Course Guide

Foundations Course Guide 1

Introduction
Welcome!

We are so glad that you are going through the Foundations course. Whether you’re begin-
ning your journey with Jesus or recommitting yourself to Him, it’s always wise to revisit
the basics. I once read that the journey of discipleship always brings us back to the begin-
ning.

As you progress through this study, you’ll become established in elementary truths.
Truths that, for many, have been forgotten or misunderstood, resulting in stunted spiritual
growth.

Throughout this manual you’ll discover lesson summaries, reflective questions, devotional
content, and declarations that will help you maximize this study. The course is designed
for just one lesson per week, so take your time. Of course, you can move at your own pace,
but remember that any quality building takes time and cannot be rushed.

Let’s build together!

John Bevere
LESSON ONE

Foundations
LESSON BLUEPRINT
The Bible uses the metaphor of a building to describe the construction of our lives. With
the proper foundation, a building can stretch thousands of feet high. It is the foundation
that determines potential—or lack thereof. During this lesson, we established that Jesus
Christ is our foundation. This is secured in our hearts as the Holy Spirit illuminates the
reality of who Jesus is. Our response to this revelation will determine whether we build a
life that endures or a life that does not.

For a building to be constructed properly, builders must follow a specific blueprint de-
signed by engineers, beginning with the foundation phase. Similarly, God—the Master
Builder—has a specific blueprint and design for our lives that can be found through study-
ing His Word and yielding to His Spirit.

The book of Hebrews lays out six foundational truths that we must build our lives on: re-
pentance from dead works, faith toward God, baptisms, the laying on of hands, resurrec-
tion of the dead, and eternal judgment (6:1–2). As we become established in each of these
elementary truths, we’ll grow into the full stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).

INSPECTION
1. What is the most important phase of the construction of a building and why?
2. Why is having Jesus as your foundation so important to your spiritual growth?
3. What is needed to have Jesus as your foundation?
4. In Matthew 7:24–27, Jesus taught on the wise and foolish builders. What was the
difference between the wise builder and the unwise builder? Why is this import-
ant?

SET IN STONE
If you want to discover your purpose, you must begin by seeking God diligently. The Bible
tells us that God rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). When anyone
earnestly seeks God, fully expecting an answer, that person will be shown what they’ve
been put on earth to do.

I’ve learned that God will give you the overall picture of your life’s calling. In other words,
He’ll show you the end from the beginning while not revealing all the details in-between.
This ensures you remain dependent on Him while He directs your steps and leads you
into all that He has planned for you. This is why a personal relationship with the Lord is
foundational to discovering and living in your purpose.

FIXER UPPER
Spiritual maturity is not reached by the passing of the years, but by obedience to the will
of God. Some people mature into an understanding of God’s will more quickly than others
because they obey more readily; they more readily sacrifice the life of nature to the will of
God. —Oswald Chambers

GROUND WORK
As a Christian, your transformation progresses with the renewing of your mind. Paul
wrote, “Be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the
renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2 AMP). Now is the perfect time to establish a strong
foundation for your identity in Christ through the power of declaration.

Each week, at the end of every lesson, you will have five biblical statements to declare.
Statements that are related to who you are as a child of God and how you are empowered
to live in Christ. Let’s begin with the five statements below.

1. I am holy and accepted by God. (Ephesians 1:4, 6; 1 Peter 1:16)

2. I have been made alive spiritually through my union with God. (Ephesians 2:1, 5)
3. I am complete and whole in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 2:10)
4. I am born of God and the devil does not touch me because greater is He Who is
in me than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:18)
5. I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. Old things have passed away and all things
have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Foundations Course Guide 4

LESSON TWO

Repentance from
Dead Works
LESSON BLUEPRINT
Repentance levels and straightens the ground of our hearts to prepare us for building
according to God’s design. True repentance occurs when we realize our sinful condition
and need for a savior. This revelation changes the way we perceive ourselves and God, and
it should also change the way we live.

