Meat For Growing Christians PDF

MEAT FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS Frank Hamrick & Jerrs Dean PositiveAction BIBLE CURRICULUM  TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 The Inspiration of the Bible: Bibliology 5 2 Jesus Christ: Christology. 13 18...

MEAT FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS Frank Hamrick & Jerrs Dean PositiveAction BIBLE CURRICULUM  TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 The Inspiration of the Bible: Bibliology 5 2 Jesus Christ: Christology. 13 18 3 The Trinity: Theology 26 4 The Holy Spirit: Pneumatology 35 5 Mankind: Anthropology. 42 6 Satan: Angelology. 48 7 Demons: Demonology. 56 8 The Second Coming: Eschatology. Examination Questions. 65  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. -Hebrews 5:14 The verse above literally means "solid food belongs to thefully trained athlete who, because of practice, has his senses trained to discern good and evil" Doyou want to become that fully trained athlete? Do you want to run the race that He has called you to? Then Meat is for you. Infants don't start out eating solid food, but as they grow and mature, they learn to appreciate meat. Are you ready to begin your Meat diet? Sometimes it willbe tough. Often it will be hard to digest. You will have to spend much time in order to get all the good things from Meat. But, if you stay with it to the end, you will realize that your spiritual strength has increased more and more with each meal. If you're ready to begin, pray right now and ask the Lord to teach you by His Spirit,causing you to become that fully trained athlete for Himn.  1 THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE: BIBLIOLOGY  How do I know that the Bible is really the Word of God? That is a question people ask frequently. In fact, some of your ansaved friends probably have already asked you that question. Even some pastors in liberal churches don't think the Bible is inspired. DEFINITION OF INSPIRATION Inspirationmeans God-breathed. When used in connection with the Scriptures, it neans that God breathed into the minds of the writers exactly what He wanted thenm to say. I've been inspired by a beautiful view before. That's one type of inspiration, but that's not the same type of inspiration that we have in mind. TWO TYPES OF INSPIRATION Natural Inspiration This is inspiration on the human level-the kind caused by psy chological and environmental influences on an individual. For instance, due to certain moods and events in one's life, we have various impulses to draw a picture,write a poem, compose a song, play ball, etc. This is not what we mean by biblical inspiration. Biblical Inspiration This is inspiration on the heavenly levelthe kind caused by God Himself breathing into people the actual words He wants them to write. This was purely for the purpose of revelation. God has finished this type of inspiration. Is God still inspiring people to write? 6 GOD HAS STOPPED INSPIRING PEOPLE TO WRITE THE WORD OF GOD In the last book of the Bible, God had John write a warning. W'hat was it? (Rev. 22:1) Tou can rest assured that allof God's Word has been revealed by Him. The Book is tinished-it cannot be added to or taken away from. let Satan continues to attack at this very point. SATAN ATTACKS THE INSPIRATION OF GOD'S WORD Ask yourself acouple of simple questions: 1. If the Bible is not completely true in every detail, can we know for sure that we are saved? 2. Can we trust any part of the Bible if it is incorrect in certain places? If the Bible is not God's Word, then we are poor, ignorant indi viduals whocan know nothing about the life that Christ has to offer. Isn't it logical that the first thing the devil will attack is the truthfulness and trustworthiness of God's Word? Howcan I defeat these attacks on God's Word? DEFEATING SATAN'S ATTACKS ON THE WORD OF GOD No Errors First, we need to know that the Bible contains no error in its archaeological, scientific, geographic, or historical record. Even though it was written many years betore people knew all they knowtoday, it does not contain even one error. Could a book be 7 written by a group of men over different periods of time, about subjects that these men were not experts in, and still be without any error in archaeology, science, history, etc.? There is only one logicalway for this to happen: Asupernatural power must have directed its writing! If it is not humanly possible for such a book to be written, then a Being who knows everything there is to know must have written the book. Who, then, must have written the Scriptures? Let's look at a second reason why we can be sure the Bible is God's Word. Fulfilled Prophecy Second, what about fulfilled prophecies? Everything the Bible has said would happen has happened exactly as prophesied. The Old Testament was written hundreds of years before Christ, and many thingswere written about Christ even before He was born. Read these versesand tell what was written about Christ many years before He came to Earth. Write the answers on the longer lines. 