Kaweah range, High Sierra
Doctrine fall 2024: Schedule
Before (or in) Class, in order |
After Class, in order |
| DNA | |
| Aug 26: Our course is shaped around a unique God. | |
(in class) The Shape of the Course (in class) DBS of 2 Peter 1:2–12 |
watch "Faithfulness over Knowledge": Where (if at all) does this video's thesis challenge your assumptions? |
Aug 28: Doctrine's heart is the fruitful understanding of God's grace in truth. |
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read The Father Glorified (TFG) pp 11-12 and ch 1 "Prayer" watch DBS guide (in class) DBS of Colossians 1:1–14 |
'do and tell' following DBS Watch this video on prayer read the brief Zume prayer guide (Canvas) and consider developing a pattern of regular extraordinary prayer pray (or meditate) through the Col passage, applying it to your circumstances |
Aug 30: Christian doctrine is accountable to its domain, which is God's Kingdom. |
read Matthew 23:1–12, James 1:19–26, Luke 6:46–49, John 8:30–37, John 14:21 read Paul Graham, "The Lesson to Unlearn" watch DBS guide and glance at Gordon Baines, "DBS in a Nutshell" (in class) Doctrine High-Value Targets and the College Value Paradox |
read 1 Cor 12:31–14:1 prayerfully review the Tasks page to learn about books and assignments and consider your options |
| Sep 2: Doctrine's proper source is God's work and self-revelation, witnessed and received in growing faith, firmer hope, and sacrificial love. | |
read Jeremiah 31:23–34, Isaiah 54:11–14 and John 6:41–47, John 1:35–51, John 14:5–26, 2 Corinthians 3:2–4:2 (before class in a group, with classmates and/or others) DBS: Luke 9:37–42 (handout, if helpful) |
watch/consider Love, Hope, Faith I II III.1 III.2 IV.1 IV.2-V (from YouTube playlist); take notes, not to "study" it in order to do well on a test but to learn and consider it for its usefulness read 1 Thess 1: How does Paul see faith, hope, and love in the Thessalonians' behaviors? In other words, what do these traits look like in Thessalonica? |
| Sep 4: 'Biblical' knowledge means intimacy with God. | |
watch James K.A. Smith "You Are What You Love" (start at 10:00) read Deut 6:1–15: What are some ways God's people are to express their love for God? What do they have to do with God's expressions of love for them? |
believers: pursue intimacy with God; others: investigate believers' intimacy read Moran "The Seven Journeys" in Spent Matches ch 7 (Canvas) |
| Sep 6: Intimacy brings and calls for unity in God. | |
read The Insanity of God ch 21 (Canvas) read Ex 5:1–6:1: Why does God put up with the oppression of God's own chosen people? DBS on Mark 8:27–9:1 |
truly optional (that is, halt any time, or don't even start): consider The Way(s) of Salvation I II III.1 III.2 IV.1 IV.2-V |
| Sep 9: Doctrine's primary setting is God's inclusive fellowship. | |
Watch "Love One Another" (93 minutes) along with 1+ people not in our class and get their impressions DBS: Acts 2:38–47 complete self-report by Monday class |
identify one or more of the mentors whose 'duckling' you have been choose which written assignments you will complete |
| Sep 11: God is uniquely powerful. | |
SOAPS Mark 5:21–42 read The Father Glorified (TFG) ch 2 "Miracles" |
'do and tell' read 1 Cor 1:18–2:9: How does Paul see God's power comparing to ordinary power? How might his own experience have informed his perspective? find a testimony of God's power from someone you know, and discern what it suggests or teaches |
| Creator, Creation, and Uncreation "Every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth" (James 1:17–18 ESV). |
