Introduction to Christianity 101
Often times the Church does an outstanding job of introducing people to the idea of who Jesus is and how they as Christians can be a part of the Church that serves Christ. However, sometimes Churches, teachers, and even so spiritual leaders can bring a lot of assumptions to the table when interacting with those who may have a curiosity about Christianity but have never interacted with the church or been exposed to what Christians believe.
Unfortunately, these assumptions can often lead to some feeling intimidated or overwhelmed by the sure amount of history and information that is associated with the decision to “give this Jesus thing a try.” These assumptions can almost feel as if you have turned on Netflix to finally begin watching a TV show that you have been hearing about for years, only to find that the first 10 seasons of the 15-season show aren’t available. This leaves you with a difficult dilemma. Do you attempt to catch up using only context clues and brief recaps as a guide? Do you spend countless hours searching the internet for old episodes on your own until you’ve caught up? Do you just give?
Though it may like a strange analogy, far too often we find that new Christians accept Christ and quickly loos the motivation and drive to learn more because it’s difficult to know where to begin. Luckily, if this is you or if you are just looking for a refresher on what it means to be a Christian, you’ve come to the right place. In this course, we are rewinding all the way back to season 1 in order to teach you all about what it means to be a Christian.
Overview of this course:
- Lesson Two: In lesson two we will be discussing the beginning, the story of creation, and who God is. Although it may seem like an obvious place to start, there are a few key details about what happens in the book Genesis that shouldn’t be glossed over. In order to more fully understand what it means to be a saved Christian, we must first discuss why salvation is necessary, what happened before Jesus, and how sin entered the world.
- Lesson Three: Salvation is a pillar of Christianity. So, in this lesson, we will discuss the covenant between God and humanity and how God’s covenant paved the way for the eventual death of Jesus on the cross. We will also learn about why Jesus had to die, how he fulfilled the prophecy, and what his death and resurrection mean for us today.
- Lesson Four: Christianity is not all about showing up to Church on Sunday. It’s also about service and sharing the message of salvation with others. Once we have concluded learning about salvation, we will then turn our focus to what it truly means to have accepted the salvation of Christ. We will also discuss the concept of grace and clarify what it means when we say we are saved the grace and not by works.
- Lesson Five: You may have heard about “the end times,” but what does that really mean? In this lesson, we will learn about Christianity after the resurrection of Jesus, what the end looks like, and how we as Christians can prepare for the end.
- Lesson Six: In this closing lesson we will discuss how you can continue exploring God’s word on your own. Here we will learn about helpful study tips, how you can find answers to questions that you may have, what you may want to study next, and resources you may want to look into in the future.
What We Believe:
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We believe there is only one true and living God. He is immutable, indefatigable, and infinite. He is not only a reality. He is the Ultimate Reality, an intelligent Spirit, and the Creator of all. He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
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We believe Jesus is the Savior, Lord Christ, and the incarnate reality of God. He was the walking revelation of God’s love for humanity. He embodied grace. He died on the cross for the redemption of God’s creation. He got up on Easter morning to confirm to the world that God is still in control of Heaven and Earth.
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We believe in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is Christ in present tense empowering the believer, energizing the church, and encouraging Christians that God is still with us. He convicts us of sin. He points us to the truth. He leads us into righteousness.
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We believe that the scripture is God’s Word. It is his written authority for the Church. The scripture was given to ordinary men through inspiration. The scripture is inerrant in principle and infallible in content.
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We believe in God’s saving grace; that the blessings of salvation are free to all through the Gospel; that the requisite of acceptance is a thankful, penitent, and obedient faith; that nothing interferes with the salvation of the sinner except his refusal of the Gospel. Man’s disbelief is his condemnation.
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We believe that justification is being brought into the right relationship with God. His position is accomplished without consideration of good works (of righteousness). That justification is the pardoning of sin, the gift of eternal life displays God’s love for humankind, and that by faith in the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ was His righteousness given to us.
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We believe baptism is an ocular demonstration of God’s inward renewal in the life of the believer. In baptism, our names are changed. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we are placed under the authority of God’s power and protection. It is the symbol of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection to a new life. It is a prerequisite to the privileges of the church in relation to the Lord’s Supper. Jesus Christ took bread and wine and established them as the imperishable symbols of the church. The Lord’s table is open to all people in the faith who desire to fellowship with Him.