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

'Weeks' run Thursday to Wednesday until Thanksgiving, then Friday to Thursday.
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:
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.
After Thanksgiving, weeks run Friday to Thursday.

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

Oct 24: 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 25: watch Creation as Trust I II III IV V-VI

Oct 26: discuss online

Oct 28: DBS Gen 2:4–25, then answer questions on Canvas,
then read Trousdale and Sunshine ch 11

Oct 29: watch Humanity in God's Image I.1 I.2 II-III

Oct 30: discuss online

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

Oct 31: SOAPS Gen 3, Rom 3:9–26, Luke 10:1–24, then answer questions

Nov 1: watch What Is Sin? I II III IV V VI-VII

Nov 2: discuss online

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

Nov 5: watch Predestination: History, Legacies, and Prospects I II III.1 III.2-IV

Nov 6: discuss online

Week Three: incarnation; theological capture

Nov 7: DBS Matt 13:1–9, 18–23, 44–46, then answer questions,
then read Trousdale and Sunshine ch 12

Nov 8: watch God, With, Us: Incarnation I-II III.1 III.2 III.3-IV

Nov 9: discuss online

Nov 11: 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 12: watch Loving Jesus the Wrong Way V VI VII VIII IX and focus on one heresy of interest

Nov 13: discuss online

Week Four: the anointing Holy Spirit; salvation

Nov 14: 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 15: watch The Holy Spirit in the Bible and Everywhere Else I II III IV V VI-VII

Nov 16: discuss online

Nov 18: SOAPS 1 Peter 1:22–2:5, read Johnson ch 4

Nov 19: 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 20: discuss online

Week Five: worship, mission, and Trinity part two

Nov 21: DBS Matthew 10:19-11:1, then answer questions, then read Johnson ch 5

Nov 22: watch The Church as Mission I II III.1 III.2 (less important, so optional: IV.1 IV.2 IV.3 V)

Nov 23: discuss online

Nov 25: read all; focus a SOAPS on one:
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; skim Acts 16–18

Nov 26: read Trousdale and Sunshine chs 13-15

Nov 27: discuss online

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

Nov 29: DBS Eph 3:4–13, read Isa 52:13–53:12, then answer questions,
then 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 30: read Col 2:20–3:15, Rom 8:3–17, Bass "What's the Earliest Evidence for Christianity?", then answer questions,
then watch Easter Changes Everything I II III.1 III.2

Dec 2: discuss online

Dec 3: 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 4: SOAPS Ex 34:1–10, then watch The Prophetic Office V.1 V.2 V.3 V.4 V.5-VI

Dec 5: discuss online

Week Seven: eschatological future and judgment

Dec 6: DBS: 1 Pet 4:12–19, then answer questions, then read Johnson ch 6

Dec 7: 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

Dec 10: SOAPS Matt 24:3–14, answer questions, then read Johnson ch 7

Dec 11: 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

Dec 12: discuss online

(Half) Week Eight: the Son's body

Dec 13: 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 14: watch What Makes a Church? Dead Ends I II.1 II.2 II.3 II.4: focus on 1-2 dead ends of interest
optional: watch What Makes a Church? Open Lanes III IV V VI.1 VI.2-VII: focus on the most relevant 'lane(s)'

Dec 16: read Trousdale and Sunshine chs 16-18, discuss online

Schedule individually: oral exams

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!