The following questions can be used in small group studies to discuss the four foundational elements of our faith.
Questions. Part 1. Our Condition
1. How can you be guilty of something Adam did?
2. How is Adam’s life representative of yours?
3. How do you react when you are reminded that you are a sinner?
4. Can you give examples of natural laws, known to all people through our consciences?
5. Can you give an example of how we sometimes justify the breaking of natural law?
6. What evidence do you see that there is something wrong – in the world of nature, in human society, in your own life?
7. What means do we use to reduce our feelings of alienation or guilt?
8. What do you say to those who say that guilt is an outmoded concept?
9. What would you say to a person who did not accept that ours is a broken world?
10. What hope is there that we can repair our relationship with the God whom we have offended?
Questions. Part 2. God's Remedy.
1. The Bible says that through Jesus Christ we are saved. From what are we saved?
2. The Bible says that through Jesus Christ we are redeemed. What does it mean to be redeemed? Where else do you use that word?
3. The Bible says that through Jesus Christ we are ransomed. What does it mean to be ransomed? Where else do we use that word?
4. Why is Jesus so important in the history of the world?
5. How do we know that Jesus lived a perfect life?
6. What does the Cross mean to you?
7. Why could God not just ‘forgive and forget’ our sins?
8. Whose sins put Jesus on the Cross?
9. In what sense is Jesus a representative man?
10. Do you know peace with God?
Questions. Part 3. Receiving Redemption.
1. What is faith? How do you get it?
2. What do you bring to the table in response to the Covenant of Grace?
3. How well do you know the Bible? What steps could you take to know it better?
4. How important is belonging to the Church to you?
5. What is the relationship between baptism and salvation?
6. How important is the mode of baptism?
7. How important is worship to you? Describe a worship experience that was particularly meaningful to you.
8. How important is the Lord’s Supper to you? Should it be celebrated frequently or infrequently?
9. How is your prayer life? What could we do, together, to improve it?
10. What changes would you like to see in your daily walk with Christ?
Questions. Part 4. Blessings Given.
1. What are some of the ways in which you expect your life to change?
2. What does it mean to you to say that you have been born again?
3. Describe what it feels like to know that you have been forgiven.
4. What is the difference between God-given and manufactured faith?
5. In what sense are you God’s friend?
6. What do you mean when you say that you are an adopted child of God?
7. How has your conscience been renewed?
8. Who is God to you, now that you know Him personally?
9. What difference does it make to the way you live, knowing that you have the hope of heaven?
10. When you stand before the Lord on judgment day, what will you say to Him?
The four foundations of the Christian faith, used in this brief exposition, are adapted from a short work entitled “The Sum of Saving Knowledge” written by David Dickson and James Durham, two seventeenth century Scottish pastors. For many years the ‘Sum’ was printed with editions of the Westminster Confession of Faith and was used for educating the young.
1. How can you be guilty of something Adam did?
2. How is Adam’s life representative of yours?
3. How do you react when you are reminded that you are a sinner?
4. Can you give examples of natural laws, known to all people through our consciences?
5. Can you give an example of how we sometimes justify the breaking of natural law?
6. What evidence do you see that there is something wrong – in the world of nature, in human society, in your own life?
7. What means do we use to reduce our feelings of alienation or guilt?
8. What do you say to those who say that guilt is an outmoded concept?
9. What would you say to a person who did not accept that ours is a broken world?
10. What hope is there that we can repair our relationship with the God whom we have offended?
Questions. Part 2. God's Remedy.
1. The Bible says that through Jesus Christ we are saved. From what are we saved?
2. The Bible says that through Jesus Christ we are redeemed. What does it mean to be redeemed? Where else do you use that word?
3. The Bible says that through Jesus Christ we are ransomed. What does it mean to be ransomed? Where else do we use that word?
4. Why is Jesus so important in the history of the world?
5. How do we know that Jesus lived a perfect life?
6. What does the Cross mean to you?
7. Why could God not just ‘forgive and forget’ our sins?
8. Whose sins put Jesus on the Cross?
9. In what sense is Jesus a representative man?
10. Do you know peace with God?
Questions. Part 3. Receiving Redemption.
1. What is faith? How do you get it?
2. What do you bring to the table in response to the Covenant of Grace?
3. How well do you know the Bible? What steps could you take to know it better?
4. How important is belonging to the Church to you?
5. What is the relationship between baptism and salvation?
6. How important is the mode of baptism?
7. How important is worship to you? Describe a worship experience that was particularly meaningful to you.
8. How important is the Lord’s Supper to you? Should it be celebrated frequently or infrequently?
9. How is your prayer life? What could we do, together, to improve it?
10. What changes would you like to see in your daily walk with Christ?
Questions. Part 4. Blessings Given.
1. What are some of the ways in which you expect your life to change?
2. What does it mean to you to say that you have been born again?
3. Describe what it feels like to know that you have been forgiven.
4. What is the difference between God-given and manufactured faith?
5. In what sense are you God’s friend?
6. What do you mean when you say that you are an adopted child of God?
7. How has your conscience been renewed?
8. Who is God to you, now that you know Him personally?
9. What difference does it make to the way you live, knowing that you have the hope of heaven?
10. When you stand before the Lord on judgment day, what will you say to Him?
The four foundations of the Christian faith, used in this brief exposition, are adapted from a short work entitled “The Sum of Saving Knowledge” written by David Dickson and James Durham, two seventeenth century Scottish pastors. For many years the ‘Sum’ was printed with editions of the Westminster Confession of Faith and was used for educating the young.
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