Deaconship Examination | Part 2 | Biblical Doctrine

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS | part 2 Biblical Doctrine _____The Purpose of This 1 Introduction to Basic 1 Examination of Basic 2 Scripture Index for Basic 4 Introduction to Biblical 4 Examination of Biblical 5 Theological Clarity and 5 6 Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t 7 8 9 Chapter 1 | What is the Bible?.. 10 Chapter 2 | What is God Like?.. 15 Chapter 3 | What is the Trinity?.. 25 Chapter 4 | What is Creation?.. 30 Chapter 5 | What is Prayer?.. 34 Chapter 6 | What are Angels, Demons, and Satan?.. 38 Chapter 7 | What is Man?.. 41 Chapter 8 | What is Sin?.. 45 Chapter 9 | Who is Christ?.. 49 Chapter 10 | What is the Atonement?.. 52 Chapter 11 | What is the Resurrection?.. 56 Chapter 12 | What is Election?.. 59 Chapter 13 | What Does It Mean to Become a Christian?.. 63 Chapter 14 | What are Justification and Adoption?.. 67 Chapter 15 | What are Sanctification and Perseverance?

2 71 Chapter 16 | What is Death?.. 76 Chapter 17 | What is the Church?.. 79 Chapter 18 | What Will Happen When Christ Returns?.. 84 Chapter 19 | What is the Final Judgment?.. 88 Chapter 20 | What is Heaven?.. 92 Conclusion | What Should I Do Now? .. 95 Deaconship Examination | part 2 Biblical Doctrine _____THE PURPOSE OF THIS EXAMINATIONS pring Creek is a church that makes an effort, by God s grace, to remain consistent with the Scriptures. This part of the Examination reveals the basics of Biblical Doctrine from a Biblical and historical perspective and examines the potential for a man who has the desire to serve as a deacon within the local TO BASIC BELIEFSThis statement represents a basic Christ-centered theology from both a Biblical and historical perspective. Members are not required to have a full understanding or the ability to adequately articulate these beliefs, but the acceptance of these beliefs is a prerequisite for membership within the body of Christ, the church.

3 And present deacons within the local church must be able to adequately articulate each of these that the Old and New Testaments are the authoritative, inerrant, infallible, and inspired words of that there is only one true God who is all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing, holy, just, and righteous, and He created the heavens and the earth from nothing and rules over all creation as sovereign that God eternally exists as three persons (Father, Son, Spirit) who are each fully and equally that all of humanity (including ourselves and excluding Jesus Christ) is sinful by nature and that sin separates humanity from God and the deserved penalty for sin is physical and spiritual that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, conceived by the power of the Spirit and born of a virgin, and is both fully God and fully man, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful that Jesus Christ grew intellectually, physically, socially and spiritually on a Spirit-filled Spirit-led that Jesus Christ died in place of sinful humanity as a sinless substitute to pay the penalty for that Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead in victory over the enemies of Satan, sin, and that Jesus Christ physically ascended into heaven, where He reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords, and one day He will physically return to judge both the living and the that those who trust in Jesus Christ alone will be raised to eternal life and reward in a literal heaven.

4 That those who do not trust in Jesus Christ alone will be raised to eternal punishment in a literal that salvation is a gift God gives to sinful humanity by grace and it is received only by faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, who reconciles the relationship between humanity and that communion is a celebration and remembrance of Jesus Christ s death in our place for our that baptism is a celebration and remembrance of Jesus Christ s resurrection for our salvation and that a believer is immersed as an obedient demonstration and public declaration of faith in Creek Christian Church | 3573 N County Road 450 E | Logansport, IN 46947 | (574) 722-2863 | | 1 Examination OF BASIC BELIEFSUse the next two pages to explain each of the basic beliefs from the previous page in your own words. You are expected to use Scripture references and encouraged to use additional pages if necessary. Spring Creek Christian Church | 3573 N County Road 450 E | Logansport, IN 46947 | (574) 722-2863 | | 2 Spring Creek Christian Church | 3573 N County Road 450 E | Logansport, IN 46947 | (574) 722-2863 | | 3 SCRIPTURE INDEX FOR BASIC BELIEFS 1 Psalm 19:7-11; 119:1-176; Isaiah 40:8; 55:11; Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21 2 Genesis 1:1-2:25; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5-6; 46:9-10; John 17:3; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1 Timothy 2:5 3 Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:13-17; 28:17-20; Luke 1:35; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14 4 Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:23; 5:8, 12-21; 7:18; Ephesians 2:1-3 5 Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-24; Romans 5:12; 6:23; James 1:14-15 6 Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-4, 14; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3 7 Luke 2:52; 19:10; John 3:34; 5:30; 6:29, 38-39, 44, 57; 7:16; 8:29; 9:4; 12:44-45, 49; 13:20; 14:24; 17:1-26.

