Bill Gothard

Steps to Apostasy Following natural curiosity Overriding conscience Keeping a sensual focus Questioning Scripture Violating moral absolutes Awakening of guilt Choosing to repent or persist Substituting incomplete repentance Compensating with religious activity Becoming frustrated over drives Re-examining basic doctrine Justifying immorality Arguing against truth

The Principle of Freedom Pursuing the ultimate goal of God’s Law: genuine love Defining stages in the development of reprobation Forsaking God’s ideal vs becoming mighty in spirit Lowering moral standards: psychological confusion Dishonoring the Creator: bondage to physical drives Reviving conscience in culture

The Principle of Ownership Learning how to transform irritations Using sources of irritation for character development Removing the cause of anger Identifying situations which make us angry Listing our personal rights Yielding rights Fulfilling responsibilities Balancing expectations Being grateful for privileges Detecting unyielded rights Entering the role of stewardship (Chalk talk)

The Principle of Suffering Overcoming bitterness with forgiveness Understanding the root of bitterness Taking up an offense Judging vs restoring (Steps of disloyalty) Identifying physical and emotional consequences Repenting of temporal values Thanking God for offenses Investing in offenders Discerning God’s purpose through suffering

The Principle of Responsibility Gaining a clear conscience rather than balancing guilt and blame Listing offenses Purposing to ask for forgiveness Harmonizing birth order tendencies Confessing the basic offense Preparing the right wording Choosing the appropriate method Understanding refusal to forgive, if it comes Identifying misplaced conviction

How to Work Within Structures of Authority Gaining faith through understanding authority Cooperating with God’s “chain of command” Appealing based on Scriptural conviction Checking our character Fulfilling known wishes Discerning goals and intentions Designing a creative alternative Presenting an appeal with our authorities’ reputation in mind Waiting on God while under pressure Suffering, if necessary, for refusing to do wrong

The Principle of Authority Discerning God’s guidance Arranging myself under structures of authority Cooperating with God-given authorities to develop character Defining roles of the husband and wife in marriage Growing in four required attitudes Conquering fear and worry

Strongholds of Bitterness Understanding Why God Allows Conflict Tracing Abnormal Social Developments Avoiding Four Types of Suicide Regaining Surrendered Ground on the Battleground of the Soul

The Principle of Design Understanding the cause of inferiority Accepting our ten unchangeables (including physical features) Learning inward character as the basis of true happiness (Matthew 5) Seeing “defects” as “marks of ownership”

A “New” Approach to Life! Distinguishing the wisdom of Scripture from intellectual knowledge, natural inclinations or humanism Understanding grace and faith from God’s perspective Tracing surface conflicts to root causes (cause and effect relationships) Responding to enemies  Maturing as a Christian Discovering how to study and apply the principles of God’s Word