Repentance is not just a choice to walk away from sin but also a choice to turn toward
God. For this to happen, we must give Jesus the lordship of our life. To embrace Jesus
as “Lord” means we give Him complete ownership. As we yield our lives to Him, God
delivers us from the realm of darkness and transfers us into the light, glory, and life of His
kingdom.

INSPECTION
1. Why is repentance necessary?
2. How should we respond to conviction?
3. What is the result of godly sorrow?
4. When repenting, what are you turning away from and what are you turning to?
How does the story of Justin and Angela relate to this?

SET IN STONE
In his book All In, Mark Batterson wrote: “If Jesus is not Lord of all, then Jesus is not Lord
at all. In Luke 9:23–24, Jesus threw down the gauntlet with His disciples. He wanted to see
who was in and who was out. Or more accurately, who was all in. He declared, ‘Whoever
wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save
it.’ . . . The disciples took this literally. We can at least take it figuratively. I’m not suggest-
ing we will die physically for Christ, but we must die to ourselves . . . If Jesus hung on His
cross, we can certainly carry ours! And that isn’t just our greatest responsibility. It’s our
highest privilege.”

FIXER UPPER
Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps,
you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks
in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not sur-
prised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably
and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that
He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new
wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You
thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He
intends to come and live in it Himself. —C.S. Lewis

GROUND WORK
Now is the perfect time to establish a strong foundation for your identity in Christ
through the power of declaration.

Declare these five biblical statements to establish who you are as a child of God.

1. I have received abundant grace and the gift of righteousness. I reign in life
through Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)
2. I have received the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know Jesus intimately. The
eyes of my heart are enlightened so that I know the hope to which the Lord has
called me. (Ephesians 1:17–18)
3. Jesus lives in me, and I live by faith in Him and His love for me. (Galatians 2:20)
4. I have a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Fear and intimidation have no
power over me. (2 Timothy 1:7)
5. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

Foundations Course Guide 6

LESSON THREE

Faith toward God

LESSON BLUEPRINT

Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). This is because faith is not
just mentally acknowledging what Jesus has accomplished for us; it’s also believing with
the heart—the point of contact between heaven and earth and the very place Jesus wants
to abide.

The gospel is the good news of salvation, and faith is what gives us access to everything
salvation supplies. This is critical to know because outside the sovereignty of God, faith is
how we connect with our Creator, renew our minds, and receive covenant righteousness.

INSPECTION
1. What are the basic facts of the gospel, and what does it mean to place your faith in
the gospel?
2. According to Romans 10:9–10, how is salvation initiated?
3. What internal changes does faith activate?

SET IN STONE
Paul warned about those who “preach a different Jesus than the one we preach” (2 Corin-
thians 11:3–4 NLT). To preach another Jesus is to preach an incorrect version of Him—a
different Jesus than the One depicted in the Bible.

So how have we preached a different Jesus? By what we’ve failed to communicate. In pres-
ent times, we create a “Jesus” who will give us whatever our passions desire. Anytime Jesus
is depicted as just Savior (and not Lord), we are presenting a Jesus that offers salvation on
our terms. This means we believe we can have the benefits of His salvation, without relin-
quishing our life to Him. Can you see how subtle this deception is?
When we make Jesus Lord, He becomes our Savior as well. Jesus as Savior emphasizes
forgiveness of sins and redemption; Jesus as Lord translates to a complete reorientation of
one’s life. When we only preach Jesus as Savior, we’re preaching a different Jesus.

FIXER UPPER
The stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of holy desire.
Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present or there
will be no manifestation of Christ to His people. —A.W. Tozer

GROUND WORK
Now is the perfect time to establish a strong foundation for your identity in Christ
through the power of declaration.

Declare these five biblical statements to establish who you are as a child of God and how
you are empowered to live.