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| Sep 13: The Lord is a different kind of God. | |
read Ex 3:1–15, Deut 4:14-20, Jer 10:1–16 read A Walk through the Bible ch 1 "A Unique Account" |
DBS on Acts 17:22–34 'do and tell' read Ex 19:20-20:6 |
| Sep 16: God is hidden and revealed. | |
consider The Otherness of God I II III IV.1 IV.2 V |
pray or contemplate |
| Sep 18: God makes disciple-makers. | |
read TFG ch 3 "Dreams and Visions" read A Walk through the Bible ch 2 "Chosen by God" read Gen 11:31–12:7, 15:1–21 DBS: Isa 6:1–8 and Matt 4:17–22 |
'do and tell' read about dreams in the Bible begin identifying a duckling to mentor |
| Sep 20: God initiates, but how and why? | |
consider Predestination: History, Legacies, and Prospects I II III.1 III.2-IV |
'do and tell' |
| Sep 23: God is merciful and compassionate. | |
read TFG ch 4 "Moved with Compassion" read Ex 34:1–10 read A Walk through the Bible ch 3, "Judges, Kings, and Prophets" |
begin teaching your duckling how to mentor |
| Sep 25: God speaks and acts through prophets. | |
consider Jesus Saves, But How? Intro I-II and The Prophetic Office V.1 V.2 V.3 V.4 V.5-VI |
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| Sep 27: God reigns above principalities and powers. | |
DBS: Luke 8:26–39 read TFG ch 5 "Spiritual Warfare" read Ps 82 read A Walk through the Bible ch 4, "Return and Renewal" |
'do and tell' |
| Sep 30: God's kingdom comes to acknowledge his reign as 'king of kings.' | |
consider Jesus Saves, But How? The Royal Office IV.1 IV.2 IV.3 IV.4 IV.5 IV.6 |
complete self-report by Monday class |
| Oct 2: God's attributes | |
read TFG ch 6 "Authority of Scripture" DBS: Ps 145 |
'do and tell' read 2 Tim 3:10–17 |
| Oct 4: doctrines concerning scripture | |
consider From Jesus to Scripture: How Christ Instituted the Bible I.1 I.2-II III IV-V |
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| Oct 7: author and Lord of all things | |
read TFG ch 7 "Scripture Stories" read Gen 1:1–2:3 |
'do and tell' |
| Oct 9: doctrines of creation; rivals as missional contexts | |
consider Creation as Trust I II III IV V-VI |
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| Oct 11: midterm | while on break, practice your skills: do, share, show love, etc. |
| Oct 16: God's human creatures | |
consider Humanity in God's Image I.1 I.2 II-III |
read A Walk through the Bible ch 5, "God's Kingdom and Jesus" read Rom 5:10–21 |
| Oct 18: out of sin's maze | |
read TFG ch 8 "The Discovery Process" read Gen 3, Rom 3:9–26 |
read Luke 10:1–24 |
| Oct 21: going to those far from God | |
consider What Is Sin? I II III IV V VI-VII |
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| Oct 23: God's sent ones | |
read TFG ch 9 "The Great Commission" consider The Church as Mission I II III.1 III.2 read Matt 28:1–10 and 16–20, Acts 1:4–11, John 20:19–23, Rev 5:6–14, Rev 7:9–12, Rom 10:12–17 less important: IV.1 IV.2 IV.3 V |
read Matt 10:19–11:1 skim Acts 16–18 if your groups are functioning well, think about beginning to start your own if you haven't already |
| Oct 24: prayer and worship report due | |
| Who Is This? "in these last days [God] has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God" (Hebrews 1:2–3). |
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| Oct 25: the Son's invitation | |
read TFG ch 10 "Love Your Neighbor" DBS: Matt 13:1–9, 18–23, 44–46 |
consider God, With, Us: Incarnation I-II III.1 III.2 III.3-IV |
| Oct 28: theological capture in Antioch | |
read 1 John 4:1–6 watch Loving Jesus the Wrong Way: Christological Heresies I II III IV: focus on one heresy of interest |
