Kaweah range, High Sierra

Theology for Discipleship 2024: Schedule

Before we meet: Read Keith Johnson, Theology as Discipleship, chs 1-2, and Jerry Trousdale and Glenn Sunshine, The Kingdom Unleashed, through chapter 9.

In Person

In Class, in order

After Class, in order

I. Life from the Father: forming theology

Tuesday Aug 20, 1-2pm

What is discipleship for? Spiritual means for spiritual ends

“Love God until nothing else matters”: Deut 6:4-9, John 14:15, Rom 13:8

read syllabus: course, tasks

read Paul Graham, "The Lesson to Unlearn": What lessons might you need to unlearn so not to miss out on education’s truer benefits?

watch "Faithfulness over Knowledge": Where (if at all) does this video's thesis challenge your assumptions?

2:15-3:30pm

Align with God’s heart: Ezek 11:17–20

"I Don't Think It Means What You Think It Means": Love, Hope, Faith

watch James K.A. Smith "You Are What You Love" (start at 10:00)

truly optional, later: watch (don't "study") Love, Hope, Faith I II III.1 III.2 IV.1 IV.2-V (from YouTube playlist)

begin the love’s way exercise

3:45-5:30pm

Desperate Kingdom prayer: Luke 11:5–13, Acts 1:6-14

prayer cycle, multiplying extraordinary prayer

The Lord is the Teacher: John 6:44–45, Matt 23:8–10, James 1:22

God’s Otherness and Self-Revelation

the discovery process, SOAPS Bible reading

~~What Is Scripture and What Is It For?~~

watch this video on prayer

develop a prayer rhythm (my guide is here)

watch DBS guide

truly optional, later: watch (don't "study") The Otherness of God I II III IV.1 IV.2 V and/or From Jesus to Scripture: How Christ Instituted the Bible I.1 I.2-II III IV-V

consider SOAPSing samples of your reading in the New Testament

II. Death in the Son: transforming theology

7-9pm

Transformations: Luke 9:43–45, Philippians 2:5–7, Acts 15:11

‘Kenotic’ interfaith dialogue

~~God’s kingdom and religious identity~~

missional ‘death experience’: ~~discuss Trousdale and Sunshine?~~

SOAPS Bible study

Glorify the Father: Matt 4:22–5:13

The Brutal Facts and great evangelical recession

~~skim the collegiate value paradox?~~

feel free to read (or peruse) Lesslie Newbigin, "The Basis, Purpose, and Manner of Inter-Faith Dialogue" (Canvas): How would 'descending the staircase' change how you engage people of other faiths?

III. Resurrection by the Spirit: fruitful theology

Wednesday Aug 21, 2:15-3:30pm

Don’t convert to disciple, disciple to convert: Luke 6:46–48, John 8:31–33

~~Fruit of freedom: John 12:23–26, John 15:1–2, Gal 5~~

The 'apostolic paradigm'

God's Trinity

truly optional: consider The Apostolic Paradigm I-III IV.1 IV.2 and/or The Threeness of God I-III IV V.1 V.2 VI.1 VI.2

feel free to read Johnson ch 2 any time

3:45-5:30pm

~~deculturizing for insider contextualization~~

DiscipleShift: transforming formation

~~Movements old and new~~

Acts 2’s church circle, simple ‘rabbit’ versus 'elephant' churches and theologies

Course logistical challenges and responses

read Moran "The Seven Journeys" in Spent Matches ch 7 (Canvas)

Remote

You'll DBS one passage per week, with classmates or (preferably) others; other key passages you can SOAPS by yourself. Writing out the passage is optional if you can read a passage closely and carefully anyway. If it is more personally convenient, you may DBS the SOAPS text and vice versa.

Workflow: 'Weeks' run Tuesday to Monday.
Tues/Wed: SOAPS or DBS Bible passage(s), answer written questions (Canvas), then read/watch the first topic. Thurs: discuss.
Fri-Sun: SOAPS or DBS Bible passage(s), answer written questions (Canvas), then read/watch the second topic. Mon: discuss.

