The Whole Truth About God

Biblical Theology

Bobby Jamieson

• Publisher: Crossway
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781433525353
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Theology

Only right theology can lead to right worship and right obedience. Every church should strive to believe and confess and live in light of a truly biblical theology and sound doctrine. This study looks at why biblical theology is important, and then shows participants how biblical theology can fuel their love, holiness, worship, witness, and unity.

A series of ten 6–7 week studies covering the nine distinctives of a healthy church as originally laid out in Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever. This series explores the biblical foundations of key aspects of the church, helping Christians to live out those realities as members of a local body. Conveniently packaged and accessibly written, the format of this series is guided, inductive discussion of Scripture passages and is ideal for use in Sunday school, church-wide studies, or small group contexts.

WEEK 1
WHAT IS SOUND DOCTRINE AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?

GETTING STARTED

Theology has gotten a bad rap lately. To some, the very word “theology” conjures up images of medieval monks in ivory towers musing over how many angels can stand on the head of a pin. Others think of sleep-inducing lectures. To others, it signifies an outdated way of thinking that simply doesn’t work for postmodern people.

1. What are some objections to theology that you’ve heard? (Or said!)

The New Testament consistently places a strikingly high priority on theology and doctrine. According to the New Testament, sound doctrine—that is, teaching that conforms to God’s Word—is of first importance for the Christian life and for the entire church.

MAIN IDEA

Sound doctrine is teaching that rightly explains what God has revealed to us in his Word. Sound doctrine is essential to the church and the Christian life because it is a central means by which we grow to maturity in Christ.

DIGGING IN

Throughout 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus, the apostle Paul insists that sound doctrine is of first importance in the life of the church. Consider the following passages:

• 1 Timothy 1:3–5: 3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
• 1 Timothy 4:16: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
• 1 Timothy 6:2b–4a: “Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.”
• 2 Timothy 1:13–14: “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
• 2 Timothy 2:15: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
• Titus 1:9–11: “[An elder] must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.”
• Titus 2:1: “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.”

WHAT IS SOUND DOCTRINE?

Sound doctrine is the sum total of the Bible’s teaching on any given topic.

In other words, sound doctrine is what we get when we consider what all of Scripture has to say about a given topic: the character of God, sin, salvation, the church, and so on. In the passages above, Paul’s references to sound doctrine especially focus on the good news about Jesus Christ and how we are to live in light of that good news.

HOW DO WE GET SOUND DOCTRINE?

Think about what we do when we read different passages that explain God’s character. First John 4:8 says that God is love. Yet in other passages we learn that God is just and holy and therefore that his wrath burns against sin (see Hab. 1:13).

So what do we do? Pick and choose the passages we like? Claim that if God is loving, then he would never punish people for their sin? Of course not. As Christians, we embrace all of what Scripture teaches about God, so we come to understand that God is both just and loving, both kind and severe, both holy and merciful. This developed, comprehensive picture of God’s character is one aspect of sound doctrine.

1. Drawing on the seven passages listed before, fill in the chart below with characteristics of sound doctrine (What is it? How does Paul describe it?) and results of sound doctrine (What follows when sound doctrine is taught? How does it impact our lives?). Also, list the verse each characteristic or result comes from.

Characteristics of Sound Doctrine	Results of Sound Doctrine

2. Is there anything that surprised you about sound doctrine as you went through these passages?

3. Based on Paul’s teaching in these passages, how would you respond to someone who said that sound doctrine is something that changes through time?

4. Based on these passages, how would you respond to someone who said that sound doctrine is an optional add-on for intellectual Christians who enjoy that sort of thing?

5. Based on these passages, would you say that Paul understands sound doctrine to be something purely intellectual? (See especially passages 1, 3, and 4.) Explain.

6. In the chart below, list the characteristics and results of false teaching (see especially passages 3 and 6).

Characteristics of False Teaching	Results of False Teaching

7. Is there anything that struck you or surprised you about false teaching?

8. Based on Paul’s teaching in these passages, what are pastors supposed to do about false teaching? What should you do about false teaching?

9. Can you think of some examples of the practical consequences of abandoning sound doctrine? What might happen in our lives if we forsake the biblical doctrines of:

a) The inspiration and authority of Scripture?

b) Salvation by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone?

c) The sovereignty and goodness of God?

10. Why would you say that sound doctrine is important for:

a) The corporate life of the church?

b) How a pastor prepares a sermon or you prepare a Bible Study?

c) Your growth as a Christian?

11. Name something you struggle with in the Christian life. What biblical doctrines can help you address this struggle? How can you practically seek to grow in understanding and applying sound doctrine as it relates to this area?

12. Can you think of a struggle that you’ve seen a church have, which was then addressed and remedied by sound doctrine?

WEEK 2
SOUND DOCTRINE IS FOR LOVE

GETTING STARTED

Does your church divide itself into “love people” and “doctrine people”?

The “love people” perceive themselves as all about the heart, while the “doctrine people” perceive themselves as being all about the mind. The “love people” are all about helping others, and the “doctrine people” are all about proclaiming the truth. Both sides say to the other, “What we’re doing is what really matters.”

Today, the “love people” are likely to speak loudest and win the biggest hearing. After all, who doesn’t ...