Biblical and Systematic Theology:

-Moody chapters 1-26

-Vlach videos- Hermeneutics, covenants, eschatology 

-Select lectures from Grudem on systematic theology 

Pastoral Theology and Practice:

-Select chapters: The Master’s Plan for the Church - MacArthur

-Select articles/position papers on:

• Divorce and Remarriage 

• Complementarianism and Egalitarianism

• Women in ministry

• Apostolic gifts versus spiritual gifts

• Babies who die or reach/age of accountability 

• Church discipline

• Knowing the will of God

• Abuse

• Election, foreknowledge, salvation

• Demonic realm/possession/oppression

Week 1: Introduction/How We View Scripture/Old Testament Themes

Get to know you:  What do you hope to accomplish by the end of this course?

Read Eastmont’s Doctrinal Statement and Distinctives. 

Read Moody: Chapters 1-2 (optional to read chapters 3-8)

Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy

Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermenutics

‍ ‍Misquoting God

The Bible: The Holy Canon of Scripture

Interpreting The Scriptures by John Hopler

Discussion questions:

• Discuss several reasons why the study of doctrinal beliefs is important for a believer.

• What starting point does Eastmont use for the study of doctrine/the Bible? What are the dangers of using a different starting point? Give examples of churches or individuals who have been negatively influenced because they had the wrong starting point in their theology of God, spiritual growth, and experience. 

• Review Eastmont’s doctrine and distinctives. What issues are close-handed?  What issues are open-handed?

• Chpt 1 - What are the key indicators of Biblical theology vs systematic theology? What pros and cons do you see about each approach?

• What is the importance of the unconditional covenants in the Old Testament? How do these covenants help us see the themes of the Biblical narrative?

Week 2: New Testament themes

Read Moody: Chapters 9-16

Discussion questions:

• Discuss how the historical background, themes, and context give you confidence in scripture as God’s word?

• What is something new that you learned in these chapters?

• What was the most challenging part of your reading?

• What questions do you still have about the New Testament?

Week 3: Systematic Theology

Read Moody: Chapters 17-18

Discussion Questions:

• What is systematic theology?

• Why use a “system for theology?

• Why is inerrancy important to our understanding of scripture?

• What is the role of general revelation?

• Describe the literal, grammatical, and historical interpretation of the Bible. 

• What questions do you have about this section?

Week 4: Doctrine of God

Read Moody: Chapter 19

‍ ‍A Brief Definition of The Trinity by James White

Discussion Questions:

• Give examples of situations when the immanence of God may encourage a believer. 

• God’s immanence together with his transcendence seems like a paradox. How do you explain both concepts to someone who is confused?

• Some have said, “The God of the bible is limited because he can only do what he supposedly has promised to do.” How would you respond to this?

• Explain how God is personal, and not just a force or a concept.

• What aspects of God’s character do you think should be talked about more often?

• How would you respond to the following:

  • “If God allows pain and suffering, doesn’t that make God cruel?”

  • “Is it wrong to feel upset or disappointed with God when I see all the earthquakes, tornadoes, and natural disasters that kill hundreds of thousands of people?”

• How do you explain the Trinity to someone who is confused about how the God of the bible can be three persons in one?

• Give an example of how one aspect of God’s nature has helped you in a situation of difficulty. What scriptures were helpful to you? How did you apply truth? In what ways have you then been able to help someone in a similar situation?

Week 5: Christology

Read Moody: Chapter 20

Discussion Questions:

• Why is the hypostatic union (dual nature) of Christ important theologically?

• How has Christ’s humanity helped you understand the Christian life?

• How has the divine nature of Christ encouraged your life? 

• How could these two natures help you shepherd people at Eastmont?

• How do the offices of Christ help you understand his nature and role?

Week 6: Pneumatology (Holy Spirit)

‍ ‍ Read Moody: Chapter 21

Read The Essential Ministry of the Holy Spirit by John Macarthur

Read Does God Whisper? By Greg Koukl

‍ ‍Read Does God Whisper? Pt. 2

‍ ‍Read Does God Whisper Pt. 3

Discussion Questions:

• What does the Bible say about the Holy Spirit’s Role? (List the things he does.) 

• How does the Holy Spirit direct us?

• What do you think of Koukle’s conclusions on the Holy Spirit? 

• What is the Holy Spirit’s relationship to the Father and the Son?

• What pitfalls do Christians face when talking about the Holy Spirit?

