1. powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2012 Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2012

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3. Kwabena Donkor Principal Contributor

4. Growing in Christ Fundamental Beliefs {168} BELIEFS are important because they greatly impact the way in which we live. For some Christians, the feeling of belonging or a sense of community is more important than belief or behavior. Yet community must be based on shared beliefs, shared goals, and common concerns.

5. Growing in Christ Fundamental Beliefs {168} For Seventh-day Adventists—people from almost every conceivable manifestation of humanity—what holds us together as a community are our “fundamental beliefs,” all 28, which are foundational for growing in Christ and living as a community of faith in the light of eternity.

6. Growing in Christ Fundamental Beliefs {168, 169} These are not a creed. A firm consensus on these beliefs is crucial to the unity and mission of the church. We are going to focus on some of those teachings hoping to present a systematic and coherent guide.

7. Growing in Christ Fundamental Beliefs {169} Special attention will be given to belief number 11, “Growing in Christ.” This belief helps to clarify the church’s understanding of God’s power to give believers in Christ victory over the forces of evil.

8. Growing in Christ Fundamental Beliefs {169} Salvation in Christ is the thread that runs through all our doctrines. The great controversy, and the issues it has generated, sets the stage for the plan of redemption, which is what underlies and permeates all 28 of our fundamental beliefs.

9. Growing in Christ Contents 1. The Great Controversy: The Foundation 2. Revelation and the God Revealed in It 3. Man: God’s Handiwork 4. Salvation: The Only Solution 5. Growing in Christ 6. Victory Over Evil Forces 7. “Arming” for Victory 8. The Church: In Service to Humanity 9. The Church: Rites and Rituals 10. The Law and the Gospel 11. The Christian Life 12. Last Things: Jesus and the Saved 13. When All Things Become New

10. Growing in Christ Our Goal {169} THE goal of the quarter is to help us to not just believe the Truth (John 14:6), but to love Him even more and to grow in His grace.

11. Growing in Christ Lesson 1, October 6 Growing in Christ Lesson 1, October 6 The Great Controversy: The Foundation

12. Key Text Genesis 3:15 NKJV “ ‘AND I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.’ ”

13. The Great Controversy: The Foundation Initial Words {171} A belief system needs a foundation or a principle that explains it. Seventh-day Adventists profess a body of 28 fundamental beliefs. These beliefs have a foundation in a concept that we call the “great controversy.” Each of the 28 fundamentals deals with a particular aspect of this cosmic controversy.

14. The Great Controversy: The Foundation Quick Look 1. The Great Controversy: Its Origin (Revelation 12:7-9) 2. The Great Controversy: Its Nature (Genesis 3:15) 3. The Great Controversy: Its Conclusion (Joshua 24:15)

15. The Great Controversy: The Foundation 1. Its Origin Revelation 12:7-9 NKJV “AND war broke out in heaven: Michael and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon…did not prevail…. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan….”

16. 1. The Great Controversy: Its Origin Its Players {172} WHATEVER the symbols used to describe them, the Bible teaches that these figures are real entities engaged in a real conflict. Most of the doctrines studied this quarter will not make sense if the players identified in the controversy are not taken literally.

17. 1. The Great Controversy: Its Origin Lucifer’s Fall {173} By refusing to be under God’s law, Satan wanted to live under a different set of conditions. This also imply that the laws in heaven was not ideal; something was wrong with it. But because God’s law is a reflection of God’s character, it would amount to a defect in God’s character. Satan’s rebellion was against God Himself.

18. The Great Controversy: The Foundation 2. Its Nature Genesis 3:15 NLT “ ‘FROM now on, you and the woman will be enemies, and your offspring and her offspring will be enemies. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.’ ”

19. 2. The Great Controversy: Its Nature God’s Weapon {174} GENESIS 3:15, in which the controversy is predicted, gives a hint of God’s rules of engagement. The conflict, which begun on earth between the serpent and the woman, was to take shape by involving the followers of the initial contestants: the “seed” of the woman and the “seed” of the serpent.

20. 2. The Great Controversy: Its Nature God’s Weapon {174} In due course, the conflict would climax into a mortal clash between Satan and a male descendant of the woman, Jesus of Nazareth. God’s weapon of choice was Jesus, who would come to fight on behalf of the woman, suffer “bruises,” but ultimately deliver a deadly blow to the serpent.

21. 2. The Great Controversy: Its Nature Satan’s Fight {175} God worked through the patriarchal and Israelite sanctuary services, [1] through Christ’s sacrificial atoning death, [2] through the church, and [3] through Christ’s own ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. Satan has worked tirelessly to try to undermine the Lord’s plans.

22. 2. The Great Controversy: Its Nature Satan’s Fight {175} [1] Usurp and destroy the truth about the plan of salvation, especially as revealed in the sacrificial system. [2] From the inception of the church, Satan has determined to weaken and destroy it. [3] Daniel 8:11–14: Satan’s activity in connection with Christ’s priestly ministry and his attempt to usurp it.

23. The Great Controversy: The Foundation 3. Its Conclusion Joshua 24:15 NKJV “ ‘AND if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’ ”

24. 3. The Great Controversy: Its Conclusion Closing Scenes {176} FOR a period of 1,260 years, Satan sporadically, but persistently, persecuted God’s people. In a final showdown Satan will employ two earthly powers: a leopard-like beast and a two-horned beast which will employ all the tactics of Satan.

25. 3. The Great Controversy: Its Conclusion Closing Scenes {176} From God’s perspective, a clear proclamation of the issues involved in the conflict (represented here as being sent by three angels) is necessary before the conflict comes to a close. Humanity needs to be intelligently informed in order for people to make up their minds about the issues.

26. Education 190 Final Words {177} THE [Bible] student should see how this controversy enters into every phase of human experience; how in every act of life he himself reveals the one or the other of the two antagonistic motives; and how, whether he will or not, he is even now deciding upon which side of the controversy he will be found.”