Christianity Explained - Bible study course

[Deborah_]

27 The Church

Read Ephesians 2:11-22

God’s plan has always revolved around a special group of people - his “chosen people”. He loves each one of us individually, of course, but he wants above all to create a community: “my kingdom of priests, my holy nation” (Exodus 19:6).

In Old Testament times, God’s presence on earth was represented by a building - the Temple in Jerusalem. It was destroyed by the Romans 40 years after Jesus’ death. But God is constructing another one - not out of bricks or stone but out of human beings (Ephesians 2:19-22)! He now lives in the community of his people, and everyone who believes in Jesus becomes part of this vast spiritual building project.

Now that we are children of God, we have millions of brothers and sisters; we’re part of a worldwide family, united by our commitment to Jesus. We can’t possibly have meaningful relationships with that many people - but there are small groups of Christians in every town and city of the world, called churches. We meet together to learn from one another, to encourage and help one another (Hebrews 10:25), and to pray for one another. We worship God together, and we share a special symbolic meal (Communion) on a regular basis, to remind ourselves that we are absolutely dependent on Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

Ideally, every believer should belong to a church. It’s not always plain sailing - just like in a real family, we don’t always see eye to eye! But learning to love and forgive one another is an important part of being a Christian. “I am giving you a new commandment. Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13: 34,35)

 

[strepho]

Good job Deborah. Glad a member of body of christ is producing fruit for Jesus. Body of christ is trying to plant seeds, and convert some people to christianity. We can't force anyone to accept Jesus as their salvation and repent.

Parable of mustard seed.

This gardener planted mustard seed
He had no expectation for it. What's abnormal is. It grew big enough for birds to lodge on it.

You could see the disbelief in gardener eyes. Seeds for garden normally grow small.

Jesus is telling us. No one expected christianity to spread after crucifixion of jesus.

Many Christian nations have bible in some homes. Churches on almost every street.
Faith is the key. You either believe or you dont.

Atheists and agnostics don't believe in genesis chapter 1, that God is the creator
Evolution is thier game.

Unbelievers are following satan. Corinthians chapter 4 to document.

Good work sister.

 

[Deborah_]

28 Telling others about Jesus

Read Matthew 5:13-16

Christian faith can’t be a private matter, because Jesus Christ changes our lives in so many practical ways. We become like lights shining in a dark world - so we can’t help but show up! Whether we like it or not, we’re walking advertisements for our Lord; so we should do our best to ensure that we’re good adverts, not bad ones! Nothing puts people off Christianity faster than someone who claims loudly to be a Christian but actually behaves worse than the average unbeliever.

Christians should be “the salt of the earth”, demonstrating to the rest of the world that there’s a better way to live. But we can only do that if we really do live differently from everyone else. Sooner or later, a genuinely Christian lifestyle will provoke questions - and we should be prepared to answer them and explain why we do what we do (1 Peter 3:15,16).

The object of the exercise isn’t to draw attention to ourselves, but to bring glory to the God who makes such a life possible (Matthew 5:16). We don’t have any light of our own; we’re merely reflecting the light of Christ. It’s as we follow Jesus day by day, modelling ourselves upon him, that our lives become a testimony to his transforming power (Ephesians 5:8,9).

So telling others about the Lord Jesus isn’t just a job for ‘professionals’. It’s the responsibility of all of us. We have been chosen for a purpose: to play a part in extending the Kingdom of God! “You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

 

[Deborah_]

29 Jesus will return

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

Jesus’ physical absence from this world is only temporary. He promised that he would return one day in glory and majesty to judge the world and set up his Kingdom on earth. But he also gave hints that we might have to wait a long time! (e.g. Matthew 25:5) And he warned his followers that they would have no way of predicting the date. “No-one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.” (Mark 13:32) And we won’t be given any advance warning, either; he will come suddenly and unexpectedly, “like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). So we need to be ready for his coming at all times.

Even so, 2000 years seems a very long time to wait. Why the delay? “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:9) The longer he waits, the more people will have a chance to enter his Kingdom!

Many people have tried to work out when Jesus will return; but so far, every single one of them has been wrong. In any case, “being ready” doesn’t mean spotting the signs of Jesus’ coming in advance (or making calculations from the book of Revelation); it means getting on with the work that he has given us to do (Luke 12:35-37).

If we are ready, then whether Jesus is coming back tomorrow or not for another thousand years should make no difference to us. We won’t be waiting for his return in fear and trembling but in eager anticipation, because we know where we stand and that we are ready to meet him (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

 

[Deborah_]

30 Life after death

Read 1 Peter 1:3-7

We can’t actually know what happens after death; but we can have confidence in the death and resurrection of Jesus. When he died for us, he drew death’s sting and removed its terror (Hebrews 2:14,15). And because he rose again, we know for certain that there is life and joy beyond death.

The popular image of ‘heaven’ (angels sitting on clouds playing harps) is not what Christians believe about the life to come. Instead, “we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” (II Peter 3:13) We have been promised that, when Jesus returns, we will be resurrected just as he was resurrected (I Corinthians 15:22,23). We will have new bodies just like his resurrection body (Philippians 3:21) – different in some ways from our present bodies, but bodies nevertheless. And we will inhabit a new earth – a world restored to harmony with its Creator. Just like our resurrection bodies, the new earth will be in some ways similar to the earth that we know, and in other ways different. Its inhabitants will be a countless multitude of people - all those who have been redeemed and made righteous through the death of Jesus. It will be like a vast city, bustling with life and joy and fellowship. This is our wonderful destiny!

This future perspective gives us a completely different attitude to life - and to death. For this life is not all that there is, and death won’t be the end of our story but the beginning of a new chapter. In the new creation, we shall enjoy the presence of God forever – and in his presence there can be no evil or sorrow. ”He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4)