Foundations of The Faith
Foundations of The Faith
Foundations of The Faith
Sessions: 6 The Authority of the Bible and the Doctrine of the Trinity
The Deity and Mission of Jesus
Salvation, Heaven and Hell, and Christs Return
The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
Divine Healing
Church Ordinances
TRIMESTER 1
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of these classes is to strengthen Christians in the faith. We are going to be studying
the Word of God together and we believe that your life will be changed as a result. We will be
laying a doctrinal foundation for Christian growth and maturity. The things we will be dealing
with are essential to the Christian faith.
Whatever God says in His Word is right, whether it has to do with marriage, the home, or
business; His Word is right. Now whatever your final authority is in life, that is your god. People
many times have good ideas, but what is really important is: What does God say? Because God
is never wrong. On any given subject, whatever your final authority is, that is your god on the
subject.
As Christians, the Bible must be our final authority on everything. It is our rule and guide for
living. God gives instructions concerning all areas of our life. This is God’s revelation to man.
This is God’s will revealed to us.
The word Bible means book. It contains sixty-six separate books of various literary forms, such as
letters, history, narrative, epic poetry, song lyrics, and apocalypse, but all with one theme. God
compiled this book over a period of 1500 years, from 1400 B.C. to A.D. 100. Its forty authors
included shepherds, fishermen, warriors, priests, prophets, kings, a physician, a scholar, and a
cupbearer. Such a diverse literature of truth affecting every generation of every culture, nation,
and tribe could only be put together by the hand of God.
LESSON OUTLINE
I. THE BIBLE IS GOD’S INFALLIBLE WORD.
• “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for
every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
E. God’s Word supplies everything we need for spiritual life and development as a
Christian (Matthew 4:4).
1. God’s Word contains promises for everything we need (2 Peter 1:3-4).
2. God speaks to us through His Word. He also works in our hearts and minds
through His Word (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
GROUP DISCUSSION
1. According to the following verses, how can God’s Word help you grow spiritually?
a. Ephesians 6:11, 17
b. 1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12-14
c. Psalms 119:105, 130
d. James 1:23-25
2. What does each of the following Scriptures tell us about Jesus’ equality with God?
a. Matthew 1:20-23
b. John 1:1-5, 14
c. Philippians 2:5-11
3. Pray for each other. Thank God for His Word. Ask Him to help each of you grow in
godly wisdom through His Word.
SELF-STUDY
1. Memorize 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
2. What did the Old Testament writers believe about God and His Word?
a. Numbers 23:19; Psalms 33:4
b. Deuteronomy 4:2-8
c. Proverbs 30:5-6
3. What did Jesus believe about His own teaching and the later teaching of His disciples,
through the Holy Spirit?
a. John 8:25-30
b. John 16:13-15
4. What did the New Testament writers believe about God, His Word, and their own
writings?
a. Titus 1:2
b. Revelation 22:18-19
c. Romans 15:14
5. In your own words, write a personal statement expressing what you believe about the
Bible’s authority.
INTRODUCTION
We’ve talked about the Bible being the Word of God, and we talked about the Trinity: God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I want to move on now to another central truth
of Christianity: We believe in the virgin birth and the deity of Jesus Christ.
We are going to look at several Scriptures that talk about the preexistence of Jesus Christ: that
He preexisted as God the Son.
“Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has
bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name,
and what is his son’s name, if you know?” (Proverbs 30:4)
Now the answer to these questions obviously is God. God has established all the ends of the
earth. But it asks an interesting question: What is His Son’s name? God has a Son.
LESSON OUTLINE
I. THE DEITY OF JESUS
A. The Bible claims that Jesus existed as God the Son long before He was born of the
Virgin Mary (Proverbs 30:4; Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6).
B. Jesus was fathered by God and born of a virgin (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:31-35).
1. Jesus is more than a good man, a prophet, or a leader. He was, is, and always will
be: the eternal Son of God.
