Does he use the OT, and if so, how? Does he draw on other relevant traditions or backgrounds? What are the important issues in the social/cultural/historical/literary context in this passage, and why?

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Galatian 3:27-28

1)The structure is (a) Introduction, (b) body, and (c)conclusion. The introduction must introduce the thesis, “To appropriate Christ’s finished work, one must be baptized into Christ because it unifies the body of Christ, dismantles the oppressive concepts of race, gender and class/status.”Followed by you giving the steps to what will happen in the body of the paper. Do not use the introduction to summarize what Galatians says in the passage.

2) In the body are the introduced steps coming to life. And In this paper, describe what you can about what informs Paul’s writing in the passage. Issues may include the following: Does he use the OT, and if so, how? Does he draw on other relevant traditions or backgrounds? What are the important issues in the social/cultural/historical/literary context in this passage, and why? In what ways does Paul seek to influence his audience (such as persuasion, appeal to authority, or other means)? What is Paul addressing, and why?

3)Conclusion; signpost or the conclusion should set forth what the paper has accomplished precisely (keep the thesis in mind and rewrite it for the ending), including the steps argued in the paper. Avoid quoting secondary sources in your conclusion, and do not introduce new material. You are showing what the paper has already accomplished.

Discuss and examine the importance of small groups and growth groups to the overall health of the church/ministry context.

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The Importance of Small Groups

Read Dempsey & Earley’s (2018) Spiritual Formation Is (chapters 18-22), then discuss and examine the importance of small groups and growth groups to the overall health of the church/ministry context. Particular attention should be given to discussing the growth group model and how it relates to developing healthy disciples. You must use 500 words and support your assertions with 3 scholarly citations in the current Turabian format. Any sources cited must have been published with the last five years. Acceptable sources include the textbook and the Bible. Be concise and clear in your analysis. Ensure proper spelling and grammar use. Use the enclosed grading rubric in order to receive the highest possible points in each criterion.

Compose a personal statement of faith on each of the following: Revelation, Sin, Reconciliation, Creation, and Eschatology. 

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Concise Statement of Faith

 

Downloadable instructions:  Final Assignment – Concise Statement of Faith (pdf) Final Assignment – Concise Statement of Faith (pdf) – Alternative Formats

Overview:
This paper offers the chance to articulate a biblically grounded, historically informed, and theologically precise confession of Christian faith crafted after the student’s own way of speaking.  The goal of the work is to help the student run formative pieces of Christian teaching through the filter of his or her own thought, enabling him or her to express his or her faith succinctly and with the texture of traditional awareness.  The work should bring together what the student has read throughout the term, learned in individual session work, and gleaned from research conducted in select reference works or theological treatises (see Bibliography section below).

Instructions:
Compose a personal statement of faith on each of the following: Revelation, Sin, Reconciliation, Creation, and Eschatology.  The content in every case should reflect the material covered in readings and class sessions, should be situated within Scripture by citing at least three key biblical texts as support, and should be in dialogue with Christian tradition as encapsulated in two reference works/theological treatises.  Over the span of the doctrinal statements, the student must exhibit familiarity with at least five reference/theological titles; i.e., while each statement will cite two works, they must not be the same pieces in every case.  A minimum of five titles in total must appear to earn highest marks on the project.
Now for the hard part: be elegantly concise!  Length of each statement is between 70 and 100 words.  Its format should be one paragraph per statement.  Follow the layout of the sample statements provided exactly.  Use single spacing for each, double spacing between them, with 12 point Times New Roman, so that the cumulative length of the paper is approximately 2 pages.  There is no need to compose transition sentences between the doctrines; focus on writing thoughtful, precise, and meaningful confessions of faith.  Include a cover sheet and references page. Write your paper in Microsoft Word and format it according to APA standards.
Click on the Session 5 Final Assignment link to submit your final assignment by the posted due date. Review the rubric available in Due Dates and Grades for specific grading criteria.

 

What do you think? Were you persuaded by what you read? Is this a valuable contribution in the field of Ecumenism and interfaith? Explain how.

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GUIDELINE FOR BOOK REVIEW (100pts)

I. Introduction: (20pts)
Who the author is? (10pts)
What is the author’s main point? (10pts)

II. Body: 50pts
Summarize the author’s argument. (30pts)
Where are some of the interfaith issues raised in the book? (10pts)
Include quotes that support the author perspective. (10pts)

III. Conclusion: (30pts)
Evaluate: What do you think? (10pts)
Were you persuaded by what you read? (10pts)
Is this a valuable contribution in the field of Ecumenism and interfaith? Explain how. (10pts)

Explain how walking in and under the control of the Holy Spirit impacts our spiritual development. Take the personal growth assessment and reflect on your strong points and weaker points. Create and discuss some habits and disciplines for each of the 3 areas that you need to work on.

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SPIRITUAL FORMATION AND DISCIPLESHIP ASSIGNMENT

Read Spiritual Formation Is…. by Dave Ealey and Rod Dempsey Chpts 1, 4, 6, 9,10, and 12

OVERVIEW
Spiritual Formation is essential to discipleship. The goal of spiritual formation is that we would love God, love one another, and love our neighbor. To make progress in this pursuit, there are habits that we should begin to practice and there are habits that we should not practice.

