Doctrine: The Shape of the Course

I. Prologue
  • In groups, answer the following questions:
    • Briefly, what are you grateful for?
    • Briefly, what are you struggling with?
    • Read 2 Peter 1:2–12 together.
    • Try to summarize its main point.
    • What does it teach us about God, God's qualities, and God's purpose?
    • What does it teach us about people, including ourselves?
    • What concrete action will you take before our next class meeting to obey (observe, apply, practice) what you have learned?
    • With whom specifically will you share what you've learned?
  • Prayer
  • Vision?
II. Application
  • 2 Peter 1 points to key findings and features of Christian doctrine:
    • "The saying is worthy" (1 Tim 1:15, 4:9): All valid theology comes from knowing God, so we will prioritize that.
    • What God is doing aligns again and again with what God has done as witnessed and understood in the scriptures of Israel (the Old Testament) and Jesus' apostolic church (the New Testament), so we will practice relying on scripture for our knowledge of God and church teaching, to guide our reliance on other sources.
    • In light of this, we will consider and reflect on theological traditions concerning common topics.
  • The revised course structure accommodates five needed 'discipleshifts' in light of this and many other signs:
    • from reaching/convincing to forming skilled followers,
    • from merely informing to equipping,
    • from program to purpose,
    • from activity to relationship, and
    • from accumulating resources to deploying knowledge, skills, habits, and instincts.
  • Vision
III. Structure
  • Our online syllabus sketches a trail, but also a route:
    • The course honors your freedom to choose books, written exercises, and even discussions best suited to you. Take initiative!
    • We work through these with each other, live or online, in and out of class, and you act on what you learn. Be active, not passive!
    • We share what we learn with others. Be a giver, not a hoarder!
    • We mentor others as fellow 'duckling disciples' who multiply. Be bold, not timid!
  • Our flipped classroom allows active learning during classtime and flexibility outside it.
    • A key practice will be Discovery Bible Studies (DBSs) on key biblical texts. Make them a lasting habit and pass them on!
    • Patrick Robertson's and David Watson's The Father Glorified: True Stories of God's Power through Ordinary People shows how millions of people are meeting God and learning 'theology' in the Global South and USA.
    • Lesslie Newbigin's Walk through the Bible introduces the OT and NT theological narrative, and refreshes memories for those who took one course or both.
    • Recorded lectures to 'consider' (not 'study') are on YouTube (speed them up, and block ads!).
    • We follow up during classtime with ungraded quizzes, extra live teaching, and discussions. Discipline yourselves and one another!
  • Grading reflects (I hope) your overall performance and strengths, rather than your ability to "hack bad tests." Put grades in their rightful place in 'the collegiate value paradox.' (More on that later this week.)
    • (Canvas will just be for announcements, files such as shorter readings, and submitting written exercises, not for calculating your grades.)
  • Our schedule plots out the course's various tasks.
    • Feel free to schedule an office hour visit (one-on-one or as a group).
    • All take a graded midterm and final.
    • Personalize the course!
  • All of this aims to guide and encourage you along 'the Way,' or at least show it to you, so you can guide and encourage others who will do so in turn.