Fight the Good Fight of Faith, English Edition

 • Fight the Good Fight of Faith: Playing Your Part in God’s Unfolding Drama

Dear Lord, please help me to be quick to hear and listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1.19). Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Allow me to speak your truth with wisdom in order that all with whom I speak may understand and benefit by your truth. Teach me now in this study as I receive your Word and instruction. I ask for these things in the strong name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior, amen. Thousands of people believe that we are not alone in the universe, although they would quickly suggest that they have no idea where that life is, or what it is. Others believe that humankind is by itself in the vast sea of suns and galaxies of the heavenly bodies. Some believe we formed through merely natural processes, others by means of divinities* , others strongly suggest no one can ever know such things. In growing up from childhood, what were your views on where we came from, and what ideas were you taught about the origins of the heavens and the world? 2. “Once upon a time . . . !” Most of us grew up hearing stories as a child– nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and other stories designed for children, taught at home, in church, or at school. Wherever human beings live in the world, they love to hear and tell stories. Films, books, comedians, tv shows, documentaries, social media, newspapers, and radio – every day we hear dozens of stories, some true, some false, some inspiring, others shameful. Would it surprise you that the Bible itself tells a single, grand story? The Scriptures are a library of books (66 books in all, written by many authors over 1500 years) but they tell a single story – of God and his desire to save his creation. What do you think about stories in general? Have you ever heard that the Bible tells a single story about God and his salvation? What are some of the differences between many of the stories we have heard about or read about, and the single story being told by the authors of the Bible about God and his offer of salvation to the world? 3. “As far as I can tell, I can’t see a plan.” Since the beginning of the faith, shortly after the time of the apostles, believers have affirmed their basic belief system in the statements called creeds. Two of the most recognized and recited throughout history and even to this day are the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed (see Appendix). These two concise confessions of the faith summarize the biblical vision of who God is, what he has 1. Are we the only ones in the universe? Many Hollywood movies show alien life in the universe, usually associated with negative or evil things.

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*Divinities – Divinities are supernatural beings or gods having great power.