I’ve been left out of countless conversations having to do with theology – a theological question comes up and I watch as the men naturally circle up together, leaving the wives to talk about…dinner and diapers, neither of which I love.
Theology is for women and children too!!
Years ago, a friend and I were brainstorming ideas for a children’s curriculum for our church. I asked myself, “What do I want to teach these young children to give them a solid foundation in their faith?”
I pondered a bit as I reflected on what they had been taught in the previous years. And then I thought of it- theology! They had not been taught the basics!
Taking our cues from some good resources, we proceeded to write a twelve-week curriculum that taught the basics of Christianity.
As a family, we keep a ‘master list’ of memory verses that we review often to be sure they are not forgotten. After writing the curriculum, all twelve verses were promptly added to our memory verse list.
Below, are the twelve verses that point to different truths about God and our beliefs as Christians.
What We Believe About the Bible
All scripture is God breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
The word often translated as ‘God-breathed” is the Greek word Theopneustos, which is a combination of Theós (God) and phéō (breathed out). This word is used only once in the scriptures, maybe even coined by Paul to express the divine nature of the scriptures.
Though penned by ordinary human hands, the scriptures were simultaneously “breathed out” by God as he led the authors to say all that he wanted to communicate, and thus we can be confident that the Bible is completely true and completely sufficient to do what God purposed it to do!
We Believe That Jesus is God
I and the Father are one. John 10:30
John 10:30
Central to Christian doctrine is that Jesus is God. Specifically, the second person of the trinity. This separates Christian belief from all secular belief about Jesus. As Christians we believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ as God the Son, coequal with God the Father, and the Holy Spirit; one God in three persons.
Jesus, The Creator
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
John 1:1-3
“A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus first used the term Logos around 600 B.C. to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe.” However, John uses logos, the Word, to show that this “divine reason” is not just an impersonal force, but rather a personal and intimate being, and the creator of all things!
*Words in quotes come from BibleStudyTools.com
God Became a Man
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory…
John 1:14
The divine Word, God the Son, stepped off his heavenly throne and added humanity to his divinity. He became one of us, lived among us, and fully put the glory of God on display. Fully God, yet fully man.
Jesus as Man
We have one who has been tempted in every way… yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15
One of my earliest memories praying was at my first communion. In my younger years we went to catholic church. I remember confessing my sins to our priest and in response he prescribed some prayers for me to pray so I would be forgiven.
Today, I understand that Jesus is our High Priest. He is the mediator between us and the Father. No earthly priest needed!
Jesus experienced the hardship and suffering of being a human, he suffered and was tempted in every way, but he did not give in to that temptation. He lived a perfect and sinless life.
So he knows what we are going through and he also knows how to overcome it and see us through it!
Jesus’ Teaching
I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
It is not our goodness, our striving, or our good intentions. It is only through trusting in the blood of Jesus, shed for us, that we can be brought to the Father! There is no other way. There is no greater truth and no greater life than what is given to us by the very Author of life!
Signs of the Messiah
Jesus did many other miraculous signs. These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ.
John 20:30-31
John went on to say that no library could hold all the works of Jesus. He was careful and intentional to include these specific works that Jesus did to show that he was indeed the Messiah that the Old Testament prophesied would come. The one we should put all of our trust in.
Jesus’ Atonement
He himself bore our sins, in His body, on that cross.
1 Peter 2:24
Jesus did not just die. He was totally innocent, sinless. But He died as a payment for our sin. He died as an atonement for the sins we have committed. All of the punishment every one of us deserved, placed on him instead.
The verse goes on to say that “by His wounds, you have been healed.”
Because Jesus took on himself the punishment for our sin, we no longer have to endure the punishment we rightly deserve! He bore it so we don’t have to!
Jesus’ Resurrection
He is not here, he has risen, just as he said.
Matthew 28:6
Jesus does what he says he’s going to do. An angel declared the message of this verse to the disciples as they stood with gaping mouths, looking at an empty tomb. Though he died and was buried, Jesus rose again on the third day, defeating death and showing that the promise of eternal life in Him is completely true.
Jesus Saves
Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.
Acts 16:31
This beautifully simple answer was given by the Apostle Paul in response to the question posed by his jail guard: “Sirs- What must I do to be saved?”
We must believe in, or put our trust in, Jesus and his work on the cross to be saved. Not believe in ourselves or our own good works, but the work of Christ for us.
That very night, the jail guard and his entire house were saved and baptized by Paul and Silas.
Jesus Today
Christ Jesus… is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Romans 8:34
Do you know what Jesus is doing now? Many know what Jesus did on Earth, but what is He up to post-resurrection? He is at the right hand of the Father, praying for his people!!
The book of Hebrews says that Jesus is not only sitting at the right hand of God but is waiting “for his enemies to be made his footstool.”
Wow! That’s some kinda imagery!
Jesus Will Return
They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matthew 24:30
I wish you could hear the tune we made up to go with this verse. It is so beautiful. I thought of it one day in the shower. The shower is really good for some things.
Jesus will return. The Bible says that every eye will see him and every tongue will confess that he is Lord. It says that the glory of God will cover the earth, “as the waters cover the sea”. Amen.
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Enjoy memorizing these verses. Tell me how it goes!
And hey! Go ahead and participate in those theological conversations!
