INTRODUCTION
Author:
Stephen D. Eyre is a long-time staff member with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He is
the author of Defeating the Dragons of the World, Quiet Time Dynamics
(IVP) and is the
coauthor with his wife, Jacalyn, of the LifeGuide Bible study Matthew: Being Discipled by
Jesus (IVP).
Getting the Most from LifeGuide® Bible Studies:
Many of us long to fill our minds and our lives with Scripture. We desire to be
transformed by its message. LifeGuide® Bible Studies are designed to be an exciting and
challenging way to do just that. They help us to be guided by God's Word in every area of
life.
How They Work:
LifeGuides® have a number of distinctive features. Perhaps the most important is that
they are inductive rather than deductive. In other words, they lead us to discover what the
Bible says rather than simply telling us what it says.
They are also thought provoking. They help us to think about the meaning of the passage so that we can truly understand what the author is saying. The questions require more than one-word answers.
The studies are personal. Questions expose us to the promises, assurances, exhortations and challenges of God's Word. They are designed to allow the Scriptures to renew our minds so that we can be transformed by the Spirit of God. This is the ultimate goal of all Bible study.
The studies are versatile. They are designed for student, neighborhood and church groups. They are also effective for individual study.
How They're Put Together:
LifeGuides® also have a distinctive format. Each study need take no more than forty-five
minutes in a group setting or thirty minutes in personal study-unless you choose to take
more time.
The studies can be used within a quarter system in a church and fit well in a semester or trimester system on a college campus. If a guide has more than thirteen studies, it is divided into two or occasionally three parts of approximately twelve studies each. LifeGuides® use a workbook format. Space is provided for writing answers to each question. This is ideal for personal study and allows group members to prepare in advance for the discussion.
The studies also contain leader's notes. They show how to lead a group discussion, provide additional background information on certain questions, give helpful tips on group dynamics and suggest ways to deal with problems which may arise during the discussion. With such helps, someone with little or no experience can lead an effective study.
Suggestions for Individual Study
As you begin each study, pray that God will help you to understand and apply the passage to your life.
Read and reread the assigned Bible passage to familiarize yourself with what the author is saying. In the case of book studies, you may want to read through the entire book prior to the first study. This will give you a helpful overview of its contents.
A good modern translation of the Bible, rather than the King James Version or a paraphrase, will give you the most help. The New International Version, the New American Standard Bible and the Revised Standard Version are all recommended. However, the questions in this guide are based on the New International Version.
Write your answers in the space provided in the study guide. This will help you to express your understanding of the passage clearly.
It might be good to have a Bible dictionary handy. Use it to look up any unfamiliar words, names or places.
Suggestions for Group Study
Come to the study prepared. Follow the suggestions for individual study mentioned above. You will find that careful preparation will greatly enrich your time spent in group discussion.
Be willing to participate in the discussion. The leader of your group will not be lecturing. Instead, he or she will be encouraging the members of the group to discuss what they have learned from the passage. The leader will be asking the questions that are found in this guide. Plan to share what God has taught you in your individual study.
Stick to the passage being studied. Your answers should be based on the verses which are the focus of the discussion and not on outside authorities such as commentaries or speakers. This guide deliberately avoids jumping from book to book or passage to passage. Each study focuses on only one passage. Book studies are generally designed to lead you through the book in the order in which it was written. This will help you follow the author's argument.
Be sensitive to the other members of the group. Listen attentively when they share what they have learned. You may be surprised by their insights! Link what you say to the comments of others so the group stays on the topic. Also, be affirming whenever you can. This will encourage some of the more hesitant members of the group to participate.
Be careful not to dominate the discussion. We are sometimes so eager to share what we have learned that we leave too little opportunity for others to respond. By all means participate! But allow others to also.
Expect God to teach you through the passage being discussed and through the other members of the group. Pray that you will have an enjoyable and profitable time together.
If you are the discussion leader, you will find additional suggestions and helpful ideas for each study in the leader's notes. These are found at the back of the guide.
Introducing Christian Beliefs
As a new Christian in college, I wanted to learn all about the Christian faith through teaching, sermons and Bible study.
I soon discovered, however, that many Bible studies and sermons left me both confused and frustrated. I had trouble putting all the pieces together-especially since various denominations seemed to hold different and often conflicting views. I wanted an overview of the basic truths that Christians believe.
Later I found that while there have always been theological differences among Christians, there is a great deal that we have in common. C. S. Lewis called this common core of belief "mere Christianity."
These common beliefs can be briefly summarized under six headings.
Revelation. It refers not to the last book in the Bible, but to how God makes himself known.
God. What is he like? What can we know about him?
Human Nature. What are we like? How are we to relate to God? What happened when we sinned?
Salvation. What has God done to rescue us from sin?
The Church. Jesus has called us to follow him together. What does he require of us?
The Last Things. Jesus is coming back. How can we live in hopeful expectation?
These headings also provide the outline for this study guide.
A systematic study of our beliefs as Christians can provide many personal and practical benefits.
First, Christian beliefs help us make sense of the world we live in. How can we explain the presence of both incredible beauty and ugliness in the world? Why do we see not only supreme goodness but also diabolical evil? A knowledge of basic Christian beliefs helps us wrestle with questions that have baffled people for centuries.
Second, Christian beliefs strengthen our identity in Christ. Our culture urges us to seek our identity in our possessions, our personal achievements or our career. Yet Scripture tells us our identity is not derived from these things. It depends not on how others see us, but how God sees us. As we learn the essential beliefs of Christianity, we begin to discover who we really are.
Third, Christian beliefs not only guide our thinking but also direct our behavior. In our day we desperately need men and women of integrity, people who are living examples of biblical values. As we learn these basic values, the Holy Spirit gradually transforms us into the likeness of Christ himself. Christian beliefs build Christian character.
Finally, and most importantly, Christian beliefs help us draw near to God. As we look into the Scriptures, we come to know the Author of Scripture. Biblical truths become a window into the heart and mind of God.
In our day there is a wishy-washy relativism that masquerades as faith. "It doesn't matter what you believe, just as long as you believe." "All roads lead to God." "The important thing is to be sincere." If we know what we believe, we will resist such shallow claims. God is personal. He has told us about himself and what he requires of us. All the rich knowledge of God is expressed through our Christian beliefs.
If we approach the Scriptures with humility and a fervent heart, Christian beliefs can strengthen our faith and ignite our souls.