The Heart of God’s Law
Jesus taught that the heart of God’s Law is to love God with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself.
Mark 12:28-34
Faith, Prayer, and Forgiveness
The fruit of true worship in the New Covenant that God desires is faith, prayer, and forgiveness.
Mark 11:20-25
Apprenticeship Through Failure
Through their failure to cast out a demon, the disciples learn that ministry and spiritual warfare are not based on technique or their own abilities, but rather by consistently walking close to God through faith and prayer.
Mark 9:14-29
The Righteous King
Jesus is the righteous King in His personal character, His rule to judge sin and establish justice, and in bearing our sin and giving righteousness to His people.
Zechariah 9:9
Can I Keep God’s Law?
Question 11: Can you live up to all of this perfectly?
Answer: No. I have a natural tendency in thought, word, and deed to not love God and my neighbor as He has commanded.
Romans 3:10-24
The Summary of God’s Law
Question 10: Can you summarize what God’s law commands you to do?
Answer: All the law is summarized in these two commandments: You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:34-40
How Do We Know What God Demands of Us?
Question 9: What has God given to teach you his demand?
Answer: God has given us His law, which is a reflection of His character, to teach us how to be perfect in holiness, love, and integrity.
Romans 2:14–15; Ezekiel 20:11; James 2:12
What Does God Demand of You?
Question 8: What does God demand of you? Answer: God demands that I be perfect in holiness, love, and integrity.
Matthew 5:48
Guilt, Grace, and Gratitude: A Biblically Shaped Life
Question 4: What must I know to be part of God’s people?
Answer: To be part of God’s people I must know how great my sin is, how God has delivered me from my sin and misery through Christ, and how I can show my gratitude to God for delivering me and grow in my Christian life.
Ephesians 2:1-10
The Central Message of the Bible
Question 3: What is the central message of the Bible?
Answer: The central message of the Bible is that God is bringing glory to Himself through the Person and work of Jesus Christ as He creates and redeems a people in whom He lives by His Spirit so that they will glorify and enjoy Him forever.
John 17
Our Instruction Manual: The Bible
Question 2: Where do we learn how to glorify God and enjoy Him forever?
Answer: In His Word, the Bible.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
God’s Penetrating Word
God’s Word is living and active, and it penetrates to our deepest recesses to expose and judge and to point us to Christ, our Great High Priest.
Hebrews 4:12-13
The Indecisive King
Unlike Jesus and His Gospel, David’s indecisive actions provided neither full justice or restoration, and thus provided the seeds for future troubles in his kingdom.
2 Samuel 13-14 (2 Samuel 13:21-22; 13:38-39; 14:1)
The Joy of Confession and Forgiveness
Psalm 32 proclaims the joy of total forgiveness by God that awaits those who confess their sins and turn to Christ in faith.
Psalm 32
Biblical Confession and Repentance
Psalm 51 offers a comprehensive description of the traits and fruits of biblical confession and repentance for sin.
Psalm 51
A Word of Judgment, A Word of Forgiveness
God sends David a word of judgment and forgiveness, detailing the consequences for his sin, but also assuring Him of God’s love and covenant mercy that will prevail in the end.
2 Samuel 12:1-25
The Authentic Christian In Action
Authentic Christian faith is seen not in the claim to know God, but in the fruit of faith – obeying God’s commands, walking as Jesus did, and loving other Christians.
1 John 2:3-11
Authentic Atonement
When we sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus the Righteous One, who has provided authentic atonement for us – bearing the wrath of God and purifying us from sin, allowing us to freely come before the Father.
1 John 2: 1-2
The Authentic Response To Sin
If we deny our sin, we are deceived, but if we confess our sin, we are forgiven and cleansed.
1 John 1:5 – 2:2
Right and Wrong Responses To Sin
If we deny our sin, we are deceived, but if we confess our sin, we are forgiven and cleansed.
1 John 1:5-2:2
Unchained By Grace
The Gospel of God’s grace releases us from our chains of sin and sets us free to live in the peace of God – no matter our circumstances.
Philemon 1:1-7
Praying For Our Forgiveness
Christians pray to God for the forgiveness of our many sins, knowing that asking for forgiveness requires that we extend it to others ourselves.
Matthew 6:9-13
The Glorious Gospel
The Gospel is the glorious news of God’s saving grace, and it shows us how Christ saves us from our sin and is received by faith alone, apart from our works.
Romans 1:16-17; 3:10-24
Our Present Call – Walking Dead To Sin
Christians have been made alive to God but dead to sin in Christ, and are called to live in light of that reality.
Romans 6:11-14
The Heart of God’s Law
All the law is summarized in these two commandments: You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34