New Christian's Handbook : Everything New Believers Need to Know

by ANDERS, MAX E.

• ISBN13: 9780785207078
• ISBN10: 0785207074
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-04-30
• Publisher: Harpercollins Christian Pub

Summary

User-friendly coverage of all core Christian beliefs to quickly ground new believers in the faith.

Table of Contents

Section 1: What Do We Believe?
A. We Believe in God
Who Is God?	1	(8)
Definition
Communicable attributes
Incommunicable attributes
What Is the Trinity?	9	(7)
Oneness
Threeness
The Father is the first person
Initiates
Provides
Protects
What Has God Done?	16	(7)
Creation
Sovereignty
Decrees
Miracles
B. We Believe in Jesus
Who Is Jesus?	23	(8)
Second person of Trinity
Both God and man
Kenosis
Virgin birth
Sinless
What Did Jesus Teach?	31	(8)
Humanity's need for salvation
Nature of true righteousness
Priority of love
What Did Jesus Do?	39	(9)
Miracles
Sabbath controversies
Preached to many, discipled a few
Provided an example for us
Accomplished salvation for all believers
Prays for us today
C. We Believe in the Holy Spirit
Who Is the Holy Spirit?	48	(8)
Personhood
Deity
Third person of Trinity
What Does the Holy Spirit Do?	56	(8)
Active in Old Testament
Active in New Testament
Applies salvation to all believers
Is our helper
Filling
Spiritual gifts
D. We Believe in the Bible
How Did We Get the Bible?	64	(9)
Revealed by God
Inspired by God
Recognized by the church
What Is the Story of the Bible?	73	(8)
Story of the Old Testament
A temporary solution for sin
Story of the New Testament
A permanent solution for sin
What Are the Recurring Themes in the Bible?	81	(8)
Eternal perspective
Divine discipline
Unity
Divine Warfare
Suffering
Money
How Can We Understand the Bible?	89	(8)
Illumination
Observation
Interpretation
Application
E. We Believe in Salvation
Is Humanity Really Lost?	97	(8)
Image of God
Original sin, total depravity
Evidence of lostness
Bible declares lostness
How Can We Be Saved?	105	(9)
Predestination
Grace
Faith
Assurance
Security
Unforgivable sin
Jesus the only way
What Happens When I Am Saved?	114	(8)
Regeneration
Redemption
Justification
Adoption
Union
F. We Believe in Spiritual Warfare
What Is the Spiritual War?	122	(9)
Angels
Demons
World
Flesh
Devil
How Can We Win the Spiritual War?	131	(9)
The belt of truth
The breastplate of righteousness
The shoes of peace
The shield of faith
The helmet of salvation
The sword of the Spirit
G. We Believe in the Church
What Is the Church?	140	(8)
Body
Building
Bride
Universal church
Local church
What Is the Church Supposed to Do?	148	(9)
Instruction
Fellowship
Ministry
Worship
Baptism
Lord's Supper
Discipline
Who Can Lead the Church?	157	(8)
Church government
Pastor-teachers
Elders, deacons
Qualifications
H. We Believe in Jesus' Return
What Does the Future Hold?	165	(10)
Nine key terms
Differences in understanding
Rapture
Millennium
Areas of agreement
What Is Hell?	175	(8)
Literal view
Metaphorical view
Conditional view
What Is Heaven?	183	(12)
Heaven is a real place
Heaven is beautiful
We will worship God
We will fellowship with God
We will fellowship with one another
We will reign with Jesus
We will have marvelous abilities
Section 2: Why Do We Believe It?
Why Believe in Truth?	195	(8)
The world's view of truth
The Bible's view of truth
Truth can be known
Some willfully deny truth
Why Believe in God?	203	(7)
Four reasons to believe in God
We cannot prove God's existence
Why Believe Jesus Is God?	210	(8)
Fulfilled Old Testament prophecies
His words
His actions
The resurrection
Why Believe the Bible?	218	(8)
Originally without error
Today's Bible same as original
Archeology supports Bible
Fulfilled prophecies support Bible
Changed lives support Bible
How Can I Believe in Spite of the Pain?	226	(11)
God did not create evil
God cannot remove evil without destroying us
We must reconcile our pain with God's character
In the end all will be well
God can use suffering for good
Section 3: How Should We Live?
How Do I Make the ``Great Wager''?	237	(8)
Some don't want to believe
Some do want to believe
We all wager our lives
The ``great wager'' is made by faith
How Do I Maintain Spiritual Health?	245	(9)
Things I must not do
Things I must do
What Is the Role of Faith in My Life?	254	(7)
Faith demands total commitment
Faith helps obedience
Faith helps during trials
What Are Some Spiritual Snares?	261	(9)
Intellectual intimidation
Materialism
Spiritual discouragement
Carelessness
Toying with sin
Spiritual exhaustion
How Do I Pray?	270	(7)
We are invited to pray
We are shown how to pray
We are guided into enlightened prayer
How Can I Know God's Will?	277	(8)
God's will is primarily moral
God's will includes making decisions
God's will ends with trusting Him
How Do I ``Give Away'' My Faith?	285	(8)
Tell stories so people will listen
Tell the story of how we met God
Validate our story with integrity
Evangelize as part of lifestyle
What Are the Spiritual Disciplines?	293
Discipline is necessary for freedom
Meditation renews the mind
Prayer links us with God
Fasting heightens spiritual sensitivity
Simplicity frees us from bondage
Solitude frees us from distractions
Submission creates trust
Repentance restores integrity
Worship deepens relationship with God
Generosity detaches us from the world