Christian Beliefs Study Guide: Review and Reflection Exercises on Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know

By Wayne A. Grudem

This STUDY GUIDE is a companion resource to Wayne Grudem's Christian Beliefs, revised edition.

Not every Christian needs to go to seminary, but there are certain teachings of the Bible that every Christian should know. Whether you're a relatively new believer in Jesus or a mature Christian looking for a better understanding of basics of the faith, the Christian Beliefs Study Guide can help you reflect on and deeply internalize the core teachings of Christianity, when used in conjunction with Christian Beliefs, revised edition (sold separately).

This STUDY GUIDE will help you think through important topics like:

• The Bible and its authority for our lives
• The characteristics of God
• The importance of prayer
• Angels and the reality of spiritual warfare
• What it means that we are created in the image of God
• What God has done for us in Christ
• The purpose of the church
• What happens when Christ returns
• The biblical understanding of heaven
• And much more

Chapter by chapter, this STUDY GUIDE will lead you to examine and reflect on Christian Beliefs, revised edition (sold separately), by providing:

• Summary: A short summary of the chapter to help remind readers what they read.
• Key terms: Definitions of important terminology introduced in the chapter.
• Key quotes: Selection of one or two key quotes from the chapter.
• Central Scripture Passage: An important biblical passage related to the chapter for reflection or memorization.
• Content Questions: Questions that reflect on the theological content of the chapter.
• Practical Application Questions: Questions that help tie the theological content of the chapter to real-life situations.
• For Further Reading: Lists where to find more information on theological topics in Systematic Theology, second edition, by Wayne Grudem so readers know where to go for a deeper dive into specific subjects they want to know more about.

The Christian Beliefs Study Guide is the ideal resource for every Christian who wants a solid foundation for understanding the most basic and essential teachings of the Bible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Feb 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9780310136217

Wayne A. Grudem

Wayne Grudem is distinguished research professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona. He holds degrees from Harvard (AB), Westminster Theological Seminary (MDiv, DD), and Cambridge (PhD). He is the author of more than 30 books including the bestselling Systematic Theology.

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Introduction

HOW TO USE THIS STUDY GUIDE

The Christian Beliefs Study Guide serves as a companion to the revised and updated edition of Christian Beliefs. This guide is designed to help individuals and small groups reflect more deeply on the content in the book and gain a better understanding of Scripture, God, and the Christian life.

The twenty chapters in this study guide correspond to the twenty chapters in Christian Beliefs. The study guide includes summaries of the chapters in the book, definitions of key terms, central Scripture passages that relate to the topics in the book, and key quotes from the book. In addition, two types of questions are included in each chapter of the study guide: (1) content questions, which can be answered by reading the chapter, and (2) practical application questions, which encourage reflection and action. This study guide also points readers to my book Systematic Theology, second edition, where they can read more about each topic covered in Christian Beliefs.

This study guide can be used individually or with a small group. Small groups who work through the study guide can choose to meet twenty times (one time for each chapter of Christian Beliefs) or ten times (two chapters per week). It’s up to you and the specific needs of your group.

I hope that this study guide will help you to understand more deeply the material in Christian Beliefs and also to discover new ways in which these beliefs can benefit your Christian life.

Wayne Grudem

chapter

1

WHAT IS THE BIBLE?

Chapter Summary

The entirety of the Bible—the Old Testament and the New Testament—is the basis for Christian belief. Every Christian should ask the question, What is the Bible? and spend time finding out what God says about his Word within Scripture. This first chapter in Christian Beliefs discusses four essential characteristics of the Word of God: its authority, its clarity, its necessity, and its sufficiency. Because Scripture is the words of God, we must spend our lives seeking to understand Scripture if we want to know, trust, and obey God.

Key Terms

evangelical: holding the beliefs that the human words of the Bible are also God’s very words to us and that eternal salvation comes only through personal faith in Jesus Christ

general revelation: knowledge of God’s existence, character, and moral law that is given to all people

special revelation: God’s word revealed or spoken to specific people, especially in and through the Bible

Central Scripture Passages

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

—2 Timothy 3:16–17

Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

—Romans 10:17

Key Quotes

We are to seek to trust the words of Scripture, for in doing so, we are seeking to trust God himself. And we are to seek to obey the words of Scripture, for