Assignments for this course take the form of written summaries, research, and analysis. They are designed to help us work through the course
objectives, while keeping a focus on our spiritual growth through conceptual learning.For each assignment, please develop a document and submit it to me in either Microsoft Word or HTML format (your word processing
software should permit you to do a "save as" and choose either of those formats).
Assignment #1
Lesson
1: What is Biblical Theology?—Focuses
on a basic orientation toward biblical theology, the
development of biblical theology through the centuries,
and the interconnections between history and revelation.
Forum 1: What is Biblical Theology?—Q&A
on Lesson 1
Length 10-12 pages
Why
have modern Christians come to approach the Scriptures
through biblical theology? Define and describe “word
revelation.” Why is “word revelation” essential? In what
ways are act and word revelation associated with each
other in biblical theology? How can understanding
Biblical theology help you write a message or teach a
Bible study? How can
understanding the difference between act and word
revelation help you interpret the Bible better? How
should the ultimate goal of “bringing God immeasurable
glory” by “establishing God’s kingdom on earth” affect
the way you live your life and carry out ministry? How
can understanding the organic growth of revelation help
you in applying the Bible to your own ministry?
Assignment
#2
Lesson
2: Synchronic Synthesis of the Old Testament—The
synchronic
synthesis of the Old Testament touches on three main
issues: a basic orientation about what "synchronic
synthesis" is; the ways Old Testament passages convey
the historical information used in synchronic synthesis;
and the synthetic theological structures discovered
through synchronic syntheses of the Old Testament
historical information.
Forum
2: Synchronic Synthesis of the Old Testament—Q&A
on Lesson 2
Length
10-12 pages
we
can discern historical information? When discerning
historical information from Old Testament narratives,
why is it important not to expect them to be like modern
journalistic historical writing?
What
role should logic play in the interpretation of
Scripture as you seek to apply the Bible today? To what
extent should you seek to be objective as you interpret
biblical history? What is the importance of studying
earlier and later revelation as you seek to do biblical
theology? How can general revelation help you in the
task of biblical theology?
Assignment #3
Lesson 3: Diachronic Developments in the Old Testament—Diachronic
development is the ways theological structures grew or
developed over time. This lesson provides a basic
orientation toward diachronic development, explores how
epochal developments took place between major historical
periods or epochs, and looks at how specific topics
developed over time in the Old Testament.
Forum
3: Diachronic Developments in the Old Testament—Q&A
on Lesson 3
Length 10-12 pages
What
is biblical typology and why is it important to the
study of biblical theology? Give examples.
What
makes understanding how the Bible’s theology developed
over time so important for us as we seek to apply the
Old Testament to our own lives or teach it to others?
What are some ways that we might misinterpret and/or
misapply the Bible if we fail to understand how biblical
theology developed over time? In what ways might
Christians today be tempted to live as if we were in an
earlier age of redemptive history, before the coming of
Christ? In what ways might Christians today be tempted
to forget the wisdom that God had taught in earlier
ages? What is the importance of understanding the
Scriptures’ use of typology for the study of the Bible?
Assignment #4
Lesson
4: Contours of New Testament Biblical Theology—There
are many similarities between the ways biblical theology
approaches both Testaments, but there are also
significant differences. This lesson focuses on: an
orientation toward New Testament biblical theology, the
development of the Bible's teaching about eschatology,
or the last days (a crucial issue in New Testament
biblical theology), and how biblical theologians have
approached New Testament eschatology itself.
Forum 4: Contours of New Testament Biblical Theology—Q&A
on Lesson 4
Length 10-12 pages
How does becoming
familiar with the background of Old Testament
eschatology help us understand diachronic developments
in New Testament eschatology? What is Christology and
how do systematic theologians and biblical theologians
differ in their emphases regarding discipline? Explain
the doctrine of soteriology. What is the traditional
view of soteriology, and how have biblical theologians
understood soteriology in new ways?
How
does your understanding of the kingdom of God shape the
way you do your ministry? In what ways might your
ministry change by applying the concept of God’s kingdom
to all aspects of life? How does the fact that we are
living in the continuation of an inaugurated kingdom
cause us to expect victories for God’s kingdom in the
present time? What would those victories look like? How
does the fact that we have not yet reached the
consummation of the kingdom of God help us deal with the
suffering that we still experience in our lives?
Assignment
#5
Read:
From Eden to New Jerusalem: An Introduction to
Biblical Theology
Length 10-12 pages
How does gaining a full perspective of
biblical theology and God’s redemptive plan impact your
life and ministry? How does an understanding of biblical
theology help you practice the presence of God and trust
in the sovereignty of God? How does an understanding of
biblical theology help you deal with devil and the
kingdom of darkness? In what ways does the typology of
the ‘temple’ help you understand God’s overall plan of
redemption?
Assignment
#6
Read:
Authenticity: A Biblical Theology of Discernment
Length 10-12 pages
What is your view of a
biblical theology of discernment? Why is essential to
understand the role of discernment in the Christian
walk? How does your understanding of discernment help
you fulfill the ministry that God has called you to?
What is authentic discernment and what are common issues
associated with it? How does your understanding of
discernment help you know how God speaks to you? What
role does discernment play in your understanding of
distinguishing between the work of the Holy Spirit and
the work of spirits in the kingdom of darkness? Do you
believe that discernment is truly required to live an
abundant life in Christ? Why or why not?
Assignment
#7
Read:
The Mission of God's People: A Biblical Theology of
the Church's Mission (Biblical Theology for Life)
Length
10-12 pages
In your own words, what is the mission
of God’s people? Why is it important for you to know
your true identity and purpose in Christ? How is the
Gospel the story of Jesus in light of the Scriptures?
How is the Gospel a new redeemed humanity, a single
family of God? How is the Gospel a message to be
communicated to the whole world? How is the Gospel
ethical transformation? How the truth of the Gospel to
be defended? How is the Gospel the power of God
transforming the universe? As a minister of the Gospel,
how do you serve creation and society? As a minister of
the Gospel do become an agent of change in culture?
Assignment
#8
Final
Paper/Project
Length 15-20 pages
What
has the Lord revealed to you in this course? Explain how
you gained a greater understanding of Building Biblical
Theology.
As your final project, consider the ministry that God
has called you to and the gifts he has anointed you with
to fulfill His purpose. With this mind, create a project
based on your understanding of Building Biblical
Theology and how you would apply it to your area of
ministry. That is, write down and use any form of media
(audio, video, PowerPoint, etc.) that you choose to
describe the ideas that God has put in your heart. What
specific ways do you see that the Lord is showing you
about how to Build Biblical Theology and make it
practical? How does your understanding of Building
Biblical Theology help you gain more clarity regarding
God’s call on your life?
-
Consider all the material you observed
in this course and focus on those issues
that are close to your heart.
-
Also, make use of the bibliography
resources in your texts as they make
excellent references for guided
research.
-
Make use of the ACU Online
Resource
Center.
There are many great resources there to
help you.
Assignments
that MUST BE SUBMITTED to Your Instructor for Grading
YOU
WILL NOT RECEIVE A GRADE FOR THE COURSE OR BE CREDITED
AS COMPLETING THE COURSE UNTIL ALL OF THESE ASSIGNMENTS
HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AND GRADED BY YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
Assignment #1
Assignment #2
Assignment #3
Assignment #4
Assignment #5
Assignment #6
Assignment #7
Assignment #8-Final Paper/Project
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