Glossary of Terms

BEAR KINGDOM FRUIT

Through the empowering of Holy Spirit we co -labor with Jesus to bear fruit that contributes to God’s kingdom purposes in all spheres of life

BROKEN IMAGE BEARER

As a result of the Fall, human beings no longer live in ways that consistently reflect the character of God. We are “Broken Image Bearers”

COVENANTS

Promises God makes with individuals and his people: Adam and Eve Genesis 1: 26 – 28 ; Noah Genesis 9: 8 – 17; Abraham Genesis 12: 1 – 3; 15: 1 – 21; Moses and Israel Exodus 19 – 24, 34: 1 – 28, Deuteronomy 29 – 30; David 2 Samuel 7: 1 – 16; Jesus and the New Covenant Jeremiah 31: 31 – 34, Matthew 26: 26 – 29, 1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 26

EARLIEST WRITINGS

 The writings from the first centuries of the Church, which were formative in the development of Christian thought, practice and theology 

EXPERIENTIAL RELATIONAL PROCESSES 

This refers to ones ongoing relational interaction with God and people which are necessary for Christian formation

FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE GROUP

A people group who identify themselves as indigenous to the nation in which they live, such as Aboriginals, Inuits, etc.

GOD’S BIG STORY

The whole Bible Narrative from beginning to end, including the themes that run through the story

HEART

The ‘heart’ refers to the central core of our being, out of which flows everything we do. From the heart spring the issues of life shaped by our desires and will (Prov 4:23) 

HOPE

Our hope is in the assurance of the final return of Jesus and with that, the resurrection from the dead and the establishment of God’s kingdom reign in creation

IMAGE BEARERS

 In Genesis 1:26 we read that God created human beings in his image and likeness. In other words, we are made to represent and reflect God’s character as his “Image Bearers” to the rest of creation

JESUS

All mentions of Jesus in this document refer to Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, the ultimate revelation of who God is, and the awaited Messiah depicted in the Bible

JESUS’ RETURN

Between the first coming of Jesus and his final return  with the consummation of his kingdom as described in 1 Corinthians 15, we leave room for a range of eschatological views

MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

All that Holy Spirit is and does in the life of the believer e.g. speaking truth, guiding, comforting, giving gifts, ministering identity, empowering healing and miracles etc. 

NATURE AND CHARACTER OF GOD

Nature is who God is e.g. personal, relational, uncreated, infinite, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, creator, eternal, etc.. Character is how he chooses to act e.g. in personal and relational ways. He is faithful, kind, slow to anger, etc.

NEW COVENANT

The New Covenant is a new relationship between God and humans, mediated by Jesus and the Spirit, which includes all people that confess Jesus as Lord

RENEWED IMAGE BEARER

Through the help of the Holy Spirit, followers of Jesus have increasing capacity to reflect God’s character, like Jesus  

SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM

The Old Testament regulations for worship, sacrifices and offerings as described in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy

NECESSARY FOR SALVATION

Within the Body of Christ there are various views of the atonement. This curriculum does not commit to any single view

SPHERES OF INFLUENCE

Family, Education, Government, Church, Economics, Science and Technology, Arts and Entertainment

SPHERES OF LIFE

The variety of roles a person has in the context of everyday life (family member, neighbor, friend, citizen, consumer, student, employee, employer, inventor, sportsman, entertainer, farmer and more). Each role is a relevant context to display God’s character and ways

STEWARD CREATION

God gave Adam and Eve the mandate in Genesis 1:28 to rule and reign together with him by bringing beauty, order and abundance to all of creation and bear kingdom fruit

STORY TIMELINE 

This could look like the timeline included in this document. Each week students could add in themes, story titles, pictures, etc. to visually depict how the instruction/teaching and other program elements build into God’s big story

TRANSFORMATIONAL PROCESS/RENEWAL PROCESS

The process of increasingly becoming more like Jesus in the way he lived and related to the Father, to others and standing against the enemy for the sake of the world. See Facilitating Transformation

TRINITARIAN FELLOWSHIP/GOD’S TRIUNE FELLOWSHIP

The Bible, along with the earliest writings of the followers of Jesus, reveals a Trinitarian God who is three persons – Father, Son and Spirit – who are one in a relationship of perfect love and mutual submission. By his very nature, God is personal and relational

TRUE HEART CHANGE

A process of change from the inside out. Change that originates inwardly in changed beliefs, values and desires and results in outward expressions e.g. behaviors

TRUE IMAGE BEARER

Jesus says that if you have seen him you have seen the Father. Jesus lived in ways that consistently reflected the character of God he was the ‘True Image Bearer’ (Hebrews 1:3, John 14:9, Colossians 1:15)

WHOLENESS

We have entered salvation in Jesus Christ and are living more in line with God’s original intention for humans, as his Image Bearers