Module 1 Notes
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Liberty University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
700
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
12
Uploaded by a4sefton
Module 1: Creating a Model of Christian Leadership
Introduction
The Importance of Doctrine
The Dichotomy – confessional theology and functional theology
A variance in interpretation will always lead to a difference in response.
The doctrines of Scripture provide a helpful shorthand for the grand redemptive story.
Every doctrine is an explanation.
The primary focus of God’s doctrine is not information but transformation.
Teaching: the standard. The truths of the Bible are God’s ultimate standard. They establish for us who God is, who we are, what our lives were designed to be, what is true and what is not, why we do the things we do, how change takes place, what in the world has gone wrong, and how in the world it will ever get corrected.
Reproof: comparison to the standard. Reproof is the process by which you are compared to a standard and in some way found lacking.
o
Knowledge of doctrine should produce not only knowledge of God, but a penetratingly humbling knowledge of self.
Correction: closing the gap between where I am and where God wants me to be. The doctrines of Scripture are meant to correct us. Correction is a process where what has been revealed to be wrong or lacking is brought closer to the standard.
o
Progressive sanctification, which is God’s redeeming work in us between our conversion and our homegoing, is a continual process of comparison-correction, comparison-correction, driven by the truths of his word and empowered by the work of his Spirit.
Training: faithfully putting God’s standard into practice. In the face of every teaching of Scripture we should ask, “What new thing is God calling me to put into regular practice in my thoughts, desires, words, and actions?”
Second Timothy 3:16–17 calls us to handle the truths of Scripture in a way that results in a constant pattern of personal self-examination that leads to honest and humble confession, which produces a commitment to repentance, resulting in a life of increasing spiritual maturity and joyful obedience.
So it must be said that the truths you actually believe are the truths that you live, because faith is never just intellectual assent. More importantly, biblical faith is a commitment of the heart that radically alters the way you live. Truth not lived is truth not believed.
True belief always results in a willing submission to God and a joyful obedience to his calling. God wants more from Jonah than a cultural identity.
Chapter 1: The Doctrine of Scripture
The authority of Scripture, that it is to be believed and obeyed, does not depend on the testimony of any person, but completely on God, the author. It is to be joyfully received because it is the word of God.
One final thing must be said. All Scripture, every book in the Old and New Testaments, penned by some forty authors and encompassing Biblical Literature, Narrative, History, Poetry, Wisdom, Prophecy, Gospels, Epistles, and Apocalypse, was written under and directed by the inspiration of God.
God gave us His word because even creation couldn’t fully convey how good He is.
One of the devastating results of sin is that it reduces all of us to fools.
God gave us the gift of His Word to help fools recognize their foolishness.
One of the devastating results of sin is that it reduces all of us to fools. A fool looks at truth and sees falsehood. A fool looks at bad and sees good. A fool ignores God and inserts himself into God’s position. A fool rebels against God’s wise and loving law and writes his own moral code. A fool thinks he can live independently of help. A fool will not think as he was designed to think, desire what he was created to desire, or do what he has been called to do. But here is what is deadly about all of this: a fool doesn’t know he is a fool.
Chapter 2: Scripture in Everyday Life
God’s Word Saves
o
Without the Bible there would be no narrative of redemption, no clear gospel message, no knowledge of the attributes and plan of God, and no knowledge of sin and God’s offer of forgiveness.
o
God used his word to save you, he is now using his word to continue to rescue you and grow you, and he will continue to save you through his word until that work is complete and you are on the other side.
God’s Word Points
o
2 Corinthians 5:15: Paul is saying that the DNA of sin is selfishness. Sin puts us in the center of our world and makes life all about us. Sin is about self-focus and self-glory.
o
In this story we are not at center stage. In this story we were given life and breath to serve the purposes of another, and for the sake of the glory of another. The biblical story starts with God at the center.
o
This story reminds us again and again that self-glory is the ultimate human dysfunction and is always self-destructive
o
As long as sin still lives inside of us, there will be a glory war in our hearts.
God’s Word Teaches
o
Like a good teacher, God’s word undoes you and then rebuilds you again. It deconstructs the thoughts and motives of your heart and then reconstructs them. You cannot sit under the teaching of the word of God with an open and willing heart and remain the same.
