So…Where Do We Start?

The Basics of Christianity

ILLUST: Parents didn’t like kids using a tee to hit balls, but pros do it still

Fundamentals are important, crucial - avoid bad habits, or correct habits

The church today, has developed bad habits, forgotten or ignored the basics. Some have never been taught them

Grown merely “religious” - feeling good about merely being a Christian, whatever that means

Frustration - people not knowing Bible basics; “church-people” not knowing

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Questions asked (but questions are good)

What people say

We can be frustrated and give up

Or we can teach, learn together

Not taking anything for granted

We’re going to delve into the basics

The basics and key doctrines of Christianity

Questions are good, grow in knowledge and wisdom

WE HAVE NO EXCUSE NOT TO KNOW THE BASICS

Then…knowing the basics will shape how one lives - Knowledge needs to have action

The “basics” - let’s start with faith

Faith

Defined - Strong belief or trust in someone, or something

Bible: “assurance of things hoped for, conviction of things not seen” as in Heb 11:1

Hebrews 11:1 NASB95

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Notice - neither definition mentions Yahweh/God

Faith is just that…faith

Every human being lives by faith

With or without God

Faith in…

Evolution, big bang, self-rule

(All cannot be proven)

God/Yahweh

Also, cannot be proven

Evidence clearly points to God/Bible

But cannot PROVE - we trust, thus we live by faith

Atheists have faith - faith in that there is no God - that is their starting point - NOTHING

Everything here came from nothing - prove it? Can’t - that’s faith

Everyone has faith

Everyone is religious - most have nothing to do with God - a ritual belief system that rules how one lives

We’ll focus on Biblical Christianity

PRESUPPOSITION

Basic Presupposition (explain)

“What the Bible Says, God Says”

We use Scripture to interpret Scripture

Our starting point of faith

(STAND) READ: Acts 17: 22-31 - Paul on Mars Hill

Addressing a groups of “religious” pagan (Godless) people

Biblical faith - definition by Paul Tripp

“True, Biblical faith believes in the existence of God as Creator, Sovereign, and Savior, and results in a lifestyle of worshipful obedience, confident peace and humble repentance.” Paul Tripp

Faith in Yahweh - The Basics

Who Yahweh Is

What that means for us

(First) WHO YAHWEH IS - The Basics

1) Creator

Paul starts here to introduce Yahweh to people

Acts 17:24 NASB95

“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

Yahweh introduced Himself to Moses - “I AM”

ORG CHART - Yahweh is at top

Yahweh is Creator

We are creatures

CREATOR

Ex nihilo - yes, we believe Creation was from nothing - Yahweh being self-existence

Created time for us

Genesis 1:1 NASB95

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Creator designed life - from the beginning

2) Sovereign

Acts 17:26 NASB95

and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,

No “fate” or “chance” or “coincidence”

Yahweh is (intimately and) personally ruling our everyday life

“Ruling” = overseeing, providing structure

3) Savior

Acts 17:30 NASB95

“Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,

Our world is populated with sinners

Our world does not operate the way originally intended

Our greatest problem is inside us, not outside

Romans 3:23 NASB95

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

We here are included in “all” in “all have sinned

We, like everyone, need a Savior

Luke 1:47 NASB95

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

THOSE ARE THE “BASICS” OF CHRISTIANITY

(We’ll dive into specifics in the coming weeks…)

So, with those basics…

WHAT THAT MEANS FOR US

1) Since Yahweh is Creator…

1) Worshipful Obedience

We follow in worshipful obedience

Not forced

Creation is limited, bound…the universe, seemingly limitless, indeed has limits

Nature has order, the order of the Creator

The Creator is to be the object of obedience

READ Romans 1:22-25

Romans 1:25 NASB95

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

True Biblical faith will not allow us to:

Take our lives into our own hands

Treat people and possessions as if they belong to us

Believe we are smarter than Yahweh

True Biblical faith - recognizes God’s divine order of the universe

And exist within those boundaries as one of His creatures

2) Since Yahweh is sovereign …

2) Confident Peace

We live in confident peace, see Phil 4:6-7

Philippians 4:7 NASB95

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(READ v. 6, too)

True Biblical faith never allows us to :

Panic and try to re-write our story

Control the details of our everyday life (hyper-vigilant)

Be dominated by fear , worry, anxiety

We rest peacefully as we recognize Yahweh’s holiness, care, and wisdom

3) And, since Yahweh is Savior…

3) Humble Repentance

We demonstrate humble repentance

James 4:6 NASB95

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

True Biblical faith never allows us to:

Shift the blame

Say it’s not our fault, it wasn’t our sin that caused our response

Take an arrogant, self-righteous position

At the same time, we are not to be:

Swallowed up by guilt and shame

True, Biblical faith is humble, recognizes the daily need for grace

Allowing us to REST in the finished work of Jesus Christ - for us

CLOSE

True-life confession (just speaking for me)

I don’t always recognize Yahweh as Creator

I can look at life, my work, my stuff, and act as though they are mine

I can treat people as though they are here for me

I can think I’m smarter than Yahweh

I don’t always rely on Yahweh’s sovereignty

I can get irritated when my schedule is interrupted

When suffering shows up

I can doubt His wisdom, protection, His love

I can try to control things so I don’t have to face the unknown, hyper-vigilant about life details

And…

I don’t always recognize my Savior

Yeah, I admit I’m a sinner, as a concept

But I don’t like to recognize my own, specific sin

Humility is tough when confronted

2025 (new slide - invited)

Allow me to invite you to a better way to live

A lifestyle of true, Biblical faith

The lack of faith affects our relationship with Yahweh

Thankfully - our relationship depends on HIS faithfulness toward US!

We are not accepted based on our lifestyle

But, rather, our lifestyle is to be based on His acceptance of us, based on our faith

Trusting in what He’s done for us

Creator, Sovereign, Savior

Yahweh invites you to

Worship Him

Trust Him

Live for Him, your Savior