In This Edition:
Instill: Key Texts and Core Teachings to Hand Down
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Instill: Key Texts & Core Teachings To Hand Down
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13)
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit with be with you all” (2 Corinthians 3:14)
A while back, I shared a collection of sermons called “Begin,” intended to help you begin a hopeful journey exploring the greatest story ever told. These are the topics for beginners, and where I encourage people to begin in discussing and sharing faith in a good God, a loving Christ, a powerful Spirit, a gracious gospel, a joyful response, and a blessed assurance. A year ago, I shared "Discover," another collection of my sermons (complete with video, podcast, discussion guides, and transcripts) designed to welcome you to a brand new world where the gospel changes everything. Think of it as the next steps in one’s journey for spiritual discovery. “Discover” offers lessons on a new reality, a new identity, a new community, and a new way of life.
Today I offer a third collection called “Instill.” What are the key passages we would want to hand off, live from, and pass down to another generation? Church history gives us remarkable help in answering that question. For nearly two millennia, the people of God have encouraged a key set of scriptures and teachings for incorporation into any instructional plan for any age group. The teachings we must instill in the heart of every child and every new believer. These are:
The 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)
The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13 / Luke 11:1-4)
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
The Rule of Faith—a list of basic teachings all Christians believe, found listed in the 7 “ones” of Ephesians 4, but codified and known far and wide in forms such as the Apostle’s Creed.
I have a complete series for all but the last set, and intend that series for the spring of 2026. I encourage you to visit the page often for more. May you be blessed with the overwhelming peace and inexpressible joy that only Christ can give.
The 10 Commandments
Words to live by…for any people in any generation.
I am the Lord your God; No other gods; No graven images; No name in vain; Remember the sabbath day; Honor father and mother; Don’t kill; Don’t commit adultery; Don’t steal; Don’t bear false witness; Don’t covet
Our Father: The Lord’s Prayer
The prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray.
Our father; In heaven; Holy is your name; Your kingdom come; Your will be done; Give us; Forgive us; Deliver Us; The power and the glory
One Sermon That Changed The World: The Sermon on the Mount
The greatest sermon ever told.
The school of Christ; Your blessed life now; Reign or shine; Calling all neurotics; The antidote to anger; Wanderlust; To tell the truth; A perfect love; Our God who sees in secret; When you haven’t got a prayer; Judgy McJudgerson; Who do you trust?; Practice makes perfect
The Fruit of the Spirit
What a person shaped by the character of Christ looks like.
Love; Joy; Peace; Patience; Kind Good Gentle; Faith; Soil; Meekness
The Rule of Faith: What Every Christian (Ought To) Believe
The seven central and essential doctrinal markers for people of God.
[An 8-part series will appear in spring, 2026].
Here is a series on 1 Corinthians based on the 7 essential doctrinal markers: 7 lenses for Christians in Corinth; One Body: Called To Unity; One Baptism: Sharing A Common Bond; One Spirit: Power & Wisdom; One Faith: Our Way of Life; One Lord: The Supreme Allegiance Which Unites Us; One Hope: Living Out Of Our Inheritance; One God Whose Name Is Love
Here are some stand-alone lessons dealing with Ephesians 4:1-6. Mere Christianity; The Gospel; The Diameter of the Gospel: 7 Ones; The Gospel in Ephesians; In This Together
These lessons appear on my “Instill” webpage and consist of sermons preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR), and a few guest appearances at other places. Video, podcast, discussion guides, and transcripts are available. These lessons also appear on the Life on the West Side podcast. Available on all podcast platforms.
Equip Orlando
Come out to sunny Orlando July 10-12! I’ll be giving 4 lectures on Christian apologetics titled “Why Christianity Makes Sense.” I’d love for you to join us!
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My name is Nathan Guy. I serve as associate professor of philosophy, theology, and ethics and as the director of the David E. Smith Healthcare Ethics and Human Dignity Initiative at Harding University (Searcy, Arkansas). I am also privileged to serve as preaching minister for the West Side Church of Christ in Searcy. I joyfully adjunct courses for the School for Professional Studies at St. Louis University and enthusiastically serve as chairman of the board for the Center for Christian Studies. I am happily married to Katie and am the proud father of Grace (who is 4) and Henry (who is 1). You can find more resources on my website over at nathanguy.com. You can also follow me (@nathanpguy) on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), Threads, Bluesky, and YouTube.