God’s Word Rescues
o
Rescue always implies that there is some danger near; that is, something that threatens your health and safety. In a fallen world, where evil still exists and the enemy moves about as a roaring lion, we are always near clear and present danger. But there is more. Because sin still resides in our hearts, we are tempted to move toward danger rather than away from it. The fact is that sin doesn’t always seem sinful or dangerous to us. The reason sin is able to lure, seduce, and entrap us is because it is so good at presenting itself to be beautiful and harmless, when it is neither.
o
Since we are not spiritually self-rescuing beings, we should constantly place ourselves under the rescuing mercy of the word of God.
God’s Word Warns
o
Why are there so many warnings in Scripture? They are there because God loves us. You see, a warning isn’t judgment. If all God intended to do was to judge you,
he wouldn’t first warn you.
o
One of the ways we experience the fatherhood of God is in his unrelenting commitment to warn us of the various dangers of life in this fallen world.
o
In every area of our lives, God blesses us with protective and preventative warnings. He does this because he loves us and he knows the susceptibility of our hearts.
o
Every sin, and the personal, relational, and situational dysfunction that follows, is a result of a failure to humbly heed God’s warnings.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
God’s Word Protects
o
No human being has a wide enough base of experience and knowledge or is prophetically wise enough to be able to set his or her own boundaries. Only the Creator, who knows his creatures, the world he created them to live in, and the life that they were designed to live, can lay down the right set of protective and preventative boundaries. God’s boundaries, that is, his laws, are an expression of his love for us. They protect us from danger and draw us toward a deeper dependency and communion with him.
o
God’s law was one of the primary ways God protected and preserved his people.
o
As any loving parent would, God the Father, in his word, sets boundaries of protection for us.
God’s Word Encourages
o
What is hope? It is both an expectation and an object. There is something that you
set your heart on (expectation) and there is someone or something that you look to
to deliver it (object).
o
Horizontal, earthbound hope always disappoints.
o
He knows that we need hope, and he works through his word to focus our hope on
him and assure us that hope in him will never, ever disappoint us.
o
How does God’s word encourage us? It reminds us that vertical hope is not some dreamy, iffy wish, but rather a confident expectation of a guaranteed result.
God’s Word Motivates
o
Let’s be honest: faith isn’t natural for us. Doubt is natural, worry is natural, denial
is natural, fear is natural, but the courage of faith is not natural for us. Here again is one of the ways the word of God is a huge blessing.
o
Because of God’s promises to us, we don’t gauge our ability or potential for success or victory based on our righteousness, wisdom, or strength, but on the magnitude and surety of what he has promised us.
o
God’s promises not only motivate you; they also build confidence and trust in God into your heart and guide you according to how God has called you to live.
God’s Word Confronts
o
When we look with ready minds and open hearts into the mirror of the word of God, we see ourselves as we actually are.
o
God’s word has the ability to discern and expose the true thoughts and purposes of your heart.
o
We all desperately need something that can cut through our blindness and confront us with who we are at the deeply formative level of the thoughts and desires of our hearts. o
Perhaps the scariest and most spiritually debilitating aspect of our spiritual blindness is that unlike the physically blind person, the spiritually blind person is not only blind, but he is blind to his blindness.
God’s Word Convicts
o
We all have a perverse ability to justify ourselves, that is, to argue that the wrong we have done is not that wrong after all.
o
You cannot grieve what you have not seen, you cannot confess what you have not
grieved, and you cannot repent of what you have not confessed.
God’s Word Guides
o
“Your word is a lamp to my feet / and a light to my path.”
o
Happy is the man who personally appropriates God’s word, and practically uses it
as his comfort and counsellor, — a lamp to his own feet. // Charles Spurgeon
o
We should first approach Scripture with a deep and abiding sense of need. This means that every time we open the book, we pray that God would grant us open eyes and a tender, humble, open, and ready heart. It also means that we don’t read
God’s word in a quasi-guilty, sense-of-duty, this-is-what-good-Christians-do sort of way.
o
The answer is important: gratitude. You never hear much joy coming out of complaining people. We are grateful for God’s word because we find him there, we find his saving grace there, we find astounding wisdom there, we find guidance for our daily living there, and there we find hope to do it all again tomorrow.
