Square 1

Demetris Prewitt

Description

Square 1 explains what Christians believe, why they believe it, and how to follow Jesus. The book is systematic theology for the church layperson.

Countless academic studies, Christian leaders, and personal experience show a startling and disturbing fact about the church: most Christians do not understand their faith.

Square 1: Bible Study for Christian Foundations explains clearly what the Bible teaches, why Christians believe it, and how to walk with Jesus. The book brings foundational biblical doctrine to life through plain language, thought-provoking images, and challenging application questions for group discussion.

The purpose of the book is to provide a biblical foundation for the Christian faith, worldview, and lifestyle. So, what makes it different?

• Everything starts with God’s nature, character, and attributes

• Its pages are visually stimulating with color imagery

• The book does not begin assuming the reader has high biblical literacy or holds Christian worldview and is therefore, laced with Christian apologetics

• Square 1 treats 21st century topics like identity, human rights, and sexuality as foundational for believers to understand their faith

• The book tackles end-times and the new creation with unbelievable clarity

Square 1 is a masterful blend of theological, philosophical, pastoral, apologetical, and biblical material. At the end of this study, the reader should be able to walk out the Christian life in the power of the Holy Spirit, in expectation of Christ's return, to the praise and glory of the Father. They will also be capable of understanding, explaining, and defending the central claims of Christianity, which is the good news of Jesus Christ.

Square 1 is systematic theology for anybody.

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie de la religion
• Apologetics
• Disciple (Christianity)
• Philosophy
• Philosophie et théologie
• Religious
• Discipleship

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 10 mars 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664263079
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 34 Mo

Extrait

Copyright © 2023 Demetris A. Prewitt.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,
graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by
any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This book is a work of nonfiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make
no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in
some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
WestBow Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
Because of the dynamic nature of the internet, any web addresses or links contained
in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views
expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views
of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations have been taken from the Christian Standard
Bible ® , Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard
Bible ® and CSB ® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture marked (ERV) taken from the Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), International
Edition © 2013, 2016 by Bible League International and used by permission.
Scripture marked (LSV) taken from the Literal Standard Version © 2020,
Covenant Press and the Covenant Christian Coalition; subsequently released under
the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license (CC BY-SA).
ISBN: 978-1-6642-6061-0 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-6307-9 (e)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022906570
Printed in China.
WestBow Press rev. date: 12/15/2022




Table of Contents


• Ground Zero
Preface, Chapter 1: The Gospel
Preface, Chapter 2: The Authority, Authenticity, & Accuracy of the Bible
Introduction: About Square 1
Part 1: God, Creation, & Humanity
• Section 1: The Nature of God & Creation
Module 1-1: God’s Nature, Character, & Attributes
Module 1-2: The Holiness of God, Covenants, God’s Will
Module 1-3: Evidence of God’s Existence
Module 1-4: The Beginning
Module 1-5: God & Science
• Section 2: Sin & Humanity
Module 2-1: The Purpose of Creation: Image of God
Module 2-2: Life Before the Fall
Module 2-3: Evil & Sin
Module 2-4: Genesis 3
Module 2-5: Effects of the Fall
Part 2: Jesus Christ: God’s Plan to Redeem Creation & Save Humanity
• Section 4: The Lineage of the Christ
Module 3-1: God’s Promise Through Abram
Module 3-2: God’s People—The Hebrews
Module 3-3: The Old Covenant
Module 3-4: A Brief Summary of Israel’s Biblical History
Module 3-5: The Coming Messiah
• Section 4: The Life of Christ
Module 4-1: Jesus’ Virgin Birth and Early Life
Module 4-2: Jesus’ Earthly Ministry
Module 4-3: Who Did Jesus Say He Was?
Module 4-4: What Did Jesus Say He Would Do?
Module 4-5: A Perfectly Sinless Life
• Section 5: Jesus’ Death & Resurrection
Module 5-1: The Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus
Module 5-2: Jesus’ Resurrection from the Dead
Module 5-3: Why the Cross?
Module 5-4: Historical Evidence for the Resurrection
Module 5-5: Water Baptism
• Section 6: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Module 6-1: The New Covenant
Module 6-2: Who is the Holy Spirit?
Module 6-3: The Holy Spirit in Salvation
Module 6-4: The Baptism in the Holy Spirit
Module 6-5: Gifts from the Spirit




