I think it does. After all, doesn't doctrine drive what is in the Bible Study? For example, wouldn't a Baptist understand the Bible verse in Revelation about door knocking differently than a Lutheran? I sure hope so! And what do the various denominations understand about how faith is created or what do they believe about Holy Communion and Holy Baptism or the end times. Does it matter -- it sure does!!!
One of the Bible studies that I have seen at a Lutheran church is Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer. I have not taken the course and mostly likely will not. I'm more interested in what the Lutheran Church teaches, not the Southern Baptists or the Charismatics or the non-denominations or anyone else. This study is available through Lifeway Christian Resources which is Southern Baptist in orientation. Sounds good sort of, but here's information about what Priscilla Shirer believes: (http://www.goingbeyond.com/statement.asp)
We believe that such salvation with its forgiveness of sins, its impartation of a new nature, and its hope of eternal life, is entirely apart from good works, baptism, church membership or man's effort and is of pure grace.
We believe that a true believer is eternally secure, that he cannot lose his salvation, but that sin may interrupt the joy of his fellowship with God and bring the loving discipline of his heavenly Father. We believe that all who receive Christ become joint heirs with Him, and at death, their spirits depart to be with Christ in conscious blessedness. We believe that at rapture, their bodies will be raised to the likeness of the body of His glory and dwell forever in divine presence.
We believe that it is the goal of every Christian to become a disciple of Christ by growing toward spiritual maturity through the knowledge of and obedience to the Word of God and submission to the Holy Spirit, who indwells and seals all believers at the moment of salvation. Believers must seek the fullness of the Spirit since it is His influence that will bring about victorious Christian living on earth.
A well-informed Lutheran should have huge problems with 'once saved, always saved' as starters. Guess baptism isn't a means of grace. I suspect that 'receive Christ' means making a decision. What about the rapture? There's a problem there. Growing towards spiritual maturity -- what's that mean? What the heck is 'seek the fullness of the Spirit'?
So my question to any Lutheran church using this study is:
Shouldn't we be teaching members about how Lutherans discern the voice of God? Although the answer is pretty clear -- God speaks very plainly and clearly through the means He has established --- the Scriptures and in the Lord's Supper and in Holy Baptism.
