WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

LESSON 1

A. What is our authority in religion?

1. John 8:32 - What does Jesus say will make is free?

2. John 4:24 - How are we to worship God?

3. John 17:17 - What is truth?

4. John 14:23-24 - The words of Jesus are from whom?

5. Hebrews 1:1-2 - Today the Father speaks through whom?

6. John 3:35 - What has the Father given to Jesus?

7. Matthew 28:18 - What does Jesus have in heaven and earth?

8. John 17:2 - What does Jesus have authority over?

9. Ephesians 1:22-23

- What has God made Jesus to be head over?

- Does this mean that Jesus has all authority over the church?

CONCLUSION: According to the Bible, what is our authority in religion?

B. What was the role of the apostles?

1. John 14:26

- Did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would teach the apostles all things and bring all

that Jesus said to their remembrance.

- When the apostles taught by inspiration of the Holy Spirit were they teaching

their own words or the words of Jesus?

2. John 16:13 - The Spirit was to guide the apostles into what?

3. Jude 3

- Was the faith or the truth delivered once or once for all?

- Since the faith was delivered once for all should we expect any new revelation

today?

CONCLUSION: What were the apostles to reveal?

C. What is our guide in religion today?

1. John 20:30-31 - Why were the things in the Bible written?

2. 1 John 5:13 - Why were the things in the Bible written?

3. Romans 10:17 - How does faith come?

4. James 1:21 - What is able to save our souls?

5. 1 Peter 1:23

- How is one born again?

- Should we go to any other source to learn how to be saved?

6. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

- Does the Bible furnish us unto every good work?

- Do we need any additional revelation to make us complete before God?

- Do we need Church Traditions, Manuals, Creed Books, or Confessions of Faith

to make us complete?

7. 2 Peter 1:3

- Has God given us everything that pertains to life and godliness?

- According to the last part of the verse, how are these things given?

CONCLUSION: We should not use any other thing than the Bible to learn how to be

saved. Do you agree?

D. Can we change God’s word?

1. Deuteronomy 4:2 - Would it please God if we were to add to or delete from God’s word?

2. Revelation 22:18-19 - What happens to us if we add to or take away from God’s word?

3. Leviticus 10:1-2

- Did these men alter God’s word? How?

- Was God pleased?

- Must we be careful how we handle God’s word

4. 2 John 9

- Is God pleased if we do not abide in the teachings of Jesus?

- Do you want to please God?

5. Matthew 15:9 - Why was their worship unacceptable to God?

6. Matthew 7:21

- Who will get to go to heaven?

- Do you want to go to heaven?

CONCLUSION: We will not go to heaven if we add to or take away from God’s word.

E. Which law are we under today – the Old Testament or the New Testament?

1. Hebrews 1:1-2 - God use to speak through the prophets, but today speaks through whom?

2. John 12:48 - What did Jesus say we would be judged by?

3. John 1:17 - Grace and truth came by whom?

4. Hebrews 9:15-17

- Is Jesus the mediator of a better covenant?

- Had the Old Testament be faultless would there have been need for the New

Testament?

- Why was there fault in the Old Testament?

*Acts 13:38-39; Hebrews 10:1-4

5. Hebrews 8:13 - When God gave us the New Law, did He make the first old? No longer in force?

6. Colossians 2:14 - When were the requirements of the Old Law wiped away?

7. Romans 7:4 - We have become _________ to the law by the body of Christ.

8. Romans 7:6 - We have been _________ from the law.

CONCLUSION: The New Testament is the Law that is binding on us today.

9. What then is the purpose of the Old Testament?

- Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Timothy 3:15

F. How many churches does the Bible describe?

1. Matthew 16:18

- Who built the church?

- To whom does the church belong?

- Did Jesus build churches (plural) or the church (singular)?

- If Jesus built one church where did all the other churches come from?

2. Ephesians 1:20-23

- Is Jesus head over all things to the church?

- The church is also called ____________.

3. John 17:20-21 - Did Jesus pray that his followers all be one?

4. 1 Corinthians 1:10

- Does this verse teach that there should be no religious divisions among us?

- Since religious division is condemned and since Jesus prayed that all His

followers be one, must we strive to one religiously?

5. Colossians 1:18 - Since Jesus is the head of the church, should we go to any other than Jesus

and His inspired writers of the New Testament to learn of the organization, worship

and name of His church?