INSTRUCTIONS

Items to include are outlined as follows:
• At least 5 pages, not including the cover page and table of contents, and must be in current Turabian format.
• Must include a bibliography with a minimum of 5 scholarly sources, which can include the course textbooks.
• Format of assignment is current Turabian.
• Specific Prompts:
o For this assignment, you will write a paper detailing the importance of spiritual formation and how it relates to discipleship.
o Give an overview of the 3 areas related to spiritual growth (Chapters 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12 in Spiritual Formation Is) and detail how it affects the whole person.
o Explain how walking in and under the control of the Holy Spirit impacts our spiritual development.
o Take the personal growth assessment and reflect on your strong points and weaker points.
o Finally, create and discuss some habits and disciplines for each of the 3 areas that you need to work on.

Construct a short argument defending Christianity against an aspect of a world religion. Critique or evaluate an aspect of the worldview of a world religion.

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Discussion: World Religions

This discussion is in two parts, both related to a world religion:

1. Construct a short argument defending Christianity against an aspect of a world religion. Choose one of these four options:
• Islam
• Judaism
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
You also must choose a different world religion than the one chosen for the second part of the prompt. You must use a paragraph format. You do not need to be comprehensive but your argument must be coherent. Be sure to use scripture and your textbooks as applicable.

2. Critique or evaluate an aspect of the worldview of a world religion. This is not an apologetic argument for Christianity but rather a critique of some aspect of the self-selected world religion’s worldview. Choose one of these four options:
• Islam
• Judaism
• Hinduism
• Buddhism

What is the errant position being contested? Who taught it? Where was it presented and why? How did the doctrine come to be contested by the Lutherans?

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The Theology of the Person of Christ: A Lutheran Approach Against the Heresies

Confessions. The paper will explore one significant doctrine explored/discussed in the confessions. Students will choose a substantial teaching (e.g., something related to Christology, Soteriology, etc.) and examine the doctrine as it was presented/discussed in the Lutheran Confessions. Careful attention will be given to both the historical context and the theological content of the confessions.
Students will…

• Explore the theological content of a single teaching via a careful examination of the way in which the doctrine was discussed historically. What is the errant position being contested? Who taught it? Where was it presented and why? How did the doctrine come to be contested by the Lutherans?

• Explain the relationship of the doctrine positively presented in the confessions to the teaching of Scripture. How/where is the doctrine drawn from Scripture? How did the Lutherans respond to false conceptions? What is ultimately at stake?

• Explore/interact with what was being taught by critically evaluating how the teaching impacts the Christian faith. How might the errors be exposed as such? How does the proclamation of this particular truth serve the gospel?

Create your own definition of a follower of Jesus; use Scripture to support your definition.

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Characteristics of a Follower

Post one thread of 475 words demonstrating your mastery of synthesizing the readings from Dempsey & Earley and Putman et al. textbooks, and give 3 characteristics of a follower of Jesus Christ. Create your own definition of a follower of Jesus; use Scripture to support your definition. You must support their assertions with 2 scholarly citations in the current Turabian format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable sources include the textbook and the Bible. From a conservative viewpoint.

How has the process of societal secularization benefited Christianity in the West? Why?

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Discussion: The Church and MIssionary Expansion 1600-Present

Read Mark Noll’s Turning Points Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity chapters 11 and 12 then post your answer to the below question in 400 words. You must support your assertions with 4 scholarly citations in Turabian format (notes-bibliography or author-date list). Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable sources include the textbook(s), the Bible, etc.:

•How has the process of societal secularization benefited Christianity in the West? Why?

What are the implications for this particular genre on the interpretation of the book? How does the reader differentiate between the theology and the history in the book? What kinds of things should an interpreter look for in Acts so as to understand properly the message of the book?

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Discussion: Acts, Letters, and Revelation

Read Duvall& Hays Chapters 14,16, and 17, Read Klein, Blomberg, & Hubbard: Chapter 10 (Acts, Epistles, Revelation) and respond to the following questions.Consider these questions with the information in your textbooks in mind, but feel free to use other sources as needed to add to the conversation. In the subject line of each of your threads, acknowledge which question is being answered (e.g., “Discussion: Acts, Letters, and Revelation, Question 1”), and restate the question within your thread. Create each thread as a new topic. Use 400 words each to answer questions 1 and 5. You must support your assertions with three (3) scholarly citations from a minimum of two (2) sources in current Turabian format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable sources include the Bible, textbooks, scholarly articles.
1. Give an explanation of the genre of the book of Acts as theological history. What are the implications for this particular genre on the interpretation of the book? How does the reader differentiate between the theology and the history in the book? What kinds of things should an interpreter look for in Acts so as to understand properly the message of the book? In your opinion, should Acts be read for doctrinal purposes? Why or why not? Please give examples from the book of Acts.

5. What are the general characteristics of letters as they are found in the New Testament? How important for interpretation are the historical and literary contexts for these documents? Why did first-century writers employ the genre of letters when writing to other Christians? What specific issues must the interpreter take into consideration in order to discover the main principles of a New Testament letter? Do all the letters of the New Testament follow the same form? If not, give a list of some that do not and define their distinctive elements.