Introduction: God’s truth is only “the truth” if it is correctly interpreted.  Most heretical teaching is based on gross misinterpretation of scripture, or by adding extra-Biblical writings, philosophies and teachings that are held to be equally authoritative.  We know that heresies are a problem with churches that consider themselves to be “Christian.”  Furthermore, Jesus and the early apostles warned us that this will be a continuing issue in the Body of Christ.

 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) 15  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Three takeaways from this verse:

1. We need to be diligent and take seriously the task of rightly dividing or handling the word of truth.
2. That interpreting God’s Word correctly leads to God’s approval. 
3. There are dire consequences (shame) for those who mis-interpret or mis-represent God’s Word.

 
The Importance of getting it right: The Apostle Paul stated that doctrine (what you believe) is a matter of salvation; that teaching the right doctrine “will save both yourself and those who hear you.”  (1 Timothy 4:16) 
 
In 2 Timothy, chapter 3, Paul talks about the “terrible” times that will occur in the end times.  One of the signs is the rise of false teachers, who oppose the truth and cannot find the truth. 

• Our best weapon against such deception is to know what we believe and why we believe what we believe.
• This is “what” we believe.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) 16  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The Challenge: Many false teachers will claim to believe the same things that you believe.  Most cults, do, in fact, believe some of the same things that we believe; however, they mix in mis-interpretation, mis-representation, and falsehoods in with the truth.  Easier to hide lies when cloaked in truth.  So, how do we combat false doctrine?
Hermeneutics: Biblical hermeneutics is the science of interpreting texts in the Bible.  Biblical Hermeneutics is a system of rules and principles that guide and guard our approach in interpreting scripture. Here is a layman’s list of Hermeneutic laws:

1. Common Sense.  Called the “Golden Rule” of Bible interpretation.  “When common sense makes perfect sense, seek no other sense.”  This is also called The Literal Interpretation Principle.  The Bible is not a secretive document that was written to obscure and confuse; it is God revelation that equips us for every good work. 
2. Context. Often called The Contextual Principle, scripture should not simply be interpreted in isolation from the greater context.  The greater context takes into consideration the author, the audience, the history, and how the isolated scripture “fits” with surrounding scriptures.
3. Weighing scripture with scripture.  The Harmony of Scripture Principle. The major doctrines of the faith are vast themes found throughout the books of the Bible.  To establish “truth” in interpreting scripture our conclusion must be supported by other scriptures and not be opposed by still other scriptures.
4. Rule of Definition Principle.  It is important that we understand the correct definition of the words that are being used.  This is a rule that applies to the original language as well as how the original language is translated.  (This happens to be the greatest challenge for Bible translators) 
5. Start with Jesus.  The Jesus-Centric Principle.  As followers of Christ, who was a manifestation of God in the flesh and the bearer of “truth,” we start our formulation of doctrinal understanding with the life and ministry of Jesus.  

Ultimately, when it comes to our understanding of the Bible, we want to know what God was trying to communicate.  Our ideas are only valid when they line up with the idea of what God intended to convey.

Questions to Consider: (Please think about the answers and be prepared to discuss at the next Core Group Meeting)

1. How can a false premise lead to deception?  (Can you think of any examples?)
2. Have you ever believed something that turned out not to be true?  (How did you feel when you discovered the truth?)
3. Is the truth important to you and why?
4. Do you think rules for Bible interpretation are important?  Why?
5. How do you handle scriptures when they seem to be supporting differing views of doctrine?

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Introduction: Believers Church is a Bible-Centric, Grace-Filled, Spirit-Led church. The basis for the formation of our doctrine is a conservative view of scripture which believes that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Where the Bible is clear, we strive to be clear. Where the Bible is unclear, we steer away from developing dogma. Paul gave young Timothy a good piece of advice: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” 1 Timothy 4:16 (NKJV)
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In the framework of the church, doctrine is the set of beliefs that are held and taught as truth.  What people believe is important.  In the words of Paul, doctrine has the potential to “save” you and those that listen to you.  Christianity is composed of some basic doctrines that are considered as essential. The early Christian Church wrote creeds which expressed the doctrinal Orthodoxy necessary to form unity.  (Orthodoxy means “right opinion.”)  The first well-known creed was released in 180 A.D.; and is known today as the Apostles’ Creed.
 
