Overall Outline

Essential Teachings

Apologetics

a. Definition of apologetics
b. Types of apologetics
i. Historical or philosophical defenses of Christianity.
ii.    Bible and science
iii.    Bible and history
iv.    Bible and archeology
v.    Bible and internal consistency
vi.    Bible and prophecy
c. The biblical basis for apologetics
d. Basic assumptions necessary to proceed
e. Historical and philosophical defenses of Christianity
f. Basic arguments demonstrating the probability of the existence of a creator
g. Design and order found in the universe
i.    The role of the moon
ii.    The role of Saturn and the “cone of safety”
h. Bible and science
i.    The Two Books: the Bible and Nature (General and Specific revelation)
ii.    The historical conflict between “faith” and “science”
iii.    The historical alliance between “science” and “faith
1. The Galileo controversy
2. Major Christian contributors to science
3. The contributions of Islam
iv. The fundamental problems of language and approach
1.    Biblical vs. Scientific language
2. Difference in goals:
a. Bible: Who and Why
b.    Science: What and How
3. The issues of transcendence and immanence in creation
4.    The Trinitarian creative process: Will, Power, Action
v. The limits of logic and the necessity of faith
vi.    Anticipation of science in the Scriptures
vii.    The Bible and science
1.    Meteorology
2.    Hydrology
3.    Physics
4.    Math
viii.    Intro to the age-of-the-earth debate
ix.    Relativity and the creation days
1.    The correlation between the fossil record and the biblical sequence
2.    The biblical basis for long days: our continuing status in the “sabbath”
3.    Genesis 1-2 and Standard Theory / The Big Bang
x.    Noah’s flood
xi.    Scientific evidence for an ancient creation
1.    Geology issues
2.    Extinction events
3.    Astronomy issues
4.    Anthropology issues
5.    Biology issues
a.    Dinosaur blood controversy
b.    Up from apes?
xii.    Mystery of life’s origin
xiii.    Darwinianism
xiv.    Origin models side by side and how they fare
xv.    Putting atheistic evolution to the test
i.      Bible and history
j.      Bible and archeology
k. Bible and internal consistency
l.      Bible and prophecy

2. Bibliology – The Bible
a. Inspiration
b. Inerrancy

ii.    Evidenced in science
iii.    Evidenced in archeology
iv.    Evidenced in prophecy
c. Preservation
d. Development of the Canon
e. Apocrypha
f. Completeness or sufficiency of
g. Authority of
h. Literary styles
i. Hermeneutics - Interpretation and Application

3.   Theology - God
a.   Trinity
b. Theology proper - God the Father
i.    Existence
1.    Natural theology – discovering the Creator in the creation
2.    The limits of natural theology
ii.    Character
iii.    Nature
iv.    Spirituality
v.    Gender
vi.    Holiness
vii.    Goodness
viii.    Justice
ix.    Infinity / Eternity
x.    Immutability
xi.    Sovereignty – the will of God
xii.    Omnipotence
xiii.    Omnipresence
xiv.    Omniscience
xv.    Wisdom
xvi.    Transcendence
xvii.    Immanence
xviii.    Inconceivable
xix.    Unknowable
xx.    Providence
c. Christology - God the Son
i.    Deity
ii.    Pre-existence
iii.    Theophanies
iv.    Immanence
v.    Historicity
vi.    Virgin birth
vii.    Humanity
viii.    Incarnation – Hypostatical union: fully human and fully God
1.    communion of attributes
2.    acts of Christ
3.    an object of worship
4.    can sympathize with His people
5.    the source of life
ix.    Humility of
x.    Infallibility
xi.    Messiahship
xii.    Atonement
xiii.    Savior
1.    Sufficiency of His death
2.    For whom did He die
xiv.    Miracles – Power over nature
xv.    Offices
xvi.    Resurrection
xvii.    Return
xviii.    Exaltation of
xix.    Titles
xx.    Lordship / Kingship of
xxi.    Mediation of
xxii.    Intercession of
xxiii.    Essential teachings of
xxiv.    Parables summarized
xxv.    Jesus and the Law
xxvi.    Prophecy of
xxvii. Priesthood of
d. Pneumatology - God the Holy Spirit
i.    Deity
ii.    Personality
iii. Nature
iv. Transcendence
v.    Office
vi.    Possession by
vii. Empowering role
1.    Preserver – gives power over sin
2.    Revealer of truth – guide
3.    Comforter
4.    Seal
viii.    Fruit of,
1.    love
2.    joy
3.    peace
4.    patience
5.    kindness
6.    goodness
7.    faithfulness
8.    gentleness
9.    self-control
ix.    Spiritual gifts
x.    Baptism of
xi.    Charismatic gifts
xii.    Sin against, unforgivable sin

4. Angelology –
a. Angelology proper - Angels
b. Satanology - Satan
c. Demonology - Demons

5.   Anthropology - Man
a.   Origin
b. Original state
i.    Created in the image of God
ii.    Originally righteous
iii.    Dominion over nature
iv.    Gender equality
c. Nature of
i. Trichotomy
1.    Body
2.    Soul
3.    Spirit
ii.    Conscience
iii.    Free will
d. Purpose
i.    Worship of God
ii.    Companion of God
iii.    Righteousness / Holiness
iv.    Glorification of
v.    Study
1.    Knowledge
2.    Understanding
3.    Discernment
4.    Wisdom
e. Value
f. Unity of the human race

