STUDYING A DOCTRINE

STUDYING A DOCTRINE
Have you ever had someone from a cult come to your front door to try and persuade you to join their movement? Their movements use Christian words, events and even sing Christian hymns. But they are not Christian when they deny the deity of Christ, that Jesus is the God-Man. These cults have many members who once attended an evangelical church. What ever else these people may have learned in Christian churches, it is evident they did not learn biblical doctrine. The fact that cults and many other movements like them win converts each year from evangelical churches, suggests we are not doing a good job of teaching doctrine.
Biblical doctrine is the foundation of our Christian life and ministry. In the early church, "they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42). One of the marks of spiritual maturity among Christians was "that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting" (Eph. 4:14). Instead, the church was commanded to examine the doctrine taught by various teachers to determine if it was true or not (1 John 4:1; Rev. 2:2). Part of the responsibility of the pastor was to "speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1).
Unfortunately, that has not always been the practice of the evangelical church. A. W. Tozer lamented,
DOCTRINE IS ROOT STUDY
One of the marked differences between the faith of our fathers as conceived by the fathers and the same faith as understood and lived by their children is that the fathers were concerned with the root of the matter, while their present day descendants seem concerned only with fruit.2
A more contemporary writer seems to agree with Tozer in his evaluation of the church today when he notes,

DOCTRINAL NEGLECT
Many Christians never leave the first principles of the Gospel. Still spiritual infants, they must be bottle-fed the same formula. When confronted at the door by a representative of another sect, they are helpless to give a reason for the hope that is in them. In the basis of their faith, they are speechless, yet on the reasons for their choice of a house or a car they can discourse at length. This sinful negligence by even one member of the church can cause the whole body to suffer.3
Many of your strongest lessons as a teacher will be doctrinal lessons. Doctrinal teaching is the skeleton on which hangs practical Christianity. A body is flabby without the hard bones of a skeleton, so the Christian with a doctrinal foundation is a flabby believer. Philips Brooks' commented on the value of doctrinal preaching applying it to those who would teach a doctrine. According to Brooks,
DOCTRINAL VALUE
Preach doctrine, preach all the doctrine that you know, and learn forever more and more, but preach it always, not that men may believe it, but that men may be saved by believing it.4
Why Study Bible Doctrine
There are many reasons why Bible doctrine should be taught in the evangelical church today. First, teaching doctrine is compatible with the purpose of the Scriptures. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine" (2 Tim. 3:16). You are not teaching the Scriptures as they were intended to be taught if you are not consistently teaching doctrine.
Second, doctrine is foundational to the Christian life. Describing the conversion of the Romans, Paul wrote, "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, wt you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered" (Rom. 6:17). It was by "continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" that the early Christians experienced stability in the Christian life (Acts 2:42).
Paul told Timothy, "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 1:13). It is the responsibility of teachers to teach sound doctrine (2 Tim. 1:13), but the purpose of teaching doctrine is not only to teach doctrinal truth. The goal of doctrinal teaching is to help students adopt the Christian lifestyle most appropriate to sound doctrine (Titus 2:1).
When you teach doctrine, you follow the example of our Lord. Jesus, the Master Teacher and our teaching model, was a doctrinal teacher. Jesus told those who followed Him, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority" (John 7:16, 17). The people who heard Jesus teach marvelled at His doctrine (Mark 1:27). This was particularly evident when Jesus concluded His Sermon on the Mount. "And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matt. 7:28, 29).

