Tulsa Bible Church
—Adult Sunday School—
Al Mohler, in his blog article “The Scandal of Biblical Illiteracy: It’s Our Problem,” reminds us that, “We will not believe more than we know, and we will not live higher than our beliefs.” [1] He opens his article with this sobering thought.
While America’s evangelical Christians are rightly concerned about the secular worldview’s rejection of biblical Christianity, we ought to give some urgent attention to a problem much closer to home–biblical illiteracy in the church. This scandalous problem is our own, and it’s up to us to fix it.[2]
A Ligonier Ministries blog reminds us that C.S. Lewis once said, “If you do not listen to theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones.”[3]
Dr. Larry Perkins defines theological literacy as “a person’s capacity to formulate and articulate a Christian worldview based upon and derived from the Scriptures and with some awareness of the way the church has formulated such ideas throughout its history.”[4]
The sad state of Biblical and theological literacy among the general public is understandable, but the shallow theological knowledge and “squishy” beliefs among Christians are tragic. One purpose of our systematic review of Bible doctrine is to assure that we are exposing people to a full range of Biblical truth and avoid the possibility of a doctrine never being taught.
Lon Solomon, the pastor of McClean Bible Church in the metro Washington, DC, area, has a preaching trademark of pausing during each sermon and having the congregation ask, “So what!?” His point is to make sure the doctrine and exposition in each message are tied to everyday practical living. A second important goal is to help people connect these orthodox truths with their corresponding orthopraxy.[5]
Theology Review 2017
Pneumatology (Holy Spirit) and Anthropology (Man) are the topics we want to cover in 2017. It will probably take between 5-8 weeks to cover (depending on how quickly you want to go). Of course, I am available to work with you and help you on teaching this in your flock.
A few additional notes and thoughts.
Dividing lessons:
1. I would suggest that you divide this unit into two shorter series. You ought to consider doing 3-5 lessons on the Holy Spirit in the first half of the year. Then, if you wait and cover the doctrine of man towards the last part of 2017, it will be fresher on people minds when we study about salvation in 2018.
2. You will probably want to spend one week on the personhood and deity of the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is so important that we should really drive it into people’s minds. Then spend another 2-4 weeks on the works of the Holy Spirit.
3. I have found the section about the Holy Spirit our WWT for that section to be poorly organized for teaching. I have reorganized the material from the section on the Holy Spirit into a more teachable outline. Feel free to use it.
4. There are three sections on the doctrine of Man, but you may prefer to combine “The Fall of Man” and “The Sin Nature” into one lesson. This part of our statement is where we talk about the “specialness” of man that makes murder (including abortions) so wrong.
Resources:
1. In The Moody Handbook of Theology*, chapter 21 (p. 245) deals with “Pneumatology: Doctrine of the Holy Spirit” and chapter 23 (p. 301) addresses “Anthropology and Hamartiology: Doctrines of Man and Sin.” Since the doctrine of man is one of the five points of Calvinism (T for total depravity), you may want to review parts of Chapters 33 “Calvinistic Theology” (p.475) and 34 “Arminian Theology” (p. 489). However, I would recommend that you not mention John Calvin or Joseph Arminius in your teaching about man. Just present the WWT and Scriptures.
* I have loaner copies
* I have loaner copies
2. In Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology the chapter 34 on regeneration and chapter 39 on the Baptism and Filling with the Holy Spirit cover material in our section on the Holy Spirit. Chapters 21-24 go with the section on the doctrine of man.
3. One of the nice features of Grudem’s work is that he has application questions at the end of each chapter. D.L. Moody said, “Every Bible should be bound in shoe leather.” Let’s remember to teach theology with an emphasis on the difference it should make for us at work, home, and play Monday through Saturday.