Week One: author and Lord of all things; God's human creatures

Oct 22: SOAPS Gen 1:1–2:3; better yet, DBS at home; then answer written questions on Canvas,
then read Trousdale and Sunshine ch 10

Oct 23: watch Creation as Trust I II III IV V-VI

Oct 24: take ungraded self-test on Canvas, then discuss online

Oct 25: DBS Gen 2:4–25, then answer questions on Canvas,
then read Trousdale and Sunshine chs 11-12

Oct 26: watch Humanity in God's Image I.1 I.2 II-III

Oct 28: discuss online

Week Two: out of sin's maze; God makes disciple-makers

Oct 29: SOAPS Gen 3, Rom 3:9–26, Luke 10:1–24, then answer questions, then read Trousdale and Sunshine chs 13-14

Oct 30: watch What Is Sin? I II III IV V VI-VII

Oct 31: discuss online

Nov 1: read Gen 12:1–9, 15:1–21; DBS Isa 6:1–8, Matt 4:17–22; read Johnson ch 3

Nov 2: watch Predestination: History, Legacies, and Prospects I II III.1 III.2-IV

Nov 4: discuss online

Week Three: incarnation; theological capture

Nov 5: DBS Matt 13:1–9, 18–23, and either include 44–47 or read them afterwards; then answer questions, then read Trousdale and Sunshine chs 15-16

Nov 6: watch God, With, Us: Incarnation I-II III.1 III.2 III.3-IV

Nov 7: discuss online

Nov 8: SOAPS 1 John 4:1–6 then answer questions,
then watch Loving Jesus the Wrong Way: Christological Heresies I II III IV and focus on one heresy of interest

Nov 9: watch Loving Jesus the Wrong Way V VI VII VIII IX and focus on one heresy of interest

Nov 11: discuss online

Week Four: the anointing Holy Spirit; salvation

Nov 12: DBS Luke 9:20–25, 14:25–35, then answer questions,
then watch God's Anointed: Jesus' Relationship with the Holy Spirit, and Ours I-II III

Nov 13: watch The Holy Spirit in the Bible and Everywhere Else I II III IV V VI-VII

Nov 14: discuss online

Nov 15: SOAPS 1 Peter 1:22–2:5, read Johnson ch 4

Nov 16: read Signs of the Order of Salvation I II.1 III.1 IV.1 V.1;
if you are curious about confessional differences, also watch II.2 III.2 IV.2 V.2-VI;
if you are 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)

Nov 18: discuss online

Week Five: worship, mission, and Trinity part two

Nov 19: DBS Matthew 10:19-11:1, then read Trousdale and Sunshine ch 17, then answer questions

Nov 20: 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, and skim Acts 16–18,
then watch The Church as Mission I II III.1 III.2 (less important, so optional: IV.1 IV.2 IV.3 V)

Nov 21: discuss online

Nov 22: DBS Eph 3:4–13, read Isa 52:13–53:12, then read Johnson ch 5, then answer questions

Nov 23: watch Jesus Saves, But How? Intro I-II and Jesus Saves, But How? The Priestly Office III.1 III.2 III.3 III.4

Nov 25: discuss online

Week Six: Jesus' atoning life, death, and resurrection

Nov 26: read Col 2:20–3:15, Rom 8:3–17, Trousdale and Sunshine ch 18, then answer questions

Nov 27: watch Easter Changes Everything I II III.1 III.2

Nov 28: your first assignment due on Canvas (descriptions on the Tasks page)

Nov 29: discuss online

Nov 30: SOAPS Ps 82, then watch Jesus Saves, But How? The Royal Office IV.1 IV.2 IV.3 IV.4 IV.5 IV.6

Dec 2: discuss online

Week Seven: eschatological future and judgment

Dec 3: SOAPS Ex 34:1–10, then answer questions, then read Johnson ch 6

Dec 4: watch The Prophetic Office V.1 V.2 V.3 V.4 V.5-VI

Dec 5: discuss online

Dec 6: SOAPS Matt 24:3–14 and DBS: 1 Pet 4:12–19, then answer questions, then read Johnson ch 7

Dec 7: your second assignment due on Canvas

Dec 7: watch 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
then watch Judgment as a Form of Salvation I.1 I.2 (the rest is optional)
truly optional: read Work "Do You Not Care?"

Dec 9: discuss online

(Half) Week Eight: the Son's body

Dec 10: DBS Acts 2:36–47, answer questions, then watch Ecclesiology: Who Cares? I II III IV: focus on how ekklesia relates to 1-2 challenges important to you

Dec 11: your third assignment due on Canvas

Dec 11: watch What Makes a Church? Dead Ends I II.1 II.2 II.3 II.4: focus on 1-2 dead ends of interest, then
watch What Makes a Church? Open Lanes III IV V VI.1 VI.2-VII: focus on the most relevant 'lane(s)'

Dec 12: discuss online

Schedule oral exams in groups of four

Go and make and be 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!