Exploring the Fullness of the Whole Counsel of God

THEME: Persevering in the Whole Counsel of God   |   PLENARY SESSION: 2016 National Conference   |   BY: Bruce Ware

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it important to teach our children and students the difficult things of Scripture?
2. What should be our demeanor when we teach these things?
3. What does Dr. Ware mean by teaching both the “breadth and depth” of Scripture?
4. Why are “anchor points” necessary for helping children understand the storyline of the Bible? By the time your children arrive at adulthood, will they know these points and how they anchor the whole message of the Bible?
5. Why is it important to help children grow in their understanding of specific passages of Scripture?
6. What does Dr. Ware mean by “the glory is in the details”? What skills do your children and students need in order to rightly understand these details?
7. What is true of biblical doctrine and culture? Why is this important for us to acknowledge?
8. Why does Dr. Ware zero in on the doctrine of God?
9. What does Dr. Ware have to say about self-esteem? Why is this important for parents and teachers?
10. Why is it so important that our children and students rightly understand the biblical meaning and pervasiveness of sin?
11. What does Dr. Ware believe we sometimes under-emphasize about the person of Christ? The Holy Spirit?
12. Why must the doctrine of salvation be grounded in grace?
13. What place should the doctrines of heaven and hell have in our teaching? Why is this crucial?

For Further Thought

1. If you had to give a score from 1-10 on how you are doing in teaching your students and children both the breadth or depth of Scripture, what score would you assign to each (10 being the best score)?
2. What is one step you could take toward strengthening your teaching in the breadth or depth of Scripture?
3. Does your church employ a curriculum scope and sequence that aims toward both the breadth and depth of Scripture, in an age-appropriate manner? Is the rationale of this scope and sequence being communicated to ministry volunteers and parents? What is one step you could do to encourage the latter?
4. As a parent, what resources are you utilizing to help your children understand both the breadth and depth of Scripture in your home? What is one step you could take to partner with your church and encourage other parents?

Dr. Bruce A. Ware has taught theology for over 30 years in several leading evangelical colleges and seminaries. Since 1998, Bruce has served at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, where he is the T. Rupert and Lucille Coleman Professor of Christian Theology and chairman of the Department of Christian Theology. Bruce has written numerous books, including his theology book for children, Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God, and most recently The Man Christ Jesus: Theological Reflections on the Humanity of Christ. He has served as the president of the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, as well as the Evangelical Theological Society. Bruce and his wife, Jodi, have two daughters, Bethany and Rachel, and three grandchildren.

Note: This session was produced under our previous name, Children Desiring God.