2007 Lectureship
"Do You Understand the God of the Bible?"

By
Brian R. Kenyon

The Bible starts with “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1, KJV), and ends with “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Rev. 22:21). Between those verses is the unfolding of God’s great plan of salvation. The God of the Bible is so powerful that He could speak this world into existence (Gen. 1:1-31; Heb. 11:3), yet this God is so loving and concerned for each of us that “he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). Truly, we serve an awesome God!

The “God of the Bible” is the focus of this lectureship. The phrase “of the Bible” has been deliberately chosen to reflect the only true God, the God that is revealed in the pages of the Bible. There are many misconceptions about God. Many people think that all the mono-theistic religions worship and serve the same God. Such simply is not true.

The God of present day Judaism cannot be the God of the Bible. After declaring Himself to be “the way, the truth, and the life,” Jesus said, “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also” (Jn. 14:6-7). Jesus also said, “he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me” (Jn. 13:20). Any religion that rejects Jesus Christ as the Son of God cannot be worshiping and serving the God of the Bible. To reject one is to reject the other.

Islam’s “Allah” is not the God of the Bible. Yes, “Allah” in Arabic means “the God,” but the “Allah” portrayed in the Koran and in the practice of Islam does not correspond to the God of the Bible.

The God of so called “Christian” denominations cannot be the God of the Bible. John wrote, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God” (2 Jn. 9). Any religion claiming to be following Jesus Christ must continue in the “doctrine of Christ.” All beliefs and practices must be according to Christ’s authority (Col. 3:17). Religions based upon human creeds cannot have the God of the Bible!

Gaining a better understanding of the God of the Bible is the purpose for this lectureship and lectureship book. Below is a summary of the lectureship book. It is dedicated to Bob and Evelyn McAnally, and it should be available by mid-December.

Knowing The God of the Bible

The lectureship book is divided into four parts, the first of which describes who God is according to descriptions and attributes revealed in the Bible. This section begins with a lesson on how “The God of the Bible Is Known by Descriptive Names.” Such terms as “Elohim,” “Jehovah,” and “El Shaddai” have meaning that sheds light on who God is. This section also contains a series of lessons whose titles begin “The God of the Bible Is,” and then some whose titles begin “The God of the Bible Is Not.” The God of the Bible is holy, a jealous God, a benevolent God, and an all-knowing God. The God of the Bible is not the author of confusion nor a respecter of persons. Knowing the God of the Bible also includes lessons showing that God “Makes Himself Known,” that He “Provides All Our Needs,” and that He “Desires Mercy and Sacrifice.”

Considering The God of the Bible

This second section of the book deals with various reactions, philosophies, and/or movements that effect people’s view of God. “The Consequences of Rejecting the God of the Bible” basically outlines Romans 1, showing that God’s wrath is both justified and stored up for those who reject the plain and obvious facts concerning God.

In order to know that the God of the Bible must necessarily exist, this section considers “Intelligent Design Arguments and the God of the Bible.” The subject of “intelligent design” has been very controversial in recent years. This chapter reviews the history of intelligent design arguments, their methodologies, their place in classical design arguments, and their criticisms as they relate to the God of the Bible.

This section then considers the God of the Bible in His relationship with Himself and His nature. “The Relationship Between God the Father and Jesus Christ” looks at the Divine nature, the Deity of Christ, the submissiveness of Christ to the Father while upon this earth, and how these truths relate to one another. “The God of the Bible and Justice” shows that God claims to be just and that examples of His justice abound in Scripture, including the justness of God allowing Israel to drive out the Canaanites from the land of promise as well as the justness of God in allowing Babylon to drive out His people from their homeland.

This section also considers the God of the Bible and humanity. “The God of the Bible and Human Free Will” shows that human free will is involved in hardening the hearts of individuals and nations, and that human free will does not alter or change the will of God (Rom. 3:4; 3:31; 2 Tim. 2:19). “The God of the Bible and Human Accountability” shows that though all people are individually accountable to God as seen in the judgment scenes (Mt. 25:14-30; 2 Cor. 5:10), God has provided all truth needed in order to guide and direct mankind. “The God of the Bible and Singing” shows that God wants true worshipers to sing and that true worshipers benefit greatly from “singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).

Finally, this section considers the God of the Bible and the destructive effects of the deceptive teachings of “Post-Modernism” and “Augustinian and Calvinistic Influences.” The chapters on these themes shed light and give the reader a reasonable defense against the entrapments of these most common errors.

Forum Topics

As we have done for the past several years, the afternoon sessions of our lectureship focus on special topics relating to the overall theme, followed by a period of questions and answers on those particular lessons. While we cannot publish the questions and answers, this book does contain the lessons that were delivered in those forums. The first forum focuses on “Perversions of the God of the Bible.” It details and answers the perversions of God taught by religious cults, world religions, and the theory of evolution. The second forum focuses on “Attacks Against the God of the Bible.” It explains and defends against the attacks made by atheism and agnosticism, by denying the Godhead (Trinity), and by denying the personality of God. The third forum focuses on “Perfection and the God of the Bible.” It emphasizes the complete sovereignty of God (which does not override human free will), the infinite nature of God, and the fact that God cannot lie. The fourth forum focuses on “Comfort and the God of the Bible.” It focuses on the comforting aspects of God. Knowing that God is gracious, completely reliable, and the God of all comfort results in great encouragement to the faithful in times of turmoil and uncertainty.

The concluding section of this book contains an appendix of lessons that were not part of the oral presentations but relate to the God of the Bible. These chapters examine the moral attributes of God, the Lord of Psalm 23, why we should remember the Creator in the days of our youth, a simple affirmative argument proving that Jesus is God, being the kind of people God wants, and a look at the true God from Acts 17:22-31.

Hope You Can Join Us

Our lectureship will take place January 15-18, 2007. It just so happens that the Monday of our lectureship is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Our lectureship has always begun on the third Monday in January, even before the holiday was made, but since many people are off work this day, it might be a good time for many to attend. Why not make plans now? Hope to see here!

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David Stearsman Completes His Training

David is completing his two year studies at the Florida School of Preaching this month. David had a college education, having graduated from USF in Tampa. Upon deciding to preach the gospel he enrolled at the Florida School of Preaching in January 2005. This year has been a busy year for him. Not only is he completing his studies here, he was married in October of this year. David and his wife, Susan, will be living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where David will be preaching full-time for the Media church of Christ there.

David wishes to express his appreciation to all those providing him the support that enabled him to attend full-time classes at the Florida School of Preaching. David is the oldest son of the Director.

 

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Florida School of Preaching
32nd Annual Lectureship
Do You Understand The God Of The Bible
January 15-18, 2007

Click here to view 2007 Lectureship Schedule