CONCLUSION: Since Jesus started only one church and does not want divisions we must look into His word to see which church is His, and to see how Jesus describes His church.

LESSON 2

A. What is the organization or pattern of the church?

1. Matthew 15:12-14

- According to verse 12 did Jesus’ disciples say that He had offended the

Pharisees by what He had earlier said?

Special Note

* The Pharisees were a religious group which had changed God’s word by

adding things He had not commanded and not doing things He had

commanded.

* Such religious groups or churches are the “plants” that Jesus discusses in

verse 13.

- What will Jesus do to churches He has not planted?

- What happens when a plant or church is uprooted?

- Thus, according to Jesus, what will be the eternal destiny of religious groups

who do things God has not commanded and/or don’t do things He has

commanded?

- In verse 14, what does Jesus refer to the Pharisees as?

- Does Jesus here teach the serious result of being religiously wrong?

2. Acts 14:23

- Did these inspired men ordain elders in every church?

- Should we not also by their pattern name elders in every congregation as soon as

they meet God’s qualifications?

3. Acts 20:17, 28 - Are the elders to be overseers of the church?

4. Titus 1:5-7

- When Paul told Titus to set things in order, did he tell him to ordain elders?

- When we do what Titus did in organizing the church, are we doing the will of

God?

- Do the terms elder, bishop, and overseer refer to the same office?

5. 1 Timothy 3:1-7

- Must an elder be married?

- Must an elder have children?

- Must an elder be able to teach?

- Must an elder rule his own house well?

- Is an elder to be a recent convert (a novice)?

6. 1 Timothy 3:8-12

- What men who serve the church are under discussion here?

- What do these verses say concerning their wives?

- What requirement is given concerning their home life?

- Is it God’s plan that there be qualified elders and deacons in every church?

B. The worship of the church

1. John 4:24 - Must we worship God in spirit and truth?

2. John 17:17

- What is truth?

- Since we must worship God in truth, must we worship as God has directed in the

Bible?

3. Matthew 15:9

- Is it possible to worship God in vain?

- If we worship God according to uninspired men, will God accept our worship?

4. Luke 22:19-20 - Did Jesus command His disciples to partake of the bread and the cup?

5. 1 Corinthians 10:16

- What does the bread represent?

- What does the cup represent?

6. Acts 20:7

- When God told the Israelites in Exodus 20:8 to remember the Sabbath, did He

mean for them to keep every Sabbath?

- When those Christians met on the first day of the week to eat the Lord’s Supper,

did they do it on the first day of every week?

- Should Christians today partake of the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week?

7. Acts 2:42 - Will God be pleased if we continue in the things here mentioned?

8. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

- Is it God’s will that we give as we have been prospered?

- Are we to make a monetary contribution on the same day we are to partake of

the Lord’s Supper?

9. Ephesians 5:19

- Are we to sing?

- Does this passage mention mechanical instruments in worship?

10. Genesis 6:14

- Would have Noah sinned if he had made the ark out of pine or oak?

- Deuteronomy 12:32

11. Leviticus 10:1-2

- Did Nadab and Abihu sin when they offered a different kind of fire than God

commanded?

- Did God punish them?

- Is it important to worship God the way He has said without alteration?

12. Matthew 26:26-29

- Would it be sin to use toast and milk for the Lord’s Supper?

- Would it be a sin to add Geritol to the fruit of the vine to aid our enthusiasm in

serving God?

- Would Noah have sinned had he used oak and gopher wood in the ark?

- Did God approve of Nadab and Abihu offering a different kind of fire than He

commanded?

C. The name of the Church

1. Matthew 16:18

- Who built the church?

- Jesus said He was going to build whose church?

2. Acts 20:28

- Who purchased the church?

- Whose name should be on the deed?

3. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13

- Is it a sin to name the church after Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or any other human

being?

- If the church were named after Paul, who would we be glorifying?

- If the church were named after a religious act such as “repentance,” what would

we be glorifying?

- If it were a sin to name the church the “Church of Paul,” would it be a sin to

name the church the “Lutheran Church?”

- If it were a sin to name the church the “Church of Repentance,” would it be a sin

to name the church the “Baptist Church?”

4. Colossians 3:17

- Are we to do “all” in the name of Jesus?

- Would this include the name by which we refer to God’s people?

