A Study Guide for The World-Tilting Gospel

The World-Tilting Gospel

Book by Dan Phillips Amazon Link

A Study Guide by Patrick Dudenhofer

Introduction

• How did the first century church “turn the world upside down?” (p. 14-15)

  • They had a different allegiance which changed how they viewed everything.

• What was Paul’s standard missionary operating procedure? (p. 16)

  • He found people and he preached Christ to them.

• Describe the change and growth of the Thessalonian believers. (p. 16)

  • The Thessalonians received the Gospel as the Word of God, abandoned their false gods, and became “conduits of the Gospel” in word and works.

• What divides early Christians from most “Christians” today? (p. 17)

  • Preaching the Word, recieving Jesus as the Word, knowing their need for the Gospel, believing AND obeying

• What is the cause of most barriers keeping Christians from world-tilting? (p. 17-18)

  • They lack biblical truth.

Chapter 1: Knowing God and Man

• What are the three approaches to our view of self? (p. 28-32)

  • Basically good (Christ as cheerleader); broken but capable (Christ as cosigner); mystical (Christ as puppetmaster)

• Biblically, what does our heart do or perform? (p. 32)

  • It is the fountainhead of how we live, seat of emotions, calculated plans, intellect, values, and decisions

• Why can’t we diagnose ourselves rightly? (p. 35)

  • Jeremiah 17.9 - We would need to use our deceitful heart to diagnose our deceitfulness!

• Who knows what lurks in the hearts of men? (p. 36)

  • God alone

• What does the Bible give us? (p. 37)

  • God’s disclosure of Himself and His diagnosis of the human condition.

• Are the three self-awareness approaches compatible with Scripture? (p. 36-37)

  • No - they are not based in Scripture and are hostile to it.

“To understand who Jesus says that we are, we must understand who we werer, and what we became, and how we got there.” (p. 37)

Chapter 2: What Happened in the Garden

• What is the purpose for God’s crowning act of creation? (p. 41)

  • He will be God’s representative on earth.

• What was humanity’s task? (p. 42)

  • To subdue and exercise dominion over the entire globe; a mediated kingdom with every resource.

• What kind of commands did God give? (p. 43)

  • Positive command and one negative command.

• What was Satan’s sales pitch to Adam (past Eve)? (p. 45)

  • You will be gods! You deserve it! “The young couple will be ultimate, not dependent.” (self-ruled)

• How does the author define “life”? (p. 48)

  • Enjoyment of God’s presence and its blessings; Life == blessing (quality); John 17:3

• What were some symptoms of death experienced by Adam and Eve? (p. 49)

  • Self-consciousness, awareness of guilt, hiding for fear

• How did the fall change their responsibilities? (p. 51)

  • It made it much more difficult, with death at the end.

Chapter 3: Like Father, Like Son

• “Adam” is the Hebrew word for what? (p. 54)

  • human being

• What is sin and where is the word first used? (p. 55)

  • Genesis 4:7; Missing a target/God’s holiness; lawlessness; being my own law and authority

• What is the nature of the image of Adam’s children? (p. 54)

  • The image of God is still present, but it is disfigured. (Genesis 9:6)

• How did David characterize sin’s effects on man in Psalm 14? (p. 58)

  • It affects man’s intellect/moral judgment, spiritual orientation, life orientation, morality.

• What was Jesus’ first recorded sermon? (p. 60)

  • “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

• How bad off is dead? (p. 66)

  • That’s it. It’s over.

• What are the “noetic effects” of sin? (p. 69)

  • the cognitive or mental/intellectual effects - Sin makes us think badly.

Chapter 4: The God Who Plans

• What does the author state is the central facet/character trait of God? (p. 80)

  • Holiness (3x in Isaiah 6:3)

• What is the meaning of holiness? (p. 82)

  • separation, apartness, transcendence, “otherness”

• How does the author summarize our dismal predicament? (p. 85-86)

  • 1. God is holy. 2. We aren’t.

• What is the definition of love as an attribute of God?

