Crossway

Below you will find the lessons for discussion at our first meeting. As you will see, you can fill the forms out by hand (you may print them or get them from church) or you may fill out the digital form. If you need more time on the digital form, you can save it and return to it later.

The printable version is available here.

Biblical Convictions

We join with the apostle Paul in believing that the gospel is THE matter of first importance in all of life (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The gospel is not simply the message we "by which we are saved," but it is also the reality "in which we stand" in our daily Christian lives. Being centered on the gospel means living each day focused on the good news of the cross of Jesus Christ so that it constantly fuels…

• True humility, because we are reminded of our sin and helplessness apart from Christ. It means we are continually aware of how he willingly suffered in our place to pay the penalty we deserved.

• Fresh faith for today and tomorrow. As we are daily reminded of God's willing sacrifice of his own son for us, then we are reminded of his promise to freely give us all things (Romans 8:32) and his commitment to work for our good in all things (Romans 8:28).

• Genuine worship because we are reminded of God's rich mercy and the undeserved favor he lavished on us. What a great love he has for us, and what a love welling up within us for him in response!

• Real holiness because we are reminded of the great price of our sin, and our striving for obedience is not an attempt to earn his love or favor, but a reflection of our love for him.

• Passion for mission because we are reminded of the wonder of what he did for us and we want to hold out the hope of the gospel to others.

We have purposed to bring out this broader gospel focus both directly and indirectly through these studies. Within our commitment to the gospel and foundational truths of historical Orthodox Christianity, we have adopted the essential Biblical Convictions covered on the following pages. These Convictions will certainly align us with many local churches but also set us apart graciously from others. While Crossway holds true to this Biblical doctrine in our teaching and conviction, we do not seek to be known for what we are against or to be set apart in spirit from some of our other brothers and sisters in the Universal Body of Christ.

LESSON 1 – God’s Word, Our Authority for Life and Ministry

LESSON 2 – Salvation, God, the Author from Start to Finish

LESSON 3 – Sanctification, The Fruit of Transforming Grace

LESSON 4 – The Local Church, A Community on Mission

LESSON 5 – The Local Church, Plurality in Leadership

LESSON 6 – Spiritual Gifts, Spirit Empowered and Biblically Grounded

LESSON 7 – Complementary Design of Men & Women, Equal in Value, Distinct in Roles

LESSON 8 – Church Discipline, The Process of Restoration

LESSON 1.1

GOD’S WORD - Our Authority for Life and Ministry

The Bible is God's inspired Word and thankfully is without error. As such, the Bible is the final authority over humanity and the ultimate provision of God’s truth for humanity. As a result of the spiritual new birth (being “born again”), the believer’s life and ministry both demonstrate and bear witness to the power of God’s living Word. It is our joy and delight to come under the word of God and be led by it in all of life.

Old Testament

Joshua 1:8, Psalm 19:7-11, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:160, Isaiah 40:7-8

New Testament

2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:3, Hebrews 4:12, 1 Peter 1:22–2:2, 2 Peter 1:20-21

Lesson 1.2

SALVATION – God, the Author, from Start to Finish

Salvation is a work of God from beginning to end and can be received only by his grace (unearned and undeserved favor) through faith. We are saved and sustained unto eternal life through believing and receiving Jesus' life, death, and resurrection in our place. God’s lavish love toward us, despite the reality of our sin and disobedience, makes this the greatest joy in all of life.

New Testament

John 6:44, John 10:25-29, Romans 3:9-10, Romans 5:8-9, Romans 8:12, Romans 8:28-39, Romans 9:6-33, 2 Corinthians 4:4-6, Ephesians 2:1-10

LESSON 1.3

SANCTIFICATION – The Fruit of Transforming Grace

The life that is genuinely transformed by the gospel will increasingly show the fruit of obedience that is empowered by the Holy Spirit as he permanently indwells the followers of Jesus. The genuine reality of a person’s salvation will show through growth and transformation in their lives as they become more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ.

