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The three most basic Christian truths. 1) God actually exists. 2) He has revealed Himself in a way that is understandable to people. 3) His revelation has been preserved for us in the Bible THE BIBLE: 66 Books, written in 3 languages, by 40 Writers, on 3 continents, over 1500 years.

We have been given a commission by God Himself. We are not here on earth to mark time or follow selfish pursuits, God has a purpose for our lives and a destiny for us, but as freewill agents it is subject to our choices. Jesus was born as a man (God incarnate) with a purpose, and He fulfilled that purpose. John 17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. We in turn have also been sent out by Jesus to fulfill our purpose. John 17:18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

What criteria do you use when choosing a translation of the Bible? - Accuracy (for study) - Readability (easy to understand) - Underlying text (we’ll cover this in a future study)

his is (and maybe should be) the biggest bone of contention throughout church history right up until today. Questions like: What does the text mean? How do we interpret the Old Testament? How do we interpret the New Testament? What are the critical questions we must ask? How do we understand the authorial (original) intention of the text?

The Mosaic covenant was a formal arrangement of mutual commitments between God and Israel, with Moses as the mediator between the Israelites and the angels who put the covenant into effect. While we are “not under law, but under grace” (Rom 6:14), the Old Testament (in particular, the Moral Law) is still a valuable source of ethical wisdom when understood in accordance with the ways in which the New Testament authors apply the Old Testament for ethical teaching.

An overview of the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

God always honours his covenants, unlike people who often make covenant vows and then dishonour them. The marriage covenant where people swear “until death us do part” with God as a witness, and then disregard this is but one example.

A look at stewardship in terms of the tithe. Is the tithe still applicable in the New Covenant?

In a world filled with war and violence, it’s difficult to see how Jesus could be the all-powerful God who acts in human history and be the embodiment of peace. But physical safety and political harmony don’t necessarily reflect the kind of peace He’s talking about. John 14:27. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

God want us to be good stewards of his property. 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace 1 Cor 4:2 (ESV) Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

An overview of the Book of Genesis

Why we study the Bible

Some people find their identity in: - their looks and so they fear aging. Proverbs 31:30 says that “beauty is fleeting”. Beauty should not be your primary identity; because it cannot last. - their social status (I live in this area, I hang around with this group). - their possessions (I drive this car, I wear this brand of clothes, my house cost so much).

A look at: Stewardship. An inheritance Stewardship of giving. Jesus and giving. Responsibilities to ministries Giving to the poor.

The Five solas are 5 Latin phrases that emerged during the Protestant Reformation and summarize the Reformers’ basic theological beliefs in contrast to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church of the day. Sola Scriptura: by Scripture alone. Sola Fide: by faith alone. Sola Gratia: by grace alone. Solus Christus: through Christ alone. Soli Deo Gloria: glory to God alone.

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, Go in peace; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

We might be tempted to think that Jesus somehow had an unfair advantage over us. But he was truly a man and faced the same challenges we do. He was born as a helpless baby dependent on his parents.

Quoting Proverbs 3:11-12 the author of Hebrews shows that, contrary to what some believe, God’s single desire isn’t just for us to be happy. God also wants us to be holy and will use discipline to achieve that goal! Heb 12:4-6, 10 (NIV) In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” … but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

'Lest we forget' is a phrase commonly used in war remembrance services and commemorative occasions in English speaking countries. Used on ANZAC Day memorials and in Remembrance Day ceremonies as a caution against forgetting those who died in the war. The word remember is found 240 times in the Old and New Testaments. 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

Hebrews 11:5. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken, he was commended as having pleased God.

Going to a shop, you may see many things that you’d like to have. There’s one snag though – they all have a price tag. Luke 14:31-33 (NIV) “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”

One Chinese church leader, who spent 23 years in prison, once said this to Christians who did not face persecution: “I was pushed into a cell, but you have to push yourself into one. You have no time to know God. You need to build yourself a cell, so you can do for yourself what persecution did for me—simplify your life and know God.”

He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else. - Benjamin Franklin. An excuse is the skin of the truth stuffed with a lie - Sam Innes.

The Book of Revelation is the 27th and last book of the NT, and consequently the final book of the Christian Bible. Its title “Revelation” is derived from the first word of the Koine Greek “apokalypsis”, meaning “unveiling, uncovering or revelation”. The book is also known as the Apocalypse of John.

- Management styles - Time management