Bible Doctrine

The Basics

1. SALVATION
Octavian’s prep school teacher focused first on the most crucial decision any human can make, whether or not to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He taught the kids that all God requires of any human is that they believe (faith alone in Christ alone) and they will receive salvation. Simple.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died as a substitute for us. Romans 5:8

2. REBOUND
Octavian learned how to confess his sins to God properly through this fundamental Christian doctrine. Our pastor, R.B. Thieme has coined the term “rebound” to describe the most basic mechanic of the Christian life outlined in the following scripture. It was this method of naming his sins that Octavian learned in prep school. No feeling sorry, no guilt. Simple.

If we name our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to purify us from all wrong-doing. 1 John 1:9

3. INTAKE OF DOCTRINE
The kids learned a structured system of principles and mandates that began to provide them with guidelines for living. This elegant system of the Christian life became part of their world-view, indeed a lens through which they saw the world. Doctrine is what we call this system and the more they learned, the more they could understand. Their teacher emphasizes daily ingestion of doctrine for the same reason we eat food every day.

The word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword, and is piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is a critic of the thoughts and the intentions of the hear. Hebrews 4:12

All scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be mature, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16

I couldn’t believe how easily the children grasped this system and how eager they were to memorize scriptures, stay in fellowship with God through rebound, and focus on doctrinal principles (click on Get Going in the menu) when in conflict.

Within the framework of these three basic principles, Octavian began to focus less on his loneliness and his inner demons of perfectionism and self-doubt. He learned how to trust God’s provision for him and to relax in that provision. Octavian’s physicist friend, his current tutor and other blessings demonstrated to him God’s ability and willingness to meet his needs. While he may find himself unsure of the road to take regarding college (will it challenge me?), testing (what would I gain from taking the SAT now?) and other subjects that face highly gifted children, he doesn’t fret endlessly over his options but rather waits to see which one presents itself to him as best.

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