This all takes place progressively through life as we actively put to death fleshly and worldly desires and as we joyfully abide in Jesus Christ.

New Testament

John 14:21-24, John 15:8, Romans 6, Romans 8:16, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 5:16-24, Ephesians 2:4-10, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:12-13, Titus 1:16, Titus 3:5, I Thessalonians 5:23-24, James 2:14-26, 1 John 2:3-4, 1 John 3:8-10

Lesson 1.4

THE LOCAL CHURCH – A Community on Mission

God's design is for local communities of believers to be intimately involved in one another’s lives and spiritual growth, and to be intentionally living out the mission of making Jesus known. The local church is a family of believers who are growing together in genuine love and sacrificial service. God's strategy for evangelizing the world is to empower individuals in the local church to live on mission and multiply churches together.

New Testament

Matthew 16:13-18; 28:19-20

Acts 1:8, 2:41-47, 8:1-3, 11:19-26, 13:1-4, 14:21-28,

1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 2:19; 4:11-14; Philippians 1:1,27; 1 Timothy 3:5; Titus 2:1-8; Hebrews 10:24-25

Below you will find the lessons for discussion at our second meeting. As you will see, you can fill the forms out by hand (you may print them or get them from church) or you may fill out the digital form. If you need more time on the digital form, you can save it and return to it later.

The printable version is available here.

LESSON 1.5

THE LOCAL CHURCH – Plurality in Leadership

God's design for leadership in any local church is a plurality of biblically qualified, mutually accountable men who shepherd, equip, and oversee the spiritual health of the body. These men understand that they are simply under-shepherds of the Chief Shepherd and guardian of our souls, Jesus Christ.

New Testament

Acts 14:23, Acts 20:28-29, Ephesians 4:11-14, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13,

1 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 Timothy 5:19, Titus 1:5-9, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:1-4

LESSON 1.6

SPIRITUAL GIFTS - Spirit Empowered, Biblically Grounded

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit gives every believer supernatural gifts for the purpose of building up his church and expanding his kingdom. The focus and priority of these spiritual gifts is not for self- edification or self-expression but for the edification of others, and as a result, building up the body of Christ. It is our incredible privilege as believers to be conduits of his supernatural power as he puts his glory and grace on display in this way.

New Testament

Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 12-14,

2 Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 2:19-22, Ephesians 4:11-14,

Hebrews 2:3-4, 1 Peter 4:10-11

LESSON 1.7

COMPLEMENTARY DESIGN OF MEN AND WOMEN

Equal in Value, Distinct in Roles

God has created men and women of equal value and honor in his image but wonderfully different from one another. He intends for there to be a beautiful compliment of different functions and roles between men and women in the family and in the church for the good of all. When these created distinctions are joyfully embraced, men and women will flourish together, God’s image will be wonderfully on display, and homes and churches will be strengthened for the mission of God in our world.

Old Testament

Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:7-25 Genesis 3:1-19

New Testament

Galatians 3:28-29, Ephesians 5:21-33, 1 Peter 3:1-7 ; 1 Timothy 2:9-15, 1 Corinthians 11:1-11, Titus 2:1-8

LESSON 1.8

CHURCH DISCIPLINE - THE PROCESS OF RESTORATION

The Bible teaches that the body of Christ, the church, is to be committed to one another in love. This is true in all of life but perhaps especially as we fight against sin and disobedience together. Jesus instructs us how we are to pursue a brother or sister trapped in a sinful lifestyle. God has provided instructions for church restoration to lovingly keep individual believers from being ensnared by Satan and to maintain the purity of his church.

New Testament

Matthew 18:15-20, Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 5:1-12, Galatians 6:1-2

2 Thessalonians 3:6,13-15; 2 Timothy 2:24-25; Titus 3:9-11, Hebrews 12:4-17