1. I press on each day to fulfill God’s plan for my life. (Philippians 3:14)
2. I make it my aim in all things to be well pleasing to God. (2 Corinthians 5:9; Gala-
tians 1:10)
3. I humbly submit myself to God and the devil flees from me because I resist him.
(James 4:7)
4. I obey God’s Word and I’m blessed in my actions. (James 1:22, 25)
5. I am a joint-heir with Christ and more than a conqueror through Him Who loves
me. (Romans 8:17, 37)

Foundations Course Guide 8

LESSON FOUR

Baptisms—
Part 1
LESSON BLUEPRINT
The Bible refers to five specific types of baptisms: the baptism of John the Baptist (repen-
tance), the baptism into the Body of Christ, water baptism, the baptism of the Holy Spirit,
and the baptism of fire.

Participating in baptism is both a total and a transitional experience—total in the sense

that it involves the whole person and transitional in the sense that it marks a passing out
of one place or stage into another. With this understanding, we can appreciate what each
baptism signifies.

The baptism of repentance is the transition of a person’s total being from sin to righteous-
ness; from self-worship to God-worship.

The baptism into the Body of Christ is where we become part of God’s family—His repre-
sentation on the earth.

Water baptism is when we make a public declaration of our faith in Christ, and we identify
with His death and resurrection.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a baptism of power by which we become filled with God’s
Spirit and empowered to live beyond our natural ability.

Finally, the baptism of fire—which includes a baptism of suffering—produces the nec-

essary refinement that matures us in Christ and prepares us for our divine purpose and
calling.
INSPECTION

1. Baptism is both a total and transitional experience. What does this mean to you?
2. Why is water baptism significant? Why do you think God chose this method of
baptism?
3. When we are baptized into the Body of Christ, what are the benefits of belonging
to the family of God?

SET IN STONE
In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren wrote, “The Bible says, ‘In Christ we who are
many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others’ (Romans 12:5 NIV). . . .
For the organs of your body to fulfill their purpose, they must be connected to your body.
The same is true for you as a part of Christ’s Body. You discover your role in life through
your relationships with others. The Bible tells us, ‘Each part gets its meaning from the
body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body
of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But
as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we?’ (Romans
12:4–5 MSG) . . .

“If an organ is somehow severed from its body, it will shrivel and die. It cannot exist on
its own, and neither can you. Disconnected and cut off from the lifeblood of a local body,
your spiritual life will wither and eventually cease to exist.”

FIXER UPPER
It is not the number of books you read, nor the variety of sermons you hear, nor the
amount of religious conversation in which you mix, but it is the frequency and earnestness
with which you meditate on these things till the truth in them becomes your own and part
of your being, that ensures your growth. —Frederick W. Robertson

GROUND WORK
Now is the perfect time to establish a strong foundation for your identity in Christ
through the power of declaration.

Declare these five biblical statements to establish who you are as a child of God and how
you are empowered to live.

Foundations Course Guide 10

1. I am God’s masterpiece created in Christ Jesus to do good works which He has
prepared for me to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
2. I live in a way that is worthy of my calling. (Ephesians 4:1)
3. I have everything I need to live a godly life because I partake of God’s divine na-
ture. (2 Peter 1:3–4)
4. I am a citizen of heaven. I belong to a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and a
holy nation. (Ephesians 2:19; Philippians 3:20; 1 Peter 2:9)
5. I am an ambassador for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Foundations Course Guide 11

LESSON FIVE

Baptisms—
Part 2
LESSON BLUEPRINT
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience by which we become filled with God’s
Spirit—overwhelmed with His presence within us. This infilling of the Holy Spirit is a
separate experience from water baptism.

Through the baptism of God’s Spirit, we are empowered to live and become like Jesus.
Endued with power from on high, we are set free from the power of sin and equipped with
supernatural gifts that enable us to release God’s kingdom reality into the earth.

