New Member Instruction
New Members Class Topics
• The Doctrines of Salvation, Original Sin and Atonement
• The History of the A.M.E. Church
• The Articles of Faith and Sacraments
• The Mission and Purpose of the A.M.E. Church
• The History of St. Mark
• The Vision of St. Mark
• The Organizational Structure of the Connectional and Local Church
• Becoming a Full Member
• Opportunities to Serve at St. Mark
A.M.E. Publishing – http://www.amecpublishinghouse.com/index.php
St. Mark AME Bible Study
“Black Liberation Unit”
Wednesdays 6-7:30pm
Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIod-uupj0pGNDRJzhUCfSdEdfe8vS1phcM
General Bible Study Tools:
Studying the Bible begins with faith that God exists and that, by His Holy Spirit, God inspired the 66 books of scripture that comprise the whole Bible.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 NIV
Studying the Bible should be systematic and not random. Read the Old and New Testaments through in one year
- As you read, first ask what the text is saying;
- then ask what the text means. Let the Bible interpret itself. Pray for understanding and make notes. Bring in Bible a Bible dictionary, concordance and commentary at this point, but not before you have sought understanding through prayer;
- then ask what the text means to you personally. Pray and invite the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s truth;
- finally, again remember that the Bible is one book consisting of 66 parts. As you read the Bible, look for how each part supports the entire theme of the Bible which may be summed up in John 3:16.
Basic Study Resources:
- New International Version of the Bible
- NIV Exhaustive Concordance, 2nd Ed, byEdward Goodrick
Zondervan, 1999, $39.99 list - Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, by Trent C. Butler
Broadman & Holman, 2003, $29.97 list - Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary,by Kenneth Barker and JohnKohlenberger,
Zondervan, 1999, Vol 1 $37.99 list, Vol 2 34.99 list - The Moody Atlas of Bible Lands,by Barry Beitzel
Moody, 1985, $42.99 list
The Old Testament consists of:
Law
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
History
Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther.
Poetry and Wisdom books.
Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs.
Major Prophets
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel.
Minor Prophets
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.
The New Testament Consists of:
Gospels
The first four books of the New Testament are the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Each Gospel tells the life story of Jesus. The first three Gospels — Matthew, Mark and Luke — are similar in content and structure. Because of this, they are grouped and labeled the “Synoptic Gospels.” Compared to the Synoptics, the book of John has markedly different subject material and organization.
Acts
The fifth book of the New Testament is Acts of the Apostles, or simply “Acts.” Acts recounts the early history of Christianity. After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Twelve Apostles began to preach and minister in a variety of locations. Acts relates some of their stories and depicts the growth of the Christian religion. The second half of Acts focuses on Paul, an anti-Christian who later converts and becomes a missionary.
Paul’s Epistles and Hebrews
Books 6 to 18 of the New Testament are letters, called “epistles,” written by Paul. Paul’s epistles are addressed to various communities and deal with philosophical and social issues facing new Christians. These 13 books are: Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. It is a matter of debate whether Paul is the writer in Hebrews.
General Epistles
The seven general epistles — James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Jude — are ascribed to various authors and are addressed to a general Christian audience, rather than the specific communities addressed in Paul’s Epistles. The General Epistles are alternatively called the “Catholic Epistles” and make up books 20 to 26 of the New Testament.
Revelation
The 27th and final book of the New Testament is called the Book of the Revelation to John, or more commonly, “Revelation.” Revelation is unique in that it is the only New Testament book to focus entirely on prophetic experience. Its use of vibrant symbolism is also a distinguishing characteristic. Though a man named John is the attributed author, the writer’s exact identity remains unclear.