How important is it to know what you believe and why it
matters? At Sweet Prospect General Baptist Church we are beginning the BELIEVE Sundayschool study, which is an innovative Bible-reading experience that will guide families
on how to “live” out the teachings of the Bible. It focuses on 10 key beliefs, 10
practices and 10 virtues of the Christian faith, which will guide you to think,
act and be more like Jesus. “Too many Christians
attend church every Sunday, but don’t really know why they believe what they do
about Christianity. This affects their actions, damages their witness and limits
the true joy of being a Christian,” said
Pastor Ray Rowland.
The best thing about the BELIEVE study is its grounded in the
Bible and offers a unique discipleship experience that will help Christians of
all ages become more like Jesus in their beliefs, actions, and character. This
series illuminates the core beliefs of the Christian faith to help you think,
act, and be more like Christ. The three sections will challenge you to ask
yourself. What
Do I Believe? What Should I Do? Who Am I Becoming?
Another wonderful aspect to this study is how the lessons
are written for all age groups. The BELIEVE experience includes books of
carefully selected Scripture for adults, students, and kids; a companion book for
discipleship and growth; a storybook and a coloring book for children; and
curriculum for every age group. Each Sunday the adults, teenagers, kids and
even preschools will be going over the same 10 key beliefs, 10 key practices,
and 10 key virtues of a Christian, so our whole church can learn to be more
like Jesus together. Adult Sunday school
member Mary Boyer added, “I love the
fact that each week my kids will be studying the same key belief that we went
over in the adult’s class and then the sermon will be on that same topic
allowing me to go home and discuss how we are living out that week’s lesson.”
The first 10 lessons will make you think by asking, “What do
I believe?” What you believe drives everything. The way you behave, the habits
you form, the character that defines you – all are driven by your beliefs. The
way we know we truly believe something is when it affects our actions. It’s not
enough to believe something as the right answer; that belief must become a way
of life. The BELIEVE study not only helps you understand the key beliefs of
Christianity, but also allows you to explain why you believe them. Once we really know why we believe what we do,
it can create true change in our individual lives, in the church, and in the
world.
Here are 5 of the 10 key belief questions the study explores:
·
Who is God?
·
Does God care about me?
·
How do I have a relationship with God?
·
How do I know God’s will for my life?
·
What is God’s call on my life?
At first glance these seem like easy questions, but can you answer
them? What if someone asked you to explain these beliefs to them? What would you say? How would you prove you’re
right? This study will give everyone a chance to think about the most important
things in life and explore what the Bible has to say about these central truths.
The next 10 lessons will cause you to ponder, “What should I
do?” Understanding what you believe is just the beginning. To become like
Jesus, your beliefs need to not only inform you, but also transform you. It is
the practice of reaching up to God and out to others that drive beliefs from
your head…to your heart. The BELIEVE study will teach you the life-giving
spiritual disciplines that will lead you in fulfilling your mission to love God
and love your neighbor.
Here are 5 of the 10 key act questions the study explores:
·
How do I honor God in the way that He deserves?
·
How do I study God’s Word?
·
How do I keep my focus on Jesus amidst distractions?
·
How do I develop healthy relationships with
others?
·
How do I best use my time to serve God and
others?
These are questions, or should we say actions that all
Christians struggle with, but too often we don’t get an answer so we give up
and just go through the motions of being a Christian. These lessons will give you and your family not
only a chance to learn from each other, but to also encourage one another in
doing what Christ teaches. “Hearing how others have overcome life’s
struggles is so encouraging to me. Sunday school is exciting because each week I
learn something new and am uplifted to hear how God is working in all our lives,”
remarked adult Sunday school teacher Rod Jetton.
The last 10 lessons will help you explore, “Who am I
becoming?” Jesus wants us to bear fruit that glorifies God and brings great joy
to us and to others. For this to happen, we must remain in Christ. And the
longer we remain in community with Christ, the more spiritual fruit, or
virtues, we will produce. The BELIEVE study illuminates the virtues – the
outward life changes in us – that are formed by the 10 beliefs and cemented
through the 10 practices. It is a grand cycle that shapes us into the image of
Christ more and more every day.
Here are 5 of the 10 key become questions the study explores:
·
What gives us true happiness and contentment in
our lives?
·
Where do I find strength to battle anxiety and fear?
·
How does God free me from addictions and sinful
habits?
·
How do I deal with the struggles and hardships
of life?
·
What does it mean to do the right thing? How do I
know?
These are the types of questions everyone has to deal with at
some point in life. When an unbelieving co-worker or friend is struggling in
life and turns to us for help, we need to be ready to offer assistance and
advice based on what Jesus taught. Can you plainly answer these questions
today? What can you tell others to help them through difficult times? Are you
living the Christian life described in the Bible?
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