STEP ONE ON HOW TO STUDY A DOCTRINE
The English word "doctrine" is derived from a Latin term which means "teaching." When you study and teach a doctrine, you are studying and teaching the biblical teaching on some topic or theme. Doctrinal teaching is not an expression of our thoughts on a subject nor is it an expression of the thoughts of others. Rather, your objective in studying a doctrine is to find out what the Bible teaches about the theme under consideration and to communicate it as accurately as possible. The Scriptures are your source in both the study and teaching of doctrine.
One of the expressions used in the Bible to describe doctrine is "the faith." The word faith can be either a noun or verb. When faith is a verb, a person affirms what God has said in His Word (Heb. 11:1). When faith is a noun, it is usually preceded with an article the and refers to the context of Christianity. "The faith" refers to those things commonly believed by Christians, sometimes called a statement of faith or doctrinal statement. Because doctrinal faith and your personal expression of faith are so closely related, you should not be surprised that the study of doctrine begins with an act of faith. The relationship between faith and doctrine is seen in at least three areas.
First, only believers have the spiritual insight necessary to understand the things of God. Paul emphasized this truth in his first epistle to the Corinthians. "But the natural man (unsaved) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges (understands) all things (I Cor. 2:14, 15). The Holy Spirit is given to help believers understand the Scripture. "But the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, He shall teach you all things" (Jn. 14:26). Believers must exercise faith to allow the Holy Spirit to teach them spiritual truth.
Second, the student of doctrine must believe in the existence of God, before studying the nature and worth of God. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). Those who believe in God will be rewarded by God.
In the third place, the student of doctrine must believe God has revealed Himself to us. "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law" (Deut. 29:29). God has revealed Himself to us through the Old Testament prophets and more fully in the person of Christ described in the New Testament (Heb. 1:1-3).
Growth in the Christian life also involves a growing ability to discern doctrine. Paul rebuked the Corinthians because he "could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ (1 Cor. 3:1). The Hebrew Christians were also urged to leave "the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ" and go on to greater maturity in Christ (Heb. 6:1-3).
As you approach the study of doctrine, it is important that you know how it relates to theology. Doctrine is the study of the Bible to learn about God, His work and His world. Theology involves studying the Bible, plus any and every other source to learn about God and His world. Lewis Sperry Chafer, founding President of Dallas Theological Seminary, defined systematic theology as "the collecting, scientifically arranging, comparing, exhibiting and defending of all facts from any and every source concerning God and His works."5 This definition identifies five steps involved in the study of a topic. They include (1) collecting data from every source concerning God and His works, (2) scientifically arranging these facts into a logical order, (3) comparing and evaluating our study to determine if they are consistent with the Bible and correspond to reality, (4) exhibiting our conclusions (such as writing them in a doctrinal statement) (5) defending what we believe from alternative views on that doctrine.
As suggested in this working definition, the process of putting together what we believe tends to be somewhat comprehensive, perhaps even too technical for the average believer. Maybe this is why some students of the Bible are hesitant to study doctrine. They are concerned that doctrinal study might be beyond them and leave them swamped. But, there are ways to overcome this problem and still gain the benefits associated with the study of doctrine. When beginning to study doctrine, it is sometimes best to set limits so as to not become bogged down. Only study a small point of one doctrine. This allows you to develop your skills without being swamped with data. The following chart is an example of doctrinal studies which have been limited in this way.
BASIC DOCTRINAL STUDIES
The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians
The Return of Christ in the Thessalonian Epistles
The Doctrine of the Kingship of Christ in Matthew
As you approach the study of a doctrine, write a list of all the biblical passages that relate to your topic. You will want to take several steps in compiling this list. First, search a concordance for key words relating to that doctrine. Next, consult a good topical Bible under the heading of the doctrine you are considering. Many study Bibles (Reference Bibles) include cross-references designed to lead the reader through a study of biblical topics. This is another good source to compile your list.
Once the list has been compiled, read each passage and make your own brief notes concerning the topic. Remember, the study of a biblical doctrine is built on certain presuppositions. First, your doctrine should be based on the literal interpretation of the Bible. Second, your doctrine should be limited to the Scriptures themselves. Every effort should be made to avoid building doctrinal on speculative writings of people or "fancy," ideas that appeal to you imagination.
Having completed your study of the biblical data, arrange your basic doctrinal principles in a logical order. In the study of most doctrines, the logical order will become obvious. You will treat it with the same importance people in the Bible treat it. Sometimes, it may be helpful to trace doctrinal content in chronological development. Using this approach, Moses' understanding of a certain doctrine becomes foundational to understanding Paul's interpretation of the same doctrine. Occasionally, you may want to highlight and arrange doctrinal emphasis by various biblical writers or biblical books. A doctrinal study of the church could be arranged to illustrate the unique emphases of Jesus, Peter and Paul.
When you arrange your conclusions, take time to look over all the contents. Here is where you harmonize any apparent contradictions. Review key texts where there is an apparent contradiction, never try to make a verse say more than it means. If a conflict remains, there are a couple of principles that will help you resolve it. First, where two verses appear to say different things, the last verse written probably has the fuller revelation of that truth. Give priority to the New Testament over the Old Testament. Second, where one verse appears to say something different than several others, the consistent teaching of many verses is preferred over an interpretation of just one verse. Perhaps, there something about the context of the odd verse that may explain why it is expressed that way. By checking the context more closely, the problem with the verse often disappears.
No biblical doctrine stands alone, "No Scripture is of private interpretation" (II Pet. 1:20). If people are created "in the image of God" (Gen. 1:27), what we believe about God is related to what we believe about people. If Christ came to "save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21), then our doctrine of Christ is related to our view of salvation and sin. As you review your doctrinal study, consider how your doctrinal conclusions are related to other doctrinal truth taught in the Scriptures. All truth comes from God is consistent, just as God is a unity (one), He never contradicts Himself. Therefore, our doctrine should be systematic. This means each doctrine should be consistent with others in our doctrinal system.
