“10 Truths Your Kids Need to Know”
(Phil. 4:8…part 1)
Dr. Richard S. Koole
Chapel Pointe
February 1, 2009
I. Introduction
A. Emmanuel Kant’s Father (Ridenour p. 162)
The aged father of the great philosopher, Emmanuel Kant, was making a perilous journey through the forests of Poland when he was held up by robbers who demanded everything he had.
“Have you given us all?” they asked as they made ready to go with his wallet, prayer book and horse.
“All,” said the old man, trembling, but when he was safely out of their sight, his hand touched something hard in the hem of his robe. It was gold, sewn there for safety and totally forgotten in fear during the robbery. At this point you would expect old Mr. Kant to hurry on his way rejoicing, but instead he went back to find the robbers!
“I’ve told you what was not true,” he said, “it was unintentional. I was too terrified to think. Here, take the gold in my robes.” There was dead silence. Then to the old man’s amazement, one robber came forward and handed back his wallet. Another restored his book of prayer, while another brought him his horse and helped him mount. Then, after asking him to bless them, the robbers watched the old man slowly ride away.”
B. Have you ever been caught in a lie?
1. Watching “Cops” on TV
a. How easily some people lie
2. I’ve never had that gift
3. But I’ve been known to cleverly mislead a person
a. To think something other than what is true
b. Am I any less guilty?
C. The importance of meditating on what is true
(8) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
1. “meditate on these things”
a. On “whatever is true”
2. It’s difficult to tell the truth if you don’t know the truth
a. And people won’t know the truth if we don’t teach the truth
b. The role of the local church
3. How and why I developed my list of ten essential truths
a. Two-part sermon
4. They represent the “core of our faith”
D. Notes available next Sunday
1. With all of the Scriptures and more
2. Will be available on our web site
3. This will be a different sort of sermon
E. The importance of what you believe
1. Churches that fail to state what they believe
2. Yes…what you believe matters
II. Ten Essential Truths
1. The truth about the Bible
The Bible is God’s complete written revelation available to mankind
Importance
1. Has to be the starting place
2. How do we know we can trust the Bible?
a. Internal statement of being the Word of God
b. External proofs
c. Prophetic proofs
d. Comparison to other books
1. Book of Mormon
2. Koran
3. Apocryphal books
2. The Bible is not subordinate to any of the following:
a. The preacher’s opinion
b. Church traditions, liturgy or constitutions
c. Ruling from the Pope , religious counsels or synods
d. New books that have been written
1. Koran
2. Book of Mormon
3. Attacks on the Bible
a. “The Battle for the Bible”
b. Attacks through the ages
1. Want to discard difficult parts
2. Don’t want to take it literally
3. Claim it only “contains” the word of God
4. Claim errors
c. The Post-modern (Emergent) church and the Bible
1. Does it change based on the culture and times?
2. Is it all, or just contains some guidelines for us?
3. Should it be changing in interpretation?
3. We believe:
a. that truth can be found…and it starts with the Bible
b. that the Bible is God speaking to us
c. that it is the final say in all questions of faith
d. that it is not trumped by man’s opinion or the rulings of a church body
e. It is the anchor….and it doesn’t change
Our Statement of Faith
We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament, to be the verbally inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life.
Key Scriptures
1. II Peter 1:20-21
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
2. II Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2. The truth about God
There is one true and living God who is perfect in holiness, infinite in love, awesome in power, and continuously present.
Importance
1. Is there a God?
a. Life’s key question
1. Does the supernatural exist?
2. Is there life after death?
b. My two-part series last Spring
1. Without using scripture to prove God
2. The preponderance of evidence
c. DVD
1. Challenge others to view it
2. If there is a God….what is he like?
a. Is He loving?
b. Does He possess unlimited power?
c. Is He Holy?
d. What about the Trinity of God
e. Will you see him when you die?
3. And….is Jesus God?
a. (John 10:30)—“I and my Father are one”
Our Statement of Faith
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Key Scriptures
1. I Corinthians 8:6
6 yet for us there is only one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
2. I John 5:7
For there are three who bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
3. Exodus 20:2-3
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 You shall have no other gods before Me.”
4. Revelation 4:11
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”
3. The truth about Jesus and Salvation
Salvation is obtained through Jesus Christ alone based on His perfect sinless example on earth, His substitutionary death on the cross, His miraculous resurrection from the grave, and His glorious ascension into heaven.
Importance
1. Jesus was and is fully God
a. More than a wise teacher, etc.
b. Jesus claimed to be fully God
1. (John 10:30)—“I and my Father are one”
c. And the Bible supports his claim
1. John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. Colossians 1:15-17
Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (16) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through and for Him. (17) And He is before all things, and in him all things consist.
3. Colossians 1:19-20
For it pleased the Father that in Jesus all the fullness should dwell (20) and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
4. Colossians 2:9-10
For in Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; (10) and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
2. Jesus is the only way of salvation
a. John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
b. Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Our Statement of Faith
We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Advocate.
We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred, not only physical death, but also spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners in thought, word, and deed. Only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and Spiritual life be obtained.
We believe the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe in Him and receive Him as personal Savior are justified on the basis of His shed blood.
We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God, eternally secure in Him.
We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension in heaven, and in His present life there for us as a High Priest and Advocate.
Key Scriptures
1. Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.
2. Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
3. Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
4. Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
5. John 3:3
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
6. Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
7. John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
4. The truth about the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third member of the God-head who indwells and keeps each believer
Importance
1. The Holy Spirit is fully God
2. He plays a very active role in your daily life
a. Secures your salvation
b. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit
c. Gives you power to accomplish your mission
d. He intercedes for you
e. He helps you resist Satan
Our Statement of Faith
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age, to convict men of sin, regenerate the believing sinner, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and sacrifice.
Key Scriptures
1. John 14:16-17 Indwelling
16 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
2. Acts 1:8 source of power
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
3. Matthew 28:19 God
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
4. John 14:25, 26 Scripture
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
5. Acts 11:16 baptized
Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, “John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6. Romans 8:26, 27 intercessor
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
7. Ephesians 1:13, 14 seals
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
5. The truth about the church
The Church provides the blessing of loving interaction and service with fellow Christians
Importance
1. This is your family
2. Purpose
a. Glorify God
b. Fellowship
c. Reach our community
1. Starting with our own children
Our Statement of Faith
We believe the true Church is composed of all such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head.
We believe that only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church and that every local church has the right, under Christ, to decide and govern its own affairs.
We believe that the Lord has given two ordinances to be observed by the church during the present age. These are, however, not to be regarded as a means of salvation. First, believer’s baptism by immersion, as a testimony signifying we were buried with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, and raised again unto a new life and walk. Secondly, the Lord’s Supper for the purpose of remembering that His blood was shed for us.
Key Scriptures
1. Hebrews 10:25
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
2. I Corinthians 11:26
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.