Introducing the Study

Are you ready to work out? Ready to flex your doctrinal and theological muscles? : D
This is going to be a challenging study! We’re all going to work hard, but through hard work, we are also going to be challenged and blessed as we meet together around this great topic of the Study of the Person and the Work of Jesus Christ. As was made so abundantly clear in our study of Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God, the gospel message IS the message of Christ in His Person and His Work. Nothing is more important to “get right.” Nothing is more devastating to “get wrong.”
I am going to be posting some notes from the material we are going to cover each week. Think of them as the map that we’ll use to navigate the material; after all, if we don’t have some idea of where we’re going, we won’t know if we got there! But like all maps, there may be things other travelers may notice along the way. If you have an interest in discussing something that you don’t see in the notes, make a note of it and we’ll be sure to stop and visit. Same thing with questions; feel free to bring up anything that you want to discuss. If the subject is one of those thorny theological questions or controversies, I’d sure appreciate a quick note by Tuesday or Wednesday so that I have some time to prepare.
You’ll notice some letters on the outline: R means read together, D means discuss, and Q, question.
You will gain the most from your personal study of the material. I recommend you read through your assignment quickly, in one sitting, to get the gist of it. By doing that, you’ll know where it’s going, you’ll know the scriptures that will be used as support, and you’ll have the “bones” of the section. Then go back and read through the material, slowly this time, taking time to put the flesh on the bones, so to speak. Look up the scriptures, see how it all fits together, write down your observations and your questions. The more you revisit the material, the more flesh you’ll put on the bones. It doesn’t take a long time to work through, especially once you’ve got the "lay of the land."
I tend to get ahead of myself when I a preparing to lead a section while I’m studying the next section, so I won’t start to prepare the next section’s notes until Thursdays after the study. It is my goal, God willing, to post the notes by Saturday or Sunday at the latest. This will also give you a chance to introduce yourself to the new section and form your own thoughts and questions.