4. The theology books can also be helpful for identifying Scriptures that teach the truths in our WWT statement.
WWT
V. The Holy Spirit (Pneumatology)
A. Person of the Trinity
1. We teach that the Holy Spirit is a divine person with intellect, 1 emotions, 2 and will3 Who is eternal4 and uncreated, possessing all the attributes of the Godhead which include omnipresence,5 omniscience, 6 and omnipotence. 7
· Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
· Psalm 139:7-10 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
2. We teach that in all the divine attributes He is coequal and consubstantial (same substance) with the Father and the Son.8 He is God.9
· Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
· Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
1 1Corinthians 2:10-13 2 Ephesians 4:30 3 1 Corinthians 12:11 4 Hebrews 9:14 5 Psalm 139:7-10 6 Isaiah 40:13-14 7 Romans 15:13 8 Matthew 28:19; Acts 28:25-26; 2 Corinthians 13:14 9 Acts 5:3-4;
B. Work of the Holy Spirit
1. We teach that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to carry out the divine will with relation to all mankind. We recognize His sovereign activity in creation,1 the incarnation,2 the written revelation,3 and the work of salvation.4
· Genesis 1:2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
· Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
2. We teach that the work of the Holy Spirit in this age began at Pentecost, when He came from the Father as promised by Christ5 to initiate and complete the building of the body of Christ, which is His church.6 The broad scope of the Holy Spirit’s divine activity includes convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment;7 glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ,8 and transforming believers into the image of Christ.9
· John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
· 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
1 Genesis 1:2 2 Matthew 1:18 3 2 Peter 1:20-21 4 John 3:5-7 5 John 14:16-17 6 1 Corinthians 12:13 7 John 16:7-9; 8John 15:26 9Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22
C. Role in Salvation
We teach that the Holy Spirit is the supernatural and sovereign agent in regeneration,1 baptizing all believers into the body of Christ.2 The Holy Spirit also indwells,3 sanctifies,4 instructs,5 empowers them for service,6 and seals them unto the day of redemption.7
· Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
· Ephesians 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
1 Titus 3:5 2 1 Corinthians 12:13 3 Romans 8:9 4 1 Corinthians 6:11 5 1 Corinthians 2:9-12; 1 John 2:20, 27 6 2 Corinthians 3:6 7 Ephesians 1:13
D. Ministries
1. We teach that the Holy Spirit is the divine teacher who guided the apostles and prophets into all truth as they committed to writing God's revelation, the Bible.1 Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation,2 and it is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit.3
· Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
· Ephesians 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
2. We teach that the Holy Spirit alone administers spiritual gifts to the church.4 The Holy Spirit glorifies neither Himself nor His gifts by ostentatious displays, but all He does is to glorify Christ, 5 to implement His work of redeeming the lost, 6 and to build up believers in the most holy faith. 7
· 1 Corinthians 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
· John 16:13-14 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
1 John 16:13; 2 Peter 1:19-21 2 Romans 8:9 3 Ephesians 5:18 4 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 5 John 16:13-14 6 Acts 1:8 7 2 Corinthians 3:18
Holy Spirit Teaching Outline
A. Person of the Trinity
The Holy Spirit is…
· A divine person with …
o Intellect (1Corinthians 2:10-13)
o Emotions (Ephesians 4:30)
o Will (1 Corinthians 12:11)
· God: (Acts 5:3-4)
o Eternal and Uncreated. (Hebrews 9:14)
o Possessing all the Attributes of the Godhead which include…
- Omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-10)
- omniscience (Isaiah 40:13-14)
- omnipotence (Romans 15:13)
o Coequal and Consubstantial (same substance) with the Father and the Son. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 28:25-26; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
B. Work of the Holy Spirit to carry out the divine will…
1. To all Mankind.
· Creation. (Genesis 1:2)
· Incarnation. (Matthew 1:18)
· Written revelation. (the Holy Spirit is the divine teacher who guided the apostles and prophets into all truth as they committed to writing God's revelation, the Bible. (John 16:13; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
· The work of Salvation. (John 3:5-7)
2. To the Church
· The work of the Holy Spirit in this age began at Pentecost, when
· He came from the Father as Promised by Christ (John 14:16-17)
· He came to initiate and complete the building of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13)
· The broad scope of the Holy Spirit’s divine activity includes
o Convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; (John 16:7-9)
o Glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ, (John 15:26)
o Transforming believers into the image of Christ. (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22)
3. To believers - The Holy Spirit is the supernatural and sovereign agent in…
Ministries to all believers equally--
· Regeneration, (Titus 3:5)
· Baptizing all believers into the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
· Indwelling all believers, (Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation.) (Romans 8:9)
· Sealing believers unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 1:13)
Ministries to believers in varying degrees--
· Sanctifying, (1 Corinthians 6:11)
· Instructing, (2 Corinthians 2:9-12; 1 John 2:20, 27)
· Filling/empowering for service, --It is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 5:18)
· Spiritual Gifts: He administers spiritual gifts to the church. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) The Holy Spirit glorifies neither Himself nor His gifts by ostentatious displays, but all He does is...
o to glorify Christ. (John 16:13-14)
o to implement His work of redeeming the lost. (Acts 1:8)
o to build up believers in the most holy faith. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Note:
1. Since regeneration and progressive sanctification each have a section under Salvation, which we cover in 2018, you do not need to teach them in detail this year. Also, we will cover spiritual gifts in more detail in the unit on the Church (2019), so you should not need to devote much time to them this year.
2. A careful defining of and distinguishing between Baptism and Filling of the Spirit will be helpful in protecting against some of the errors that seem to be so common in our area.
WWT
VI. Man (Anthropology)
A. Purpose
1. We teach that man and woman were directly and immediately created by God1 in His image and likeness.2 Man was created free of sin with a rational nature, intelligence, volition, self-determination, and moral responsibility to God.
· Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
· James 3:9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
2. We teach that God's intention in the creation of man was that man should glorify God,3 enjoy God's fellowship, live his life in the will of God and by this, accomplish God's purpose for man in the world.4
· Isaiah 43:7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”
· Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
1 Genesis 2:7, 15-25 2 Genesis 1.23-27; James 3:9 3 Isaiah 43:7; Revelation 4:11 4 Colossians 1:16
B. The Fall
1. We teach that in Adam's sin of disobedience to the revealed will and Word of God1 the whole human race fell,2 man lost his innocence,3 incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death,4 became subject to the wrath of God,5 and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace.6
· 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
· Ephesians 2:1-3 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
2. We teach that all men, until they accept the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior, are lost,7 darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them,8 hardened in heart,9 morally and spiritually dead through their trespasses and sins.10 They cannot see nor enter the kingdom of God until they are born again of the Holy Spirit.11 With no recuperative powers to enable him to recover himself, man is hopelessly lost. Man's salvation is thereby wholly of God's grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
· Ephesians 4:18 …having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
· John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
1 Genesis 2:16-17; 1 Timothy 2:13-14 2 Romans 5:12 3 Genesis 3:1-19 (esp. 9-11) 4 Romans 6:23 5 John 3:36 6 1 Corinthians 2:14 7 Luke 19:10; 2 Corinthians 4:3 8 Ephesians 4:18: 1 Peter 1:14 9 John 12:40 10 Ephesians 2:1 11 John 3:3-5
C. The Sin Nature
We teach that because all men were in Adam, the consequence of Adam's sin has been transmitted (imputed) to all men of all ages,1 Jesus Christ being the only exception. All men are thus sinners by divine declaration, by nature, 2 and by choice. 3
· Psalm 14:1-3 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. 3 They have all turned aside, They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.
· Romans 5:10-12 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
1 Romans 5:10-12 2 Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 23 3 Psalm 14:1-3; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:9-18, 23; 5:10-12
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WWT
1. Asterisks indicate the number of paragraphs in each section.
2. This is organized into the teaching divisions that the Elders agreed to use so that we can review the entire statement in Sunday school flock time every six years.
YEAR 1---2009---2015---------------------------
I. The Bible (Bibliology)
A. Inspiration **
B. Inerrancy and Authority *
C. Hermeneutics **
II. The Trinity (Theology Proper) *
III. God the Father (Paterology)
A. Person of the Trinity *
B. Fatherhood *
C. Sovereignty **
D. Role in Salvation *
YEAR 2---2010---2016---------------------------
IV. The Lord Jesus Christ (Christology)
A. Person of the Trinity **
B. Incarnation **
C. Life and Ministry **
D. Redemption **
E. Resurrection **
F. Return **
YEAR 3---2011---2017---------------------------
V. The Holy Spirit (Pneumatology)
A. Person of the Trinity
1. We teach that the Holy Spirit is a divine person…
2. We teach that in all the divine attributes He is coequal and consubstantial (same substance)…
B. Work of the Holy Spirit
1. We teach that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to carry out the divine will.
2. We teach that the work of the Holy Spirit in this age began at Pentecost…
C. Role in Salvation
We teach that the Holy Spirit is the supernatural and sovereign agent in regeneration…
D. Ministries
1. We teach that the Holy Spirit is the divine teacher...
2. We teach that the Holy Spirit alone administers spiritual gifts to the church…
VI. Man (Anthropology)
A. Purpose
1. We teach that man was directly and immediately created by God in His image and likeness.
2. We teach that God's intention in the creation of man was that man should glorify God.
B. The Fall
1. We teach that in Adam's sin the whole human race fell…
2. We teach that all men are lost, no recuperative powers…
C. The Sin Nature
We teach that all men are thus sinners by divine declaration, by nature, and by choice…
YEAR 4---2018---------------------------
VII. Salvation (Soteriology)
A. Basis of Salvation
B. Election
C. Election & Evangelism
F. Regeneration
G. Justification
H. Progressive Sanctification
I. Separation from Sin
J. Eternal Security
YEAR 5---2013---2019---------------------------
VIII. The Church (Ecclesiology)
A. Definition of the Church ***
B. Purpose of the Church *
C. Church Leaders ***
D. The Local Church **
E. Ordinances ***
F. Equipping for Ministry **
G. Signs and Wonders ***
YEAR 6---2014---2020---------------------------
IX. Angels & Satan (Angelology)
A. Angels *
B. Satan **
X. Future Things (eschatology) (This section has some Articles of Faith part integrated.)
A. Death ***
B. The Rapture of the Church *
C. The Tribulation Period *
D. The Second Coming and Millennium ***
E. The Judgment of the Lost and Hell *
F. Eternity *
[1] Mohler, R. Albert. "The Scandal of Biblical Illiteracy: It's Our Problem." AlbertMohler.com. January 21, 2016. Accessed February 11, 2017. http://www.albertmohler.com/2016/01/20/the-scandal-of-biblical-illiteracy-its-our-problem-4/.
[2] Mohler, R. Albert. "The Scandal of Biblical Illiteracy: It's Our Problem." AlbertMohler.com. January 21, 2016. Accessed February 11, 2017. http://www.albertmohler.com/2016/01/20/the-scandal-of-biblical-illiteracy-its-our-problem-4/.
[3] Nichols , Stephen . "The State of Theology: What's Our Theological Temperature?" Ligonier Ministries. February 4, 2014. Accessed February 11, 2017. http://www.ligonier.org/blog/state-theology-whats-our-theological-temperature/.
[4] Perkins, Larry. "What is “Theological Literacy” and Why is it Important?" Northwest Centre for Biblical Literacy. October 11, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2017. http://biblicalliteracy.nbseminary.ca/the-church-and-theological-literacy/.
[5] Correctness of action or practice
