“He said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 32:46-47)
Dr. Douglas C Stewart
Editor
Tribute of Recognition
The late Dr. Merritt E Lawson, founder and dean of the Covenant Bible Seminary in Lakewood, Washington, put forth his hand to establish these independent study lesson for individual’s personal learning and enhancement.
These studies have been made available by 360 Family Ministries and The Biblical Production—SBP Broadcast, having all rights and authority for publishing and distributions.
The origination of studies was produced through the Covenant Bible Seminary. They were then received, maintained and stored by Dr. Joseph Schultz after the passing away of Dr. Lawson. He would turn the courses of independent study over to Dr. Stewart for using them in the ministry.
Dr. Douglas C Stewart received a Master of International Relations degree through Troy State University, a Master of Divinity degree at the Covenant Bible Seminary his Doctor of Ministry degree from the Covenant Bible Seminary. He revised, augmented and consolidated these studied, which is now titled “Balancing Faith & Life of Christian Independent Study.”
Balancing Faith & Life Vision
To advance the kingdom of God
A Family Advocacy
Save the Needy Children From Poverty and Despair
Dedicated Scripture
John 3:16-17
Preface
The Balancing Faith & Life: Christian Independent Studies (CIDS) are about every individual’s learning and enhancement of the Bible and its declarations regarding the God of the Bible. The very thing all Christian must do is grow in the knowledge and wisdom of Jesus Christ. Learning the word of God is a step-by-step process and not all in one setting nor in one day as many seem to insinuate, once they have confessed to being saved.
The objective of the overall eLearning is to make independent learning meaningful, easy learning, yet challenging but made simple. These lessons are for new beginners as well as for those who have been in ministry for several years. Without doubt through eLearning, these lessons will enhance ministries, broaden the scope of understanding the word of God, help learn sound doctrine, lay foundation in Jesus Christ and bring abundant joy.
The Gospels, Epistles and New Testament subjects are highlighted by the fore-mentions of Faith Markers, Balancing Post, and Life Leaders. Christian Leadership and Apologetics studies will take on an expository approach in defining both Old and New Testament subject matters.
There are several studies that compass Biblical Counseling, Chaplaincy, Church Administrations and Pastoral Studies. Some of them will provide guidance and instruction regarding our daily life, ordinances and Biblical applications. They are geared toward our modern-day issues of both pros and cons.
These studies will have “Faith Markers”, pointers that gives directional guidance byway of purpose and objectivity to measure its message in your studies. Faith Marker(s) will define “the way” forward according to the messages in each CIDS lesson. Studies will point to what is called “Balancing Faith & Life” as truth markers. These are key scriptures and a dialog regarding the text of those scriptures. If the student never arrives at the truth, how can he or she learn the subject matter at hand? Incorporated within these studies we also have “Life Leaders”. Life leaders maybe another way to say “for your consideration”, it is for your knowledge, understanding and for grasping the manifold wisdom of God. The “Life Leaders” in these lessons is to put the students and all learners on the right path that lead to life, which is the objective.
The Balance that connects Life Leader(s) reference the road that leads to life and salvation. The path of life anyone takes must be taken without strong consideration; it is their life that becomes the final verdict in God’s judgment. It’s a road that should never be blurred and faint, it must lead to life everlasting in Jesus Christ. For Christ himself declares “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, thought he die, yet shall he live,” (John 11:25). Life leaders are examples directly from Biblical text, both descriptive and declarative. They are servants’ testimony, likewise from the scriptures. They are declarations of prophets, psalms, and the Law. They demonstrate real life lessons. The Balancing Post(s) are the substance and evidence of the message in each study. It is the very fundamental and doctrinal principles that ties everything together with Life Leaders and Faith Markers.
‘“Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things”’ (Luke 24:44-48).
Balancing Faith & Life CIDS are categorized and defined by related theological make-up, historical and systematics settings.
Within the scope of doctrinal studies and Dogmatics Theology many of the lessons take on the approach of a psalmist declaratives praise, declarations of trust and descriptive praise. This approach is used to punctuate, highlight, provide analyses and considerations of the Life Leaders. Questions may be observed as statements more so than questions in certain aspects or points that are termed differently than the usual genre of context. Dogmatics or doctrinal studies is systematic theology that provide an in-depth attitude and explanation to divinity and the deity of God that is often difficult for some to grasp but deemed to be essential in the Christian faith toward salvation. The argument could be “is Jesus God” or “the questioning of salvation through repentance”, or “Was Jesus truly born of a virgin” or Is baptism essential for salvation”? Subject like tithes and offering would not be considered dogmatics because it doesn’t speak to salvation as portrayed in the Great Commission, nor does it stand out as a spearhead that Christ spoke about but rather the kingdom of God and repentance was the primary message. Jesus made it plain that he had come to seek and save the lost, not raise money for the church.
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