As you conclude your doctrinal study, read back over your notes. List each principle in an order which best fits the doctrine itself and your approach to studying doctrine. This outline should be helpful in explaining your conclusions to others. Then, identify the biblical text from which you have drawn each principle. If your doctrine is biblical, you should be able to find support for each principle in the Scriptures. Also, others will be able to verify your conclusions by checking the appropriate biblical text.
PRINCIPLES FOR INTERPRETING DOCTRINAL PASSAGES
1. Because you want to know God, you begin your doctrinal study to understand the great truths of sin, salvation and redemption.
2. Because you are a redeemed person, you next study the Scripture to understand the great truths of sin, salvation and redemption.
3. Your doctrine will come from the meaning of the Bible, you must not try to prove your doctrine with Bible study.
4. Because truth is consistent with itself, you must strive to fit all doctrinal facts into a consistent system.
5. Doctrinal study must always keep practical application in mind.
6. No doctrinal discoveries are “of private interpretation” but will be known by the body of Christ.
7. The general principle taught in all Scripture is preferred over any specific occurrence that seems contradictory.
How to Teach a Doctrine
Some teachers approach the teaching of a doctrine apologetically. This means they begin by defending their beliefs from attacks. Sometimes it is necessary to build a strong defence, especially when your students are filled with doubt or questions. However, most of the time you will begin like building a house. You begin with a foundation. I said ask, “Whom shall we teach doctrine?” (Is. 28:29). He answers His question with the process of learning doctrine, “precept upon precept, line upon line" (Is. 28:10). Teaching doctrine is explaining truth revealed by God in a systematic and understandable way. Teaching that does not include foundational doctrine is teaching without credibility or believability. You must begin where people are and build a foundation on which you can change their lives.
As you begin your doctrinal lesson, begin in a relevant context. Different teachers accomplish this goal in various ways. You may wish to suggest a problem people force or a decision they have difficulty making. Then note the key to making a proper decision is understanding the doctrinal issues surrounding the decision.
Another way to introduce a doctrine is to raise the "Why?" question over common practices in the Christian life and/or society at large. You may wish to ask a question like, "Why do Christians worship on Sundays instead of Saturday," to introduce a lesson on the resurrection of Christ. You may ask, "What percent of your money belongs to God," to introduce a lesson on God's ownership of all things. (The answer is ALL!) When you begin your session with a "Why?" question, the question should be designed to introduce the doctrinal study as the foundational reason why we express our convictions.
A third way to introduce a doctrinal lesson is to identify a contemporary issue which divides society. At present, issues such as abortion, homosexuality legalized gambling and various approaches to education and welfare reform fall into this category. A doctrinal study could be designed to identify biblical principles could help group members determine a Christian perspective on these issues. As you prepare to present your doctrinal lesson, consider your students and remember the principle of progressive revelation. Progressive revelation describes the process how God revealed truth over 1600 years. The Old Testament foundation was established slowly before the more complete revelation of God was revealed in Christ, "Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways . . . now in these final days He has spoken to us through His Son" (Heb. 1:1,2 NLT). How does this principle of progression revelation relate to your class? First, if many of your students are unsaved or only new Christians, they need to know that God gave people everything they needed to know, and everyone had enough information about God to be saved. Second, they need to know that Christ is the final revelation of God, and in Him there is all we can know of God. Regardless of the maturity level of those you teach, there is rarely any value in dealing with speculative ideas. Therefore, minimize time spent in these areas.
Take time to consider the best way to present your doctrinal summary. Usually this will involve one of three approaches. One approach defines the doctrinal words and explains the implications of your statement. A good working definition of a doctrine will suggest its own teaching outline. A second approach is to begin with the "first mention" of a doctrine in Scripture. You begin your lesson where the Bible first introduces a topic. This is usually an embryonic statement that will have fuller explanation at another place in Scripture. Using this approach, other verses are consulted to draw out the fuller meaning of the text. In a third approach, you explain a doctrine in the context of its "full mention" in Scripture. Take care to present a strong case for your doctrine. Several guidelines will help you as you prepare your presentation. First, be careful not to weaken good Scripture texts by using weak texts that stretch a point. Second, be certain to define technical terms clearly and accurately. It's all right to use doctrinal terms, just make sure people understand them. Do not spend too much time trying to explain away "hard" verses. Also, avoid the trap of making a minor doctrine the key to all others. Finally, place your doctrinal lesson in the larger context of the important issues of Christianity, i.e. salvation, knowing God, serving God and loving others.
Biblical doctrine should make a difference in our life. Therefore, when you teach a doctrine, suggest ways your doctrine can be applied to the lives of your students. A believing doctrine is a behaving doctrine. The logical application of a biblical doctrine can usually be uncovered quickly by asking a couple of key questions. First, "How is this doctrine most likely to be expressed in the Christian life?" Second, "What changes need to be made to bring my life in line with the teachings of this doctrine?"
As you ask yourself these questions, consider a special project that would help you and your group apply the doctrine. Encourage a specific application of the doctrine which can be accomplished by your students within thirty days. If you are teaching a lesson on the doctrine of Revelation, consider challenging your students to begin reading a chapter of the Bible each day for the next month. After studying the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, ask your students to yield themselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In response to a study on the attributes of God, ask your students to begin each day by singing a hymn or praise chorus to worship God by recognizing one of His attributes.
God inspired the Scriptures making them "profitable for doctrine." As we study and teach the Bible doctrinally, we can do so with the assurance we are studying and teaching the Bible in a manner consistent with God's purpose.

