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Alphabetical index of topics

Introduction to Christian beliefs

101. Basic beliefs – "majoring on majors, minoring on minors"
What are the fundamentals of the Christian faith? What should go into a basic doctrinal statement?

102. What is theology - "things into which angels long to look"
How can the study of systematic theology be helpful and / or harmful to the development of a healthy Christian life?

103. Different expressions of theology – "I am of Paul, I of Apollos, I of Cephas, and I of Christ"
What are the different ways in which the Christian faith has been understood and expressed?

104. Tensions in interpretation - "for now we see in a mirror dimly"
What are the major points of tension faced by the serious student who seeks to understand the Bible in the modern era?

105. Two Systems - Covenant and Dispensational systems
What are the two most pervasive frameworks in Protestantism for harmonizing the Old and New Testaments and where do these frameworks agree and how do they differ?

106. New Covenant – "and I will pour out my Spirit on you"
How is the New Covenant in Christ’s blood related to the Old Covenant with Israel through Moses.

107. Law and Grace - "The Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ"
How are the moral law of God and the radical grace of God related?

108. Problem passages on Law and Grace.
How are we to answer some problem passages that suggest that we are not under grace but under law?

109. Postmodernism – ‘the mystery of lawlessness"
What is postmodernism and how has it effected our understanding and communication of the Biblical message?

The Bible

201. General revelation – "that which is evident within us"
Is there a common ground where we can talk with confidence to a non Christian about the things of God? What does such a common ground consist of?

202. Legislation of common morality – "rendering to Caesar what is Caesars"
In a pluralistic society like the USA, to what extent can or should a basic morality be legislated?

204. Special revelation – "God speaking in many portions and in many ways"
Can a person by their own reason and wisdom come to faith in Christ or is faith linked to a special act of God’s Spirit?

205. Divine Guidance – "if any of you lack wisdom, ask God"
How can a Christian come to understand God’s leading in this life?

206. Inspiration – "God breathed"
In what sense is the Bible inspired by God?

207. Uniqueness of the Bible – "no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will"
In what ways is the Bible unique among religious books?

208. Jesus and the Bible – "the Scriptures cannot be broken"
What was Jesus’ view of the Bible?

209. The Text of the Bible – "to write it out for you"
How did our Bible come to us?

210. The four Gospels – "in remembrance of Me"
How are the four Gospels of the New Testament organized?

211. Biblical Inerrancy – "the testimony of the Lord is sure."
How do evangelical Christians understand the concept of Biblical inerrancy?

212. Higher Criticism – "cleverly invented stories"
What are we to make of the work of modern literary critics who challenge some of the traditional view of the Bible?

213. Biblical Authority – "the word of God is alive and powerful"
What is the nature of the Bible’s authority within the Christian community and in the individual believer’s life?

214. Biblical Interpretation – "handling accurately the world of truth"
How is a person to rightly interpret the Biblical text?

215. Biblical structure -
How is the Bible structured?

216. The Chicago statement of Biblical inerrancy -
How have evangelicals defined inerrancy.

217. Apologetics -
Giving account of our hope.

God and Angels

301. God’s Existence – ‘to understand and to know Me"
How can we be sure that God exists?

302. God’s Immanence and Transcendence - "the infinite personal Lord of all"
In what sense is God personal to us and how does this square with his greatness?

303. God’s Greatness – "mighty Lord"
In what sense is God all powerful?

304. God’s Goodness – "gracious Savior"
Is God really good?

305. The Trinity – "three in one"
Is the idea of the trinity defensible?

306. God’s plan – "understanding what the will of he Lord is"
What is God’s plan for history?

307. Relativism – "graded absolutes"
Is there a moral relativism that is Biblical?

308. Doubtful things – "when Christians differ"
How am I to resolve moral conflicts where Christians disagree?

309. Openness of God – "God repented"
Is God’s relationship with us dynamic and responsive to our choices?

310. Creation – "the worlds were prepared by the Word of God."
What does the creation account really say?

311. Evolution – science and creation
How should I respond to the theory of evolution?

312. Providence – "in Him all things hold together"
Does God control the details of my world?

313. Miracles – "signs, wonders, and miracles"
Should we expect miracles today?

314. Prayer – "ask what you will believing"
– What is prayer and how are we to practice it?

315. The Problem of Evil – "being good can God give bad gifts?"
How are we to resolve the problem of evil in the world given the fact that God is love?

