Guarding the Heritage of the Apostles
Classes
Class 1: The Heritage of Common Doctrine
The class discusses the heritage of common doctrine passed down from the apostles, focusing on the parallels between the Old Testament ecclesia and the New Testament ecclesia. It examines the Ten Commandments as Israel's statement of faith and draws parallels to the early Christian community's need for a shared doctrine and practice.
Class 2: The Heritage of Ecclesial Structure
The class discusses the ecclesial structure based on apostolic teachings, emphasizing the importance of common doctrine and fellowship. It highlights the decentralization of ecclesial authority and the autonomy of individual ecclesias while maintaining unity through shared biblical principles.
Class 3: The Heritage of Mutual Fellowship
The class discusses the importance of mutual fellowship based on walking in the light of apostolic doctrine and practice. It emphasizes the responsibilities of receiving those who conform to apostolic teachings and rejecting those who deny them, using biblical examples to illustrate these points.
Class 4: The Heritage of Daily Reading
The class discusses the importance of daily Bible reading as a spiritual heritage from the apostles, emphasizing its role in sustaining faith and spiritual growth. It draws parallels between the Lord's Prayer and the need for daily spiritual sustenance from the scriptures.
Class 5: The Heritage of United Praise
The class discusses the importance of united praise in the early ecclesia, emphasizing the use of psalms and hymns as a heritage from the apostles. It highlights the role of psalms in both joyful and distressing times, and explores how modern hymns should reflect apostolic teachings.
Class 6: The Heritage of Communal Prayer
The class discusses the heritage of communal prayer in the early church, drawing from the practices of the first century ecclesia and the apostles. It emphasizes the importance of continual and specific communal prayers, referencing Acts and the Psalms.