God's Word

10/17 - No Meeting - All Online
10/24 - Meeting: 6:30 - 9 PM @ The Commons
10/31 - No Meeting - All Online

Godly leaders lean on God’s Word as the guiding force in their personal lives, as well as use it to communicate truths to those they are leading. This course aims to deepen the individual’s understanding of the doctrine of the Bible and its composition, how to interpret the Bible effectively, and how to communicate personally and corporately.

RESOURCES TO PURCHASE: 

the resource for this month will be provided for you

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Week One: BIBLIOLOGY
NO MEETING
assignments due by Tuesday 10/17

Weekly Objectives:

• Gain an understanding of the Bible through Revelation, Inspiration, Illumination, Canonicity

Read:

• Select sections of Bibliology: The Doctrine of the Written Word
  • Terms - pages 2-3
  • Written Word - pages 6-9
  • God's Special Revelation + Inspired Revelation - pages 9-13
  • Canon - pages 23-30
  • Please note that the page numbers reflect the numbers on the bottom of the document, not the page numbers shown if you choose to read this digitally.

Watch: (2 hours)

• RC Sproul / Foundations: Session 3 - General Revelation and Natural Theology (23 minutes)
• RC Sproul / Foundations: Session 4 - Special Revelation (23 minutes)
• RC Sproul / Foundations: Session 5 - Inspiration and Authority of Scripture (23 minutes)
• RC Sproul / Foundations: Session 7 - Canonicity (23 minutes)
• RC Sproul / Foundations: Session 8 - Scripture and Authority (23 minutes)

Complete: 

• Submit a response paper on Bibliology - DUE Tuesday 10/17
  • Complete and submit a two page paper (appx. 1000 words) summarizing what you learned about revelation, inspiration, illumination and canonicity. Imagine someone asked you, "Why should we trust the Bible?" and use the information and terms you learned from this week's homework to write a response / explanation.

WEEK two: interpretation and application
complete by class on 10/24
assignments due by Sunday 10/22

Weekly Objectives:

• Learn how to do an inductive Bible study
• Understand and apply Biblical interpretation

Read:

• The OIA Bible Study Method - The reading linked below may seem overwhelming, but each are short, one-page articles. 
  • Observation
    • Observing Words
    • Observing Grammar
    • Observing Structure
    • Observing Genre
    • Observing Mood
    • 4 More Tips
  • Interpretation
    • Why Should We Interpret?
    • The great enemy of interpretation is observation
    • Another great enemy is relativism
    • 3 Steps to Interpreting
      • Asking Questions
      • Answer Questions
      • Determine the main point
    • The difference between a main point and summary
    • The importance of context, part one
    • The importance of context, part two
    • How to see Jesus in any passage
    • 4 mistakes when using commentaries
  • Application
    • Transitioning from interpretation to application
    • The great enemy of application is insight
    • 10 reasons why you should study the Bible for life
    • Application: the art of producing change
    • Two directions of application
    • Three spheres of application
      • Head
      • Heart
      • Hands
    • How to apply the Bible: summary
    • Remember Jesus in your application
    • Be specific in your application
    • Example application from Luke
  • In Conclusion...
    • Correlation: Understanding the Whole Bible
    • 3 Tips for Healthy Correlation: Part One
    • 3 Tips for Healthy Correlation: Part Two
    • Approved
• Read How to Study a Book of the Bible
• Read the introduction and chapters 1 + 2 from How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

Complete:

• Outline the book of Ephesians - THIS ASSIGNMENT HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE FOLLOWING WEEK - We will review this together in class before you do this on your own. Please check next week's section for submission links and details. 
  • Using this version of Ephesians, use the methodology above to read/re-read through the book of Ephesians and create an outline. Don't rely on other materials, commentaries, bibles, outlines, etc. See if you can discern the natural flow of thought, identifying the key transitions, and flow of the book. Create an outline and be prepared to share it in class.

WEEK three: Communication
NO MEETING
complete by Tuesday 10/31

Weekly Objectives:

• Experience and develop skills for teaching and communicating the Word in a variety of settings

Read:

• Read chapters 1-5, 9 Bible Teaching in Missional Perspective
• Read (or listen) to article on "Communication Skills"
• Read article Communicating for Change by Andy Stanley

Listen:

• Dr. Timothy Keller on Preaching to the Heart (click "play" to listen below)

Complete:

• Review Teaching Outline tool
• Write and Submit a 15 minute Teaching
  • Choose a passage of scripture and write a short 15 minute teaching/message on that passage (appx. 3 full pages single spaced). Submit message and be prepared to share at our next meeting.
• Outline the book of Ephesians and submit by 10/31
  • Using this version of Ephesians, use the methodology above to read/re-read through the book of Ephesians and create an outline. Don't rely on other materials, commentaries, bibles, outlines, etc. See if you can discern the natural flow of thought, identifying the key transitions, and flow of the book. Create an outline and be prepared to share it in class.