2. God Himself took on flesh (John 1:1-2, 14).
C. Jesus claimed to be God. Jesus called Himself by the name God gave for Himself:
“I AM” (John 8:57-58; Exodus 3:13-14).
• Jesus had to come to earth because humankind had become separated from God and
was in a fallen, sinful state. As humans, we were totally incapable of redeeming
ourselves. Christianity is God reaching down to humans; it is God identifying with the
human race.
2. Adam and Eve’s sin affected the whole world; we now live in a fallen world.
• Humankind is separated from God (Romans 5:12).
3. Every person is guilty of sin and stands in danger of God’s judgment.
(Romans 3:19, 23)
a. God created us to have fellowship with Him, but sin and rebellion separated
us from God.
b. God made a way to restore that relationship.
C. Jesus came to earth to give His life as a sacrifice for humanity, so that He could bring
us to God (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
1. The only way to be saved from spiritual death is to be in Christ. We must trust
Jesus to forgive our sins and rescue us from our fallen state.
2. God laid our sins on Jesus. He died on the cross as our substitute so that we
might go free (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
SELF-STUDY
1. Memorize John 1:1.
2. How does each of the following passages describe the mission of Jesus?
a. Matthew 20:28
b. Luke 19:10
c. John 5:30; 6:38
d. John 10:10
3. Summarize Romans 5:6-8 in your own words.
INTRODUCTION
We ended last session by sharing what God has done to redeem mankind to Himself. He sent His
only begotten Son to be a ransom for us. The Bible says there is no other means of salvation.
Religion does not save people. Religious works do not save people.
Look with me at John 14:6. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one
comes to the Father, except through me.’”
Jesus said He was the way, the truth, and the life. And He said no one comes to the Father,
except through Him. If we believe anything that Jesus said, we must believe that. There are not
many ways to God. There is one way to God: through Jesus Christ.
LESSON OUTLINE
I. SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
• According to Romans 3:19, the whole world stands guilty before God. Sin separates
humanity from God, leaving us no hope of saving ourselves from sin. God redeemed
humankind by sending His Son to die for our sin. There is no other way to be saved.
(John 14:6; Acts 4:12)
A. The Bible declares “the blessed hope,” Jesus, will return to gather all His people to
heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
C. In the end, God will build a new heaven and a new earth. Christians will live with
God in this new world (Revelation 21:1, 10-11; 21:21-27; 22:1-7).
GROUP DISCUSSION
1. Each person share at least one idea from the lesson that impacted your heart or mind.
2. What do these Scriptures tell us about faith?
a. Romans 10:17
b. John 1:12
c. John 3:16
d. Hebrews 11:1-6
3. Discuss what happened to the people in the following examples when they believed. What
did their faith lead them to do?
a. Acts 2:36-47
b. Acts 8:4-13
c. Acts 16:22-34
4. What does Peter say about the new heaven and the new earth (2 Peter 3:8-13)?
5. Pray for each other. Thank God for salvation through Jesus and for the promise of eternal
life with Him in the new heaven and earth.
SELF-STUDY
1. Memorize Ephesians 2:8-9.
2. According to Galatians 2:15-16, how is a person justified or declared right before God?
3. What does Jesus promise His disciples in John 14:1-4?
4. Read Revelation 21-22. Make a list of some of the wonders of the new heaven and earth.
INTRODUCTION
Jesus spent much time teaching about the Holy Spirit. Every believer in Jesus Christ should be
familiar with His ministry. When Jesus talked about the Holy Spirit, He always referred to Him
as a person. He never referred to Him as an object or some sort of a force.
The Holy Spirit is grieved when we don’t realize He is a person. He is not here just to do things
for us, but He is a person to be recognized. The Bible even speaks of having fellowship with the
Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14).
God dwells in the Christian by the Holy Spirit. It is important to know the Holy Spirit.
LESSON OUTLINE
I. THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. Jesus and the New Testament writers refer to the Holy Spirit as a person.
1. They use “He” and “Him,” never “it.”
2. The Holy Spirit is a person (John 14:15-18, 26).
B. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to be with us and to do Christ’s work.
