Unfortunately, much of the teaching in modern Christianity is hit-and-miss. It includes sermons, books, and Bible studies that are often not well-connected in a way that helps Christians become “firmly rooted” (Colossians 2:6) in the faith. Whatever happened to the common practice in the early church based on the idea of training every believer in a comprehensive understanding and practice of the “the elementary principles” of the faith (see Colossians 2:8 and Hebrews 5:11-14)? These “elementary” or first principles represent the first things that should be learned by a new disciple—a foundation upon which everything else is built. There is a great need for this 'foundation laying' work in the lives of believers in our churches today! Could the lack of attention to this work be a major factor in the prevalence of false teaching and embarrassing expressions of 'Evangelicalism'? Isn't this a clear sign of a weak and immature North American Chu...