316. Angels and Satan – "the spirit world"
What does the Bible teach about angels and Satan?

317. Spiritual warfare – "not against flesh and blood"
What are the rules of engagement in spiritual warfare?

Humanity

401. Humanity – "in the image of God"
What does it mean to be human?

402. Work – "to subdue and to rule"
What is the significance of work?

403. Work ethics – "do good to all men"
What are the basics of doing good in the work place?

404. Abortion – "thu didst weave me in my mother’s womb"
How are we to respond to the abortion controversy?

405. Capital Punishment – "by man shall his blood be shed"
Is capital punishment Biblical and wise?

406. Racism – "of one blood, all nations"
– How are we to understand the origin and solution of racism?

407. Sexism – "male and female He created them"
How are we to respond to the issue of gender and ministry?

408. Sexual ethics - "flee immorality"
Is a new sexual ethic needed?

409. Divorce – "what God has joined let no man separate"
What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?

410. Nature of Sin – "falling short of the glory of God"
What is sin?

411. Results of sin – "death"
How does sin effect our lives?

412. Original sin – "In Adam, all sinned"
What is the effect of original sin?

413. Marriage and Family – "looking well to the ways of her houshold"
How have understandings of marriage anf family evolved over time?

414. Homosexuality – "natural and unnatural functions"
How does a Biblical understand of homosexuality effect the modern debate over gay rights?

415. War – "sword and plowshares"
What does the Scripture teach about environmental stewardship?

416. Environment – "tending and keeping"
What does the Scripture teach about environmental stewardship?

Christ

501. Christology – "The Jesus of history and the Christ of faith"
What do we really know about Jesus?

502. The Deity of Christ – "the Word was God"
What is the evidence for the deity of Jesus?

503. Cults – "a form of godliness"
What are the common characteristics of religious cults?

504. Jehovah Witnesses –
How is this group distinct from orthodox Christianity?

505. Mormonism -Is Mormonism Christian?

506. Islam – How does Islam challenge Christianity?

507. Christ’s humanity – "the man Christ Jesus"
In what sense was Jesus fully human?

508. The Hypostatic Union – "true God and true man"
How are the two natures of Christ to be reconciled?

509. The Work of Christ – "the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow"
What did Jesus come to do?

510. The Resurrection of Christ – "the First fruits of those who sleep"
What is the evidence for the resurrection?

511. The Atonement of Christ – "having obtained eternal redemption"
What was the significance of the death of Christ?

512. For whom did Christ die – "not only our sins but also for those of the whole world"
Did Christ die for the elect only or for the whole of humanity?

513. Person of Christ chart -
How could we summarize the Biblical teaching concerning Christ?

514. Heresies chart -
What are the major historical misunderstandings concerning the person of Christ?

515. Unitarianism -
What is unitarian universalism?

Holy Spirit

601. The Person of the Spirit – the third person of the Trinity
Is the Holy Spirit a person or a force?

602. The Work of the Spirit – "the helper"
What is the full scope of the Spirit’s work?

603. The Baptism with the Spirit – "the promise of the Father"
What does the Bible teach about Spirit baptism?

604. The Gifts of the Spirit – "for the edification of the body"
How are we to understand the gifts of the Spirit in the church today?

605. Empathy – "the Comforter"
How important is empathy to the Christian message and life?

Salvation

701. Concepts of Salvation -"he who has the Son has life"
How do different Christian groups understand the concept of salvation?