When we are filled with God’s Spirit, He begins a work of sanctification, which refines and
strengthens our character. This process is a result of the baptism of fire (the baptism of
suffering), which God will use to bolster our faith and prepare us for our destiny.

INSPECTION
1. What is the result of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and what are the effects it has
in the life of a believer?
2. Why is the baptism of fire important and what is produced from it?
3. Why is the baptism of suffering so important? What will happen if we don’t expe-
rience this baptism?

SET IN STONE
While on earth, Jesus made a startling statement to His disciples: “It is to your advantage
that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I
will send Him to you” (John 16:7).

Put yourself in the disciple’s shoes. Your leader, who you know to be the Son of God, has
just told you that He needs to leave you and that His departure is for your benefit. That
would sound crazy to me. Since Jesus is God, wouldn’t it be more beneficial for Him to
stay? I’m sure the disciples were thinking along those lines.

To realize the advantage we’ve gained, we must remember that Jesus had physical restric-
tions—He had to eat, sleep, and attend to the needs of others. But the Holy Spirit doesn’t
operate under those constraints. Having Jesus’s Spirit with us means that He is constantly
available to us, giving us His full attention. Does it get any better than that?

FIXER UPPER
Gradual growth in grace, growth in knowledge, growth in faith, growth in love, growth in
holiness, growth in humility, growth in spiritual-mindedness—all this I see clearly taught
and urged in Scripture, and clearly exemplified in the lives of many of God’s saints. But
sudden, instantaneous leaps from conversion to consecration I fail to see in the Bible.
—J.C. Ryle

GROUND WORK
Now is the perfect time to establish a strong foundation for your identity in Christ
through the power of declaration.

Declare these five biblical statements to establish who you are as a child of God and how
you are empowered to live.

1. My body is the temple of God’s Spirit. I honor God with my body. (1 Corinthians
6:19; Romans 12:1)
2. I am the light of the world because Jesus lives in me. (Matthew 5:14)
3. Through the blood of Jesus, I am redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. (Ephesians
1:7)
4. I have been translated out of the kingdom of darkness into God’s glorious king-
dom. (Colossians 1:13)
5. I am redeemed from the curse of the law, sin, poverty, sickness, and disease. (Deu-
teronomy 28:15-68; Galatians 3:13)

Foundations Course Guide 13

LESSON SIX

Laying On of
Hands
LESSON BLUEPRINT
To understand the doctrine and practice of the laying on of hands, we must first under-
stand the principle of kingdom authority. When we meet God, we meet authority, because
God and His authority are inseparable. Authority is, ultimately, power for serving in God’s
kingdom. By submitting to it, we are positioned to serve by coming under God’s divine
covering and protection. The laying on of hands is a type of service, which empowers
service.

There are several specific purposes for the laying on of hands in Scripture. This act in-
volves a legitimate authority who places their hands on another person for a spiritual pur-
pose. This practice is accompanied by prayer, a prophetic utterance, or both, and signifies
impartation and identification.

INSPECTION
1. Where did authority originate and why is it important?
2. Explain what the Bible means by laying on of hands.
3. List the six benefits of the ministry of laying on of hands.

SET IN STONE
The kingdom of God is just that—a kingdom! Kingdoms are structured by rank and au-
thority. Heaven’s domain is no exception. The higher the rank, the greater the service. And
for that reason, more influence and authority are given to the greatest of servants (Mat-
thew 23:11). As a believer in Christ, it is important to understand the rank and position
we hold in the spirit realm. This awareness positions us for kingdom service.

This realization is so pivotal that Paul prayed that we would know “what is the exceeding
greatness of His [God’s] power toward us who believe . . . which He worked in Christ
when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly
places” (Ephesians 1:19–20). Notice it is not a singular heavenly place—Paul clearly says
places. The reason for this is found a few verses later as we read, “And you He made alive,
who were dead in trespasses and sins . . . and raised us up together and made us sit togeth-
er in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:2, 6).

