ESSENTIAL STUDIES

I don’t mean to sound preachy, but each study on this page is a must-read for every Christian..

Studies and essays on the other pages of this site are informative and helpful for people who struggle with or have questions about the topics they cover. But the studies on this page address issues that every Christian must properly understand to live out the Christian life effectively. To be out of alignment with the Bible on these issues will have us living more like God’s enemies than like His children.

Christian Freedom (CORE THEOLOGY)

Most Protestants have an excellent understanding of God’s grace and forgiveness, but we’re terribly confused about the purpose of His laws. When we misunderstand the purpose of His laws, we struggle to separate right from wrong, and we develop strict, oppressive, religious rules out of fear that just about anything might be a sin.

This study leads us to a greater love for God, because it reveals how His laws are designed for our benefit, not for our suffering. Also, learn the Four Fundamental Freedoms of the Christian Faith and the Freedom Defeaters that keep us from enjoying them.

This study is about 8,500 words in length and takes about 1 1/2 hours to read.  To open it, just click on the following document: Christian Freedom (PDF)


Pride, Spiritual Arrogance & Judgmentalism (Every-Verse Method)

Almost all sins are rooted in either pride or greed (both of which are rooted in selfishness). And most Christians understand that pride is bad. But we tend to downplay the severity of the sin of pride, especially when it takes the form of spiritual arrogance or judgmentalism. This study examines all of the Bible’s pride passages and proves how eliminating pride, spiritual arrogance, and judgmentalism is one of God’s greatest priorities.

This study is almost 11,000 words in length and takes about 2 hours to read. To open it, just click on the following document. Pride, Spiritual Arrogance & Judgmentalism (PDF)


Greed & Oppression of the Poor (Every-Verse Method)

Some people might expect this study to quote Bible passages saying that it’s bad to desire money and that we should share our excesses with those in need. However, the Bible offers much more. Most of the Bible’s greed and oppression verses are intended to influence other parts of our lives, such as our business dealings and even our politics.

Therefore, this study is broken into the following segments: greed, greed of the poor, interest, oppression, God’s judgment of the oppressors, and taxes. Unfortunately, I had to bring both politics and economics into this study more than I would have preferred. But I had no choice, since so many Christians let their politics and economics override the Bible.

This study is almost 20,000 words in length and takes 3-4 hours to read. To open it, just click on the following document. Greed & Oppression of the Poor (PDF)