TH49X1: Living the Christian Story Module Rationale and Overview: The premise of this module is that an enriched and engaged Christian life depends on engagement with the riches of the Christian story, a story told in the Old and New Testaments, and in the life of the early Church. This module explores that Christian story and then considers several ways that Christians can creatively and meaningfully live out that story in their everyday context. Objectives: By the end of this module, students will be able to: 1. Grasp the ‘big picture’ of the Old and New Testaments 2. Understand key themes in the Bible, such as Creation, Exodus, Justice, Redemption, Mission and New Creation 3. Appreciate important figures and ideas that shaped Christian theology 4. Reflect on ways to live out the Christian story in a 21 st Century context Content: This module will include the following sessions, organised around key questions: Week 1: Creation Core Question: What does it mean to be human (Genesis 1-2)? Synopsis: This session explores the two creation accounts that begin the great biblical story. By focussing on the human question, this session will set the stage for later consideration of how we live out the biblical story. Lecturer: Matthew J. Lynch, Ph.D. Week 2: Sin and Redemption—The Ongoing Story Core Question: What are the dominant themes and contours of the grand biblical narrative? Synopsis: This session examines the story from Genesis 3 onwards. What happens to the vision of Genesis 1-2 now that humanity fails? This session will provide you with a map for the whole story as it unfolds from Genesis 3-Revelation. Lecturer: Matthew J. Lynch, Ph.D.
Transcript
TH49X1: Living the Christ ian Story
Module Rationale and Overview: The premise of this module is that an enriched and engaged Christian life depends on engagement with the riches of the Christian story, a story told in the Old and New Testaments, and in the life of the early Church. This module explores that Christian story and then considers several ways that Christians can creatively and meaningfully live out that story in their everyday context. Objectives: By the end of this module, students will be able to:
1. Grasp the ‘big picture’ of the Old and New Testaments 2. Understand key themes in the Bible, such as Creation, Exodus, Justice,
Redemption, Mission and New Creation 3. Appreciate important figures and ideas that shaped Christian theology 4. Reflect on ways to live out the Christian story in a 21st Century context
Content: This module will include the following sessions, organised around key questions:
Week 1: Creation
Core Question: What does it mean to be human (Genesis 1-2)? Synopsis: This session explores the two creation accounts that begin the great biblical story. By focussing on the human question, this session will set the stage for later consideration of how we live out the biblical story. Lecturer: Matthew J. Lynch, Ph.D.
Week 2: Sin and Redemption—The Ongoing Story
Core Question: What are the dominant themes and contours of the grand biblical narrative? Synopsis: This session examines the story from Genesis 3 onwards. What happens to the vision of Genesis 1-2 now that humanity fails? This session will provide you with a map for the whole story as it unfolds from Genesis 3-Revelation. Lecturer: Matthew J. Lynch, Ph.D.
Theology Without Walls – TH49X1 Syllabus -‐ 2
Week 3: Exodus and the Liberation of Israel
Core Question: What is Israel’s founding story, and what does it teach us about God and society? Synopsis: This session explores the defining event in the history of God’s people Israel—the exodus. This week is a little different, however, in that we’ll be exploring the event from above (theologically) and below (socially). Both angles are important when reading the Bible. So, in addition to understanding the event itself, this session will consider the relevance of the exodus for contemporary spirituality. Lecturers: Matthew J. Lynch, Ph.D.; Rev Bob Ekblad, Ph.D.
Week 4: The Story of Jesus
Core Question: Who is this Jesus? Synopsis: This session explores the story of Jesus Christ as revealed in the four Gospels, beginning with the testimony of face-to-face encounters with him. We will proceed to an overview of Jesus’ words and works of love and power, then finish with the Church’s belief in the Incarnation as God’s premier self-revelation. Lecturer: Rev. Brad Jersak, Ph.D.
Week 5: Holy Spir it
Core Question: Who is the Holy Spirit? Synopsis: This session explores the story of the Holy Spirit as a. the empowering presence by whom Jesus ministered; b. the promise of Jesus in his last supper discourse; c. the source of the Church’s spiritual gifts and character-fruit. Lecturer: Rev. Brad Jersak, Ph.D.
Theology Without Walls – TH49X1 Syllabus -‐ 3
Week 6: Making Sense of Jesus: The Early Church
Core Question: How did the early church describe the person of Jesus Christ? Synopsis: This session looks at Christology - the study of the identity and mission of Jesus Christ. The early church was faced with the challenge of describing Jesus’ identity as fully divine and fully human in one person. In the first 300 years of the church’s existence, early Christians wrestled with this idea in order to describe Jesus as truthfully and carefully as possible in a disbelieving and sometimes hostile world. Lecturer: Lucy Peppiatt, Ph.D.
Week 7: Making Sense of Jesus: The Creeds and the Counci ls
Core Question: What language and concepts did the early church decide upon to describe the person of Christ, and why does it still shape our thinking about Jesus today? Synopsis: This session covers the period between 325AD and 451AD looking at the decisions made in the early councils about how to define the person of Jesus in opposition to certain heresies circulating at the time. We look at why that language is still current in describing Jesus as the unique Saviour. Lecturer: Lucy Peppiatt, Ph.D.
Week 8: Living the Christ ian Story in a Broken World
Core Question: What does it mean to follow Jesus into a broken world? Synopsis: This session explores how to engage in the practices of social justice and advocacy. In this session, we look at some of the biblical foundations for engaging with the least, and some theological and practical principles for reaching those who are on the margins of society. Lecturer: Rev Bob Ekblad, Ph.D.
Theology Without Walls – TH49X1 Syllabus -‐ 4
Week 9: Living the Christ ian Story in the Marketplace
Core Question: Does our work matter to God? Synopsis: This session explores the origin of work, lays out the importance of an integrated Christian worldview and examines some key New Testament scriptures about work. We then move on to look at one of the most significant prophetic calls that the Holy Spirit is using to inspire Christians in their work today.
Lecturer: Chris Gillies, WTC Board Member; Former Chief Growth Officer of Zurich Insurance Group’s Global Life Business.
Week 10: Living the Christ ian Story—The Finale
Core Question: Kingdom Discipleship: What does it mean to become like Jesus and do the things that he did? Synopsis: The session explores the question of the fully human life in the light of the fact that Jesus became like us so that we could become like him. What does this mean for discipleship and life in the Kingdom? Lecturer: Lucy Peppiatt, Ph.D.