702. Means of Salvation - "writings that give wisdom unto salvation"
What does God use to bring salvation about?

703. Extended mercy – "men who fear Him"
Does God’s grace to save extend beyond the Christian church?

704. Predestination – "which he prepared before hand"
How much of life is foreordained?

705. The Beginning of Salvation – "as many as received him"
How does a person become a Christian?

706. Positional truth – "in Christ"
What does it mean to be "in Christ"?

707. Repentance – "returning"
What does it mean to repent?

708. Assurance – "that you may know that you have eternal life"
How can a person know that they have eternal life?

709. Security – "they shall never perish"
Can a person loose their salvation?

710. The Continuation of Salvation – "work out your salvation"
How do a grow spiritually?

711. Holiness – "pure religion"
What does it mean to be holy?

712. The Completion of Salvaiton – "what we shall be"
What does in mean to be glorified with Christ?

713. Lordship Salvation – "walking like mere men"
Must Christ be master of my life to be my Savior?

714. Decrees - "the logical order in God’s mind"
How do differing Christian groups understand the order of God’s plan?

715. Sanctification views - "be holy as I am holy"
How do differing Christian groups understand personal holiness?

716. Romans 6-8
What is the meaning of Romans 6-8?

717. Views of Salvation
How do different Christian groups view salvation?

718. Forgiveness
What is the meaning of forgiveness?

719. Discipleship
What is the meaning of discipleship?

720. Faith
What is saving faith?

The Church

801. The Nature of the Church – "baptized into one body"
What are some of the different ways Christians have understood the church?

802. The Unity of he Church – "that they may be one as we are one"
What are the bases and limits of unity among Christians?

803. Church Discipline –
What is the role of discipline in the Christian life?

804. The Role of the Church – "the proper working of each part"
What is the role of the church in the world?

805. The Gospel – "the Word was God"
What do we really know about Jesus?

806. Cross-cultural ministry – "make disciples of all nations"
What is the missionary responsibility of the church?

807. Church and State – "rendering to Caesar and to God"
What is the proper relationship between the church and the state?

808. Social action – "doing good to all men"
What is the role of the church in social action?

809. Reconstructionism – "fulfilling the law"
What is reconstructionism and is it Biblical?

810. Church government –
How is the local church to be governed?

811. Church leadership and ministry –
What are the roles and responsibilities of church leaders?

812. Water Baptism –
What does the Bible teach about water baptism?

813. The Lord’s Supper – "the bread and cup"
What does the Bible teach about the Lord’s Supper?

814. The Sabbath – "on the first day of the week"
How do the Sabbath laws of the Old Testament relate to the Lord’s Day (Sunday)?

815. Church of Christ –
What are the unique distinctives of the Church of Christ sect?

816. Financial Stewarship– "according to equality"
What is the proper Christian posture toward financial giving?

817. Prosperity, property, and Shalom –
How are Christians to view wealth?

818. Apostles –
What was the nature and role of an Apostle?

819. Paul –
What was Paul's role in the early church?

820. Civil Disobedience –
When is it God's will to disobey the laws of the land?

821. Poverty –
What is to be the Christians posture toward the poor?

The End Times

901. Death – "sleep"
What is the meaning of death?

902. The Intermediate state – "sheol"
What happens to a person at death?

903. The Second Coming of Christ – "the blessed hope"
What will happen at Christ’s second coming?

904. The Resurrection of the dead –
What will happen at the final resurrection?

905. The Judgement of God – "the sheep and goats"
What is the nature of God's judgment?

906. The Bema – "the Judgement seat of Christ"
How will believers be judged?

907. Imminence –
Is the second coming of Christ imminent?

908. The Millennium –
What is the nature of the Millennium?

909.The Rapture of the church –
What is the nature and time of the taking away of the saints?

910. Heaven – "My Father’s house"
What is the Biblical teaching on heaven?

911. Hell – "the lake of fire"
What is the Biblical teaching on hell?