STEP TWO ON STUDYING DOCTRINE
BIBLE STUDY ON THE CHURCH ACTS 2:41-47
1. Who grows the church? (notice 2 personal pronouns).
“The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47)._
2. What does God use to grow the church?
“I will build my (Jesus) church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”
(Matt. 18:18). “The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved”
(Acts 2:47).
3. What meaning does this new term give to the church?
“Gave Him (Christ) to be heard over all things to the church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22,23).

4. What 2 things happened to those who were added to the church?
“Those that gladly received His word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41).

5. What 4 things did believers first do?
“They continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).

6. List the words and numbers that describe church growth?
“In the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty” (Acts 1:15). “Three thousand souls were added” (2:41). “The number of the men came to be about five thousand” (4:4). “Believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes” (6:1). “The disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem” (6:7).

7. What were two ministries of a growing church?
“Daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ (Acts 5:42).

8. What 2 influences did a growing church have on the community?
“Then fear came upon every soul, and many signs and wonders were done through the apostles” (Acts 2:43). “Having favor with all the people” (Acts 2”47).

9. What is the three-fold work of church leaders?
“He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11,12).

10. How can believers build the church?
Far from you (the church at Thessalonica) the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out” (I Thess. 1:8).

STEP THREE
  CHECKLIST FOR STUDYING DOCTRINE
1. What doctrine are you studying?
2. What is the primary passage(s)?
(What does it teach about the doctrine?)
(Supporting OT passages)
(What do they teach about the doctrine?)
(Supporting NT passages)
(What do they teach about the doctrine?)
3. What biblical person is associated with this doctrine? (OT)
4. How did the doctrine influence their life?
5. Summarize the doctrine
6. What principles are taught in this doctrine?
7. How will you practically apply this doctrine?
8. What happens when this doctrine is ignored or denied?
9. How deep is your commitment to this doctrine?