Intro to Explorations Class

Introduction to the Explorations Class

The Explorations Class is an opportunity to learn about many faiths and how they see the gospel of Jesus Christ. This knowledge should allow us to be better witnesses for the truth, preparing us to be "all things to all men, that I may by all means save some." (1 Cor 9:22) Many denominations have differing beliefs about key Bible doctrines. This study will examine Catholicism, Mormonism, and others, with an emphasis on the gospel.

To prepare for the class, each student should have an accurate translation of the Bible. Many of the current translations are paraphrases which do not accurately convey the specific verbal forms used by the inspired writers. Examples of this class are the Good News and Living Bibles. Because certain issues depend on the verbal forms of the original, word-for-word translations such as the New American Standard will be useful. The NIV, while not a word-for-word translation, is also a generally good translation.

Secondary references include concordances, Greek and Hebrew lexicons, and commentaries. Participants in the class are encouraged to read and study as widely as possible. Every new insight is valuable, and there is no limit to the depths we will pursue except the interest of the class. Each participant will in some sense be the teacher. I invite feedback on these studies. If I have in any way misrepresented Bible truths, or if I have missed important points, please let me know.

The lessons will be presented as study notes in one section, and programmed discussion regarding those notes in a matching section. For the maximum benefit, the student should work through the study notes, then read the discussion notes.

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Rev 22:19 (KJV)

Contents

Study Questions

Discussion Notes

Foundations

1. The Reliability of the Bible

2. Sola Scriptura (The Sufficiency of the Bible)

2. Sola Scriptura

3. Study Methods (The Language of the Bible [context])

3. Study Methods

Roman Catholicism

4. Apostolic Succession (The Claimed Origin of the Roman Catholic Church)

4. Apostolic Succession

Bonus Feature: A Brief History of the Roman Catholic Church

5. The True Church (The Church is Made up of All Believers.)

5. The True Church

6. The Roman Catholic Economy of Grace (Confession, Absolution, Penance, and Indulgences)

6. The Roman Catholic Economy of Grace

7. The Mass (Catholicism's Unbloody Sacrifice)

7. The Mass

8. Purgatory, Limbo, and the State of the Dead

9. From Sabbath to Sunday (A Brief History of the Change)

9. From Sabbath to Sunday

10. The Marian Dogmas

The Perpetual Virginity of Mary

The Immaculate Conception

Mary, the Mother of God

The Bodily Assumption of Mary

10. The Marian Dogmas

11. Summary of Roman Catholicism

12. (No separate discussion)

Bonus Feature

Is the Roman Catholic Church a Christian Church? This essay visits many of the issues studied in the lessons above. This essay will probably be found offensive by devout Catholics, since the Catholic Church does not encourage its members to study. It is my prayer that they can allow God's word to be the final authority.

Witnessing Tips

(discussion)

12. Part 1

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism)

13. History of the LDS Church

14. The Book of Mormon

14. (No separate discussion)

15. Mormon Elders at Your Door

16. "You have got to learn to be Gods."

16 "You have got to learn to be Gods."

17. Jesus and Lucifer: Brothers! (The Mormon Plan of Salvation, Part 1)

17. Jesus and Lucifer: Brothers!

18. The "Virgin Birth" (The Mormon Plan of Salvation, Part 2)

18. The "Virgin Birth"

19. Three Levels of Heaven (The Mormon Plan of Salvation, Part 3)

19. Three Levels of Heaven

20. Summary of Mormonism

20. (No separate discussion)

Witnessing Tips

(discussion)

21. Part 2

21. (No separate discussion)

Jehovah's Witnesses

(discussion)

22. Introduction

23. The Messiah in the Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures

24. The Logos and Carmen Christi

25. The Deity of Christ and the Personality of the Holy Spirit

26. The Second Coming

27. Summary of Jehovah's Witnesses

Witnessing Tips

(discussion)

28. Part 3

28. (no separate discussion)

Calvinism

(discussion)

29. Eternal Security (Once Saved, Always Saved)

29. Eternal Security

Christian Science

(discussion)

30. Christian Science

Seventh-day Adventists

31. The State of the Dead, Answering Objections

32. The Sabbath, Answering Objections

33. The Investigative Judgment
(This item has been removed for extensive revision.)

SDA's and Pentecostals

(discussion)

34. Gifts of the Spirit, Part 1

35. Gifts of the Spirit, Part 2
Prophecy, Tongues, and Manifestations

The Gospel

(discussion)

36. The Gospel