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BASIC CHRISTIAN BELIEFS SERIES |
| Please note: this series is based on Wayne Grudem's excellent volume entitled, "CHRISTIAN BELIEFS." |
| SUNDAY, 8 January 2012 What Is the Bible? |
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INTRO:
Every so often, it's important we go BACK TO THE
BASICS... This new series will look at a number of the BASIC CHRISTIAN BELIEFS we hold sacred... Where do we START such a series? Important to consider the SOURCE/RESOURCE of all that we know about GOD... i.e. the REVELATION HE HAS GIVEN US... The WORD of GOD... i.e. the Bible MESSAGE #1 – WHAT IS THE BIBLE? a good summary found in 4 key words... #1 - AUTHORITY based on 2 Timothy 3:16,17 Means that we can fully TRUST the Bible...means we should fully OBEY the Bible.. #2 - CLARITY based on Psalm 19:7 & Ps. 119:130 Means that the Bible was written in such a way that all things necessary to become a Christian, live as a Christian, and grow as a Christian are CLEAR so all of us can understand its truths... #3 - NECESSITY based on Romans 10:17 & Matthew 4:4 Means that the Bible indispensible to our knowledge of God, to know how to gain eternal life, and to know God’s will for our lives... #4 - SUFFICIENCY - based on 2 Peter 1:2,3 Means that the Bible contains all the words of God that a person needs to become a Christian, live as a Christian, and grow as a Christian. |
| SUNDAY, 15 January 2012 What Is God Like? |
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INTRO:
After last week's introductory message the
Bible, God's revelation of himself, we naturally ask the question: "WHAT IS GOD LIKE?" 2 IMPORTANT TRUTHS the Bible tells us about God... #1 – That God EXISTS... KEY #1: the Bible never tries to prove God... Scripture simply assumes God exists.... Gen. 1:1 “In the beginning, θ created the heavens and the earth.” KEY #2: the Bible indicates that God has deeply imbedded (hardwired) in each of us an awareness of his existence... Rom. 1:19 “...what may be known about θ is plain to them, because θ has made it plain to them.” Eccl. 3:11 He has also set eternity in the hearts of men. #2 – God is KNOWABLE... Last week’s message tells us how: thru God’s REVELATION While We can never know God FULLY... Ps. 145:3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. Is. 40:25 "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One." ...we can know Him PERSONALLY. God created us with this capacity... John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. We know GOD through His SON, Jesus Christ.... |
| SUNDAY, 22 January 2012 What Is God Like? Part II |
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INTRO:
One good way to learn about God is to consider
His attributes, his traits, his qualities, his characteristics... Theologians have divided God's attributes into 2 categories: #1 - His UNQUE (incommunicable) ATTRIBUTES i.e. those that are true of God alone.. #2 - His SHARED (communicable) ATTRIBUTES i.e. that that He shares with us... HIS UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES include... God is Independent - God stands alone, doesn't need anything or anyone else Acts. 17:24,25 God is Immutable - God never changes Psalm 102:27 God is Eternality - God always is, has no beginning and no ending Ps. 90:2 God is Invisible - John 1:18 God Omniscient/Omnipresent/Omnipotent - Psalm 139 God is Perfect and Infinite HIS SHARED ATTRIBUTES include... God is Wise... Romans 11:33,34 God is True... Jeremiah 10:10 God is Good... Luke 18:19 God is Love... 1 John 4:8 God is Holy... Ps. 99:9 God is Righteous and Just... Deuteronomy 32:3,4 God is Spirit John 4:23,24 All of these should lead us to say: "GOD IS WORTHY OF ALL OUR PRAISE!" |