• Section 7: The Church
Module 7-1: The Early Church
Module 7-2: The Mission of the Church
Module 7-3: Jesus’ Five Gifts to the Church—APEST
Module 7-4: Why Church Denominations?
Module 7-5: The Bride of Christ
Part 3: Walking with Christ
• Section 8: Spiritual Warfare & Spiritual Disciplines
Module 8-1: Satan & Demonic Forces
Module 8-2: Human Flesh
Module 8-3: Prayer
Module 8-4: Bible Reading
Module 8-5: Dedicated Time with God
• Section 9: Christian Ethics & Behavior
Module 9-1: The Great Commandment
Module 9-2: The Fruit of the Spirit
Module 9-3: Servanthood, Generosity, & Outreach
Module 9-4: Human Rights
Module 9-5: Christian Sexuality
• Section 10: Evangelism & Discipleship
Module 10-1: The Great Commission
Module 10-2: Sharing Your Faith
Module 10-3: Making Disciples
Module 10-4: Christian Identity
Module 10-5: Christian Suffering & Persecution
Part 4: The Final Days & Afterlife
• Section 11: End-Times
Module 11-1: End-Times Terms of Reference
Module 11-2: The Antichrist
Module 11-3: Seven Years of Tribulation
Module 11-4: Christ’s Return to Earth
Module 11-5: Being Prepared for the End
• Section 12: New Creation
Module 12-1: The Millennium Reign
Module 12-2: Final Judgment
Module 12-3: A New Heaven & New Earth
Module 12-4: What Will the New Creation Be Like?
Module 12-5: Eternity with God
Appendix A: How to Study the Bible
Appendix B: How to Find a Church
Ministry Charge
About the Author
Acknowledgments




Ground Zero – Preface, Chapter 1: The Gospel


The Christian gospel is the good news that humanity can experience reconciliation and a loving relationship with God through trusting in the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth—who is the Christ. This is possible because, out of God’s love for us, the Creator of the universe became a man in Jesus Christ and entered human history in the first century AD in Israel, the land of God’s chosen people.

Jesus lived the righteous life we should have lived, yet died the death we deserved—in our place. He laid down his life for all humanity to satisfy the terms of God’s justice, allowing our sins against the holy and just God to be legally pardoned. Jesus’ sacrifice is for the salvation of all human life, both male and female, which God made in his likeness to bear his image. Jesus’ shed blood on a Roman cross paid the penalty for our sins and is able to save us from the holy wrath of God that will come upon all evil and all sin.

On the third day of his death, God raised Jesus from the dead, prov- ing that Jesus is who he claimed to be: the Christ and the Son of the
living God.


Today, Jesus offers every person forgiveness of sins, freedom from guilt and shame, acceptance, identity, emotional and psychological healing, purpose, a true relationship with God, and eternal life. This grace is ap- plied to anyone who accepts God’s pardon by repenting of their sins, surrendering their entire life to God, confessing their trust in Jesus, and wholeheartedly believing in his resurrection. For that person, Jesus ex- changes his innocence for their guilt and gives to them his own Spirit, whom the person should rely upon in daily life. The Holy Spirit adopts us into God’s family and empowers us to live for God until Jesus returns to judge and redeem all creation.

Square 1 is dedicated to affirming the truth of this gospel. The truth about God can be discovered from God’s general revelation to all (his creation), his special revelation found in his incarnate Word (Jesus Christ), and his written word (the Bible).


Ground Zero


Preface, Chapter 1: The Gospel




Ground Zero – Preface, Chapter 2: The Authority, Authenticity, & Accuracy of the Bible


What Makes the Bible Authoritative?

This is the first fact concerning the Bible’s authority: it is based on the resurrection of Jesus. Christianity began around 30 AD in Jerusalem, Israel, when a group of women followers discovered the burial tomb of Jesus of Nazareth empty and he appeared to them after God raised him from the dead. History affirms that within the first 20 to 25 years, the earliest New Testament writer, a later convert named Paul, began to circulate letters affirming the life, death, resurrection, and deity of Jesus. By the time of his writing, there were already thousands of Christians all over the Mediterranean region of the world.

These historical facts bring to light an important feature about the Bible: Christianity existed before it. The Bible did not invent Christianity. Even if every Bible in the world were burned or deleted, or if no Bible had ever been written, Christianity would still be true. Christianity exists because Jesus rose from the dead. This is a matter of history, not a matter of reli- gious doctrine or opinion. It is because Jesus rose from the dead that we trust the Bible, not the other way around.


After Jesus rose from the dead, he sent the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower those who believe in him and to remind his followers of the things Jesus taught. Therefore, over the next 70 years, some of Je- sus’ followers began writing biographies of Jesus and letters to Jewish, non-Jewish, and mixed audiences. Jesus commissioned each of these writers in person, and this gave them alone the authority to write the New Testament.

Although human beings wrote the Bible, God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, is the author of scripture. The Holy