1. Psalm 16:8-11 2. Psalm 22:16 3. Psalm 22:18 4. Psalm 34:20 5. Psalm 41:9 6. Psalm 68:18 8  7. Psalm 69:21 8. Psalm 110:1 9. Isaiah 7:14 10. Micah 5:2 11. Zechariah 9:9 12. Zechariah 11:12-13) The following verses record how each of the previous prophe cies were fulfilled. Now match the following verses, placing the letter of thecorrect passage below on the appropriate lineon the shorter lines above. A. John 19:31-33 G. Matthew 2:6 B. Matthew 26:15; 27:9-10 H. John 13:18 C. Matthew 1:23 I. Colossians 3:1 D. Matthew 27:34 J. Ephesians 4:7-8 E. Matthew 21:1-6 K. Acts 2:23-27 F. John 20:20, 25 L. Matthew 27:35 Could all of these prophecies have been fulfilled per fectly if God's Word were not true? Itwould be incredibly unlikely--perhaps even impossible-for all of the above prophecies to have come true by accident. Yet there are literally hundreds of prophecies in God's Word, all of which came true, exactly as God said. No single person, much less a group of 9 people over hundreds of years, couldhave devised aset of prophe cies so accurate. God's Word is not human, but supernatural. The Bible's Own Testimony Third, let's look at what the Bible itself says about the Word of God. In the Old Testament alone, the phrase "thus saith the Lord" Occurs morethan 3,800times. Read these verses and explain in your own wordswhat they mean. 2 Peter 1:19-21 2 Timothy 3:16 By these two verses we can see that God used men to write His Word. However, these men were taught, or moved, by what? According to 2 Timothy 3:16, how much Scripture is true? Christ's Own Testimony What did Jesus Himself say about the Word? Matthew 5:18 Luke 16:17 " John 10:34-35 Read these statements carefully. If one is true, put a check beside it; if it is false, put an X beside it and state why it is false. 10  The Bible contains the Word of God. When you read the Bible, it becomes the Word of God to you. All Scripture that is given by inspiration of God is profitable. The Bible is all the Word of God, and every single word is completely true and trustworthy. Complete This Section Without Looking Back at the Lesson 1. What does the word inspiration mean when it refers to the Bible? 2. Name the two types of inspiration: 3. Name four ways we can know God's Word is inspired: Verses to Mermorize 2Peter 1:20-21 2Timothy 3:16 11  2 JESUSCHRIST: CHRISTOLOGY We have just seen that the Bible is completely true and reliable on every subject it addresses. There is much talk today about one such subject--Jesus. But are all the things people say about Him true? Is Christ just a good teacher or a prophet, or is He more? Was He just a good man, or was He God in the flesh? Let's see what the Bible says. Hes the Lord: God in the flesh. WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS Read John l:1-2, 14 and 1John 1:1. Who is the Word mentioned in these verses? How long had this Word existed? Then,we could safely say that Jesus Christ is John 1:1-2 states that Christ was already in existence in the beginning with God, but then it adds that the Word was Read Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3; Ephesians 3:9; and Hebrews 1:1-3. According to these verses, what did Christ do? And what does He continue to do? These verses show that Christ is If Christ were only a good teacher or prophet, would He be eternal? Could He have actually created the universe? 14 WHAT CHRIST SAID Notice what Christ said about Himself. Read John 10:30; 14:8-9. In your own words, state what Jesus said about Himself. HIS NAMES PROVE HIS DEITY Match the names of Christ with the Scripture references. 1. John 1:29 A. The Messiah 2. John 1:34 B. The Good Shepherd 3. John l:41 C. The Lamb of God 4. John l:49 D. The Bread ofLife 5. John 6:48 E. The Son of God; Holy One of God 6. John 6:69 E The Door/Gate of theSheep 7. John 8:12; 9:5 G. The Resurrection and the Life 8. John 10:7-8 H. The Son of God; His Chosen One 9. John 10:11 I. The Way, Truth, and Life 10. John 11:25 J. The Son of God, King of Israel 11. John 14:6 K. The Light of the World 12. John 15:1 L. TheTrue Vine 13. John 20:27-29 M. Lord and God 14. Revelation 1:8N. Alpha and Omega, The Almighty HE IS EITHER GOD OR A LIAR Many say that Christ was not God, that He was not the Savior of the world, but He might have been great teacher or leader or a 15 good man. But if Christ was not God, as He claimed to be, then He was a liar or insane. If Jesus Christ is not God, He couldn't have been a good man. OTHER FACTS THAT PROVE CHRIST'S DEITY We will now look at several other facts that prove Christ was God in the flesh.Look up these verses and state those things that prove Christ was God. