Conversion & Calling, Student Workbook, SW01

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C O N V E R S I O N A N D C A L L I N G

The Holy Scriptures are the Word of God, a written record of the Lord’s own living and eternal Word. Because they are inspired by the Holy Spirit (literally, God-breathed) they are absolutely trustworthy and reliable in all they assert and claim. The Word of God provides us with God’s eternal purpose for creation, that is, that all things were made through God’s creative and life-giving Word for his ultimate glory. The Lord God identifies himself completely with the Word of God in Jesus Christ. He is the One through whom God reveals himself, redeems the world, and will restore the universe under his righteous rule. This Word by the Spirit creates new life in those who believe. True discipleship is abiding in this Word in the Church, which produces in the believer spiritual maturity, depth, and growth in God’s purpose and will. If you are interested in pursuing some of the ideas of The Word that Creates , you might want to give these books a try: Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All its Worth . Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982. Montgomery, John Warwick. God’s Inerrant Word . Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1973.

Restatement of the Lesson’s Thesis

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Resources and Bibliographies

Sproul, R.C. Knowing Scripture . Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1977.

Tenney, Merrill. The Bible: The Living Word of Revelation . Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1968.

Now is the time to try to nail down your study of the creative power of the Word of God to a very real practical ministry connection that you are facing or have faced; one which you will think about and pray for throughout this next week. How in particular does the creative power of the Word of God need to be demonstrated in your life and ministry this week? Have you gained some insights in this lesson that need to be emphasized in what you are doing in your ministry at church? What particular concept has the Holy Spirit suggested that you need to understand better, or something you ought to take up to study more thoroughly? Meditate in the presence of the Lord for a moment and ask him to reveal to you specifically how you can make more plain the reality that his Word is a Word that creates in your church, your family and your life.

Ministry Connections