Class Description

Theology is a course that is designed to help our young people come to know more fully, understand more clearly, and live more faithfully the message of the Scriptures. Theology is taught from a Biblically Reformed perspective emphasizing the key concepts of reformed thought: sola gracia, sola fide, sola Christus, sola Scriptura, and sola Deo Gloria. The overall goal is to help equip our youth in living a life of faith in the assurance of God's sovereign work and ongoing unfolding of his work of redemption. It is apologetic in nature drawing attention to the many false ideas and religions that seek to diminish the Biblically revealed gift of God in Jesus Christ.

Class Expectations

Testing Information:

1. Tests will be given at approximately two week intervals. Sometimes a written paper or research assignment will take the place of a formal test.
2. All tests are returned to the students for evaluation and questions and then are returned to the teacher until exam time. They will then be given back to students if necessary for exam preparation.

Daily Work:

1. Daily work usually consists of reading assignments or small apologetic critiques using the Bible as the primary source. Those assignments will usually be given 3-4 times a week and will require approximately 1/2 hour to an hour to complete.
2. Some daily work is graded--usually one or two times a week.

Major Projects:

1. There are two major projects that will be required for this course. One is a comparative religion research project that seeks to help the student evaluate the sources of authority that other religions use to formulate their beliefs. It also asks students to investigate the religion's beliefs seeking to understand them and evaluate them on the basis of God's truth. It is due on October 13.
2. The other project will be to write a personal commentary on the Book of Romans. This project will involve a series of 8-10 assignments that require a student to do a thorough study of Romans writing a 1-2 page paper for each assigned section of Romans. The final work will be an 8-15 page commentary of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith as taught in Romans. It will be due before Christmas break.

Miscellaneous:

Class attendance is very important. Much of our class time is spent in discussion and presentation of key aspects of our study. Missing class is very hard on students in Theology. Quizzes are rarely given and class participation is weighed lightly.

Final Grade:

Grades are figured on a point value basis. All assignments and tests are given with a point value attached.

Further Information:

Parents are invited to contact me whenever there is a concern or need for additional information or explanation. I would prefer calls at school but if that is not available, feel free to call me at my home.

Class Outline

1. Believing and Authority
2. Apologetics--Defending Your Faith
3. Religions and Cults--Man's Responses
4. Doctrine of Man--A Sinful Image Bearer
5. Doctrine of God--Sovereignty, Justice, and Love
6. Doctrine of Redemption--All of God
7. Doctrine of Escatology--To God's Glory