Apollos Class Objectives

The work we've seen, so far, has been really great! Everyone seems to have a grip on how the papers come together and our classes have been engaging and challenging. As you continue to work, keep our original class objective in mind:


1. Our primary objective is to learn how to use the resources we have assembled to study and mine the eternal truths of the Scriptures for ourselves. 


2. We use the EFCA Statement of Faith for two reasons

• As a way of learning to utilize our resources
• As a way of learning who WBF is and what we believe, as a church. 

3. Our heart's desire, as leaders of the class, is for you to be able to articulate not only what you believe...but why you believe it. In that light, we want to encourage you in these areas:

• If you want to express an opinion about a particular point of doctrine or element of an article, you should be able to substantiate that opinion with Scripture. 
• If you disagree with anything, you should be able to explain why you disagree. You should also substantiate your position with Scripture. Disagreements are acceptable if the can be supported by a clear and accurate interpretation of Scripture, taken in context. 
• We're not looking for total harmony in all things (although there are essentials we all have to agree on if we are to call ourselves "Christians"). But we are expecting that, by the end of class, we all will understand and respect where WBF stands on certain doctrinal issues.

So, as you write your primary papers on the Articles of the SoF, some of your work may be fairly routine as you dive into the points they make and find that you agree with many of them. You will simply use Scripture to explain why these points are true.   

But, point #3 can be challenging as we go forward. We want you to think and consider the things you believe and why you believe them, being challenged by the truth expressed in the Scriptures. The more we study the Bible, the easier it is to see that there are certain things we may have been taught that just aren't accurate. As such, there will be times you may have to decide whether you will continue to believe these things, or will change your beliefs to accommodate what the Scriptures say. We encourage you to work diligently and apply the resources we have and the techniques we are learning in affirming the truth of the text, allowing your heart and mind to conform to God's inspired word. 

Some of you may never face challenges like this as you work your way through class. That's OK as well. Even if you're not challenged by the material, you will graduate with a clear idea of who we are as a church and where you fit in with our church family. Hopefully, along the way, you'll also pick up some great study disciplines. 

We hope and pray that all of us will be edified by our time and studies, finding at the end of class that we refreshed and confident that the foundations of our faith are secure and supportable by the truth we find on our Bibles.