Growing In Faith and Faithful Living

Lessons To Help You On Your Way

Beginning thoughts. . .

     Many church and religious life researchers have been putting out rather alarming information in regards to the faith maturity of Christian people in America.  Many self confessing Christians do not have a basic grasp of the Bible, the doctrines and/or traditions of their particular denomination or congregation, let alone how to go out into their world of work, family and friends and intentionally live as a witness to the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ that they claim as their own.  A thorough discussion/study of this issue for the church is beyond the scope of this study page, however you are encouraged to follow spend some time looking over the research articles that you can easily find at the Barna Group's website at www.barna.org.  You can also check out other related links from their web site to better acquaint yourself with the seriousness of this issue. 

     Here at Christ Lutheran Church this study is intended to help you begin or hopefully continue the ongoing process of firming up your Bible knowledge and understanding of the confessional traditions of this congregation and our corporate church body, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  [for the ELCA's web site visit www.elca.org]   The direction of this study page could be described under the theme of "How a maturing faith happens".  There certainly have been and will be more books written on this topic.  This effort is meant to be a starting point.  So to that end, let us begin.

Lesson One

 Where Faith Begins

Bible texts: Genesis 6:5; Psalm 53:3; Proverbs 20:9; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8

     Many have spoken of the verse found in John 3:16-17 as the 'gospel in a nutshell'.  That is not a bad description.  As John speaks of what we now call Christian faith, it is God who initiates the plan for salvation.  God did this out of divine love for the world by sending Jesus, the very Son of God.  The verse speaks in relationship terms, Jesus is his {God's} Son.  The reason there was/is a need for a savior is our sin.  Our relationship with God was broken as the account of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1-3) tells of sin's beginning for humankind and the world. 

     It is good for us to consider the depth of human sin.  At Psalm 143:2 we read, "do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you."  A basic conviction of the Christian faith is that we cannot fix the problem of our sinfulness on our own. Thus our only option is to place our trust and hope that God will be merciful and take the matter in hand and do what needs to be done to make things right.  The gospel news is that is just what God did do.  As we began with John 3:16-17 we hear that out of love and mercy God chose to save us through the work of Jesus.  In this work, not our own, we trust and believe and have faith that we have the gift of forgiveness through Jesus' sacrifice.  In the common Greek of the New Testament, the word we translate as "faith" is the word 'pistus'.   In  Greek this word also carries the meaning of 'trust' and 'belief'.  In a Lutheran (and other Christian traditions as well) understanding of where faith begins, we speak of it not being what we do to please God or earn our way back into God's good graces, but what God has and continues to do for us, in spite of our continual sinfulness. Saving faith begins at the foot of the cross and continues on in the victory of Easter morning resurrection.

Questions for Personal Reflection

Can you think of descriptive words to help you understand better the depth and totality of human Sin.

In what ways do you struggle with the reality of your sinfulness?

Why is it difficult for people to admit or confess that they are indeed sinners?

Do you need to confess your sinfulness before God?

Growing and maturing in faith is a daily exercise and challenge.  In confessing your sins and knowing that you are forgiven through and in Jesus Christ, how is this a freeing, life-enhancing realization for you? 

Lesson Two

Personal Commitment

Bible Texts: Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Proverbs 3:7-8; Psalm 27:4; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Timothy 6:1-12; Matthew 13:44-46     

The battle cry [so to speak] of the Lutheran understanding of the gospel and salvation and all that our Lord does for us can be summed up in the Lutheran confessional phrase, "We are justified by grace through faith".  Martin Luther came to a new understanding of this grace of God through Christ as he studied the book of Romans.  He wrote later in his life that the realization of this understanding of grace was a very freeing moment for him, as if a great weight had been removed from his life.  In Luther biographies this experience has come to be called Luther's Tower Experience.  The point of this is to lead into the realm of how you claim, understand, and then live in faith personally. 

     To be personally committed to growing in Christian faith means that you have a deep desire to study, to pray, to gather regularly in worship, and to live in such a way that your very presence reflects the grace and mercy that God has given you in Christ Jesus.  The Apostle Paul writing to his younger associate Timothy, gave this advice for him. 

"But you man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  Fight the good fight of the faith.  Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in presence of many witnesses."   - 1 Timothy 6:11-12

     Personal commitment to continued maturity and development of your Christian faith is seen in this quote from the Apostle Paul.  Christian faith is given as a free gift, but to live daily life in that gift may take some serious discipleship effort and choice.  Paul encourages Timothy and us to FLEE the sinful things he spoke of in verse previous this reference.  By fleeing those things, he then exhorts Timothy and us to pursue faithful things as he lists a number of examples.  Paul uses an interesting rhetorical comparison of fleeing on one hand, but pursuing on the other in order to make his point about intentional living in ways that edify one's Christian faith and convictions.

Questions for personal reflection

In what ways can you follow the advice of the Apostle Paul that was first given to Timothy?

 Are there things in your life you need to flee? 

How might you pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness?

In regards to fleeing and pursuing, what issues in your life are obstacles to either fleeing sinful things or pursuing godly things?

  Lesson Three

The Importance of Regular Worship

Bible Texts:  Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20;1-11;Psalm 95, 96:1-9; Luke 4:16

     From the scripture reference from the gospel of Luke 4:16 we hear about Jesus going on the Sabbath day to the synagogue, as was his custom.  From the Exodus references we read from the Ten Commandments that we are commanded by God to not have any other gods before the one and only true God, and that we are to not neglect the Sabbath day, but rather be in worship with other people of faith. 