1. The way Jesus was going to come back to the disciples was in the person of the
Holy Spirit.
• He said that the Holy Spirit would come in His place, represent Him, and act
on His behalf.
2. In His last message to His disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus taught about the
coming Holy Spirit and His ministry (John 16:7-16).
a. The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.
b. The Holy Spirit will show you things to come.
c. The Holy Spirit will guide you.
d. The Holy Spirit will impart the wisdom of God into your heart.
SELF-STUDY
1. Memorize John 4:13-14.
2. How can the Holy Spirit help you to pray?
3. Why do you think Jesus often called the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth? Why did He call
Him the Counselor?
4. What three evidences of Spirit Baptism did Peter say were seen and heard on the day of
Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4)?
INTRODUCTION
You cannot read for very long in your Bible without finding God healing people.
In Exodus 15:23-26, God revealed something about Himself to His people: God reveals Himself
as The Healer.
God is by nature a healer. God is by nature a Healing God. If God was a healer then, He must
be a healer today. If He was a physician then, He must be a physician today because He does
not change (Malachi 3:6).
LESSON OUTLINE
I. ABIDING TRUTHS FROM THE LAST SESSION
B. Jesus said we can receive the Holy Spirit Baptism simply by asking for it (Luke 11:9-13).
GROUP DISCUSSION
1. Review the final section of this outline, which was not covered by the video (point 6), by
reading and discussing the Scriptures.
2. Compare the methods used for healing in the following passages. What events led up to
each healing?
a. 2 Kings 5:1-14
b. Mark 8:22-25
c. Acts 19:11-12
d. 2 Kings 20:1-7
e. Luke 8:40-56
3. What common barriers to healing are noted in the following passages?
a. Isaiah 5:13; Hosea 4:6
b. Mark 6:4-6
c. Proverbs 28:13
d. Mark 11:25
e. Exodus 23:24-26
4. If healing is needed among your group, pray for those specific needs.
SELF-STUDY
1. Memorize Isaiah 53:4-5.
2. Why did Jesus choose to heal people in the following passages?
a. Matthew 9:22
b. Matthew 14:14
c. John 9:1-7
INTRODUCTION
An ordinance is a prescribed practice, such as a religious rite. Jesus gave ordinances to the
Church, not as rituals or rules, but as methods for helping us act out our faith. Each ordinance
is a physical demonstration of a spiritual grace.
Jesus received all authority in heaven and earth and then commanded His disciples to go into all
the world, to preach the Gospel, and to baptize those that believed. This is a command of Jesus,
and those that believe in Jesus Christ should be concerned with obeying His commands
(Matthew 28:18-19).
LESSON OUTLINE
I. WATER BAPTISM
A. Jesus’ disciples anointed the sick with oil for healing (Mark 6:12-13).
B. The elders of the Church are to anoint the sick for healing (James 5:14-15).
• The power of faith brings healing, not the oil.
A. When we participate in communion, we proclaim what the Lord has done through
His death. We are demonstrating outwardly an inward faith (1 Corinthians 11:23-30).
1. The wine or juice represents Christ’s blood that was shed to cleanse us from sin
and to provide salvation for our spirits.
2. The bread represents His body that was broken to provide for our healing.
(1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53:5)
3. We must partake in a worthy manner, discerning His body, because we are healed
by His stripes.
GROUP DISCUSSION
1. What changes in a person’s life are demonstrated by baptism, according to Romans 6:1-14?
2. What does Paul advise believers concerning the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:23-29?
3. Pray for each other.
SELF-STUDY
1. Memorize Romans 6:4.
2. In these passages from the Old Testament, what did the laying on of hands signify?
a. Genesis 48:8-15
b. Numbers 27:22-23
c. 2 Kings 13:14-17
3. Why do you think God gave the Church each of these four ordinances? List a reason or
purpose for each one.
a. Water baptism
b. Anointing with oil
c. Communion
d. Laying on of hands