[NOTE: the official syllabus is now on the “Lead” page; this post is obsolete, but kept for the sake of historical continuity].

[Yes, I should probably have written this before the first lesson, but better late than never…]

In thinking about it, I ought to take my Curriculum one step further, and actually identify the passages and key learnings for each lesson. Not only will this help ensure I’m on the same page as my pastor, but it would enable others to write some of the lessons (since class starts on September 4th!).

I’ve also cross-referenced these lessons against two common systematic theology books:

• Wayne Grudem‘s condensed Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings (under “Doctrine“)
• R. C. Sproul‘s classic of Reformed systematic theology, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith (pdf) (under “Essentials“).

In addition to providing a sort index to the topics covered, this allows students and teachers to use those as supplementary textbooks.

• Draft 1 – Sunday, 24th August
• Draft 2 – Tuesday, 26th August: Added “Doctrine” “Essentials” chapters for each lesson
• Draft 3 – Friday, 29th August: Added “Doctrines” chapters for each lesson
  

A.0 God’s Word: The Authority of Scripture

• Adoration: Psalm 19
• Bible: 2 Timothy 3:10-17
• Content: The source, role, purpose, sufficiency, and clarity of the Bible, as well as its relation to other sources of authority. Emphasizes the dual authorship of Scripture (many human authors, yet simultaneously one divine author).
• Doctrines: 
  • 2. The Authority and Inerrancy of Scripture
  • 3. The Clarity, Necessity, and Sufficiency of Scripture
• Essentials: 
  • 1. Revelation
  • 2. Paradox, Mystery, and Contradiction
  • 4. Special Revelation and the Bible
  • 7. The Canon of Scripture
  • 8. Interpreting the Bible
  • 9. Private Interpretation

A.1 God’s Commission: Our Call as Leaders

• Adoration: Psalm 47
• Bible: Matthew 28:16-20
• Content: Since Christ ultimately owns all power and authority, how does He want us to exercise it on His behalf? Emphasizes disciple-making as the process of dying to oneself and being reborn into the name (character) of God, both individually and collectively.
• Doctrines: 
  • 27. Baptism
• Essentials: 
  • 31. The Baptism of Christ
  • 41. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
  • 80. Baptism
  • 99. The Kingdom of God

A.2 God’s Identity: Relationship and Transcendence

• Adoration: Psalm 8
• Bible: Exodus 3:1-15
• Content: God “names” Himself to Moses in terms of His relationships, His mission, and His transcendence. Emphasizes transcendence as the root of God’s omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence.
• Doctrines: 
  • 4. The Character of God: “Incommunicable” Attributes
• Essentials: 
  • 12. The Self-Existence of God
  • 13. The Omnipotence of God
  • 14. The Omnipresence of God
  • 15. The Omniscience of God

A.3 God’s Character: His Glory, Our Grace

• Adoration: Psalm 103
• Bible: Exodus 33:12–34:7
• Content: Moses seeks God’s presence, and is rewarded with His glory (His name). Emphasizes the tension between God’s love and justice.
• Doctrines: 
  • 5. The “Communicable” Attributes
• Essentials: 
  • 16. The Holiness of God
  • 17. The Goodness of God
  • 18. The Justice of God

A.4 Trinitarian Transformation: Conforming to His Image

• Adoration: Isaiah 42;1-9
• Bible: Romans 8:1-17
• Content: Discusses the roles the three members of the Godhead play in our sanctification. Emphasizes their distinct identities and roles yet common “substance” and purpose.
• Doctrines: 
  • 6. The Trinity
• Essentials: 
  • 10. The Incomprehensibility of God
  • 11. The Triunity of God
  • 28. The Sinlessness of Christ
  • 34. Jesus Christ as Mediator
  • 35. The Threefold Office of Christ
  • 36. The Titles of Jesus
  • 43. The Holy Spirit as Sanctifier

A.5 Father’s Kingdom: His World, His Image

• Adoration: Psalm 103
• Bible: Genesis 1
• Content: God the Father is also our Father, both as creator and as king. Emphasizes how the created ecosystems are “very good” because they conform to God’s character.
• Doctrines: 
  • 7. Creation
  • 8. God’s Providence
  • 11. The Creation of Man
  • 12. Man as Male and Female
• Essentials: 
  • 3. Immediate and Mediate General Revelation
  • 19. Creation
  • 20. Providence
  • 21. Miracles
  • 22. The Will of God
  • 44. Knowledge of Self and Knowledge of God
  • 45. Human Beings Created in the Image of God

