Study Guides

I. From the groups of passages given below may be derived a significant process involving love. The first four groups correspond to individual parts of the process, although a certain amount of overlapping cannot be eliminated. The fifth group involves passages that cover varying amounts of the whole process.

               Passages on divine calling and direction that are helpful in understanding the manner of God’s specially leading people are (1) Genesis 6:13ff.; (2) Genesis 12:1ff.; 13:14ff.; (3) Exodus 3; (4) Judges 6:11-25ff.; (5) Judges 13:2ff.; (6) 1 Samuel 3;           (7)  Amos 7:14ff.; (8) Jonah 1:1-2; 3:1-2; (9) Isaiah 6; (10) Jeremiah 1:1-2:1; (11) Ezekiel 2:1-7; 3:16ff., 22ff.; 6:1ff.; etc.; (12) Haggai 2:10ff.; 20; (13) Zechariah 1:1-3ff.; (14) Luke 1:5-25, 39-80; 3:1-20 (Matthew 3; Mark 1:11); John 1:6-36; (15) Matthew 10:1-4ff.; (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16); Acts 1:1-11; (16) Acts 8:26-40; (17) Acts 9:10-19; (18) Acts 9:1-18; 22:3-21; 26:2-23; Galatians 1:11-2:10; Acts 16:9-10; 22:17-21 (cp. 9:26-30).

I. A study of assurance requires an understanding of the relationship between four sets of variables:

        (1)   Objective-subjective evidence. Objective refers to the real basis upon which our assurance rests; subjective refers to whether we feel assured of salvation.

        Elements essential to an understanding of Christian freedom are diagrammed here in three sets of logical relationships: (1) subjective refers to our feelings about the matter; objective refers to what is there regardless of our feelings about it. (2) Plus (+) and minus (-) mean the presence or absence of the category at the left for those who are in Christ. (3) Jurisdiction of law is divine regulation of human behavior. Penalty of broken law is the guilt consequence we have for breaking God’s law. Reality means the barriers, boundaries, limitations—personal and external—in the reality where we live and what we are a part of.

               Prayer raises three issues. Think about them; study the surrounding verses and other scripture portions by cross reference or a concordance.  Write down answers to the accompanying questions, giving scriptural support wherever possible.

        Christianity is not a philosophy we believe, but a religion we live. It should have something to say, then, to the whole person and be able to help us psychologically cope with life. The following clusters of texts contain implications for psychological strength. Decide what the implication is and why it is true.

        Major portions of scripture deal with suffering-pain-calamity-death: the Book of Job, 1 Corinthians, and 1 Peter. From these books cross references identify other shorter sections on this difficult subject.

            The following analysis of a Christian’s growth process produces a schematic based on the inner-outer differential. By inner we mean the understanding, emotions, and motives we have; outer means the actions we do. Each group of scriptures given below affirms something about the inner, the outer, or their relationship. Determine what that fact is and why it is important. Then synthesize all the parts into a working model of the growth process with observations on its implications for witnessing and applications to Christian education and defense of the faith.

        Relating to our brothers and sisters in Christ would be easier if we were all at the same stage of growth in understanding and virtue and if we all viewed things the same way. As a matter of fact, we are not all equally strong and do not see things alike. We must learn to make allowance for differences i to keep the unity of the faith in the bond of peace and to avoid stumbling and discouragement.