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to the United Church of God - Australia! Distributor of the Good News Magazine
Bible Study Course
Only the Bible gives us the answers to life's crucial questions such as why we are here, where the world is headed and what the future holds. Our FREE bible study course consists of twelve lessons that answer these questions and many more.
This unique bible study course is available on-line complete with a review of each lesson to evaluate what you have learned. Just scroll down this page and start your journey to understand the main themes of the bible with lesson one.
Alternatively if you would prefer to have the bible study course mailed to you, simply enrol now. A new lesson will then be sent to you each month free of charge until you have completed all twelve lessons.
If you have questions after completing a lesson, e-mail or contact us and we will be pleased to assist you.
Lesson 1:Why the Bible is the Word of God Our secular society has come to the point where it basically ignores the Bible as the instruction book for personal character. Truth has become relative in this age. In the energetic pursuit of material possessions, humans are ignoring spiritual development. This lesson addresses the questions of God's existence, why humans were created in the first place, and an overview of the Bible itself.
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Lesson 2:The Word of God:The Foundation of Knowledge Despite living in perhaps the wealthiest society of all time, people in our Western world still search for meaning for their lives. The explosion in information is promoted as the answer to our spiritual wanderings. But is secular information the same as the true knowledge of God? This lesson discusses the unique understanding that can only be found in the Bible. It shows how God inspired the various books by different authors, and how to understand the various types of literature found in the Bible. Most importantly, it teaches how to apply its practical truths in our personal lives.
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Lesson 3:Why Did God Create Mankind? Various theories exist about how humans came into existence and about the purpose, if any, for human life. Is there a reason for us being on earth? Or, as evolution would like us to believe, did we come into existence by pure coincidence? If that were the case, we might as well eat and drink for tomorrow we die. This lesson shows from the Bible the fantastic potential we have from God-not only now, but for all eternity.
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Lesson 4:Why Does God Allow Suffering? How do we reconcile anguish and suffering with the Bible's portrayal of a loving God? Why would He allow the horrendous miseries that afflict humanity? Does the Bible explain suffering? Many people, the faithful and the faithless, look at calamities—whether personal, national or global—and agonize over these questions. In this lesson we will see how the Bible addresses this enigma: Why does God allow suffering?
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Lesson 5: Is There Hope for Human Survival?
The world changed forever in 1945. That year, with the detonations of atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, man for the first time demonstrated the frightening potential to destroy all human life. Since then our weapons have grown far more powerful and threatening. As we will see in this lesson, many of these threats to human survival play prominent roles in prophecies in the Bible.
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Lesson 6: What Is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God?
Is the work of organized religion the Kingdom of God on earth today? This is the central idea that shapes the view of the religious world. But is this the same Kingdom of God the Bible describes? In this lesson you'll discover the biblical answers to these important questions.
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Lesson 7: The Calling of God
"...we all understand that relationships are important. Our lives revolve around our families, friends, neighbors and associates. But where does God fit in? What is the meaning of God's relationship with man? What priority does He place on it? Does man need a relationship with God? If so, what is the basis and purpose of that relationship? In this lesson we will carefully explore these vital questions and see how the Holy Scriptures answer them."
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Lesson 8: What Is Christian Conversion?
In this lesson we examine the process by which our lives can be turned to God—the process of conversion. We will learn what Peter meant when he exhorted his countrymen, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ..." (Acts 3:19). We examine how, beginning with repentance, new converts can turn from a life of sin to become servants of the living God.
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Lesson 9: The Transforming Power of God's Spirit
Scripture tells us that we, too, need to undergo a transformation—a change, with God's help, from "the old man" to "the new man," a human being "renewed in knowledge" and "created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness" (Colossians 3:9-10; Ephesians 4:22-24). In this lesson we discuss this remarkable change, made possible by the transforming power of God's Spirit.
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Lesson 10: What Is the Church?
What are the roots, the history, of the Church? What sets apart people whom God calls His own? How does God use the Church to achieve His purposes? What does the Church do for you, and what should its members do for the Church? How can you be part of what God is doing through His Church? In this lesson you will learn what the Bible teaches about God's Church and what it means for you.
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Lesson 11: Christianity: A Way of Life
Is it acceptable to believe we are free to worship God as we wish, to refashion God in our own image? Or has God revealed an approach to life that He expects us to follow? Does it make any difference in the relationship we are supposed to have with Him? In this lesson we examine the answers to these questions and more from the Scriptures.
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Lesson 12: God's Festivals: Keys to Humanity's Future
Humanity has been deprived of the keys that unlock a comprehensive understanding of God's plan and purpose for humankind. God reveals His splendid plan in the prophecies and teachings of the Scriptures. In this lesson you will see how God has provided us with the keys to unlock His plan through His sacred festivals.
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IT’S TIME TO REFLECT ON WHERE YOU PERSONALLY ARE HEADED WITH YOUR LIFE!
What does this new knowledge mean for you?
We hope you have enjoyed the Bible Study Course, but just increasing your understanding of the Bible is not enough. Each individual is responsible for what they know and God expects us to act on it!
This could be your chance to begin making some changes in your life. We are here to help and it is all FREE.
To find our more be sure to order a free subscription or download the current issue (pictured) of The Good News magazine (PDF or HTML). We offer many more free booklets that will make the Bible come alive and provide vital information for Christians of the 21st century. Don’t miss this opportunity!