  • That motivating excellence which moves Him to plan and act to accomplish what is for His greatest glory, what is for His people’s highest good.

• Why can God love Himself first? (p. 88)

  • He is worthy of that kind of love. No one else is God.

• What is the definition of wisdom as an attribute of God? (p. 91)

  • That perfection whereby He knows Himself and all things possible and actual in one eternal and simple act.

• What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom? (p. 91)

  • Knowledge is possession of data. Wisdom is knowing what things mean, what things weigh, and what is their significance.

holiness == character
love == heart
wisdom == intellect, judgment

Chapter 5: God’s Rescue Operation Outlined

God’s Attributes: Holiness, Love, Wisdom

• What is the extent (or scale) of God’s plan for creation? (p. 95)

  • He has a controlling plan that encompasses everything. History is meaningful; it’s on target and on schedule.

• What is the relationship between God’s will and God’s power? (p. 96)

  • They are coextensive - everything He pleases He does. (Ephesians 1:4-6)

• What are the five observations made about God’s plan? (p. 97ff)

  • It is eternal; It addresses our spiritual problem; He selects people to make them holy; It addresses our relational problem (adoption); It gives the glory to God alone.

• What are the three factors listed focused on redemption? (p. 99)

  • The plan for the rescue of mankind to God’s glory: 1. The Conquering Seed, 2. Penal Substitutionary Atonement by Blood, and 3. Prophesied Fulfillment

• What does Isaiah 53 tell us about the delieverer-champion? (p. 106)

  • He is an individual; He has what it takes (holy, human, God); He does what is needed (3x imputation).

Chapter 6: God’s Rescue Operation Extended

• What happened to man’s divinely-appointed rule over the world? (p. 114)

  • Jesus is the agent of its realization.

• What are some of the supernatural elements of Jesus’ life? (p. 118)

  • fulfilled prophecies, perfect righteousness, miraculous life, confrontation with Satan, public miracles

• Explain the connection between Jesus’ person and His teaching. (p. 120-121)

  • We must hear His words and believe them in order to have a relationship with Him.

• What did God’s wisdom “reconcile” with respect to His perfections in the work of redemption? (p. 123)

  • His holiness and love/compassion; “justice and mercy kiss”

• How do we know there was no other means available to save mankind apart from Christ’s substitutionary atonement on the cross? (p. 125)

  • Christ pleaded for an alternative.

• Why must Jesus rise from the dead with a material body? (p. 129)

  • It was predicted, validates Jesus’ person and work, it shows His sacrifice was accepted (Romans 4:25).

Chapter 7: First Towering Truth - Declared Righteousness

• What two issues need to be addressed if we would have any hope of a God-blessed life? (p. 138)

  • What we’ve done and what we are

• What is the meaning of justify in Scripture - and what does it not mean? (p. 139)

  • Justify is “to declare reighteous” - not “to make righteous”

• What technical (theological) term is being described in 2 Corinthians 5:21? What does it mean in terms of salvation? (p. 143-144)

  • Imputation: Our sins are debited to Him, His righteousness is credited to us.

• What is faith? (p. 144)

  • Faith is the God-ordained instrucment of receiving the gift of perfect righteousness, credited to our accounts before God.

• What are the three inseparable components of how God brings sinners to Himself by grace alone through faith alone (justification)? (p. 147-148)

  • Hearing the Word, repentance, and vital faith

• Why does God need to take the initiative to speak to mankind? (p. 148)

  • We need to hear what we don’t know and could not figure out (we supress the truth).

• What was the mission Christ sent His disciples on in Luke 24? (p. 151)

  • To proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins.

• In repentance, what shows a changed mind? (p. 152)

  • A changed life.

• Explain how the fundamental element in repentance is both propositional and personal. (p. 157-158)

  • Jesus is the aim and heart of our message. “Jesus is Lord” is our confession. He has authority - absolutely - over everything.