6. Hamartiology – Sin
a. Origin of sin / the Fall
b. Yetzer hara / sin nature
c. Human depravity
d. Effect of sin, Evil in the world
e. The role of the intellect, emotions and the body in sin

7. Soteriology – Salvation
a. Original sin
b. Reprobation
c. Predestination
d. Grace
e. Faith
f. Repentance
g. Confession
h. Regeneration
i. Adoption
j. Justification
k. Expiation
l. Propitiation
m. Imputation
n. Sanctification
o. Perseverance of the saints
p. The role of faith and works
q.   The process of salvation (spirit instantaneous, soul progressive, body future)
r. Liberty
s. Age of accountability

8. Ecclesiology – The Church
a. Origin
b. The true Church / Israel / Ezrach’
c. Nature
d. Government
i.    Elders
ii.    Deacons
iii.    Congregation
e. Spiritual gifts
f. Work of
i.    Worship
ii.    Education
iii.    Exhortation
iv.    Rebuking
v.    Discipline
vi.    Evangelism
g. Pesach’ / The Lord’s Supper
h. Zakar
i. Baptism
j. The role of tradition
k. Characteristics of
i.    Visionary
ii.    Bible Believing
iii.    Biblically Prioritized
iv.    God Seeking
v.    Christ Centered
vi.    Holy Spirit Focused
vii.    Holy Spirit Gifted
viii.    Discipled
ix.    Humbly Serving
x.    Appropriately Ministering
xi.    Passionate
xii.    Devotional
xiii.    Prayerful
xiv.    Worshipful
xv.    Indigenous
xvi.    Excellent
xvii.    Positive
xviii.    Flexible
xix.    Teachable
xx.    Outwardly focused
xxi.    People Minded
xxii.    Hospitable
xxiii.    Compassionate
xxiv.    Kingdom Oriented
xxv.    Missions Oriented
xxvi.    Directed
xxvii.    Evangelistic
xxviii.    Targeted
xxix.    Individualized
xxx.    Balanced
xxxi.    Grace Imparting
xxxii.    Mutually Accountable
xxxiii.    Disciplined
xxxiv.    Pure
xxxv.    Well Advised
xxxvi.    Well Led
xxxvii.    Servant Led
xxxviii.    Empowering
xxxix.    Generous
xl.    Organized
xli.    Growing
xlii.    Collaborative
xliii.    Prepared
xliv.    Loyal
xlv.    Unified
xlvi.    Family Supportive

9. Eschatology – Last Things
a. Death
b. Heaven
c. Hell
i.    Degrees of reward and punishment
ii.    Soul sleep
iii.    Purgatory
d. The Harlot
e. Antichrist
f. False prophet
g. Tribulation
h. Rapture
i. The Bema Seat
j. Day of the Lord
k. Second Coming
l. Millennial reign
m. Resurrection
i.    Of the saved
1.    Reunification with a glorified body
ii.    Of the unsaved
n. The Great White Throne of Judgment
o. End of the universe
p. Creation of a new heaven and earth

10. Christian disciplines
a. Inner disciplines i.    Solitude
ii.    Silence
iii.    Simplicity
iv.    Fasting
v.    Listening
vi.    Reflection / meditation
vii.    Study
viii.    Prayer
1.    repetitiveness
2.    invocation of saints
3.    Mariolatry
4.    relics
b. Corporate disciplines
i.    Community
ii.    Submission
iii.    Service
iv.    Confession
v.    Secrecy
vi.    Worship
vii.    Celebration
viii.    Encouragement / discipleship / mentoring
ix.    Tithes and offerings

11. Determining the will of God

12. Sanctification of the secular

13. Christian ethics
a. Marriage
b. Divorce and remarriage
c. Vows
d. Obedience to the government
e. Obligations to the government
i.    Voting
ii.    Taxes
iii.    Military service
iv.    Office holding
f. Capital punishment
g. Self-defense
h. War
i. Suicide
j. Social justice
k. Environmental justice

14. Christian character
a. Appreciative
b. Attentive
c. Available
d. Committed
e. Compassionate
f. Concerned
g. Confident
h. Considerate
i. Consistent
j. Content
k. Cooperative
l. Courageous
m. Creative
n. Decisive
o. Deferent
p. Dependable
q. Determined
r. Diligent
s. Discerning
t. Discreet
u. Efficient
v. Equitable
w. Fair
x. Faithful
i.    Loyal
ii.    Characterized by faith in God and His Word
y. Fearless
z. Filial
aa. Flexible
bb. Forgiving
cc. Friendly
dd. Generous
ee. Gentle
ff. Honest
gg. Humble
hh. Joyful
ii. Kind
jj. Loyal
kk. Meek
ll. Merciful
mm. Obedient
nn. Observant
oo. Optimistic
pp. Patient
qq. Peaceful
rr. Perseverant
ss. Persuasive
tt. Piety
uu. Prudent
vv. Punctual
ww. Purity
xx. Purposeful
yy. Repentant
zz. Resourceful
aaa. Respectful
bbb. Responsible
ccc. Secure
ddd. Self-controlled
eee. Sincere
fff. Submissive
ggg. Tactful
hhh. Temperate
iii. Thorough
jjj. Thrifty
kkk. Tolerant
lll. Truthful
mmm. Virtuous
nnn. Zealous