Copyright © 2012 by Derek Leaf . Not to be copied for commercial purposes.  Permission is granted to copy the unaltered, attributed page for non commercial purposes. beingrecreated.org

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17

Comments, questions or discussion can happen on Facebook

Explore new horizons of a living faith

These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one.  The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.

Introduction

Doubts about faith are common.  Doubts are especially common for those young in faith. They are not to be concerned or guilty about.  To doubt is not a sin, indeed the book of Job is about a man who though strong in faith is brought to a place of questioning God through suffering.  The Lord does not rebuke him, but rather brings him through his difficulties to a place of more mature faith.


Bible Zone


Believing

Why is faith so important?  Why can’t someone just live a good life?

  1. What is it about faith that is significant to God?
  2. Would you care if someone wanted something from you, but didn’t trust you?


Hebrews 11:  6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.


  More detail on faith and believe


Evidence for Christianity

People don’t rise from the dead!  If Jesus was in fact resurrected from the dead as He said He would be, then that makes Him God.  This event validates the Christian faith.  If it is true, then everything else follows - God, the spiritual realm, the authenticity of the Bible, Jesus’ statements about life and faith, ...


This single fact makes the evaluation of Christianity simple.  We evaluate the evidence presented that He did rise from the dead.  


  More detail on Evidence for Christianity



Believe the Bible

The Bible is believable.  It is Truth.  This is not merely a statement of blind belief but based on very real evidence.  


  Examine the logic of the evidence.


Science and Christianity

Science and Religion have become a battle ground.  The battle ground has been over the question of origins; it centres on two specific areas.  The questions of Evolution vs Creation of life, and of what Physicists call The Singularity, or more commonly, the Big Bang vs God creating the universe in 7 days.  


Many assume that Science has overwhelmed belief in God through providing explanations for our beginnings that are totally naturalistic. In fact, when going to the very beginning the opposite is the case.


    More on science and Christianity.




Suffering

We are not alone to suffer. Jesus suffered, and the suffering that comes to us gives us the opportunity to share in His life and consequently His glory.

  1. What suffering did Jesus endure?
  2. What is the outworking of going through suffering with Jesus?


Romans 8:   17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.  18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.


  A broader perspective on Suffering


Tried and Failed

How frustrating when we try something and fail while it seems to work for everyone else. The way to address such an issue is to go back to the start and reevaluate the different components of your decision. This is how Jesus summarised His message. Mark 1:15.

  1. How does Mark describe Jesus’ message?
  2. How did Jesus describe the realm in which a Christian lives?
  3. In your initial decision did you submit to Jesus as king of His kingdom?
  4. What two actions did Jesus ask of His hearers?
  5. In the initial decision did you do what Jesus tells people to do?


Mark 1:  14 Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God's Good News.*15 "The time promised by God has come at last!" he announced. "The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!"


  More detail on Tried and Failed



CHALLENGES TO FAITH