• What is the basis of faith? (p. 161)

  • Statements of truth, propositions (not feelings)

• What is faith? (p. 162)

  • “Faith is embracing a word of God as true.”

• What do relationships rest upon? (p. 163)

  • facts, knowledge (Recognize)

• What does repentance require one do with the claims of God’s Word? (p. 165)

  • (Realize) that the truths are in fact true truths.

• It’s not enough to believe God’s revelation as true truths - what else is needed in repentance and faith? (p. 166)

  • (Resting) - lean on them, resulting in action

• What is the true object of faith? (p. 167)

  • It’s not just a true truth statement, but Jesus Christ as Lord - His person - rest on Him wholly.

• What does justifying faith mean? (p. 168)

  • “We abandon hope of finding meaning or purpose apart from Jesus as Lord.”

Chapter 8: Second Towering Truth - Born from Above

• What are our two biggest problems? (p. 170)

  • Our record and our nature

• What prophetic passage should Nicodemus remembered when Jesus said one must be born of water and the Spirit? (p. 174)

  • Ezekiel 36:24-27

• What does water refer to? (p. 174)

  • Justification - removal of guilt and impurity

• What is the relationship between saving faith and regeneration according to John? (p. 176)

  • Saving faith is a result of regeneration. Regeneration produces faith.

• What are the means God uses in regeneration/rebirth? (p. 178)

  • the Word of God (often through people)

• What does 2 Corinthians 5:17 describe those who are “rebirthed” as? (p. 178)

  • A new creation - not a replacement, but continuity.

• Describe the change to one’s heart in regeneration. (p. 179)

  • A deceitful, sick heart of stone to a new heart - how we think, evaluate, reason, and cherish is transformed.

• Does regeneration end at the moment of instantaneous transformation? Explain. (p. 180)

  • No, it begins a process of gradual growth to look more and more like Jesus.

• What is the final result of regeneration? (p. 181)

  • Glorification - seeing Jesus face-to-face-to-fa

• How do we know our sins are atoned for? (p. 182)

  • Because Jesus Christ rose from the dead!

Chapter 9: The Struggle for New Life

• What is a good way to understand the “flesh” - that with which we struggle? (p. 189)

  • Old drives and habits that struggle against the Holy Spirit

• What is sanctification? (p. 190)

  • The process of growing in holiness

• Give the three ‘P’s of sanctification (p. 190-191)

  • Positional, progressive, perfect

• How are justification and sanctification related? (p. 192)

  • Justification is the necessary ground of sanctification while sanctification is the necessary confirming fruit of justification.

• In which of the three types of sanctification are believers a participant? Give an illustrative verse. (p. 191)

  • Progressive - Lev. 20:7-9, 1 Peter 1:14-16: “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Chapter 10: Gutless Gracers and Crisis Upgraders

• What is the doctrinal characteristic of Gutless Gracers? (p. 197)

  • They deny works and obedience as necessary outgrowths of coversion - grace “covers” everything. “Growth in holiness is not a necessary fruit of salvation.” (p. 198)

• What truth is affirmed by Gutless Gracers? (p. 197)

  • Works we do have no part in meriting or keeping salvation. Salvation is by God’s grace alone.

• What distinction do we need in response to Gutless Gracers? (p. 197)

  • Works of obedience are a necessary result of salvation - not a component in salvation. Biblical faith always produces submission to the lordship of Christ.

• What does it mean to confess Jesus as Lord? (p. 199)

  • Admit Jesus Christ is the rightful boss, ruler, and authority - it acknowledges His right to command (and to command me).

• In the author’s discussion of Titus 2:11-12, what is true biblical grace shown to have? (p. 200-202)

  • “Guts” - transformative power!

• What does Ephesians 2 say God created us for (in Christ)? (p. 203)

  • Good works!

No Transformation == No Grace

• What is the doctrinal characteristic of Crisis Upgraders? (p. 205)

  • There is “something more” to be a true Christian beyond salvation - something vitally important and separate.

• How many kinds of Christians are there? (p. 207)

  • One: there is no second-level to ascend; all are “in Christ,” all are growing (which is a process).