Week 7: Angel and Demonology/Doctrines of Man and Sin

Read Moody: Chapters 22-23

Discussion Questions:

• What is your view of spiritual warfare? How do you explain its relevance to leading a church?

• How do angels and demons interact with the world?

• List things that we can know from scripture about angels and demons.

• List things that we don’t know about angels and demons from scripture.

• How would you handle someone who is seeking to be “delivered” from evil spirits?

• List and explain several non-Christian worldviews that negatively impact the cultural view of human nature

• Imago Dei, the doctrine that humans are made in the image of God is an important doctrine. How does this doctrine impact our evangelism, teaching on freedom of the individual to make choices, teaching on moral issues (abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, etc), teaching on our responsibility to love our fellow man and fight for Biblical justice? 

• List examples of how people are treated in cultures where the dignity of human life is not understood, valued or accepted. 

• What are the sources of sin?

• Explain what Paul referred to as “the flesh.” Can Christians improve their flesh and become more sanctified believers? How do we deal with the flesh?

• Give reasons why a healthy church needs clear teaching on sin, it’s source, it’s results, and it’s magnitude.

• Explain total depravity.

Week 8: Soteriology and When Babies Die

Read Moody: Chapter 24

‍ ‍How did people get saved before Christ? (Sommerlot 135-136)

‍ ‍In the Shadow of Death - The Little Ones Are Safe With Jesus, by Al Mohler

‍ ‍Why Do You Believe That Infants Who Die Go to Heaven? By John Piper

Soteriology Discussion Questions:

• What are some of the differences between the false theories of atonement and the biblical ones?

• What are the dangers of buying into the false theories of atonement?

• What is the difference between common grace and efficacious grace?

• What is regeneration?

• What is the Holy Spirit's role in regeneration?

When Babies Die Discussion Questions:

• What Bible verses are important to this discussion?

• How confident are you that babies go to heaven?

• How would you pastorally and theologically explain what happens when babies and the cognitively impaired?

• What would you say to comfort a couple who just lost their baby?

Week 9: Ecclesiology

Read Moody: Chapter 25

‍ ‍Biblical Eldership by John Macarthur

‍ ‍What does the Bible say about women pastors? by Got Questions

‍ ‍Deacons Wives, Not Female Deacons by Zach Garris

‍ ‍Answering the Key Questions About Deacons by John Macarthur

‍ ‍Women Deacons by John Macarthur

‍ ‍Pastors not required to have a mystical call from God

Discussion Questions:

• What is the purpose of the local church?

• What are the essential elements and ministries of a local church?

• What are the requirements for elders? 

• Do you believe that elders are required to have a mystical call to ministry?

• Do you think there should be female deacons? Why or why not?

• List the roles women can have in a church

• List the roles that are reserved for only men in the church

• How is the world “calling” or “call used in the NT? 

Weeks 10/11: Eschatology

Read Moody: Chapter 26

Blue Letter Bible: Four Views of the Millennium

Vlach: Church History and Israel’s Future

Vlach: The Kingdom Program in Matthew

Vlach: 3 Millennial Views Compared (video)

‍ ‍Dispensationalism/Covenant/Replacement Theology

‍ ‍Vlach on hermeneutics. 

‍ ‍Vlach on the "Seed of Abraham"

Discussion Questions:

• How do the different eschatological views relate to methods of biblical interpretation?

• Which of the three prevalent views seems most biblically consistent? 

• Does “grafted in” mean that the church has replaced Israel?

• Does Vlach’s view of the Kingdom Program in Matthew change your interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount?

Week 12: Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage

‍ ‍What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage? 

‍ ‍GCC Statement on Divorce and Remarriage

‍ ‍Does Abuse give grounds for divorce?

‍ ‍BCI Martial Abandonment

Discussion Questions:

• What exceptions does God allow for divorce?

• What constitutes biblical abandonment?

• How do you determine the faith of a spouse who has abandoned?

• Is it a sin to remarry a women who was unbibilically divorced?

• Case Studies

Week 13: Biblical Counseling

Read Chapters 1&2 of Gospel For Disordered Lives (entire book attached)

Review/Read Docs/articles (attached)

Memorize 1 Corinthians 10:31

Here's the link to the reading.

Week 14: Calvinism/Armenianism

Read Moody:Chapters 32-34

‍ ‍5 Articles of the Remonstrants

In lieu of study questions, we’ll let you (or God will choose) your own questions for yourself to answer.  But please come ready to discuss!