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| Oct 30: theological capture in Alexandria | |
watch Loving Jesus the Wrong Way V VI VII VIII IX: focus on one heresy of interest |
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| Nov 1: the Son's passion | |
read Walk through the Bible ch 6 "Sacrifice" read TFG ch 11 "Suffering" DBS: Luke 9:20–25, 14:25–35 |
watch God's Anointed: Jesus' Relationship with the Holy Spirit, and Ours I-II III |
| Nov 2: either Bible log or living theology log due (can't submit both) | |
| Nov 4: the Son's sacrifice | |
read Isa 52:13–53:12 consider Jesus Saves, But How? The Priestly Office III.1 III.2 III.3 III.4 |
read Ps 107 |
| Nov 6: the Son's resurrection | |
read TFG ch 12 "Resurrection" consider Easter Changes Everything I II III.1 III.2 read Rom 8:3–17 |
read Col 2:20–3:15 |
| Nov 8: judgment | |
DBS: 1 Pet 4:12–19 consider Judgment as a Form of Salvation I.1 I.2 |
truly optional: read Work "Do You Not Care?" consider The Holy Spirit in the Bible and Everywhere Else I II III IV V VI-VII |
| Nov 9: if you chose it, either do-and-tell report or discovery group report due (can't submit both) | |
| Nov 13: the Son's Lordship | |
read TFG ch 13 "Obedience-Based Disciple Making" read Walk through the Bible ch 7 "New Life, New Communities" |
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| Nov 14: duckling report due | |
| Nov 15: takeaway: Trinity and heresies, as fruits and signals of misunderstanding | |
consider The Threeness of God I-III IV V.1 V.2 VI.1 VI.2 |
SOAPS (in class): John 15:1–17 |
| Nov 18: dogmas in missional context | |
consider The Apostolic Paradigm I-III IV.1 IV.2 (in class) The Apostolic Paradigm V |
read Jer 3:14–17, 1 Pet 1:1–9, Eph 1:15–23 |
| New Creation's Fullness "If Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you" (Romans 8:10–11). |
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| Nov 20: the Son's body | |
read TFG ch 14 "Person of Peace" read John 4:1-42, Acts 16:9–15, 40 |
consider Ecclesiology: Who Cares? I II III IV: focus on how ekklesia relates to 1-2 challenges important to you |
| Nov 22: what doesn't make a church | |
consider What Makes a Church? Dead Ends I II.1 II.2 II.3 II.4: focus on 1-2 dead ends of interest |
DBS: Acts 2:36–47 |
| Nov 23: book-specific exercise due: prompts are here | |
| Nov 25: what may make a church | |
consider What Makes a Church? Open Lanes III IV V VI.1 VI.2-VII |
read Rev 2–3: what protects churches' integrity and health? |
| over break: the Kingdom's co-heirs | |
read TFG ch 15 "How Disciples Are Made" DBS: 1 Peter 1:22–2:5 |
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| Dec 2: seeking and saving the lost | |
consider Signs of the Order of Salvation I II.1 III.1 IV.1 V.1 optional: II.2 III.2 IV.2 V.2-VI |
optional: if curious about controversies over sacraments, especially baptism and communion, view Sacraments: Practicing Salvation I.1 I.2 I.3 (intro), II.1 II.2 II.3 (baptism), III.1 III.2-IV (communion) |
| Dec 2: love's way exercise due | |
| Dec 4: the Kingdom's future | |
read Walk through the Bible ch 8 "Future Revelation" DBS: Matt 24:3–14 |
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| Dec 5: theological analysis of a worship service due | |
| Dec 6: futurologies | |
consider Eschatology: Pathology and Treatment II.1 II.2 II.3 III |
optional: additional material on eschatology is available in sections I IV.1 IV.2 V |
| Dec 12, 8-10am: final exam | |
| Go and make disciples! Keep abiding, practicing, sharing what you know, and growing and multiplying grace and fruitfulness! Keep in touch, and contact me if I can help you launch! | |