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
      and born of the virgin Mary.
      He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      was crucified, died, and was buried;
      he descended to hell.
      The third day he rose again from the dead.
      He ascended to heaven
      and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
      From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the holy catholic church,
      the communion of saints,
      the forgiveness of sins,
      the resurrection of the body,
      and the life everlasting. Amen.

(Catholic verses catholic.  Capital “C” Catholic refers to the formal Catholic Church.  Small “c” catholic refers to the universal church or the church at large) The Apostles’ Creed identifies the backbone of Christian Orthodoxy.  Seems pretty complete.  It is what we as Christians hold in common as to what we believe.  Do you notice anything essential belief missing in the Apostles’ Creed?

There is no mention of the Bible in the Apostles’ Creed.  Amazing…all the essential doctrines covered in the Apostles’ Creed without mention of the Bible.  The Bible was not officially “canonized” until over 200 years later after the Apostles’ Creed was published.  So, the Apostles’ Creed was the theological glue that held the Church together.  Beyond the Apostles’ Creed, what did the early church believe and what was their source for teaching and the formation of doctrine?  Acts 2:42 tells us that the church devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles.  The teaching of the Apostles would have included the stories concerning the life, ministry and teachings of Christ; which eventually became the Gospels; the writings, lessons and letters of Paul, Peter, John, the writer of Hebrews among others; which were passed around, used, and then recognized as being sacred.  Essentially, our Bible (the New Testament portion) was formed and canonized around the teaching of the Apostles.

The Challenge of Doctrinal Distinctives.  Most denominations have what are called “Doctrinal Distinctives.”  These doctrinal distinctives are what divide the Body of Christ into different sects; which we call denominations.  These distinctives often amount to the reason one group of churches cannot fellowship with another group of churches.  This division in the Body of Christ is not new to Christianity.  The Apostle Paul addressed the Church of Corinth about this problem.

 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 (ESV) I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.  For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.  What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Even with this stiff warning, Christians often label themselves as someone who is characterized as an adherent of someone other than Christ.

Questions to Consider: (Please think about the answers and be prepared to discuss at the next Core Group Meeting)

1. What would you say are the essential doctrines that are necessary for salvation?
2. Can you think of a doctrinal “distinctive” that has divided the Church into different camps of theological thought?  (Tell us your understanding of why this doctrine has created division)
3. What are some popular doctrines taught in the church that you would consider non-essential to salvation?
4. How can we create unity with people who hold fast to their particular doctrinal distinctives? 

Syllabus
CORE is an elective class for those who want to dig into the values and beliefs that are at the center of our church culture at Believers Church.  The following subjects will be taught in this class.

​Who We Are

• Our Mission: "We are dedicated to developing fully devoted followers of Christ in every generation"
• Our Vision: "To be a Church Community that is an authentic expression of Christ"

Core Values

1. Devote Daily: Devote ourselves daily to a personal relationship with Jesus.  John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”  (We value the daily practice of the spiritual disciplines)

 

1. Pursue Relationally: Pursue deep relationships with one another, based on love, acceptance and forgiveness.  John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.”  (We value the sign that tells the world that we are Christ’s disciples; which is Loving One Another)

 

1. Teach Biblically: Build a Bible-Centric culture where the wisdom of God and sound Bible doctrine is the authoritative guide upon which we build our lives.  2 Timothy 3:16,17. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  (We value the truth and authority of scripture above the wisdom of man)

 

1. Live Authentically: Live authentically, sharing our struggles, encouraging and admonishing one another faithfully towards maturity.  James 5:15 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.  The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”  Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”  (We value the spiritual accountability that comes from authentic relationships)

 

1. Engage Missionally: Engage intentionally with our communities and the world to make disciples.  Matthew 28:19,20 “God therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  (We value the Great Commission and will use our resources to make disciples and expand the Kingdom of God)

 

1. Proclaim Courageously: Cultivate a church culture where members boldly articulate the good news.   Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”  Romans 10:14 “But before people can pray to the Lord for help, they must believe in him. And before they can believe in the Lord, they must hear about him. And for anyone to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them.”  (We value the “Call” to proclaim the Gospel Message throughout the nations with the commitment to make Jesus known)

