Friday, January 4, 2013

Foundational Texts

What verses/passages shape your theology? What verses/passages shape your life? What verses/passages give interpretive shape to other verses/passages in scripture? I think that you can learn a lot about the shape of a person's theology by identifying those foundational texts. We can learn a lot about our own theology by identifying our foundational texts.

As an exercise, I've listed 13 passages below. They are all critically important passages in their own way. Rank these texts 1 to 13 in terms of their importance in giving shape to your overall theology and discipleship. What does your ranking reveal about the shaping principles of your theology?

______Matthew 28:18-20 – “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

______Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

______1 John 4:8 – God is love.

______James 1:27 – Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

______Acts 2:38-39 – Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

______Revelation 4:8 – “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

______Matthew 5:3-10 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

______Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

______Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

______1 Peter 2:9-10 – But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

______Matthew 22:37-39 – Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

______John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

______Luke 24:5-6 – “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I love this post, Chad. I would have added 2 Timothy 3:16-17 as a 14th passage. I just wanted to see a passage related to the authority of Scripture. That would be my # 3 behind 1 John 4:8 and Acts 2:38-39. Very thought provoking, though. Thanks!
Shawn Cornett
http://shawncornett.wordpress.com

# 4____Matthew 28:18-20 – “All authority...

# 3_____Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

#1_____1 John 4:8 – God is love.

# 13_____James 1:27 – Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

# 2_____Acts 2:38-39 – Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

# 10_____Revelation 4:8 – “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

# 11_____Matthew 5:3-10 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is...

# 8____Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

# 7____Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

# 12____1 Peter 2:9-10 – But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

# 5_____Matthew 22:37-39 – Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

# 9_____John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

# 6____Luke 24:5-6 – “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!