5 20:21; Hebrews 4:15 8 Isaiah 52:13-53:12; John 1:29; 10:1-18; Romans 5:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:7-10; Colossians 2:13-15; 1 Timothy 4:10; Hebrews 9:15; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 2:21-24; 3:18; 1 John 1:7; 4:10 9 Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-53; John 14:1-6; 20:1-21:25; 1 Corinthians 15:1-5810 John 14:3; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:34; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Hebrews 7:25; 9:24-28; 1 Peter 1:3-9; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:711 Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15; Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13-26; Titus 2:11-1412 John 3:16-18; 5:24; 6:28-29, 47; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 10:43; 16:30-31; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 3:21-28; 4:1-25; 5:1-5; 10:4-13; Galatians 2:16-21; 3:6-24; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:4-10; Philippians 3:7-21; Colossians 1:21-23; 1 Timothy 1:15-17; 2:5-613 Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-2914 Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:37-41; 8:12, 36-38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:14-15, 30-34; 18:8; 19:1-6a; Romans 6:1-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:23-29; Ephesians 4:1-7; Colossians 2:12; Titus 3:4-7 INTRODUCTION TO Biblical DOCTRINEIn 1994, Zondervan published Wayne Grudem s Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine , and since that time, his work has been upheld as one of the best resources for teaching Biblical Doctrine .

6 However, most people in the church are not sure what to do when the four-pound book arrives in the mail; after all, the book contains 1,264 pages and 57 chapters!In 1999, Zondervan published an abridgment, Bible Doctrine : Essential Teaching of the Christian Faith, making Systematic Theology more accessible to anyone who wants to better understand Biblical Doctrine . Many value Grudem s writing but need a book that is understandable on a non-graduate-student level. This book contains 528 pages and 34 chapters covering the main topics in Systematic 2005, Zondervan once again published, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know. God doesn't call every Christian to go to seminary, but there are basics that every Christian must know. Christian Beliefs is for everyone. Theology is important because what we believe affects how we behave. This readable book of twenty basic Christian beliefs is another abridged version of Systematic Theology, simplifying the basics of Christian theology for the average person and making them clear and applicable.

7 This invaluable resource contains only 160 pages and 20 chapters covering the full Systematic Theology and serves as a resource for helping pastors walk leaders and potential leaders through the larger work, breaking down the doctrinal Examination of a person for Christian leadership into more bite-sized chunks. Needless to say, it is still a huge undertaking!In 2009, Scott Thomas wrote Theological Clarity and Application: Equipping Leaders in Biblical Doctrine , a 90-page workbook with 20 chapters for Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know, enabling pastors and the leaders of Bible studies, small groups, and students to equip in Biblical Doctrine . References to Systematic Theology and other notable works on each specific topic have been complete reading of Christian Beliefs and the complete study of Theological Clarity and Application (beginning on the next page) are required for a potential deacon as part 2 of the Deaconship Creek Christian Church | 3573 N County Road 450 E | Logansport, IN 46947 | (574) 722-2863 | | 4 Examination OF Biblical Doctrine THEOLOGICAL CLARITY AND APPLICATIONEQUIPPING LEADERS IN Biblical DOCTRINEBy Scott ThomasInteractive Curriculum based on Wayne Grudem s book, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005) with reference to Grudem s Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994).

8 Scott Thomas serves as Pastor of Pastoral Development with the Journey in St. Louis, MO and has coached hundreds of pastors. He previously served as President and Network Director of Acts 29 Network, an executive elder at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA, and planted and replanted churches for 16 years as lead pastor in Colorado and Idaho and as youth pastor in Colorado and Florida. Scott is married to Jeannie they have two sons, Derrin and 2009 by Scott ThomasUnless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights part of this document may be reproduced separately. However, you are free to reproduce the book in its entirety for your purposes. You are not allowed to charge any costs or make any profits from this material as Scott Thomas provides it for the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Design by Grant Creek Christian Church | 3573 N County Road 450 E | Logansport, IN 46947 | (574) 722-2863 | | 5 ENDORSEMENTS Paul s first piece of advice to his hand-picked church planter Titus was to get elders in the churches in Crete.

9 Church planters often ignore this advice to get many other important things done. This shouldn t be. Scott Thomas has given us a valuable tool to help us develop men that hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught and are able to give instruction in sound Doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it (Titus 1:9). I look forward to using this book to develop elders to do those things. Elliot GrudemEditor of Christian Beliefs Scott Thomas guide to Grudem s Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know will undoubtedly stimulate discussion about these key doctrines and help drive home their importance to both new and mature Christians, church leaders and members, young and old alike. His questions are razor-sharp and don t shy away from difficulties and mysteries provoked by these cardinal Christian beliefs. Dr. Gregg R. AllisonProfessor of Christian TheologyThe Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY With this resource, Scott Thomas provides a clear and helpful way to prepare believers for dealing with the difficult doctrinal environment of our day.

10 In this simple but effective guide, the leaders and members of your church can be challenged to deepen their understanding of Biblical Doctrine through serious study and meaningful conversations. Dr. Ed StetzerPresident of LifeWay Research To provide compelling leadership for our churches, we need more than good intentions. We need strong theology. In Theological Clarity and Application Scott Thomas has provided us all with a rich resource as we grow together. I commend his work enthusiastically. Dr. Ray OrtlundLead Pastor of Immanuel Church, Nashville, TN This is a fantastic resource to theologically develop Christian leaders - Biblical , simple, practical, and helpful. Mark DriscollFounding Pastor of Mars Hill ChurchCo-Founder of Acts 29 Network and Churches Helping Churches, Founder of The Resurgence Leaders in Christ s church today must have more than a superficial knowledge of the faith. If they are to help churches contend for the faith once delivered to the saints, they must be steeped in Scripture and deep in theological insight.