BIG IDEA As we understand God’s character and nature, we better understand life. READING Exod. 33 & 34 THOUGHTS What Is God Like? There’s something inside all of us that’s aware of God but isn’t sure what He’s like and how He works. The good news is that even though God is incomprehensible (Job 11:7;...Read More
BIG IDEA We do not have to let sin destroy us. READING Rom. 1 THOUGHTS Limitations God doesn’t leave creation alone. In the beginning, He is actively involved in planting, hydrating, and growing the garden. He interacts very personally with humanity and places them in the garden to care for it. He encourages humanity to...Read More
BIG IDEA We are in the midst of being saved. READING Rom. 8 THOUGHTS The Plan God provided a plan of salvation from sin and its effects from the moment it entered the world. The storyline of the Bible docu- ments the revelation and outworking of this plan. God reveals this plan to several people...Read More
BIG IDEA Learning to value and understanding how to apply the Bible are essential parts of being a follower of Jesus. READING 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20–21 THOUGHTS Opening the Bible If you open the Bible to the first few pages, you’ll find a table of contents. You’ll see two parts: the Hebrew scriptures...Read More
BIG IDEA Creeds are imperfect summaries of what we believe. THOUGHTS In the early church, simple creeds were developed to summa- rize the main point of the Bible storyline. A person often recited these creeds before baptism to affirm their understanding and intention to follow Jesus. Here are two early ones. Christ was revealed in...Read More
BIG IDEA As we know where everything happens in heaven and hell, it will help us understand our place in this world. READING 2 Cor. 4 THOUGHTS Depending on how you were raised, you may have different ideas about the existence of a reality other than the natural world. There are different views of the...Read More
BIG IDEA God created spiritual beings called angels and demons. READING Heb. 1 THOUGHTS Angels are not dead relatives or mystical spirits, nor are they the personification of our positive or negative emotions. Angels are special beings created by God with celestial/heavenly bodies (Ps. 148:2,5; Col. 1:16; Heb. 11:14; Rev. 4:11, 5:13). Angels are intelligent...Read More
BIG IDEA As we understand how we are created, as human beings, we will understand ourselves better. READING Ps. 139 THOUGHTS God creates us in three distinct but interwoven parts: body, soul, and spirit (Gen. 1:26–27, 2:7; Job 7:11; Heb. 4:12). Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit...Read More