Chapter 2: Natural Revelation
General revelation is the self-disclosure of God to all rational beings, a revelation that comes through the natural creation and through the makeup of the human creature. Natural theology is the attempt to build a theological structure on the basis of general revelation apart from God’s witness in the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ.
Biblical scholar C. John Collins contrasts general and special revelation by explaining that “general revelation comes to all people everywhere (hence it is ‘general’), while special revelation is what God has specially revealed of himself in his covenant, made to his chosen people (Israel and the church).
Indeed, the Proverbs warn that the “way that seems right to a man” leads not to wisdom but to death (Prov 16:25).
General revelation – the works of God (nature, observation of the world, available to anyone)
Special revelation – the word of God (given directly to one person like Moses and the burning bush or the prophets).
Introduction: Gazing at the Moon
Moon symbolizes God's faithfulness and human idolatry.
General Revelation in Christian Theology
God reveals Himself through nature and human makeup.
Biblical Perspective on General Revelation
Tension in the Bible between the reality and limits of general revelation.
General revelation differs from special revelation in Scripture.
General Revelation in the Old Testament
Genesis 1–3 counters pagan theologies, emphasizing God as Creator.
Cosmic order indicators show the fallen state of creation.
Job 38–41: God's Revelation in Nature
Job encounters God's mysterious revelation in nature.
Universe's mysteriousness indicates the Creator's otherness.
Nature Psalms: Proclaiming General Revelation
Psalm 19 extols God's revelation in natural order.
Psalm 8 emphasizes human dominion in the cosmos.
Psalm 104 links creation's patterns to God's covenant faithfulness.
Prophetic Writings: Nature and Covenant Promises
Jeremiah links nature's stability to God's covenant promises.
New Testament Connection: Covenant Promises Fulfilled
Connects Old Testament themes with the crucifixion and resurrection.
Conclusion: Nuanced View of General Revelation
Emphasizes the need for nuanced understanding of God's disclosure in nature.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
General Revelation in the Old Testament:
God's revelation through the natural order emphasized by prophets like Jeremiah.
Recognition of God's power through the vastness of the created order.
Prophets, such as Isaiah, appeal to rationality against idolatry.
Agriculture as General Revelation:
Insights from agriculture seen as drawn from the cosmic order created by God.
The knowledge of farming considered a form of divine revelation.
Proverbs and Wisdom Literature:
The Proverbs highlight the importance of understanding creation's patterns for wisdom.
Wisdom rooted in the "way of wisdom" found in the order of the cosmos.
General Revelation in the New Testament Gospels:
Jesus uses analogies from the natural order to teach about God's character.
Reference to the preexistent Logos and the enlightening of every man.
Acts 14 - Preaching in Lystra:
Paul emphasizes God's benevolent provision in nature as a form of general revelation.
Recognition of God's existence through the natural order.
Acts 17 - Preaching in Athens:
Paul engages Athenian philosophers about the "unknown god."
Asserts that certain truths about God can be recognized through general revelation.
Acknowledges human responsibility in responding to God's revelation.
Conclusion:
General revelation provides some knowledge of God.
Special revelation, such as the preaching of the gospel, is necessary for true understanding and salvation.
Inspiration of the Bible
Evangelical scholars have recognized the danger of imputing modern scientific criteria to the biblical writers. They have noted also that the OT canon so unqualifiedly endorsed by
Jesus contains many of the difficulties of the synoptic problem in the features of the books of Kings and Chronicles. And they concede the proper role for inductive study of the actual phenomena of Scripture in detailing the doctrine of inspiration derived from the teaching of the Bible.
Critical Theories applied to the Bible, led by scholars like Julius Wellhausen, questioned the historical reliability of Scripture.
Postevolutionary criticism initially focused on excluding matters of science and history from biblical confidence.
The distinction between historical and doctrinal matters is not established by the New Testament view of inspiration.
Doubts about the trustworthiness of biblical history opened the door to abandoning doctrinal elements and challenging Jesus' theological infallibility.
Some scholars sought to discredit the idea of an authoritative Scripture, either as a departure from biblical writers or as a theological accommodation.
Attempts to align the biblical view of inspiration with modern critical notions failed, leading to a deeper revolt against the historic view of revelation.
Biblical criticism faces challenges in sustaining confidence in received manuscripts as a sacred trust.