 

1. Serve with Excellence: Serve with the understanding of who we are serving and what Kingdom we are building.  Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  (We value the idea of bringing glory to God in all the we do)

 

1. Walk in Integrity: That the fruit of our lives would match the rhetoric of our mouths. Proverbs 11:3 “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.”  Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

 
 
Core Beliefs
This is not a complete listing of everything that we believe, but it covers the essential doctrines of the church. Believers Church is a main-stream, Evangelical, Grace-filled, Spirit-led church. The basis for the formation of our doctrine is a conservative view of scripture which believes that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Where the Bible is clear, we strive to be clear. Where the Bible is unclear, we steer away from developing dogma. Paul gave young Timothy a good piece of advice: "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:16
The Bible The Bible contains the exact information that God desires to reveal to mankind.  It is the truth that guides us and the final authority upon which we build our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
The Holy Trinity The Bible reveals God in three persons; God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit.  We see the Holy Trinity fully represented when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.  The Father declared, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased;” and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove.  Although the idea of one God revealed in three persons is a challenging concept; it serves as a reminder of how great and beyond definition our God is.  (Colossians 2:9: Matthew 28:19; Matthew 3:16,17)
God, the Father:  Christians identify the creator as "Our Father, which art in heaven." He has existed from the beginning and will forever rule over all that He has created.  There is one word that best describes our heavenly Father, it is the word "love."  God is love and He loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to rescue us from our sin. (Genesis 1:1; Matthew 6:9-13)


God, the Son (Jesus Christ): Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in an Israelite virgin named Mary.  Jesus was God in the flesh, and yet, He experienced all the temptations and difficulties that are common to all.  He lived His life without sin, was crucified on a cross for the sins of the world and rose in triumph over death.  He is now ruling at the right hand of our heavenly Father, acting on behalf of those that believe in Him.  One day Jesus will return to the earth to rule. (Hebrews 1:3; 3:1; 7:23-25: 9:24: 12:2; 1 John 2:1-2).

God, the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is a person, is God and performs a ministry of conviction, regeneration and sanctification. He indwells every believer. (John 3:8; 15:26, 27; 16:7-15; Ephesians 4:30; 5:18). The Holy Spirit equips the members of Christ's body today for ministry through the importation of spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).

Man and Salvation: Man was created in the image of God; he sinned, and consequently experienced not only physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God. Every human being is born with a sinful tendency, and when he reaches moral responsibility, he becomes a sinner in thought, word and deed; but may receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, as a gift of God's grace and not the result of any human effort or merit. We boldly declare that Jesus is the only way that leads to salvation, and that He is the only name under heaven whereby we are saved. (Genesis 1:26; 3:1-24; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:8; John 1:12).

The Christian Life: Every believer in Christ should be committed to the Lordship of Christ; ever growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ; and to the fellowship of the saints. (Romans 12:1, 2; Galatians 5:15, 25; 2Corinthians 12:12.13; Hebrews 10:25).

The Church: The church is the body and bride of Christ. It is a spiritual organism made up of believers in Christ and manifested in local congregations. (Ephesians 1:22, 23; 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13).

Church Ordinances: The two ordinances of the church are baptism and the Lord's supper. Baptism should be administered to believers upon their verbal confession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The ordinance of the Lord's supper should be observed regularly in remembrance of Christ's death and in anticipation of His return. The elements of the Lord's supper are symbolic of His body and blood. (Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Satan: Satan is a real and personal being. He is the adversary of God and His people. He is not all powerful. He is not all present and he is not all knowing. (Matthew 4:1; 1 Peter 5:6).

Spiritual Warfare: The Church of Jesus Christ is engaged in an epic battle against powers of darkness; at stake are the souls of mankind.  Christ has assured us that because He was victorious on the Cross those who believe in Christ will be victorious as well. (Romans 8:32-39; 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 John 5:4; Revelations 3:5).

The Eternal State: Both believers and unbelievers will be bodily raised and all men will appear before Christ to be judged. The saved will experience everlasting blessedness in eternal life with God; the lost will experience everlasting conscious punishment in eternal separation from God. (Philippians 1:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelations 20:11-15).