Scripture & Orthodoxy
INTRODUCTION
Our Fall Vision Series aims to explain Fellowship Denver Church's mission—helping people discover and follow the original Jesus—in a way that invites new people to discover or join the mission and equips FDC insiders to faithfully participate in it. This series will also provide a unique challenge to cultivate a “one more” mindset, where we always seek to reach “one more” person with the gospel.
OPENING DISCUSSION
The Flat Earth Society has 555 members convinced that the earth is flat rather than spherical. Despite two millennia of scientific consensus confirming a roughly spherical earth, flat earthers insist that they have interpreted the evidence accurately and that everybody else has gotten it wrong.
BIG IDEA
Our mission is to help people discover and follow the original Jesus. To do this faithfully, we must emphasize both scripture and orthodoxy. Scripture refers to God’s Word as our supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice. Orthodoxy refers to the way the whole church has historically interpreted Scripture. Balancing scripture and orthodoxy means looking to the Bible as our supreme authority while submitting our interpretations to how the Church has interpreted scripture throughout the ages.
OPENING DISCUSSION
The Flat Earth Society has 555 members convinced that the earth is flat rather than spherical. Despite two millennia of scientific consensus confirming a roughly spherical earth, flat earthers insist that they have interpreted the evidence accurately and that everybody else has gotten it wrong.
- What do you think about the approach of the Flat Earth Society? In other words, how do you think we should balance examining evidence for ourselves, on the one hand, and trusting the majority interpretation, on the other hand?
- Are you someone who tends to agree with the majority, or are you comfortable examining the evidence and opposing the majority?
BIG IDEA
Our mission is to help people discover and follow the original Jesus. To do this faithfully, we must emphasize both scripture and orthodoxy. Scripture refers to God’s Word as our supreme authority in all matters of faith and practice. Orthodoxy refers to the way the whole church has historically interpreted Scripture. Balancing scripture and orthodoxy means looking to the Bible as our supreme authority while submitting our interpretations to how the Church has interpreted scripture throughout the ages.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Here, Paul articulates the nature and purpose of Holy Scripture. As to its nature, Paul says it is “breathed out” by God.
Because the Scriptures are “breathed out” by God (i.e., God is their source), Paul says they are able to train us in righteousness and equip us for every good work.
Read 2 Timothy 1:13-14
Here, Paul urges Timothy to “guard the good deposit.” This command refers to guarding the doctrinal content and contours of the Christian faith. Part of this was done through preserving and canonizing the inspired texts of Scripture, which have been handed down to us through the ages. But the apostles and subsequent generations also “guarded” the good deposit by formulating creeds that summarized and clarified the essential doctrines of the Christian faith - the Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed, Chalcedonian Creed, and Athanasian Creed. While these creeds are not Scripture themselves, they are the universally agreed-upon summary of the very substance of Holy Scripture. Much like the moon, which reflects the light of the sun, so these early creeds reflect the light of Holy Scripture.
Here, Paul articulates the nature and purpose of Holy Scripture. As to its nature, Paul says it is “breathed out” by God.
- What do you think it means that Scripture is “breathed out” by God?1
- What implications do you think this has for the place the Bible should occupy in your life?
Because the Scriptures are “breathed out” by God (i.e., God is their source), Paul says they are able to train us in righteousness and equip us for every good work.
- What are some of the most significant moral issues of our day? How does Scripture instruct us in righteousness in these areas?
- Name one area in your life where you are currently confused. How can God’s Word develop you in righteousness and equip you for every good work?
Read 2 Timothy 1:13-14
Here, Paul urges Timothy to “guard the good deposit.” This command refers to guarding the doctrinal content and contours of the Christian faith. Part of this was done through preserving and canonizing the inspired texts of Scripture, which have been handed down to us through the ages. But the apostles and subsequent generations also “guarded” the good deposit by formulating creeds that summarized and clarified the essential doctrines of the Christian faith - the Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed, Chalcedonian Creed, and Athanasian Creed. While these creeds are not Scripture themselves, they are the universally agreed-upon summary of the very substance of Holy Scripture. Much like the moon, which reflects the light of the sun, so these early creeds reflect the light of Holy Scripture.
- What do you think about the idea that Christians should reject Creeds and study only the Bible?
- What do you think about the idea that embracing these early creeds is a form of interpretive humility?
- What would you say to an earnest Christian who studied his or her bible and came up with a belief that departed from these early creeds?
ONE MORE
Each week of this series, we encourage you to consider how you might help one more person know and follow the original Jesus.
Over the last two weeks, we have encouraged you to write the names of 1-3 people who do not know Jesus and to begin praying for them. We have also encouraged you to ask God to give you compassion and courage to move toward these people with gospel intentionality. This week, we encourage you to make a concrete plan for moving toward these people and share that plan with your group.
Over the last two weeks, we have encouraged you to write the names of 1-3 people who do not know Jesus and to begin praying for them. We have also encouraged you to ask God to give you compassion and courage to move toward these people with gospel intentionality. This week, we encourage you to make a concrete plan for moving toward these people and share that plan with your group.
1James White notes, “The term ‘God-breathed’ is speaking of the origin of the Scriptures; they are not, first and foremost, in a primary sense, human in their origination…A solid view of the Bible begins with the recognition that God is its principle author, the origin and source of its very essence. James R. White, Scripture Alone (Minneapolis, Minn: Bethany House, 2004), 50-51.
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