Research by Topic
We’ve curated theology for years
And we’re thrilled to share it. Read below for our favorite resources on the big burning questions—from the oneness of God to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Following Christ
Jesus’ first followers thought of themselves as disciples. A disciple is someone who learns from a teacher—one who is a student or an apprentice. To be a disciple of Christ, means you learn from him, adopt his views, and do what he says. By its very nature a disciple does not believe he is above his master. In order to qualify as a disciple you need humility, recognizing that the rabbi knows better than you how to think and live. Notice the similarity between the words “disciple” and “discipline.” To be a disciple involves discipline or self-control. To be a disciple is much more than merely adopting a few disciplines or habits; it is all encompassing and extends to patterns of thought as well as lifestyle.
Kingdom on Earth
Imagine a world full of love where people get along with each other, where war and murder are distant memories, where justice prevails without fail, where God and his creation enjoy perfect harmony. Each day presents you with a new adventure. Converse with people who lived and died hundreds of years before you. Go camping without worrying about coyotes, swim in the ocean without fearing sharks, rock climbing, hike great mountains without the threat of avalanches. Plant vineyards, cultivate fruit trees, build houses, and enjoy the harvest of the land. Explore every nook and cranny of the ever changing planet. Attend concerts, plays, and worship. This future is what God always wanted for the world.
One true God
The popular view of Christ is that he is God in the flesh—he always existed as God —and one day, without ceasing from being God, also became man. But Jesus testifies that he is the only begotten Son of God and the greatest man to walk the face of the earth. He is the King, the Messiah, and the second Adam. He is the highest exalted person in the universe next to his Father. He perfectly submitted to and obeyed his Father’s will.
Continuing in salvation
Through Jesus Christ, salvation is available as an indisputable free gift to man (Romans 3:21-24). Man cannot save himself (Ephesians 2:5-10). Humans have the responsibility to have faith in God’s Kingdom (Mark 10:15) and the redeeming work of Christ (Romans 10:9 and 10). Faith implies obedience (James 2:14-26). If Jesus is our Lord, then we must obey. We are required to maintain faith unto the end (Hebrews 3; 6; 10) in order to enter the Kingdom.
Sleep of the dead
What happens when you die? Is there an intermediate state? What does the bible teach about the dead before resurrection? These questions are important for our study of the kingdom of God. If you go straight to heaven when you die, you’re not going to care very much about what happens when Jesus returns. You may find it marginally interesting, but it’s what’s next for you. In this way, the doctrine of heaven-at-death eclipses Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom. However, as it turns out, the bible teaches that the dead are asleep until the resurrection on the last day.
The full gospel
What is the gospel of the kingdom of God? It’s not about Jesus dying for your sins or going to heaven when you die. In fact, Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom is not new at all; it’s the message the prophets of old proclaimed–that one day God was going to make everything wrong with the world right and extend his reign from heaven to earth.
Experiencing the spirit
The holy spirit is God’s power in action, and it is present in the world, in the church, and in the lives of individual Christians to empower God’s people to live for him. When Jesus first appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, “he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive holy spirit’” (John 20:33, REV). New Testament books like Acts and Corinthians describe the holy spirit moving and working in the church in ways that include miraculous gifts of the spirit. The same spirit of God still works in Christ’s followers today.
