INTRODUCTION: Any great team will be strong in "the basics" of their sport, as well as excelling with star players. It may be the great plays which excite fans, but it is the basics of fielding, blacking, defense, etc. which will win championships. Starting in two weeks, I will be preaching a series of lessons on the general theme of "Back to Basics." These will deal with what we might call first principles that many of us have heard before. Why do we need these kind of lessons?

BODY

I. WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A LACK OF A KNOWLEDGE OF "THE BASICS."

A. Congregations over the brotherhood are plagued with members who simply do not know the fundamentals of the faith.

1. Many do not know about the oneness of the church.

2. Many cannot show from the Bible how someone is saved from his/her sins.

B. Why do we need these kind of basic lessons?

1. It is obvious that many of us do not know these principles, have forgotten them, or are ignoring them.

2. A disregard of these foundation principles lead to immaturity and makes us susceptible to sin.

a. Hebrews 5:11_14 _ "of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. {12} For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. {13} For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. {14} But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

3. It leads to apostasy and spiritual destruction.

a. Hosea 4:1 _ "Hear the word of the LORD, You children of Israel, For the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land....My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."

4. There is also two other reasons why we need these lessons in basics which we sometimes overlook.

a. There are often a number of people in our assemblies who do NOT KNOW these foundation principles. There are children grown up in our assemblies who need to hear these for the for the first time. There is often visitors in our midst who need to hear basic lessons of doctrinal matters.

b. It is also important to reiterate "where we stand" on many issues so all will know that we have not changed.

II. WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY ABOUT THE BASICS?

A. Peter tells us that it is important to reminded brethren about the basics.

1. 2 Peter 1:10_14 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.

B. Paul tells us that he preached the "whole counsel of God" which certainly included the basics.

1. Acts 20:26_27 _ ""Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. {27} "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God."

C. We are told to stand in the Old Paths.

1. Jeremiah 6:15_16 _ "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD. {16} Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'"

D. We need to be constantly reminded of these truth, lest we allow ourselves to slip away.

1. Hebrews 2:1_ " Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

A. We return to the balanced diet in preaching and teaching.

1. Just as meat is needed for mature Christian basic studies are required for growing brethren.

2. 1 Peter 2:1_2 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 

3. Hebrews 5:14-6:2 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

4. There are some who teach nothing but first principles, never going beyond baptism, the church, etc. On the other hand there are those who have not preached and taught on basic themes in years, preferring to teach on "Christian living" themes. Neither styles are not Biblical.

B. We need preachers who will preach the truth, regardless of those who might be offended.

1. 2 Timothy 4:1_5 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

C. We need elders who insist on a broad, Bible based curriculum in the Bible classes where the whole counsel of God is taught.

1. Acts 20:28_32 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. {29} "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. {30} "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. {31} "Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. {32} "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

2. Elders are needed who insist on the truth being taught and make sure that the basics of the word are given to growing Christians. We need elders who know that any good house must have a foundation before it can rise.

D. What are some of the basics which we are speaking of? (Just a few)

1. Existence of God

2. Inspiration of the Bible

3. How to study the Bible

4. What must one do to be saved?

5. The blood of Jesus and what it does for the child of God.

6. The church and the Christian's relationship to it.

STUDIES OF BASICS:
Intoduction
Existence of God
Creation of Mankind
Epistles- Christ's Messages to the Church
Book of Acts
The Inspiration of The Bible
The Inspiration of The Bible (Part 2)
The Life & Mission of Christ
The New Testament
The Book of Revelation -- Victory