As we mentioned in "Let's Begin", 1 Peter 1:16 instructs us that "If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it." It is vital that we are able to explain why we believe what we believe. However, one small problem I have observed, even within the church, is that many don't really even know what it is they believe let alone be able to explain it.
Todd and I have put ourselves through an exercise during the past few years because we wanted to be able to not only explain why we believed what we believe, but wanted to clarify for ourselves what it truly is we believe in the first place. As a result, we have each created our own "Statement of Faith". We would recommend that if you have not been through a similar exercise, you do so now.
The last thing we want to do is to put out a statement that some would make a 'test of fellowship'. Our hope is not that someone would choose to associate, or not associate, with us because of the theological doctrine we believe to be true. While we do think that there are some essentials as to what is critical doctrine for us to believe in order for us to call ourselves Christians, we want to make sure we don't become 'pharisaical' and create a 'creed' we expect everyone to follow.
Our 'Statement of Faith' is not an end all document. It would be neither possible, nor right, to try to make an end all document. It is not our desire for you to create a document that looks like ours. We are both sharing our "Personal Statement of Faith" here however simply as an example of what we are talking about.
We have shared this with several 'church leaders' over the past years and they have been through this exercise. In fact, all of the currently serving elders at White Oak Christian Church have been through this exercise. After all, you can't lead someone to a place you are not going to yourself. As a result they have also learned more about themselves, what it is they truly believe and put themselves in a position to be able to explain it.
We hope you find this little exercise to be as enlightening for you as it has been for us. Our own personal statements of faith are here just to give you an example of what we are talking about. Yours should be your own.
To see Dave's click here.
We will be making Todd's available here soon.
An additional approach you my wish to check out. click here.
Enjoy!
May God bless you as you go through this exercise.
Todd Wuske &
Dave Willmore
Friday, February 26, 2016
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Let's Begin
Welcome to Frontlets & Doorposts
We don't have all the answers.
In fact we probably have more questions than answers.
We do love the scriptures and we love to teach from them.
If God felt it important enough to have it written down for us, it is important enough for us to want to study it.
The scriptures need to be studied. That includes whether what we are reading are the Gospels, Old Testament history, prophets or even genealogies. It has been written for a reason and we need to understand why a certain text was written if we are to properly apply it to our lives.
Several have asked about what they should study and how to do so. There really is no right or wrong answer to these questions. There are different ways to, or methods of, study based upon what you may be striving to accomplish with your study.,
The purpose of this site is to provide a tool that may shed insight as to what you can do to help as you attempt to study the scriptures and develop your relationship with Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life.
First, we believe with all our heart the scriptures are without a doubt the divinely inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God. We have no doubt the truths expressed in the scriptures are provided to us that we may live lives of holiness designed to serve the God who created us. We also fully believe that if there appear to be sections of scripture that tend to contradict one another, it is not scripture that is in error but the manner in which we interpret it.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us " NLT
We are also commanded by scripture in 1 Peter 3:15 "If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way." It is extremely important that if we are going to be able to give an answer for our faith, we must have a knowledge of the scriptures.
We wish to point out the primary reason to study scripture is NOT to have a knowledge of scripture. The primary reason to study scripture is NOT to have a knowledge of God. The primary reason to study scripture IS to know God, to know Jesus and to know Him intimately as our Lord and Savior.
Do you remember when you first started dating your spouse? Do you remember when you could not wait until the next time you could be with them again? Do you remember that where ever you were and what ever you were doing you always had them on your mind? Do you remember how you went out of your way to make sure they know you love them, care for them and would do anything for them?
Wouldn't we love to have that same relationship with God? Well, we can!
All we have to do is make it a priority. In stead of finding a way to have our time with God fit in to our schedule, what we need to do is find a way to get our schedule to fit in to our relationship with God? It's all a matter of attitude and priority. If we want it bad enough, then God will help us to make it happen.
As we proceed, we will look at various methods of study. We will go through some studies. It is our hope you find these helpful and motivational as you pursue developing your relationship with your savior.
We have been leading a class in Old Testament Studies. In this study we have done a survey of important themes, interesting facts and important lessons we learn from the Old Testament and how they apply to our lives in this modern culture. Yes, these ancient scriptures are just as relevant to us today as they were when God inspired the 40 writers who gave the scriptures to us.
The materials for the Old Testament Studies class that have been presented in class for the White Oak Christian Church Homebuilder's class are available for you here on this site. Please feel free to use them if they will enhance your own study of the scriptures.
As we get in to additional studies, we will make that material available to you as well. This site is for absolutely anyone who thinks these study aids may be of benefit to them.
Check it out. If you have any questions or comments, we welcome your input.
All To God's Glory,
Todd Wuske &
David Willmore
We don't have all the answers.
In fact we probably have more questions than answers.
We do love the scriptures and we love to teach from them.
If God felt it important enough to have it written down for us, it is important enough for us to want to study it.
The scriptures need to be studied. That includes whether what we are reading are the Gospels, Old Testament history, prophets or even genealogies. It has been written for a reason and we need to understand why a certain text was written if we are to properly apply it to our lives.
Several have asked about what they should study and how to do so. There really is no right or wrong answer to these questions. There are different ways to, or methods of, study based upon what you may be striving to accomplish with your study.,
The purpose of this site is to provide a tool that may shed insight as to what you can do to help as you attempt to study the scriptures and develop your relationship with Jesus as the Lord and Savior of your life.
First, we believe with all our heart the scriptures are without a doubt the divinely inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God. We have no doubt the truths expressed in the scriptures are provided to us that we may live lives of holiness designed to serve the God who created us. We also fully believe that if there appear to be sections of scripture that tend to contradict one another, it is not scripture that is in error but the manner in which we interpret it.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us " NLT
We are also commanded by scripture in 1 Peter 3:15 "If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way." It is extremely important that if we are going to be able to give an answer for our faith, we must have a knowledge of the scriptures.
We wish to point out the primary reason to study scripture is NOT to have a knowledge of scripture. The primary reason to study scripture is NOT to have a knowledge of God. The primary reason to study scripture IS to know God, to know Jesus and to know Him intimately as our Lord and Savior.
Do you remember when you first started dating your spouse? Do you remember when you could not wait until the next time you could be with them again? Do you remember that where ever you were and what ever you were doing you always had them on your mind? Do you remember how you went out of your way to make sure they know you love them, care for them and would do anything for them?
Wouldn't we love to have that same relationship with God? Well, we can!
All we have to do is make it a priority. In stead of finding a way to have our time with God fit in to our schedule, what we need to do is find a way to get our schedule to fit in to our relationship with God? It's all a matter of attitude and priority. If we want it bad enough, then God will help us to make it happen.
As we proceed, we will look at various methods of study. We will go through some studies. It is our hope you find these helpful and motivational as you pursue developing your relationship with your savior.
We have been leading a class in Old Testament Studies. In this study we have done a survey of important themes, interesting facts and important lessons we learn from the Old Testament and how they apply to our lives in this modern culture. Yes, these ancient scriptures are just as relevant to us today as they were when God inspired the 40 writers who gave the scriptures to us.
The materials for the Old Testament Studies class that have been presented in class for the White Oak Christian Church Homebuilder's class are available for you here on this site. Please feel free to use them if they will enhance your own study of the scriptures.
As we get in to additional studies, we will make that material available to you as well. This site is for absolutely anyone who thinks these study aids may be of benefit to them.
Check it out. If you have any questions or comments, we welcome your input.
All To God's Glory,
Todd Wuske &
David Willmore
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