1. Intro to essential Doctrine

2. Intro to essential doctrine
What do we believe and why does it matter?
What are the important issues and beliefs that we cannot shift or change from, and what are the things that are not as important?
How does what we believe impact how we live?

3. How does what we believe impact how we live?
Life is determined by actions
Actions are determined by choices
Choices are determined by what we believe
We need to know what our life and our faith is based on
More than just ‘because the Bible says’ or ‘because I was taught’ or ‘because that’s just what we do’
Need to understand what we believe
The bible makes sense and what we believe must align with the bible. Therefore, the choices we make need to make sense

4. Doctrine is complicated
People fight over doctrine, there is division, different denominations, church splits, and even violence
Changing what we believe is humbling – it is accepting that we were wrong and acknowledging that someone else was right
Causes conflict within ourselves because of the humility involved
We will never have perfect doctrine because we do not have perfect knowledge and understanding
1 Cor 2:7-10 – we can know the deep things of God, so we shouldn’t just not try to understand

5. Discipline
Doctrine
Dogma

6. Dogma/doctrine/discipline
All discipline comes from a doctrine
All doctrine comes from dogma
Dogma is our core, unshakeable and unchangeable, an eternal belief
Doctrine is how we interpret and understand our core belief
Discipline is how we apply and actively express those interpretations and understandings

7. Dogma
Never changes
All Christians must have the same dogma to be considered a Christian
E.g. the existence of God, the deity of Jesus Christ, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, etc
Undebatable
Comes from clear and explicit statements in the bible that does not require further interpretation
Steadfast because it is based on the bible
Apostle’s Creed
Dogma must be exclusively believed (cannot add other gods/beliefs as well as Christian dogma)

8. Doctrine How we interpret and understand our dogma
Takes the unshakeable and then adds a layer of interpretation for other areas of our lives
E.g. – God as creator, but did God create in a literal 6 day period or were the length of days longer?
Doctrines differ from church to church for different reasons. Can be experiences, perspectives, teachings, revelations from God/the bible
We can remain united with those who have different doctrine but common dogma.
Doctrine defines our way of thinking and way of interpretation

9. Discipline
The direct action and application of the doctrine we believe in
E.g. having services on a Sunday, taking communion every week
Discipline depends partly on preference, but based on a belief
Discipline is what applying that doctrine looks like in a practical sense

10. balance
While difficult, it is important to define what is doctrine and what is dogma
Need to learn to let go of the things that aren’t actually dogmatic and to also hold on tighter to the things that are
As we grow in our understanding and knowledge of God and the bible, we change in our doctrine and discipline
Don’t have to agree with everything in order to agree with something.
People with whom you have common dogma – limited inclusion. Same goals but different strategies.
People with common doctrine – moderate inclusion. Can gain different theological perspectives, but be aware of different thoughts.
People with common discipline – complete inclusion. Inner circle friends, share life with them, find mentors, teachers, people who you can do life with. Shared vales and behaviours.