A.6 Man’s Rebellion: His Law, Our Sin

• Adoration: Psalm 51
• Bible: Genesis 3:1-19
• Content: How we chose to seek our own glory instead of God’s. Emphasizes how “original sin” and “total depravity” are signs of mis-alignment with God’s character.
• Doctrines: 
  • 10. Angels, Satan, and Demons
  • 13. Sin
• Essentials: 
  • 17. The Law of God
  • 23. Covenant
  • 24. Covenant of Works
  • 48. Satan
  • 50. Sin
  • 51. Original Sin
  • 52. Human Depravity
  • 53. Human Conscience

A.7 Christ’s Salvation: His Pain, Our Gain

• Adoration: Psalm 22
• Bible: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8,20-28,45-49
• Content: The good news of Christ’s death and resurrection, His complete authority, and our hope of being formed in His image. Emphasizes how He fully represents both humanity and divinity.
• Doctrines: 
  • 14. The Person of Christ
  • 15. The Atonement
  • 16. Resurrection and Ascension
  • 19. The Gospel Call
  • 20. Regeneration
• Essentials: 
  • 25. The Deity of Christ
  • 26. The Subordination of Christ
  • 27. The Humanity of Christ
  • 30. Jesus Christ as the Only Begotten
  • 56. Salvation
  • 60. Rebirth
  • 61. Atonement
  • 73. The Last Resurrection
  • 74. Glorification

A.8 Spirit’s Intercession: Convict, Convey, Conform

• Adoration: Psalm 51
• Bible: John 16:5-15
• Content: Introduce the third-person of the Trinity, and His work on sin, righteousness, and judgement. Emphasize His role in communicating the glory of Christ to us.
• Doctrines: 
  • 29. Gifts of the Holy Spirit (I): General Questions
  • 30. Gifts of the Holy Spirit (II): Specific Gifts
• Essentials: 
  • 37. The Deity of the Holy Spirit
  • 38. The Personality of the Holy Spirit
  • 39. The Internal Testimony of the Holy Spirit
  • 40. The Illumination of the Holy Spirit
  • 42. The Holy Spirit as Comforter

A.9 Soul’s Sanctification: His Call, Our Destiny

• Adoration: Psalm 25
• Bible: 1 Peter 1:1-9,13-16
• Content: What our new life looks like, and how we get there. Emphasizes the total surrender of mind, body, heart, and soul.
• Doctrines: 
  • 21. Conversion (Faith and Repentance)
  • 22. Justification and Adoption
  • 23. Sanctification (Growth in Likeness to Christ)
• Essentials: 
  • 46. Human Beings as Body and Soul
  • 47. Human Beings as Flesh and Spirit
  • 64. Faith
  • 65. Saving Faith
  • 66. Justification by Faith
  • 67. Faith and Works
  • 68. Repentance
  • 69. Merit and Grace
  • 70. Perseverance of the Saints

A.10 Christ’s Body: The Church

• Adoration: Psalm 122
• Bible: Ephesians 4:1-16
• Content: Manifesting the unity of the Spirit through our various callings. Emphasizes that the goal of leadership and structure is growing into the headship of Christ.
• Doctrines: 
  • 26. The Nature of the Church
  • 28. The Lord’s Supper
• Essentials: 
  • 75. The Apostles
  • 76. The Church
  • 77. The Marks of a True Church
  • 86. The Fruit of the Spirit
  • 87. Love
  • 88. Hope

A.11 History’s Culmination: His Return, Our Reward

• Adoration: Psalm 75
• Bible: Revelation 21:1-8,22-27
• Content: How God’s kingdom is (re)established at the end, with the removal of all evil. Emphasizes that heaven is primarily basking in God’s manifest presence.
• Doctrines: 
  • 31. The Return of Christ: When and How?
  • 33. The Final Judgement and Eternal Punishment
  • 34. The New Heaven and New Earth
• Essentials: 
  • 98. The Return of Christ
  • 100. Heaven
  • 101. The Beatific Vision
  • 102. Hell