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:26-27 1John 3:5;2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15 John 20:1-8, 19, 26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 Ancient Jewish law required two witnesses to establish something as true. In modern societies, the legal stan dards are largely the same, given enough evidence. How many people saw Christ alive after His resurrection? Conplete This Section Without LookingBack at the Lesson 1, List the facts as well as the Scriptures that prove to your satisfaction that Christ was truly God. 16  2. Could Christ not be God and still be a good man? 3. Prove your answer. Verses to Memorize John 20:28-29 17  3 THE TRINITY: THEOLOGY You have probably heard a preacher or someoneelse talk about "the Holy Trinity:" Perhaps also you have some vague idea of what is meant by the word Trinity. The classic definition of the Trinity is this: The three eternal distinctions in one divine essence, known as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." What does that mean? It simply means that even though God is only one Being, or essence, this oneBeing exists in three separate persons:the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thats hard to believe. I could never explain that. Ican't explain it either. Though if we could figure out God, He wouldn't be much of a God, would He? But we can offer proof that there is a Holy Trinity-however mysterious or confusing the concept might be. PROOF OF THE TRINITY Let's see what the Bible says about this subject. The Bible Constantly Associates the Three Together in Their Work 1. Read Romans 1:7; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 1:2. In each of these verses what two persons are connected together? God the and 2. All three are mentioned at the baptism of Jesus. Note Matthew 3:16-17. How does this passage portray each member of the Trinity? The Father 20  The Son The Holy Spirit 3. According to Matthew 28:19, in whose name were the disciples to baptize? 4. Ablessing from the Apostle Paul unites the three. Read 2 Corinthians 13:14 and write the verse below: 5. All three are united in our salvation. Read1Peter 1:2 and statewhat part each plays in our salvation. The Father The Son The Holy Spirit To summarize, all three are associated and united in at least four ways: The baptism of Jesus The baptism of believers Paul's blessing on the church Salvation 21  6. All three take part in our spiritual growth. Read 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 and summarize verses 17-18 in your own words. Their Eternal Existence Proves the Trinity 1. According to Psalm 90:2, how long has God the Father existed? 2. What does the Bible say about the Spirit's life-span? (Heb. 9:14) 3. What does John 1:1-2 say about God the Son? Creation Proves the Trinity 1. Read Genesis l:26. Notice the two pronouns that refer to God used in the verse: and Are these singular or plural? What does this tell you about God? 2. Now, look at John 1:1-3, 14. Who else aided in creation? John 1:34 tells us that thisother person is called what? 3. Go back to Genesis 1:2. Who moved over the waters before creation? What difference does it make ifI believe in the Trinityor not? 22 The Trustworthiness of Christ 1. Read John 14:7-12. In verse 9, Christ says that anyone who has seen Him has also seen 2. And in John 10:30, Jesus says 3. Therefore, if we reject the doctrine of the Trinity, we say that is a liar, and cannot be trusted. Our Faith in the Truthfulness of God's Word 1. Read 2 Peter 1:20-21. Who wrote the words of God? According to verse 21, who moved these men as they wrote Scripture? 2. Therefore, if we reject the Trinity, we deny the fact that God wrote the Word, Could we then know for sure that the Biblewas true in every detail? The Assurance of Our Salvation 1. Read 1John 3:24; 4:13; and Romans 8:14, 16. State in your oWn words what these yerses mean. 2. If we reject the Trinity, can we be sure were saved? TheEnlightening Power of the Spirit Read John 14:26; 15:26. According tothese verses, what work does the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, perform? 23  However, if He is not God, can He honestly tell us the mind of God? Then, if we deny the doctrine of the Trinity, can we really understand the Scriptures? BRIEF SUMMARY The doctrine of the Trinity, simply stated, is that the Holy Spirit is God, Jesus Christ is God, and God the Father isGod. They are allthree separate, yet they are one God. Complete This Section Without LookingBack at the Lesson 1. Give the simple definition of the Trinity. 2. Name three major proofs of the Trinity. 3. Name four ways the Bible associates the Three-in-One. 4. Who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them? Be specific. 5. What four great truths must we discard if we reject the doctrine of the Trinity? 24 25 1:1-4 John Corinthians 13:14 2 Memorize Verses to