Reclaiming the Mind for Christ

1. Reclaiming the Mind for Christ

2. Outline • What is TTP? • Why is TTP needed? • Why Are Theological Programs Neglected? • Why Do Theological Programs Fail? • Why do Theological Programs Succeed? • Values of TTP

3. What is The Theology Program?

4. Introduction to the Theology Program The Theology Program is an intense theological studies program, designed for busy people who may never go to seminary but who want deep theological training. While there are many great subjects, biblical and spiritual, that Christians can and need to study, our focus is on seven specific courses of systematic theology. Our desire is to teach people how to think by opening their minds to diverse views, learning from history, wrestling with difficult issues, and graciously engaging an increasingly relativistic and postmodern world.

5. Introduction to the Theology Program Mission: Reclaiming the mind for Christ by equipping people and churches to understand and defend the faith. Goal: “Our goal is not so much to teach good theology, as important as that is, but to teach people to think.”

6. Introduction to The Theology Program What makes The Theology Program different? • Intensity in studies • Irenic theology • Intentional program design • Comprehensive coverage • Doing theology in community

7. Intensity in Studies The Church must have an avenue of intense, interactive Christian education through a program which gives people an opportunity to learn at a level that other venues cannot provide. TTP endeavors to be this avenue.

8. Intensity in Studies Fellowship/ Sunday School Interactive Classroom Sermon Low Commitment High Commitment

9. Intensity in Studies Fellowship/ Sunday School Interactive Classroom Sermon Low Expectations • High Expectations • Attendance • Assigned readings • Books • Papers • Case studies • Memorization of Scripture • Grades

10. Intensity in Studies Fellowship/ Sunday School Interactive Classroom Sermon Devotional (Brings encouragement for the week) Foundational (Builds theology for a lifetime)

11. Intensity in Studies Fellowship/ Sunday School Interactive Classroom Sermon Short-term life change Long-term life change

12. Intensity in Studies Fellowship/ Sunday School Interactive Classroom Sermon Exhortation Education

13. Intensity in Studies Fellowship/ Sunday School Interactive Classroom Sermon The education program of the Church needs to include all of these in balance.

14. Irenic Theology Key Terms Irenic Theology: Theology that is done peaceably, accurately representing all views, even when you oppose them. Polemic Theology:Theology that is done in a warlike manner inside the Church, prophetically speaking against those with whom there is disagreement. Apologetic Theology: Theology that is done to defend the faith against those who oppose outside the church.

15. Irenic Theology Irenic Peace War Defense Polemic Apologetic

16. Intentional Program Design

17. Comprehensive Coverage In the courses, we will address all the relevant major issues, current and historic, of which we think people need to be aware.

18. Doing Theology in a Community We believe that truth is not found in Spirit-illuminated individuals, but in a community of Spirit-illuminated individuals. Therefore, we believe that the Body of Christ, both alive and dead, must come together to understand theology, shaping it from many perspectives and differing experiences. This is doing theology in a community.

19. Notice how the draft is incomplete and erased at places. This illustrates how our theology is never finished in this life, but is always undergoing change and development. The “T” stands for “Theology” in The Theology Program. The tablet upon which we construct our theology is broken. This represents an imperfect people, broken by sin, doing our best to understand God in our state of imperfection. The column represents a pillar, communicating that our theology creates a strong foundation upon which our life, purpose, and actions exist. Notice how the draft goes outside the lines at times. This represents how our theology, while having a great respect for tradition, must break with tradition at times. This is the Reformers’ principle of semper reformanda (“always reforming”).

20. What TTP is Not • It is not an accredited seminary or college, and we do not seek to become one.

21. What TTP is Not • It is not a typical lay-institute. We are better called a lay theological education program.

22. Where TTP Fits into SCC Ministries Theological Studies Department. • Theological Studies Program (TTP) • Teacher Training • Leadership Training • Continuing theological education for staff

23. Why is TTP needed?

24. Why is TTP Needed? • The need within the local church for an intentional and comprehensive theological program designed for laypeople.