These places are where God’s redeemed children are positioned. If you’re wondering where
these dwelling places are and the position that they hold, the answer is found in Ephesians
1:21 “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that
is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”

When we know our position in Christ, we can understand why Jesus boldly commis-
sioned us to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Mark 16). Jesus understood the
authority He was entrusting to believers—an authority that overpowers the devil (Luke
10:19). Our God-given power positions us in those heavenly places far above the enemy’s
authority.

FIXER UPPER
God’s ultimate goal for us, however, is that we be truly conformed to the likeness of His
Son in our person as well as in our standing . . . Jesus did not die just to save us from the
penalty of sin, nor even just to make us holy in our standing before God. He died to purify
for Himself a people eager to obey Him, a people eager to be transformed into His likeness
. . . This process of gradually conforming us to the likeness of Christ begins at the very
moment of our salvation when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us and to actually
give us a new life in Christ. We call this gradual process progressive sanctification, or
growing in holiness, because it truly is a growth process. —Jerry Bridges

GROUND WORK
Now is the perfect time to establish a strong foundation for your identity in Christ
through the power of declaration.

Declare these five biblical statements to establish who you are as a child of God and how
you are empowered to live and how you are empowered to live.

1. I am saved by God’s grace, and I’ve been raised up with Christ and sit with Him in
heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:5-6; Colossians 2:12)

Foundations Course Guide 15

2. I am greatly loved by God. (1 John 3:1; John 3:16)
3. I am controlled and influenced by God’s Spirit. (Galatians 5:16–25)
4. The Holy Spirit bears witness with my spirit that I am a child of God. (Romans
8:16)
5. I am set free from the law of sin and death because the law of the Spirit of Life
works in me. (Romans 8:2, 11)

Foundations Course Guide 16

LESSON SEVEN

Resurrection of
the Dead
LESSON BLUEPRINT
The Bible clearly informs us that when Jesus returns for the church—His bride—we shall
be changed! Our bodies will be transformed in an instant—completing our salvation. This
is why the resurrection is the great hope of the believer.

To comprehend the full scope of the salvation process, we must understand man’s triune
nature of spirit, soul, and body. When we are born again, our spirit is instantly saved and
made right before God. Our soul—our mind, will, and emotions—is being saved through
a process of renewal; while our bodies are yet to be saved as we await resurrection. In the
meantime, our bodies can have a foretaste of resurrection life through God’s miraculous
power.

INSPECTION
1. What are the three phases of our salvation experience? Briefly explain each of
them.
2. What four distinct changes will occur to our bodies at resurrection?
3. Why is the resurrection the hope of every believer?
4. Until we receive our final salvation—the redemption of our bodies—what has
God made available so we may experience victory over death?

SET IN STONE
We must never forget that Jesus is coming back. Peter even warned that in the last days
scoffers will arise mocking the promise of the Lord’s return (2 Peter 3:3–9).

In regard to this, A.W. Tozer wrote, “I think we must note that there is a vast difference be-
tween the doctrine of Christ’s coming and the hope of His coming. It surely is possible to
hold the doctrine without feeling a trace of the blessed hope. Indeed, there are multitudes
of Christians today who hold the doctrine. What I have tried to center on here is that
overwhelming sense of anticipation that lifts the life upward to a new plane and fills the
heart with rapturous optimism. This is largely lacking among us now . . . That unifying,
healing, purifying hope is for the childlike, the innocent-hearted, the unsophisticated. Let
me say finally that all those expectant believers in the past have not been wholly wrong.
They were only wrong about the time. They saw Christ’s triumph as being nearer than it
was, and for that reason their timing was off. But their hope itself was valid.”

FIXER UPPER
The process of biblical change, explained in God’s Word, begins when you repent of your
sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. God has given you everything you need to make
the changes in your life that will please Him and will lead to His blessings. As you contin-
ue to obey God’s Word, biblical change toward maturity will occur in your life until you
see Jesus face to face. —John Broger

GROUND WORK
Now is the perfect time to establish a strong foundation for your identity in Christ
through the power of declaration.