The synoptic problem and apparent discrepancies in reporting events and numbers are cited as challenges to the biblical view.
Evangelical scholars recognize the danger of imposing modern scientific criteria on biblical writers and advocate for inductive study to understand inspiration.
"Plenary" inspiration originated in the later Reformation, asserting that biblical writers were inspired in all they wrote.
"Verbal" inspiration focuses specifically on the words themselves, resisting a "dictation" theory.
Common evangelical usage today affirms "verbal, plenary inspiration," emphasizing divine superintendence over both words and the writers' entire message.
Progressive or liberal evangelicals may speak of "dynamic" inspiration, highlighting God's saving and sanctifying purpose in speaking through the Bible.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
Synergism
Synergism Overview:
Refers to divine and human cooperation in conversion.
Aims to reconcile the paradoxical truths of God's sovereignty and
human moral responsibility, especially in conversion theology.
Augustinian Tradition (Monergism):
Emphasizes God's sovereignty in conversion.
Supported by figures like Calvin and Luther.
Stresses that the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in calling individuals to faith.
Pelagian Tradition:
Emphasizes human moral responsibility in conversion.
Modified by figures like Erasmus, Arminius, and Wesley to align with orthodox views.
Highlights the freedom of the will, with Erasmus asserting that "Free will is the power of applying oneself to grace."
Synergistic Controversy during the Lutheran Reformation:
Philip Melanchthon, associated with synergism, faced debates about his stance.
Philippists followed Melanchthon, while Gnesio- or Genuine Lutherans opposed them.
Controversy unfolded in writings and conflicts between theologians like John Pfeffinger, Nicholas von Amsdorf, Victorinus
Strigel, and Matthias Flacius.
Weimar Book of Confutations (1558–59):
John Frederick II's influence led to the drafting of this book against synergism.
Enforced by the clergy, causing Strigel's imprisonment for opposing it.
Matthias Flacius played a major role in opposing the Philippists' views.
Resolution Attempts:
John William's edict in 1568 aimed to resolve the controversy, causing Philippists to leave Jena.
Altenburg Colloquy (1568–69) failed to bring a resolution.
Final Resolution in 1571:
The Final Report and Declaration affirmed that the voluntary beginning of obedience arises from God's gracious work.
The Formula of Concord in 1577 rejected synergism, endorsed Augustinianism, and emphasized God's active role through preaching.
Formula of Concord (1577):
Rejects synergism, endorses Augustinianism.
Avoids the extremes of Flacianism and Philippianism.
Emphasizes God's active role through preaching, breaking hearts, drawing individuals, and kindling faith through the Gospel.
Flacianism:
Extreme Lutheran position named after Matthias Flacius.
Emphasizes total human depravity and passivity in the face of divine grace.
Views the "natural man" as entirely hostile to God's work.
Philippianism:
Moderate Lutheran stance associated with Philip Melanchthon.
Allows for some human cooperation in conversion.
Recognizes a role for the will in responding to the Holy Spirit's work.
Part of the synergistic controversy during the Lutheran Reformation.
Video Summary:
- The speaker welcomes participants to the first course, emphasizing the study of leadership principles based on the word of God.
- The program encourages integrating biblical truth with social science research, prioritizing the Word of God.
- David Palace's three priorities for engaging scripture and social sciences are presented.
- Priority 1: Articulate positive biblical truth, develop a systematic theology of Christian leadership. ENGAGE THE WORD OF GOD FIRST.
- Priority 2: Expose, debunk, reinterpret alternative models (leadership theories), engaging in thoughtful conversation. DEFECTIVE MODELS
- Priority 3: Learn from alternative models without being counter-converted,
enabling understanding and persuasion. - The importance of engaging both God's general and special revelation is highlighted using Psalm 19.
- The course encourages participants to continue engaging both God's word and the world to honor and glorify God.
Doctrine – God explaining who He is. His meaning and purpose. Values worth
living for. Who I am. What life is about. Faith is not just something you do with your brain. Faith is a commitment of your heart that changes the way you, you live every day. So doctrines intensely practical, it's a loving gift of God so that we can understand who we are, understand what life is about. Understand what is broken around us, understand how it gets fixed, understand the nature of God, and in so doing, be able to live the way that we were designed to live.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help