2. Some False Substitutes and the True Source

3. GOALS Connect the timeless truth of God’s Word to current lifestyle, cultural and theological issues Connect the timeless truth of God’s Word to current lifestyle, cultural and theological issues

4. GOALS Emphasize the importance of making decisions based on clear scriptural commands and instructions Emphasize the importance of making decisions based on clear scriptural commands and instructions

5. GOALS Discuss what the role of the church is and isn’t in the life of the Christian Discuss what the role of the church is and isn’t in the life of the Christian Help us know how to relate to other Christians who differ with us on issues Help us know how to relate to other Christians who differ with us on issues

6. GOALS Renew our commitment to the authority, sufficiency and clarity of Scripture Renew our commitment to the authority, sufficiency and clarity of Scripture

7. TRUTHUNDERSTANDINGAPPLICATION

8. Substitutes for Biblical Christianity Cultural Christianity – predominant practice in a region or community; an understood, normative, expected way of thinking and living Cultural Christianity – predominant practice in a region or community; an understood, normative, expected way of thinking and living

9. Substitutes for Biblical Christianity Institutional Christianity – an institution has a standard or rule which becomes the norm for how all Christians should live Institutional Christianity – an institution has a standard or rule which becomes the norm for how all Christians should live

10. Substitutes for Biblical Christianity Parental Christianity – indoctrinating children with data and behavior; practicing “formula” parenting; assuming children will adopt and follow parents’ beliefs and practices; … Parental Christianity – indoctrinating children with data and behavior; practicing “formula” parenting; assuming children will adopt and follow parents’ beliefs and practices; …

11. Substitutes for Biblical Christianity Parental Christianity (con’t)– … children conforming to family expectations rather than developing personal apprehension of truth and learning to make discerning application Parental Christianity (con’t)– … children conforming to family expectations rather than developing personal apprehension of truth and learning to make discerning application

12. Substitutes for Biblical Christianity Traditional Christianity – the way we have done it = good; anything new = bad; if an application was valid in the past, it is still valid today; to change is to compromise Traditional Christianity – the way we have done it = good; anything new = bad; if an application was valid in the past, it is still valid today; to change is to compromise

13. Substitutes for Biblical Christianity Box Christianity – accepting or eliminating practices by category or label Box Christianity – accepting or eliminating practices by category or label

14. Substitutes for Biblical Christianity Movement Christianity – determined by what leaders in a movement are doing; following or reacting to them Movement Christianity – determined by what leaders in a movement are doing; following or reacting to them

15. Substitutes for Biblical Christianity Guru Christianity – adopting beliefs and practices because an influential person has reached conclusions and teaches them Guru Christianity – adopting beliefs and practices because an influential person has reached conclusions and teaches them

16. Substitutes for Biblical Christianity Fad Christianity, Best Seller Christianity, Ministry Program Christianity Fad Christianity, Best Seller Christianity, Ministry Program Christianity Reactive Christianity Reactive Christianity

17. Source of Biblical Christianity Matthew 28:19-20 BasisContentScope

18. Source of Biblical Christianity Acts 2:41-42 4:18 5:42 13:1 15:35 18:11 28:30-31

19. Source of Biblical Christianity Romans 12:3-8 Ephesians 4:11-14

20. Source of Biblical Christianity 1 Timothy 1:3-10 3:2 4:6-11, 13, 16 5:17 6:1-5

21. Source of Biblical Christianity 2 Timothy 2:2 3:16 4:2-4 Titus 2:1, 10-15

22. Source of Biblical Christianity 2 John 4-11

23. The Basis for belief and lifestyle choices is not the substitutes but the right understanding of the truth of God’s Word.