The Bible is a cross-cultural (cc) training document. It has the only absolutes that we possess. A member of any culture can use it safely to relate both to God and to fellow humans. Ted Ward, a missiologist, has said that commonalties outweigh differences among people. We are more alike than dissimilar. The image of God rests on all people (Gen. 1:27). All people have a longing for eternity in some form, for instance (Eccles. 3:11). God has given people consciences, which reflect another attribute shared with God, morality (Rom. 2:14-15). Humans also love, which reflects God (1 John 4:8). People also have an aesthetic sense--we appreciate sunsets and art. We enjoy beauty because God made that beauty. He himself is beautiful (Ps. 27:4). He is extravagant with that beauty, creating flowers that none will ever see but Himself. We have highly developed symbolic language. Animals communicate, but not through symbols.
First the sin of Adam, the head of the human race (Genesis 3), has been judicially laid at the feet of all his offspring. Romans 5:12 says “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned” (NIV). How that sin is transmitted is debated, physically or judicially. Although human genetic structure was probably altered in some way--the Bible says that we are all guilty with Adam’s guilt, even coming out of the womb (Psalm 51:5), which is the judgment of God. A Barna survey found that 74% of Americans reject the idea that they come into the world as sinners (“Americans Draw Theological Beliefs From Diverse Points of View,” 10/8/02, Barna Research Online).
These are slide decks in the Microsoft PowerPoint format that are available to view online or download for use according to a Creative Commons License. All decks were created and research done by Dr. Jim Sutherland, unless otherwise noted. Work of others is presented here with permission. Please contact us if you find any technical issues or have any questions about the material presented. Below is a sampling from each category of slide deck, click "Read More ..." to see more decks in that category.
Below are articles, teaching on various topics, by Jim Sutherland, Phd. Permission is granted to copy, print, and distribute, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
Topics are listed to the left. Below are some of the articles for viewing:
The commands of Christ are the foundation for Christian discipleship, according to Matthew 28:20. Since knowing the truth sets a Christian free (John 8:32), each command liberates a follower a little more, through obedience.
Here are 9 of Christ's commands (other papers on His commands are planned). Feel free to use these in your discipleship.
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