     Gathering in worship the people of God gather around God's Word as read from the scriptures and as proclaimed in the ministry of preaching/teaching from the Word of God as given us in the Bible.  We also gather for the receiving of the sacraments.  In Lutheran church terms church is the ministry of Word and Sacrament.  In the coming together on the day of worship we are strengthened, challenged, equipped, encouraged, comforted, and made ready for the work of gospel witness and mission. 

     Christian faith and living in the ways of Christian faith is by its very nature relational.  Our hope and promise of new life in founded in a new and right relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection on our behalf.  As Jesus responded to a questioner as to which of the commandments is the greatest (cf Mark 12:28-34) Jesus responded with comments about loving God first and foremost and loving your neighbor as yourself.  It seems reasonable to say that it is difficult to do those things if you are by yourself. 

     The gathering of the people of God for worship is in many ways the very heart of Christian faith and living.  In worship you hear the scriptures read and elaborated upon through sermon and Bible study, you sing the hymns and the liturgies that proclaim the gospel in your heart and soul, as your heart and soul proclaim the wonder and majesty of God!  In worship you support and are supported by fellow believers.  In worship you are reminded and called once again to go out with the good news of salvation for a hurting world. 

Questions for personal reflection 

  What are common barriers for you that hinder your attendance at worship?

How would you describe the difference between the "command" to be in worship and the "call" to be in worship?  How does this relate to the text from Ex. 20:1-11?

What elements of worship are the most meaningful to you at this time in life?

Think for a moment of the hymns, songs, and praise choruses that have touched you in some way.  What is it about those selections that are significant?

Lesson Four

Biblical & Theological Study

Bible Texts: Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Proverbs 9:1-6; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 4:3

     To grow in faith and maturity of faith it cannot be said enough that Christian people must be diligent in the study of the scriptures and in related theological reading and thinking.  The texts listed above speak to the importance of this diligence and placing the scriptures because they are the very Word of God as a high priority for our daily living.  Paul in writing to Timothy as we have in his second letter tells Timothy that all scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."  (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

    For people new to Christian faith or just beginning a more thorough study of the scriptures, the following outline and suggestions may be helpful.

Overview of the Bible

     The Bible consists of two parts, the Old and New Testaments.  Old does not mean that it is outdated and obsolete.  Many interpreter's prefer to use the wording "first" and "second" covenant language.  Either way we have our Bible as it has come down to us in these two parts.  In the Old Testament there are 39 'books' and in the New Testament there are 27 'books' and/or 'letters'  Much of the New Testament was written by or has ties to the Apostle Paul.

    The Old Testament can be divided into several sections for the purpose of study.  These are The Law, History of Israel, The Major Prophets, The Minor Prophets, and The Writings.

Old Testament books of each section are listed as follows.

The Law - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. 

The History of Israel - Joshua, Judges, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles, Ezra and   Nehemiah

The Major Prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel

The Minor Prophets - Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

The Writings - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ruth, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther

     The New Testament can also be divided up into sections to aid one's study and overall understanding of this part of the Bible.  The New Testament consists of The Gospels, The Acts, The Letters, Revelation

New Testament books of each section are listed as follows.

The Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

The Acts-  Book of Acts of several of the first Apostles

The Letters by Paul - Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon

The Other Letters - Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, 1&2&3 John, Jude

The Revelation - The Book of Revelation

     In order to get into the Bible the simplest way is to just get started by reading and getting acquainted with its contents.  Although a person can certainly just open the Bible and start reading and find that technique to be useful and edifying, it may be more helpful to approach your study of the scriptures in some organized way. 

    A good beginning for Bible reading to get the overall picture of what Christianity and Christian belief/faith is all about is to read the gospels.  Each of the four gospel accounts have their own flavor if you will.  The first three are very similar in structure and contents while the gospel of John speaks of the same Jesus of the first three but with varying language and style.  For the rest of the New Testament you can begin with any of the letters.  Realize however that they were written in the first place to a particular congregation or other intended audience.  That is the first rule of Biblical interpretation, keep the context of the writing in mind.  As you read you will certainly see the inspired nature of the scriptures as they speak to you in your life.

    To begin reading and study in the Old Testament it is good to begin at the beginning with the book of Genesis.  In this first book of Bible you will read about creation, the entry of sin into the world, and many of the major figures of Israel's faith history.  People such as Noah, Abraham, Sarah and Isaac, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers.  Following the book of Genesis you can continue the story of God's people through the book of Exodus where we are introduced to Moses and the work of God leading the people out of Egypt and to the promised land.  Some books in the Old Testament may be confusing and/or difficult to read and understand on the first time through.  Books like Leviticus tell of the law and rituals/ordinances for God's people to live by.  Some of the passages found in the prophetic books may leave you wondering what the author is talking about.  In these cases consult a commentary on the Bible.  Through the internet you can find many good and scholarly sites to help you further your understanding of the Bible.  Two sites that are particularly good and thorough with many other links for further study are; www.textweek.com  and www.bible.org  

Below is a chart to help you read through the entire Bible in one year.

This guide is also available at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's website at this address;  www.elca.org/bible/oneyear/index.html

    Read Through The Bible In A Year

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

- John 20:30-31 -