• How is the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” definitional of Christianity? (p. 208)

  • It distinguishes Christians from non-Christians.

• What does Christian growth look like and what does it require? (p. 212)

  • It is a process that requires perseverance and endurance - looking to Christ alone. All of God’s riches and blessings are in Christ.

Chapter 11: The Quagmire of Muzz Mysticism

“You are trying to live the Christian life. Let go… and let God.” - A muzzy mystic

• What is Andrew Murray’s practical focus for the Christian life? (p. 214-215)

  • The call to the deeper life: cease/abide/wait; “stop striving”; surrender; be nothing

• Against waht do all ideas need to be tested? (p. 217)

  • The Word of God

• Our hearing of the word of God obligates us to do what? (p. 219)

  • Respond. God calls on dead people to hear and believe and then He gives them life so they can.

• Instead of “yielding” rightly, what should the believer’s focus be? (p. 222)

  • Obeying in a God-pleasing way by grace

• What does Paul mean when he uses “yield” in Romans 6? (p. 226)

  • Actively bringing something up to someone else; presenting; to place at at someone’s disposal; “report for duty”

Yielding = Obedience

Chapter 12: What About the Flesh?

• What are the four “senses” of the word “flesh” in the Hebrew and Greek languages? (p. 232-235)

  • A. Literal flesh; B. Body or human nature; C. Human nature as morally, spiritually, or physically weak and frail; D. Human nature as corrupted by sin (Paul’s primary use).

• What was Paul’s view of “being in the flesh?” (p. 238)

  • It is a past reality for every Christian (Romans 7:5; 8:4). There are only two kinds of people - those in the flesh and those in the Spirit. They are mutually exclusive. If you are “in the flesh” you are not in Christ.

• How does Paul view justification, sanctification, struggle, and life in the Spirit in the Christian’s life? (p. 240-241)

  • They are simultaneous facets of the Christian’s life, not stages.

• Who produces in us a life that pleases God? (p. 245)

  • The Spirit - not human effort

• Why should we not lose heart in our struggle against our flesh? (p.246-247)

  • The struggle means that the Holy Spirit is within us. You are alive!

• What is our response to our flesh (denial, defeat, deal)? (p. 248-249)

  • Deal - keep aware and push back. Battle!

• Discussion: “Pleasing God in ’the power of the flesh’” (p. 249-254)

  • Is it possible?
  • What is the normal framework of the epistles? (“Here’s some truth. Now do this.”)
  • Repent and get going.

Loving God “looks like believing obedience.”

Chapter 13: What About the Holy Spirit?

• What had to be accomplished before the Holy Spirit could be given to believers? (p. 258-259)

  • Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension (John 7:39)

• What establishes the New Covenant? (p. 260)

  • The blood Christ shed on the cross. His death was necessary.

• What is the meaning of the words “Christ” and “Messiah”? (p. 263)

  • “Anointed one” - specifically anointed with the Holy Spirit

• What should our personal response to Christ’s gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit be? (p. 268-275)

  • Thank, trust, target, and toil

Culmination - Putting It All Together

• If the absolute centrality of God is true, what is life about? (p. 280)

  • Finding out how to please and relate to God - God is ultimate!

• What is the ultimate cause of all the world’s miseries? (p. 282-283)

  • Sin - as God defines it. (The cure is the Gospel.)

• What is the center of Christian life, thought, worship, and message? (p. 295)

  • Jesus Christ

Afterword - “Say… What Did You Just Do?”

• What is the issue with only affirming 1 Corinthians 15 as the elements of the Gospel? (p. 305)

  • The world has its own definitions! The truths must be believed “in accordance with the Scriptures.”

• What is the need the Gospel answers? (p. 308)

  • We need a relationship with God that is real, dynamic, and going somewhere. God planned to rescue through His power all who believe in Christ through the Gospel to the purpose of glorifying God now and forever.

Thank you, Dan Phillips, for writing this fantastic book!