Systematic Theology Course

I am beginning another course; this time, Systematic Theology. I'll be covering the major doctrines over three semesters, consisting of approximately 60 weeks, taught over two years. Topics will include: Revelation, God's Person and Work, Humanity, Christ, the Holy Spirit, Salvation, Church, and Eschatology. Two textbooks will be used: Millard Erickson's Christian Theology, 2nd Ed., and Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology.

The course is being taught at Bethel World Outreach Church in Brentwood, TN, for our pastors and ministers, and is being attended by some pastors and ministers from some of our other Bethel congregations and from Every Nation.

The class will meet on Wednesdays, excluding the first Wednesday of each month, summers, the end-of-year holiday season, and occasional Wednesdays due to scheduling conflicts. Audio and notes will typically be uploaded soon thereafter. They can be accessed here, or via the link at top of the right hand column of this webpage.

The Spiritual Gift of Prophecy

Two lessons on the New Testament spiritual gift of prophecy were recently taught as lessons #8 and #9 of the series on the Holy Spirit. Lesson One provides a definition of prophecy, addresses some misconceptions concerning the gift, and then focuses on the basic nature of prophecy. Lesson Two discusses the purpose of this spiritual gift, as well as appropriate responses to its operation.

Audio and teaching notes are available here, or via the "Holy Spirit" link in the upper right hand column of this page.

Political Forum

As another presidential election nears in the United States, it is important for dedicated followers of Jesus to apply their faith to the civic duty to vote in such manner as to seek to advance the values and ethics of Christ's kingdom. To that end I gave a seminar at Bethel World Outreach Church in Brentwood, TN, entitled, Political Forum: Thinking Critically About Issues and Candidates as a Christian. The seminar does not directly address either major political party or their presidential candidates, but instead focuses on sound principles, which should remain relevant for years to come so long as America's constitutional form of democracy remains intact.

The introductory remarks addressed the need to develop a biblical worldview based on sound biblical interpretation, giving attention to literary, historical, and cultural contexts. A series of questions are then presented to guide us in identifying and prioritizing issues of contemporary relevance and/or importance. These then must be correlated to any given public office in terms of their political significance. Finally, candidates should then be correspondingly evaluated in relation to appropriately significant issues. Two case studies are briefly considered; namely, abortion and social justice. In conclusion, several resources for further study are enumerated.

The title and core content for the seminar were acquired from Josh Crossman, who served as an elder in the Every Nation church I had pastored in Seattle. As I recall, Josh, who completed his undergraduate studies at Duke University, had acquired the core material from a professor at Duke. I have taken the material and adapted it to my own ends, and therefore assume responsibility for the seminar's content, even though I am unable to take credit for the core concepts, diagrams, etc.

The seminar's audio and notes are available for download as an MP3 file and two alternative PDF files through the following links:

• Audio
• Slides
• Notes

Tongues

The phenomena of "tongues" is addressed in the seventh installment of the series on the Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts and Paul's first letter to the Corinthians serve as the primary sources for the development of a biblical doctrine on the subject. After considering Luke's historical accounts of believers' initial infillings with the Holy Spirit and the corresponding phenomena of tongues, attention is then turned to the purpose, nature, function, and benefits of this activity as indicated by the apostle Paul. Some pastoral advice and exhortation is provided as a conclusion. In addition to the audio teaching, the teaching notes also include a section which seeks to harmonize the historical data recorded in Acts with Paul's teaching in Corinthians.

Audio and notes can be accessed here, or by clicking the Holy Spirit link in the upper right hand column of this webpage.

The Holy Spirit & Righteousness

This is the sixth installment in a series on the Holy Spirit. In this lesson the nature of the relationship of the Holy Spirit to righteousness is explored by a consideration of Paul's letter to the Galatians. In it Paul emphatically underscores two main points germane to the topic. First, Paul points out that the primary purpose of the gift of righteousness is the reception of the promise of the Holy Spirit, and that all of this takes place not on the basis of human effort, but by believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ. (The contrast between these two means of seeking righteousness is briefly explored as part of the lesson.) Second, Paul explains the Holy Spirit's necessary and essential role in enabling the believer to put to death the sinful desires of our fallen nature, and to instead live lives that reflect the nature of God manifested in godly human behavior and relationships.

Audio and notes are available here, or via the "Holy Spirit" link provided in the upper right hand column of this page.