Big Grace Session 1 Outline

Introduction:
I. Assumptions for seminar a. The Bible is the authoritative word of God without error. We can trust it and we must listen to it. b. Our thinking about God must, then, come from the Bible or it comes from an unauthoritative position. c. We will be listening to teaching on the topic but the Bible is the only authority and voice that ultimately matters. d. We can, and probably will, at times struggle to make sense of what we are seeing. We might disagree with what is being said. It might be hard for us to hear or understand. We are free to disagree and struggle with the text of scripture but we need a humble posture towards God. He is God and we are not. If our disagreements are with God and the Bible we can trust him to help us. If our disagreements are between us as humans we can look to God to help us. We trust that God will reveal who he really is and we will worship him as he is.

Big Grace: what the Bible really says about God.

I. Why a seminar on the grace of God in the Bible? a. We are saved by grace. Ephesians 2:8: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. b. To understand the grace of God is to understand how we have been saved by God. c. Grace is the overarching theme of the entire Bible. d. To understand grace is to understand the gospel. e. No one has ever had too big a view of the grace of God. What are the goals of the seminar? a. To expand our understanding of our Sovereign God. b. To see the grace of God in all the Bible and in all of our lives, as the primary force behind all that is happening. c. To leave each session with the thought that God is bigger than we thought, his grace is more extravagant that we thought, and his salvation is utterly astonishing. d. At the end, it is my prayer that we would be caught up not only into a greater theological understanding of God, but also that we would be caught up into greater worship of God. What can I do to make sure I dont waste my time in this seminar? a. Pray b. Be open c. Be humble d. Be honest

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Big Grace

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Primary Teaching Resource: TULIP DVD by John Piper

a. Who is John Piper? i. Piper was pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church for 33 years. ii. Piper is now retired as a pastor but still an influential voice in American Christianity. iii. He has not only the pastoral qualifications but the theological intelligence and carefulness to teach on the subject. b. What is TULIP? i. TULIP is an acronym often used to describe what we would call Reformed Theology, or the Doctrines of Grace, or Calvinism. It is made up of 5 main points: Total Depravity Unconditional Election Limited Atonement Irresistible Grace Perseverance of the Saints ii. TULIP may not be the best way to explain Reformed Theology but it is the most popular way to do so. We will adjust and explain each point as needed as we move along in the seminar.

Participant Email List

I. If you want information, resources, and more, sign up on the email sheet or email biggrace@immanuelnashville.com to be added to the distribution list.

Big Grace Email Address and Twitter Handle

II. III. Big Grace email address: biggrace@immanuelnashville.com Big Grace on Twitter: @BigGraceICN

Schedule
I. 16 week seminar
Lesson 1: Introduction to TULIP: The Pursuit of Gods Glory in Salvation Lesson 2: A Summary of the Five Points of Calvinism Lesson 3: Irresistible Grace: Six Arguments Lesson 4: Irresistible Grace: Conditional Language and Biblical Truth Lesson 5: Total Depravity: Sin Is about God Lesson 6: Total Depravity: What Does Total Mean? Lesson 7: Unconditional Election: God Chose Individuals Lesson 8: TULIP: Reviewing Total Depravity and Irresistible Grace Lesson 9: Unconditional Election: Doing Missions When God Is Sovereign Lesson 10: Unconditional Election: What about Foreknowledge and Faith? Lesson 11: Unconditional Election: Romans 9 and the Two Wills of God Lesson 12: Limited Atonement: Why Did Jesus Need to Die? Lesson 13: Limited Atonement: Who Limits the Atonement? Lesson 14: Perseverance of the Saints: The Necessity of Endurance Lesson 15: Perseverance of the Saints: Kept by the Power of God Lesson 16: Ten Effects of Believing the Five Points of Calvinism

Big Grace

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Resources
I. II. You can find materials on this course from John Piper and Desiring God using the following link: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/seminars/tulip-part-1 With your help, I will compile a list of recommended reading and helpful articles and links. This will be sent out via email.

Watch DVD
I. Primary scripture passages for this session: a. Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us[a] for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. b. 2 Timothy 1:9 Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began c. Revelation 13:8 And all who dwell on earth will worship it [the beast], everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. As you are watching the first session, think through the following questions: a. What was new to you? b. What was confusing or unclear to you? c. What helped you rejoice in Gods grace?

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Big Grace

9/8/13