Declare these five biblical statements to establish who you are as a child of God and how
you are empowered to live.

1. I have authority over all the power of the enemy. (Luke 10:19; Matthew 28:18-20)
2. God works in me both to will and to do according to His good pleasure. (Philippi-
ans 2:13)
3. The peace of God rules in my heart. (Colossians 3:15)
4. Christ bore my sins in His own body on the cross, and by His wounds I am
healed. (Isaiah 53:4–5; 1 Peter 2:24)
5. I walk in the light of God’s Word, and I enjoy fellowship with Him. (1 John 1:7)

Foundations Course Guide 18

LESSON EIGHT

Eternal
Judgment
LESSON BLUEPRINT
The Bible has a lot to say about heaven, eternity, and judgment. But numerous Chris-
tians are unaware that they will give an account of their lives. They believe that all future
judgment is eradicated by their salvation. Indeed, Jesus’s blood cleanses us from the sins
that would have kept us from spending eternity with Him; however, it does not exempt us
from giving an account of how we conducted ourselves as believers, whether good or bad.

For a believer, how we respond to the gospel determines where we’ll spend eternity:
heaven or hell. But the way we live as believers determines how we’ll spend eternity. At the
Judgment Seat of Christ, Christians will give an account of the way they lived—the way
they stewarded their gifts, callings, and influence on others.

Scripture reveals that the eternal rewards and positions given to believers will not only
differ but will span a wide range. They will vary from seeing everything lost and burned
up all the way to reigning beside Christ for eternity.

In comparison to eternity, life is short. Living with an eternal perspective will greatly max-
imize our efforts and time on earth—ensuring we make our life count, not only today, but
also for eternity.

INSPECTION
1. Fill in the gaps. How we respond to the cross determines [ ] we’ll spend
eternity; however, the way we live as believers determines [ ] we’ll spend
eternity.
2. What is the difference between the Great White Throne Judgment and the Judg-
ment Seat of Christ?

Foundations Course Guide 19

 3. Considering eternity, why is our time on earth important? List the areas a believer
will be judged on.
4. How does living with an eternal perspective affect the way you live?

SET IN STONE
Unless it has been suppressed, each one of us has a desire to succeed in life. This desire has
been placed in our hearts by God. However, God’s definition of success is not like our hu-
man definition of success. God’s definition is different because He is eternal and does not
view our lives the same way we do. If we want to succeed in life, we must do so according
to God’s perspective. Those who have enduring success are those who obey God. Before
entering the Promised Land, Joshua was instructed to obey God’s Word. As he did, he
would prosper and succeed in all he did (Joshua 1:8). Likewise, this promise applies to us.
We too will prosper—according to God’s definition of success—as we obey Him.

FIXER UPPER
Outward pressure is always an opportunity to be inwardly transformed. —Lisa Bevere

GROUND WORK
Now is the perfect time to establish a strong foundation for your identity in Christ
through the power of declaration.

Declare these five biblical statements to establish who you are as a child of God and how
you are empowered to live.

1. God’s plans for me are for good and not for evil—to give me a future and to have
hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
2. God is working out His plans for my life because His faithful love endures forever.
(Psalm 138:8)
3. God directs my steps because He delights in every detail of my life. (Psalm 37:23)
4. I trust God completely. There is no need to worry. (Proverbs 3:5)
5. God’s thoughts toward me are continually good and they outnumber the grains of
sand. (Psalm 139:17-18)

Foundations Course Guide 20

FOUNDATIONS COURSE GUIDE

Copyright 2019 by John Bevere

Published by: Messenger International, Inc., P.O. Box 888, Palmer Lake, CO 80133-0888

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Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copy-

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Written by John Bevere

Edited by Chris Pace