1st Peter (2015)

Why do we believe that the Bible is the revealed Word of God? Are you comfortable answering this question? Listen to this lesson to learn that there are constant attacks, both from the inside and the outside, on the veracity of the truth of the Bible. Understand the meaning of inspiration and learn about the two authors of Scripture, the Holy Spirit and the human authors. See that the Scriptures are sufficient for everything we need and they address every area of human activity. Find out that God created us with the right equipment to be able to understand His Word.

How much of the Bible can we believe today? 25%? 50%? Or would you believe 100%? Listen to this lesson to learn that all of the Bible is God’s revelation and is as accurate today as it was when it was written. Hear about the writers of Scripture and how the Holy Spirit directed them so they wrote what God wanted them to write. Hear a definition of inspiration and see that it involves the very words of God which are inspired. Understand that our foundational belief must be that Scripture is accurate and we can trust it completely.

Is the Bible just another wise book or is it the actual words of God’s revelation to mankind? Listen to this lesson to learn that God the Holy Spirit oversaw the writing of each of the books of the Bible and that it is without error. Find out that once again the Bible is under attack even in Christian institutions and see the importance of understanding inspiration and inerrancy. Appreciate that we can depend on the Bible to be rock-solid and trust it as we face problems in our life.

If you sometimes feel your life is not very important, listen to this lesson to learn that angels are greatly interested in you and are watching to see how you are handling suffering and problems that God allows in your life. Learn how the Old Testament prophets wrote about the Messiah’s sufferings and the glories which were to come. Marvel that the timetable that was prophesied for the Messiah worked out to the exact day. Hear about the inerrancy of the Scripture and how that is challenged periodically. Accept the suffering you go through now in the light of the future.

Was it one of those days? You had lots of plans but everything went downhill? How did you handle the frustration? Listen to this lesson to hear the purpose of the tests and trials that come into our lives. See that God is using these tests to reveal our obedience. Understand the importance of endurance and where it leads. Find out three basic reasons we have adversity and about two categories of suffering. When trials come your way, trust God and see the deliverance that will come at the end of the test.

Do Christians needs psychological help when they have problems? Listen to this lesson to learn that God created flexibility in our brains so we can recover from the chaos that comes from our sin nature. See that the choices we make in life become cumulative and cause neural pathways in our brain. Find out that choosing to obey God leads to spiritual maturity and the peace and happiness that come with it. Learn that the only lasting solution is to commit to making the Word of God our priority and experience the transformation promised in the Bible.

Do you walk as a wise person or as a fool? You’re always doing one or the other. They are mutually exclusive. Listen to this lesson to learn about a number of Scriptures that teach us equivalent terms for the spiritual life including abiding in Christ, walking by means of the Spirit, and walking in the light. See that the opposite condition is walking in darkness. Learn the importance of confession, its connection to the filling of the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18, and the correct interpretation of 1 John 1:7-9. Find out that you have to compare Scriptures in order to see the whole picture taught in the Bible.

Have you ever been so happy you were almost ecstatic? Maybe you got that raise you've been wanting or got accepted into the college you had dreamed about. It's easy to be happy when things are going your way. Listen to this lesson to learn about a true joy believers can have in the middle of unimaginable disasters. See that God has a training program tailored for each of us to develop the spiritual skills we need to experience this joy. Find out that this requires choices on our part so that even when it's hard and uncomfortable we can apply the Word of God to guide our actions.

So you’ve taken an important test. What did you find out about yourself? Were you prepared or did you fail? Listen to this lesson to learn that there are tests we take throughout our Christian life. Find out what the purpose of this testing is. See that the tests we face are individually tailored by God for each one of us. The next time you're hit with an unexpected difficulty, call upon the content of the doctrine in your soul so you can endure it with the help of God the Holy Spirit.

How can a Christian have joy and rejoice when everything in their life seems like a disaster? Listen to this lesson to learn that it’s not something we can do on our own. Find out that we can only have joy in suffering and disappointment and grief when we are learning God’s Word and walking by means of the Spirit. Learn about two words used for joy in the New Testament and the significance of each. Hear six aspects of joy and that it is supernatural. See similar passages in 1st Peter and James as they deal with joy. Understand that even if we face persecution for our faith in Christ, we can rejoice because we know about the eternal rewards we will receive.

At the beginning of this class Dr. Dean showed a video on Mormom missionaries.

The book Dr. Dean references in this class is called The State of the American Mind: 16 Leading Critics on the New Anti-Intellectualism.

Dr. Dean also mentioned Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America by Robert Whitaker.