BIBLE10: LIFE OF CHRISTJanuary 6, 2014Day 1: Natural Theology vs. Revealed Theology

SEMESTER 2 TEXT: THE BIBLE AND…

How we’ll use this book:Homework

ReadingQuestions and Prompts

Class Prep

*It may be a good idea to keep this book wherever you do homework.

WHAT IS THEOLOGY?The study of the nature of God and religious belief.

– GoogleThe study of religious faith, practice, and experience : the study of God and God's relation to the world.

– Merriam WebsterThe study of the nature of God and religious truth; rational inquiry into religious questions.

– The Free Dictionary

WHAT IS NATURAL THEOLOGY?

theology or knowledge of God based on observed facts and experience apart from divine revelation.

– Google theology deriving its knowledge of God from the study of nature independent of special revelation.

– Merriam Webstera theology holding that knowledge of God may be acquired by human reason alone without the aid of revealed knowledge.

– The Free Dictionary

WHAT IS REVEALED THEOLOGY?

theology based on and attainable from revelation only.– Merriam-Webster

theology which is to be learned only from revelation. – The Free Dictionary

theology based on the doctrine that all religious truth is derived exclusively from the revelations of God to humans..

– Dictionary.com

NATURAL VS REVEALED THEOLOGY

DO WE NEED BOTH?

IN PARTNERS: NATURAL OR REVEALED?1. Minimal Facts Approach to the Resurrection2. Doctrine of the Trinity3. The 10 Commandments4. Cosmological Argument for God’s Existence5. God is love6. Reliability of the Gospels7. Jesus Existed and taught many things8. Jesus is the Son of God

PROPER TIME AND PLACE?Conversation with Atheist about God’s existenceConversation with a Christian about predestinationConversation with a Jehovah’s witness about Christ’s divinity (being God)

Debate with an agnostic about moralityPublic speaking to a mixed crowd about the truth of Christianity

RESPOND PROPERLY: MR. SEALS IS…A Bible teacherAn atheistA Jehovah’s witnessNot sure what he believesA news reporter and you are live on TV

HOMEWORK:Read pp23-25 of “The Greatest Life of All: Jesus” and answer the questions/prompts on a separate piece of paper.

Threaded Discussion post by 9pm this evening for extra credit.

BIBLE10: LIFE OF CHRISTJanuary 7, 2014 Day 2: Incarnation and Jesus’ Debut 1. Pass in Homework 2. Silent Reading: Luke 2:1-21

NEW SCRIPTURE QUIZ FORMAT

Bible 10: Semester 2 - January 15/16: Luke 4:1-13 January 29/30: Matthew 5:1-20 February 12/13: Matthew 9:1-26

February 26/27: John 2:1-12 March 12/13: Luke 15

Scripture Quizzes March 26/27: Mark 13 April 9/10: Matthew 23 May 7/8: Matthew 26:57-75 May 21/22: John 21

PRACTICE QUIZTake out a blank sheet of paper1. Who issued a decree that a census should be taken in the

entire Roman world?2. What house and line did Joseph belong to?3. Mary’s child was wrapped in cloths and laid placed where?4. At what time of day did the angels appear to the

shepherds?5. What did the shepherds do after hearing from the angels?6. What act accompanied Jesus’ naming on the eighth day?

INCARNATION – JOHN 1:1-14“ The Incarnation represents the belief that the Son of God, who is the non-created second hypostasis of the triune, God, took on a human body and nature and became both man and God. ” – Wikipedia

To be fully human and fully God… is this possible?

LUKE 2:4-7 – JESUS’ HUMBLE BEGINNINGSTeen momUnmarried “parents”From NazarethBorn in a barnFirst bed: a manger (feeding trough)

SOCIAL/RACIAL/POLITICAL TENSIONSRace:

Jews: “Chosen people” Samaritans “Half-Breeds” Syrians: Former conquerors of Jews and Samaritans (Assyria) Greeks: Former conquerors of Jews and Samaritans (Alexander)

Social: Pharisees – Exclude Sinners Herodians – Cooperate with Rome Essenes – Escape Corruption Zealots – Kill the Bad Guys

HOMEWORK:Read pp25-27 of “Jesus” and answer the questions/prompts on a separate sheet of paper.

Threaded discussion post and 2 comments by 9pm Thursday

BIBLE10: LIFE OF CHRISTJanuary 8/9, 2014 - Day 3:

1. Pass in Homework 2. Reflective Writing #1: If you were told that your future king had just been born to a homeless mother living in a shed behind the convenience store on the outskirts of town, how would you respond?

SOCIAL/RACIAL/POLITICAL TENSIONSRace:

Jews: “Chosen people” Samaritans “Half-Breeds” Syrians: Former conquerors of Jews and Samaritans (Assyria) Greeks: Former conquerors of Jews and Samaritans (Alexander)

Social: Pharisees – Exclude Sinners Herodians – Cooperate with Rome Essenes – Escape Corruption Zealots – Kill the Bad Guys

LUKE 2:8-21 Shepherds in Jewish Society

Social outcasts: by necessity Religious outcasts: by employment

Shepherds’ Response Immediately:“Let’s go see this thing!” v15 Spread the word v18 Glorifying and praising God v 20

MATTHEW 2:1-12 Magi from the east

Astrologers, Dream, Interpreters, Zoroastrians Non-Jews

King Herod Glo Bible Video Nuts & suspicious Rich and powerful – Herodium (Herodion) Messianic Expectation: Sa’aq

Messiah = Danger Killing 2 year olds

Chief Priests and teachers of the law Experts in the law Knew the birthplace of the Messiah

RESPONSES Shepherds

Immediately go & spread the word Magi from the east

Seek after Jesus Worship

King Herod Attempted Murder Infanticide Stays in his palace

Chief Priests and teachers of the law Stay where they are Inaction

SMALL GROUPS OF 3-4 If you were going to start a movement to save the world, how would you start it? What kind of marketing techniques would you use? As a small group develop a marketing campaign to save the world.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST Think about your methods and look at God’s model of saving the world

through Jesus. How do your methods differ with God’s plan. Why do you think he did it the way he did? A poor, peasant, Jewish baby.

LUKE 2:22-40 Circumcision:

Solidarity Identifying with Israel

Purification/Consecration: Pigeons – Sacrifice of the lower class Set apart for the service of the Lord

Simeon: A freaky prophecy

Anna: Messianic Expectation Redemption of Israel

HOMEWORKStudy for Friday’s mini-assessment

Natural vs. Revealed Theology Jewish Sects Magi, Shepherds, Herod, and Teachers of the Law

Threaded Discussion due Thursday at 9pm