Fundamentals of the Faith
13 Lessons to Grow in the Grace and Knowledge of Jesus Christ
Grace to You has established this thirteen lesson curriculum to blend basic biblical truths with personal obedience and service. These classes will help you grow in your understanding of biblical truths.
With topics ranging from the character of God to church participation, it’s an ideal study for discipling new believers or returning to the basics of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
This curriculum can be used in small groups, as a church’s new beginner course or for individual study.
How to use the curriculum:
Prepare for each session by downloading the assignment message from www.gty.org/fof, taking notes and identifying questions you may have, and filling in the answers in the workbook. You will need your Bible handy while you complete the assignments and when you are in the class sessions.
View or download the workbook as a PDF below:
13 Lessons included in Fundamentals of the Faith
Click on the links below to get to the teaching for each chapter and to read the specific scriptures which highlight the theme of each lesson.
1. Introduction to the Bible – Our God-Breathed Bible, 2 Timothy 3:16–17
2. How to Know the Bible – How to Study Scripture, Selected Scriptures
3. God: His Character and Attributes – God: What Is He Like? Part 2, Selected Scriptures. See also “The Attributes of God” section on this page.
4. The Person of Jesus Christ – Christ Above All, Colossians 1:15–19
5. The Work of Christ – The Suffering Jesus: Our Substitute and Shepherd, 1 Peter 2:24–25
6. Salvation – Exchanging Living Death for Dying Life
7. The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit – Be Filled with the Spirit, Part 1, Ephesians 5:18
8. Prayer and The Believer – Praying Unceasingly, 1 Thessalonians 5:17
9. The Church: Fellowship and Worship – The Body of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:12–27
10. Spiritual Gifts–Miracles, Healings and Tongues, Selected Scriptures
11. Evangelism and The Believer – Fishing for Men, Matthew 4:18–22
12. Obedience – Love and Obedience, John 21
13. God’s Will and Guidance – Knowing and Doing God’s Will, Selected Scriptures
The Attributes of God
The essence of who God is and what His character is like all starts with understanding His attributes. Because His attributes defines who He is, it is important to understand that these attributes help us to know how He would respond in any given situation based upon these essential truths about His nature. God’s attributes will never conflict with one another, and because of this they help to show us a nature that we can rely on.
An example of using God’s attributes as a way to know what is true about Him and what He would do in a given situation is to look at His attribute of immutability and holiness. We know that the Bible tells us that God is immutable or unchanging and that He is holy so He cannot tell a lie or go back on His promises. This gives us confidence to know that what He says will happen in His word, will in fact happen without question just as He said it will. It also gives us a very reliable litmus test to use for what God will do in the future based upon what He has done in the past.
For instance, the question about eternal security or the assurance of the saints as the Doctrines of Grace describe this truth. Many struggle with whether or not a believer can lose his or her salvation, but based upon God’s attributes of being a God that is immutable and cannot lie, we can trust that when Jesus said in John 10 that all that come to Him will not be cast out, and that nothing can snatch them out of Christ’s hand or the Fathers hand because He and the Father are one (John 10:27-30). We can know without a doubt that this is true and reliable. It is not based upon merit but upon the attributes of a holy and perfect God that show His immeasurable Grace and mercy on His people He sets the seal on us that cannot be removed, His Holy Spirit.
Below is a great chart to get you started on your journey with learning who God is by learning His attributes. Also check out the articles below this chart that we are writing to help define each of these attributes in further detail.
Attributes of God Articles
More to come…