Are you interested?

"A-C-T-I-O-N-S" (50 KB)

SPIRITUALITY WORKSHOP

"SPIRITUALITY WORKSHOP" is designed for people who may be thinking in the following kinds of ways:

• I'm fed up with religion as simply a tradition, but I still believe in God and want to have a spiritual component in my life.

• I'm actively involved in religious activities, but somehow am not experiencing spiritual growth in my life.

• I'm confused about religion. Is one approach any better than another and if so, how can I sort it out?

• I'm not into the Bible at the present time, but I believe in a Creator and if possible would like to have a relationship with Him.

• I'm satisfied with my present level of spirituality but am always open to new options for improvement.

If you can identify with one or more of the above views, you undoubtedly possess at least this "kinship" with most of humanity. Moreover, you are a potential candidate for the "SPIRITUALITY WORKSHOP".

The SPIRITUALITY WORKSHOP is a structured approach on the subject of personal SPIRITUALITY. It is designed to enable you to first evaluate your life by identifying problems, then examine your understanding of "GOD". The final steps will allow you to examine your options for SPIRITUALITY consequent with "GOD" as your understand Him, so that you might set life changing goals.

The four ACTIVITIES should be undertaken in the order given below and each one fully completed before the next one is started.

(YOUR PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT)

You will be presented a generalized "model" of human personality with which you may interact so as to tailor it to your individual personality. The results will be specified in terms of genetically related TEMPERAMENTS, experientially acquired ATTITUDES, modes of DECISION MAKING, and consequent BEHAVIORS. The "model" is designed so that your personalized result will illuminate negative rather than positive traits. It is important to first discern, then acknowledge individual problems, before the potential value of SPIRITUALITY can be appreciated.

(THE ATTRIBUTES OF YOUR "GOD")

SPIRITUALITY inherently requires some kind of association or relationship with "GOD" as you understand Him. Obviously you can't get to know or have a rewarding relationship with anyone including your "GOD" unless you are on speaking terms with Him. Your personal views about the attributes of your "GOD", in terms of His ABILITY, LOVE, and JUSTICE, will be shown to strongly influence the type and degree of relationship (thus SPIRITUALITY) that you can expect to have with your "GOD".

(A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR "GOD")

Since the particular way in which you viewed the inherent tension between LOVE and JUSTICE will dictate the kind of relationship you can have with your "GOD", you will be given some feedback here on the implications of your choices in ACTIVITY II so you may make a reassessment as you see fit.

(EVALUATING YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH)

You will be asked to return to your personality model developed earlier in ACTIVITY I, using it to assist in the construction of a Biblical "yardstick" to measure your potential SPIRITUALITY. This "yardstick" should now give you a way of measuring your present spiritual state and progress toward an ultimate goal.

I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN "SPIRITUALITY WORKSHOP"