CCC Life Paths Charting your course to membership

Transcription

1 CCC Life Paths Charting your course to membership

2 Navigating Core Doctrines

3 A doctrine is a set of beliefs (or teachings) held to be true. We all hold to doctrines because we all hold to beliefs. For this presentation, we mean that we hold beliefs (doctrines) based on the Word of God, and that they are derived by careful examination of Scripture, which is the rule of faith for our lives (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

4 A core doctrine is one of the major beliefs of Christianity, shared by all true Christians, which cannot be compromised without jeopardizing what it means to be a Christian.

5 In this presentation, we will also include in this category doctrines that distinctly make us Charismatic (a special subset of Christians who believe that Spirit Baptism and the Gifts of the Spirit continue today), although these distinctives are not crucial to being a Christian, per se.

6 Beliefs determine how we behave how we relate to and treat one another and how we view right from wrong. In short, beliefs make up our world and life view. Since doctrines are based on these beliefs, they make up the foundation of our personal and interpersonal lives. And doctrines specifically related to God define who and how we worship.

7 In short, the Bible is our manual for living.

8 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:10-11

9 Did not our hearts glow within us while he was talking to us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us. Luke 24:32 Berkeley Version

10 What are our core doctrines? Let s take a look at several but with the following format:

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12 True of False: The Bible is one of many important religious books that all contain a similar pathway to God. False

13 Core Doctrine: The Bible alone is the Word of God.

14 Regarding the Bible, we can confidently affirm: 1. we have good translations of the biblical manuscripts; 2. those manuscripts are accurate copies of what was originally written; 3. the books we are looking at are indeed the right and best books to look at; 4. the authors of those documents really did intend to tell us accurately what happened; 5. there s no good reason to think they were mistaken in what they saw and recorded.

15 One of the unique features of the Bible is the many prophecies fulfilled as predicted. In fact, most Bible scholars count 48 prophecies fulfilled by Jesus alone. The probability that any one person could fulfill all of these prophecies comes to 1 in This number is inconceivably large!

16 True or False: We believe in one God, having three manifestations of existence, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. False

17 Core Doctrine: The Trinity Corrected version: We believe in one God in three divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

18 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

19 True or False: Paul speaks of Jesus as Lord in a variety of roles that were the unique province of Israel s God, Yahweh (or Jehovah). True

20 Core Doctrine: The Deity of Christ

21 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

22 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:8

23 True or False: We earn the righteousness of God through good works. False

24 Core Doctrine: Salvation is by grace through faith in the redemption of Christ.

25 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10

26 True or False: During water baptism we publicly declare that we are following Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. True

27 Core Doctrine: Water Baptism

28 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

29 True or False: The bread and fruit of the vine change into Jesus actual body and blood during the communion ceremony. False

30 Core Doctrine: Communion (or the Lord s Supper)

31 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Luke 22:19-20

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33 True or False: The gifts of the Spirit ended after the canon of the Bible was formed. False

34 Core Doctrine: Spirit Baptism

35 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 1 Corinthians 1:7

36 At CCC we seek to give every opportunity for the Spirit to have expression through the many-member Body, including in our regular services. This may require that a service take a little longer, but the reward is well worth the sacrifice.

37 True or False The ascension gifts of the apostle and prophet ended after the twelve apostles died. False

38 Core Doctrine: The Church (Government)

39 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13

40 At CCC we recognize all five gift ministries: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. We encourage our members to seek the Lord for His wisdom and guidance in the release of these gifts.

41 True or False: The Kingdom of Heaven is both now and not yet, near and far, earthly and heavenly, hidden yet manifested, gradual and sudden. True

42 Core Doctrine: The Kingdom of Heaven/ God

43 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. Matthew 11:12

44 As you go, preach this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:7-8

45 My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place. John 18:36

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