5. Romans 16:16

- Do you read of the church of Christ in the Bible?

- Would it be wrong to refer to the church by this name?

- Would this name glorify the one who built the church and bought it with His

own blood?

6. Hebrews 8:5

- Was Moses warned to build the tabernacle after God’s pattern?

- Must we be careful to build the church after God’s pattern?

D. The importance of the Church

Some ask why it is important to identify and be a part of the one church

described in the New Testament. Consider the following:

1. Acts 2:47

- Who was added to that one church?

- Who added them?

- If the Lord adds those who are saved to His church, are there any saved outside

the church?

2. Acts 20:28

- With what did the Lord purchase His church?

- Did He purchase any man-made church with His blood?

- If the Lord purchased His church with HIS blood and His blood is necessary to

receive forgiveness of sins (Mat. 26:28), is it essential to be in the His church?

3. Ephesians 2:16

- Where were these reconciled back to God?

- What is the body? … see Ephesians 1:22-23

- Thus, it is necessary to be in the church to be reconciled to God.

- Do you want to be reconciled to God?

4. Ephesians 4:4

- Is there only one body?

LESSON 3

A. Man's spiritual condition

1. Isaiah 59:1-2 - What has separated us from God?

2. 1 John 3:4 - What is sin?

3. James 1:12-15 - What gives birth to sin?

4. How many have sinned?

- Romans 3:23

- Does this include you?

B. Consequences of sin

1. Romans 6:23 - What are the wages of sin?

2. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - Will the unrighteous inherit the kingdom of God?

3. Matthew 13:40-42 - What will happen to sinners at the end of time?

4. Revelation 15:3

- If God just/righteous?

- Will a judge convict a criminal of his crime?

- Will this hold true with God?

5. Romans 2:11 - Is there partiality with God?

6. Romans 2:6 - Will God render to every man according to his deed?

7. Revelation 20:12-15

- By what were the dead judged?

- What happen to those who were not found in the book of life?

8. 2 Peter 3:9 - Is it God’s will that any perish?

9. 1 Timothy 2:4 - Does God desire all men to be saved?

10. Romans 5:8

- Did Jesus die for sinners?

- Was the death of Jesus on the cross an act of God’s love for us?

11. Romans 5:9 - Can we be justified by the blood of Christ?

12. Hebrews 5:9

- Is Jesus the author of eternal salvation to all that obey Him?

- Will you be saved if you do not obey Jesus?

13. Matthew 7:21-23

- Will Jesus save all who call on this name?

- Were these believers lost?

- According to verse 21, what must we do to be saved?

C. Are you saved? - If you are saved please explain your conversion and the exact moment when you felt you were saved

D. God’s requirements for salvation

1. Ephesians 2:4-5 - Could anyone be saved without God’s abundant love, mercy, and grace?

2. Ephesians 2:8

- Is grace a part of God’s plan to save?

- What is man’s part in this according to this verse?

3. John 3:16 - What must we do according to this verse to have eternal life?

4. John 8:21, 24

- According to verse 24, will you die in your sins if you do not believe in Jesus?

- According to verse 21, if you die in your sins – that is – unforgiven sins, will

you go where Jesus went after His death and resurrection (Acts 1:11)

5. Acts 17:30 - What does God command all men everywhere to do?

6. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

- Is merely being sorry repentance?

- What does godly sorrow produce?

7. Luke 13:3 - Will you be saved if you do not repent?

8. Romans 10:10 - What do we do with our mouth unto salvation?

9. Matthew 10:32-33 - Will we be saved if we do not confess Jesus before men?

10. 1 Peter 3:21 - According to this verse, what now saves us?

11. Mark 16:16 - What are the conditions of salvation set forth here?

12. Acts 2:38 - What are repentance and baptism for?

13. Ephesians 1:3 - Are all spiritual blessings in Christ?

14. 2 Timothy 2:10 - Is salvation in Christ?

15. Galatians 3:27 - How does one get into Christ?

16. Acts 8:26-40 - What was the result of Philip preaching Jesus?

17. Romans 6:3-7

- What does Paul compare baptism to?

- Is baptism a burial?

- In baptism we contact the blood of Jesus?

- Do we die to sin in baptism?

18. John 14:15

- What must we do if we love Jesus?

- Do you love and want to obey Jesus?

- Have you been baptized for the remission of sins?

- Would you like to be baptized now?