Fall Bible Study

By Matt Raley

Our Fall Bible Study this year will take place on Wednesday evenings, November 3, 10, and 17. We will have fellowship meals at 6:30, with adult study and children’s program starting at 7:30. The topic will be the confession of faith that we are surveying on Sunday mornings.

So far, we have studied two statements covering what we believe about the Bible and the being of God:

1. God spoke to human beings in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments (Hebrews 1:1-2). He moved the authors to choose every word in their original writings (2 Peter 1:16-21) in order to reveal his plan for the world completely and without error (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Because the Bible comes from God, it is the authority over all human knowledge and behavior (John 12:47-50; Hebrews 4:12-13). We are called to believe what it teaches, obey what it commands, and trust what it promises.

2. God created everything (Genesis 1:1) and all life depends upon him (John 1:1-3). He is holy (Isaiah 6:3). God is not limited by space, time, or imperfection, and his knowledge is infinite (Psalm 139:1-12). He is the eternal, loving unity of three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 15:26). With all power and wisdom, God moves everything toward his goal (Isaiah 40): to live with human beings and to make everything new (Revelation 21:1-4). There is only one God (Exodus 20:3). We owe him our service (Romans 1:18-23).

A third statement on the doctrine of human beings is printed in the sermon outline this morning.

As you ponder these issues and pray about them, please send your questions to Pastor Raley (raleymatthew@gmail.com). Your questions will shape what we discuss in the Fall Bible Study. It will be a great time of clarification, teaching, and conversation as we prepare to adopt a new confession of faith.