thirteen

lessons

in

christian

doctrine

Denver Sizemore

college press publishing company • joplin, missouri

Copyright © 1987

College Press Publishing Company

All Rights Reserved

All Scripture quotations, unless indicated, are taken from the holy bible: new international version®.

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.

Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

All rights reserved.

The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society.

Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.

International Standard Book Number: 0-89900-770-8

FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION

The publication of this book brings a forceful and forthright presentation of Christian Doctrine to be appreciated by the general student. Having used these outlines in their earlier form to great advantage in establishing the new convert, I look forward to a continued use of this more detailed and elaborate treatment. Drawing from many years of research and classroom presentation, Mr. Sizemore has put together a concise, coherent, and perceptive work. His explanations, illustrations, and printed texts enhance the clarity of context and make more pleasant the study of Christian Doctrine. This treatment will be of mutual advantage to both teacher and student.

Ragon T. Flannery, Administrative Director

Church of Christ Building and Loan Fund, Inc.

Southern California Evangelistic Association

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. God

2. Jesus, The Christ

3. The Bible

4. The Church

5. Faith

6. Repentance

7. Baptism

8. The Lord’s Supper

9. Prayer

10. Giving

11. Giving in the New Testament

12. The Mission of the Church

13. The Coming of the Lord

LESSON 1

God

I. Evidence for God’s Existence

A. Bible Reveals It

B. Reason Teaches It

C. Supreme Intelligence Indicates It

D. Nature Proves It

E. Intuition Requires It

II. Names for God

III. The Nature of God

A. His Unity—One God

B. His Holiness

C. His Love

D. His Mercy

E. His Power—Omnipotence

F. His Wisdom—Omniscience

G. His Omnipresence

H. His Faithfulness

IV. Knowing and Obeying God

Is there a God? If so, what is He like? Does He care about us? What does He require of us? These are questions that all men must face. The answer to these will determine the direction and goal of each life.

I. Evidence for God’s Existence

A. Bible Reveals It. The Bible does not attempt to prove the existence of God. The first statement is: “In the beginning God …” (Gen. 1:1). It assumes it as a fact and asserts that “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’ ” (Psa. 14:1). The Bible says that only a fool, ignorant of the facts, would deny God, and then not openly, but secretly in his heart. The Bible is written on the premise that the evidence for God is so strong that no informed person would deny His existence.

However, to those who will not accept the Bible teaching concerning God, it becomes necessary to examine ...