Twin Oaks Christian Church

www.twinoakschristian.com

FOUNDATIONS
Developing crucial fundamentals for a growing relationship with Jesus

Six Weeks of Growth

Foundations
1. Start with the end in mind 2. Teach a man to fish 3. How to read the Bible 4. Key practices of growing Christians 5. Whats my thing? 6. Stand! Fight! Run!
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of

Key verse
him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the

Augustine Christ is not valued at all, unless He is valued above all.

D.L Moody No one can sum up all God is able to accomplish through one solitary life, wholly yielded, adjusted, and obedient to Him.

Week 1 - Starting With the End In Mind

Foundations
The goal is not to be happy to have a better life to get Gods help self improvement

Colossians 1:16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created _by____ ___him______and __for___ ____him_____ John 15:8 Acts 17:29-31 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Matthew 12:36-37 2 Corinthians 5:10 Hebrews 9:27 Matthew 25:31-46

A Common Tension in Scripture We are not saved by our good deeds For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8 (see also Romans 3:21-31) Good deeds are required By this gospel you are saved, __IF___ you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:2 (see also Colossians 1:22-23; James 2:14-26)

Luke 9:23; Luke 14:27; Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his _suffering________________, becoming like him in his __Death___________, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:10

What is a cross? A cross is anything that causes suffering because of your obedience to Christ 2 Corinthians 1:5; 2 Timothy 1:8 A cross is your will Matthew 26:39 A cross is the painful process of struggling against sin Hebrews 4:12-11

Week 2 Teach a Man to Fish

Fact: Growing Christ-followers Fact: Mature Christ-followers Read Know the Bible the Bible

Foundations

1.
4 Hear,

Reading and meditation has always been taught by

God

himself

O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. - Deuteronomy 6:4-9 2. You cant trust preachers Preachers often preach what preaches Preachers dont always have pure motives The Bible can easily be manipulated 3. What Happens when we read the Bible? Knowledge transforms Colossians 1:9 We are made clean through the Word John 15:1-4 The Bible reveals our depths Hebrews 4:12-13 4. You are equipped to help others
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

You cant get that in _Church____ !

The Bible is too hard to understand Im not qualified The Bible is boring

Foundations

So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them. Luke 8:18 (NLT)

What it means to listen Listening requires ___humility____ Listening is dependent on predetermined _____obedience_____ 2 Approaches Mediate

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalm 119:18

Study Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Psalm 119:34

Getting Started 1. Find the right Bible Recommended Bible Versions: New International Version (NIV) or New Living Translation (NLT) 2. Start in the right Places Recommended Books in the Bible: Mark, Romans, Philippians, James, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Genesis, 1 & 2 Samuel 3. Commit Time, place, plan Tools www.biblegateway.com www.biblestudytools.com www.youversion.com

Week 3 How to Read the Bible

Why do we obey some commands in Scripture but ignore others? Why is the Old Testament so different from the new? What am I supposed to glean from those crazy Old Testament stories? Can some Scripture be figurative? Is there some scripture that isnt relevant anymore? Which parts?

Foundations

Context in Scripture
Context is important because, you wouldnt read Shakespeare the way you read and Encyclopedia scripture doesnt make sense outside of a specific historical context

5 Basic Genres

What the New Testament says about The Law Colossians 2:14 Ephesians 2:15 Romans 7:1-6 Galatians 5:1-3 Hebrews 8:13 So what do we do with The Law? 1. The law is ongoing proof that we cannot be made right with God by works 2. Behind every __law____ there is a ____principle____________and behind the purpose is a __purpose____________ (Examples: Exodus 29:13, Leviticus 19:9-10) What about the rest of The Old Testament? The OT should be understood as under a ___dead_____________ covenant.

Wisdom books are principles that are generally true, not ___promises_____________ or ___commands____ Examples Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it

Foundations
Poetry is simply __listening____ in on other peoples, Worship Prayers Expression of faith (both positive and negative) to God

Examples
Psalm 38:5 My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. Lamentations 1:21 People have heard my groaning, but there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my distress; they rejoice at what you have done. May you bring the day you have announced so they may become like me. Song of Solomon 2:17 Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, turn, my lover, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the rugged hills

Narratives are true stories of Gods __interaction___ with people. What do we do with the Narratives, like 1 Samuel 18:24-30? Dont get lost in the details, just understand the context Look for how God acts Look for how people act Look for what pleases God and what does not

The majority of Prophecy in the Bible has already been __fulfilled___ either in the prophets context or in Jesus Example Daniels prophecy that Belshazzars kingdom would be taken over by the Medes and the Persians (Dan. 5:25-30)

Straight forward teachings and commands for New Testament living Why dont we obey all of the New Testament? 1. Holy Kiss (Romans 16:16) 2. Head coverings (1 Corinthians 11:11-16) 3. Church discipline (1 Corinthians 5) 4. No Women in authority (1 Timothy 2:12) Cultural___ command A command that is based upon the way a Biblical principle would be fulfilled in a specific culture. _Absolute__ command A command that is the same, regardless of what culture you are from