Doctrine: 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 this semester to obey (observe, apply, practice) what you have learned?
With whom specifically will you share what you've learned?

II. Introduction
The 2024 course is being overhauled to accommodate five needed 'discipleshifts':

from reaching/convincing to forming skilled followers,
from merely informing to equipping,
from program to purpose,
from activity to relationship, and
from accumulating to deploying.

2 Peter 1 points to key findings and features of Christian doctrine:

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.

Vision

III. Structure

Handouts: Syllabus cover page.
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!
Work through these with each other, live or online, in and out of class. Don't be passive!
Share what you learn with others. Don't be a hoarder!
Mentor others as fellow 'duckling disciples' who multiply.

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.
Recorded lectures, secondary in importance, are on YouTube (speed them up, and block ads!).
Follow up during classtime with ungraded self-tests.
Discipline yourselves and one another!

Grading reflects (I hope) your overall performance and strengths in the learning process,

rather than your ability to "hack bad tests."
Put grades in their rightful place!

Our schedule plots out the course's various tasks.

I encourage you 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.

Behold! Come! Go!