25. Why Is TTP Needed? • The influx of the anti-intellectual mind-set of the culture and church. “We live in what may be the most anti-intellectual period in the history of Western civilization. . . We must have passion—indeed hearts on fire for the things of God. But that passion must resist with intensity the anti-intellectual spirit of the world.” —R. C. Sproul

26. Why Is TTP Needed? “Ignorance is not a Christian virtue if those virtues mirror the perfections of God’s own character.” — J. P. Moreland

27. Why is TTP Needed? • The postmodern adherence to subjectivity and relativity needs to be understood and challenged by the body of Christ.

28. Why is TTP Needed? Recent polls indicate that the majority of evangelical students entering into the colleges and universities do not believe in any absolutes. Parents are at a loss as to how to intellectually defend against postmodern epistemology.

29. Why is TTP Needed? • The lack of training in theological methodology and doctrine both in the church and in the schools.

30. Why is TTP Needed? “The scandal of the evangelical mind is that there is not much of an evangelical mind . . . Despite dynamic success at the popular level, modern American evangelicals have failed notably in sustaining serious intellectual life. They have nourished millions of believers in the simple verities of the gospel but have largely abandoned the universities, the arts, and other realms of “high” culture. . . . The historical situation is . . . curious. Modern evangelicals are the spiritual descendants of leaders and movements distinguished by probing, creative, fruitful attention to the mind.” — Mark Noll

31. Why Are Theological Programs are Neglected?

32. Why Are Theological Programs Neglected? • The local church’s over reliance on public and private schools and the universities to take care of the “academic side” of learning.

33. Why Are Theological Programs Neglected? In the past, subjects relevant to the education of Body of Christ were taught in schools and universities: • Theology • Bible • Philosophy • Logic • Greek • Latin • Rhetoric

34. Why Are Theological Programs Neglected? Now schools and universities teach: • Comparative religions • Evolutionary Science • Deconstructionalism • No Theology • No Bible • No Philosophy • No Logic • No Greek • No Latin • No Rhetoric

35. Why Are Theological Programs Neglected? “We face two tasks in our evangelism, ‘saving the soul and saving the mind’—that is, converting people not only spiritually but intellectually as well—and the church . . . is lagging dangerously behind in this second task.” —J. P. Moreland and William Lane Craig

36. Why Are Theological Programs Neglected? • A misunderstanding of faith’s relationship to reason.

37. Why Are Theological Programs Neglected? • Lack of understanding the importance of knowing why you believe what you believe.

38. Why Are Theological Programs Neglected? • The prevalent view that theology is divisive and should not be taught.

39. Why Do Theological Programs Fail?

40. Why Do Theological Programs Fail? • Lack of educated teaching.

41. Why Do Theological Programs Fail? • Lack of excellence in teaching: “The Bible gives record of many teachers who sought to teach truth with diligence and accuracy. All of the teachers were uniquely dynamic, engaging, gracious, transparent, creative, and persuasive. Therefore, we follow this model of teaching, seeking leaders who have all of these qualities bringing the people to God’s truth with great passion.”

42. Why Do Theological Programs Fail? • Lack of intentionality in the program.

43. Why Do Theological Programs Fail? • Lack of credentials.

44. Why do Theological Programs Succeed?

45. Why do Theological Programs Succeed? • High standard in teaching. • Competent • Gracious • Dynamic • Engaging • Committed • Creative • Persuasive

46. Why do Theological Programs Succeed? • Intentional program design.

47. Why do Theological Programs Succeed? • Confidence in the students desire and ability to learn theology.

48. Why do Theological Programs Succeed? • High standard of excellence in all that is done. • Commitment to truth and God’s word. • A profound understanding of the importance of the development of a systematic theology for every believer.

49. What are the Values of TTP?

50. Values of TTP • Diligence in pursuit of the knowledge of God (ethic) We believe that the diligent pursuit of the knowledge of God through the revelation of God is the first pursuit of order that makes all other pursuits justified and fruitful to God’s glory. This pursuit is of utmost importance for every believer.