Hermeneutics (Biblical Interpretation) - completed

The seventeen session course on Hermeneutics (Biblical Interpretation) is now complete. Audio and notes are available here. Session topics included the following:

1. Intro: Theological Studies
2. Intro: Exegesis & Hermeneutics
3. Historical Context
4. Literary Context
5. Content
6. Interpretive Principles
7. Biblical Imagery
8. Postmodernism
9. Postmodernism; Allegorization
10. The Biblical Metanarrative
11. Application
12. OT Narrative & Acts
13. Gospels & Parables
14. The Law
15. Prophets & Revelation
16. Psalms & Wisdom
17. The Authority of Scripture

Psalms & Wisdom Literature

Interpreting the Psalms and the wisdom literature of the Old Testament (Proverbs, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, and Job) is the focus of the sixteenth class of my course on "Hermeneutics" (Biblical Interpretation). Audio and notes are available here.

God's Story of Redemption - Summary

The final class of the course, "God's Story of Redemption," provides a brief summary of the entire course, which has focused on the biblical metanarrative of redemption. The course concludes with a consideration of whether the course objectives were met, and what impact, if any, the course will have on the student's pursuit of the mission of God.

The course objective is summarized as follows: Students should grow in their theological understanding of the biblical metanarrative of redemption in terms of its grounding in the purposes of creation, its cohesiveness throughout Scripture, and its objectives in the present and coming ages, and consequently grow in their awe of God, their eschatological hope for the return of Jesus Christ, and their desire to holistically engage in God’s mission now.

Audio and notes are available here.

Bethel - Ministry Team

I've just set up a new page to access audio and notes resources for Bethel World Outreach Church's Ministry Team. Although these will eventually be posted on the church's website, I want to make them available here as well. You can access the page by using the link in the upper right hand column of this page, or simply click here.

Here's a brief overview of the Ministry Team:

Ministry Team

       Purpose = to facilitate & foster healthy discipleship ministry throughout Bethel

Ministry Team Leaders

       Responsibility = oversee those involved in making disciples at Bethel

       Qualifications = proven fruitfulness in making disciples & raising up leaders

Ministry Team Members

       Responsibility = actively make disciples (Life Group or Ministry dept., 1:1 discipleship)

       Empowerment = altar ministry, follow up at various events, Life Group leadership

       Qualifications = faithful membership at Bethel

The Apostolic Gospel

The 25th installment of God's Story of Redemption focuses on "The Apostolic Gospel." The content is comprised of an analysis of the core elements of the apostolic preaching as recorded in Acts. Also considered are the consequent responses to the apostolic gospel, and some implications for the church's proclamation today. Audio and notes are available here.

The Church's Mission

Today's "God's Story of Redemption" class focused on the Church's Mission, discussing how the church is to serve the world as a sign and a sacrament of the coming reign of Christ, and how this mission, while fundamentally evangelistic, also embraces both individual and community formation, and must be holistic in scope. Audio and notes are available here.

The Prophets & Revelation

Interpreting the OT Prophets and the Book of Revelation are the subject matter of today's Hermeneutics class. Audio and notes are available here.

The Return of Jesus

The fascinating topic of the physical return of Jesus to earth and the subsequent fulfillment of both Old Testament messianic prophecies and New Testament promises is the subject of the twenty-third lesson in my course, God's Story of Redemption. The return of Jesus, more so than our going to heaven upon death, is the primary hope of the apostolic church as testified to in the New Testament. Audio and notes are available here.