1. Identify and explain the "Six Acts of the Biblical Drama." Tie in to N.T. Wright's Shakespeare image.

    Act 1-Creation: God created everything out of nothing. On the 6th day he said His creation was good: created world so he could receive glory. We were given a task by God.

    Act 2-Fall of Man/God's Grace: the humans that God created sinned (disobeyed) God which allowed sin to enter the world. Immediately afterwards God promises to send His son to save the world from sin instead of destroying it and starting over.

    Act 3-God's Covenantal people/Israel: God chooses Abraham to be the beginning of His holy nation. First God increases Abraham's family into a nation (Israel), then He gives them a leader, law, and finally a land. There was the pattern disobedience/obedience during the prophets also.

    Act 4- the Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ:  God's only son, Jesus, came as a human to earth. He fulfilled prophesies and brought in a new era (kingdom of God). He defeated sin by dying and resurrecting to life again.

    Act 5- God's People tell the Story: Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he told his disciples and all believers to make disciples of all nations. God gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. We are still in this act of the Story today.

    Act 6- New Creation/Jesus Returns: Jesus will return again in glory and restore creation to the way it is supposed to be. Jesus will not only defeat sin this time, but destroy it so it won't be evermore (still to come).

     According to N.T. Wright's "Shakespeare" comparison, our task in the 5th act is to prepare for the end of the story. We need to look at the beginning of the story and what it says should happen in the 5th act and do it in our daily lives. Since we know what the Bible has told us to do, and we know what the ending will be we should be able to figure out what goes in the middle. Our task is to be a witness to those around us and be different in a good way so others will see us and know that we have something in our lives that has meaning and the wonderful things God has done for us.

2. Why did God Create?

     We cannot read the mind of God but the rest of the Bible shows that: God created the world in order that He could be glorified... in order that His glory could be increasingly shared and expressed. In other words so that He could be worshipped and praised and so humanity could share in his glory.

3. Why did God allow the fall into sin?

     God created humans to have 'free will': the ability to choose. That way we be different from any other animal and we would choose to praise Him.

4. What was God's plan for Israel? How did they do?

     God's plan for salvation must come about through human beings. He wants His people to serve as a light in the darkness. We are supposed to be what God looks like (made in his image). He needed to preserve his people so the earth could be blessed. Through Moses, he re-enstates what God's people were meant to do: "...my treasured possession...kingdom of priests...holy nation." We are to be mediators between God and the people of the earth (priests). We are set apart by God (holy). How did: +Conquered Canaan, is preserved,-start to follow ways of world, make own laws, follow other nations, don't trust God. Israel kills Jesus. Jesus had to die for God's plan to be fulfilled.

5.  How does Jesus' birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension fit with the 'story'?

     Birth : Jesus fulfills OT prophecies, ushers in a new era & the kingdom of God arrives. Life :  Miracles show the power of God, showed what a perfect sinless human life was, shows the grace, mercy, love of God. Death : Fulfills OT prophesy, Jesus' death pays the price for sin. Resurrection : Jesus overcomes death by coming back to life, his own words said that he would come back to life. Ascension : he is preparing a place in heaven for us.

6. What does 'Pentecost' have to do with the 'Story'?

     The Pentecost was when God sent His Holy Spirit to the earth. The disciples were preaching then the Holy Spirit came on them and they began to speak in tongues. The Holy Spirit is God's gift to His people (us). With this gift, we are able to allow the Holy Spirit to use of help us when we are willing and need help. The Pentecost is important to this unit because it is part of the 5th act of the Bible Story. To do what God wants us to do, we need His Holy Spirit in us, or we will not accomplish anything.

7. What is Jesus doing in the "Sermon on the Mount"? Why?

     In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is "raising the bar" for
Kingdom citizens.  He has declared that the Kingdom of God has come...in Him...and that we need to live as if the Kingdom is already here. This means that he raises the expectations for those who live in the Kingdom.  The sermon on the mount is full of examples of very high expectations (no need to swear an oath because your word should be good enough, no divorce, looking in lust is as bad as committing adultery, etc).  See Matthew 5-7. We are to obey the law, but we are not saved by it!

Jesus expects MORE legal obedience than the Pharisees did...

8. What are structure and Direction? How do they relate to the Story? Apply to modern issues (what is creational, what is fallen, how can we re-direct).

     Structure is the way God made something to be. Direction is the way something has gone or is heading because of sin's influence. When God made creation, he created it in a way to give glory to Himself. Because of sin, His creation took a whole different turn for the worse. Music was made to give glory to God but some of it has gone very bad. We need to re-direct music to how God originally wanted it to be.

Identification Options

Story vs. Stories: It is very important that we study the different 'stories' of the Bible so we can understand the message. But we need to realize that the Bible is a book; a complete story in itself. It tells us the story of God's people.

The Mystery of God: We need to accept the mystery of God because if we knew everything He knew there would be no reason for Him to be God. Its frustrating because it is human nature to want to know everything. We don't like it when we don't know. Its comforting knowing that we have God in control and we don't have to worry so much.

Sub-Creation: Humans don't create, they sub-create. They take the raw materials God has given them and make other things.

Cultural Mandate: God's command about the way people live. This was given to Adam by God after Adam and Eve were created. They were instructed to rule over His creation.

The Great Commission: the commands given by Jesus just before he ascended to heaven. He had all authority, commands his followers to make disciples of all nations, tells followers to teach all nations to obey everything he commanded, and tells them that He will be with them always.

Already... but not yet: The kingdom came when Jesus brought it to the people of the earth, so it is with us now. But it is not fully here yet. It will come fully when Jesus returns to "restore the kingdom".

Restoration: to make something the way it was. In God's plan, creation itself and a personal relationship with God will be restored when Jesus returns in glory.

5 Big Questions of Life: Who am I? Made in the image of God. Where did I come from? Created by God. Why am I here? Glorify God, use gifts, continue plan/gospel. Why do bad things happen? Sin. Where am I going? Eternity in heaven!

Unit 5&6 - The New Testament Letters

1. Identify and explain the six key guidelines for approaching the letters. Why are these so important?

     The six key guidelines for approaching the letters are unity;  ,faith; , empathy; ,wisdom; , love; all the previous 5 should be done in love.

2. Why are the letters considered to be so important?

     The letters are considered to be so important because of their Historical Information; ,Theological Information; , and Inspired by God; .They are written to address various historical as well as universal issues, and contain truth and useful application to the teaching of Christ.

3. What is syncretism? Identify and explain three isms for the New Testament Christians. Identify and explain five key isms of issues for the church today.

     Syncretism is the combining of two or more beliefs. The three isms that the New Testament Christians dealt with were Hellenism; the Greek way of life (belief's and practices), Paganism; many people were recent pagan converts so they started using their old traditions, and Judaism; the way Jews thought and acted differently (they didn't like gentiles). Christ is the spiritual fulfillment of the Jewish faith. The five isms that our church deals with today are Humanism; thinking that humans can live without a God, Materialism; holding earthly things higher than God, Hedonism; always thinking of yourself over anyone else, Look-ism; thinking you have to look perfect to fit in the world, and Post-Modernism; not have any religion at all (what I say goes for me). Another small one is Egocentrism; thinking that you are the best and everyone else should look up to you.

4. How can a letter written in the 1st century still be important to the 21st century church?

     They are still important to us today because even though it is a different time period, most of the issues can be read in the context of a modern society. Society and cultures change but God's Word remains the same.

5. Why is it a challenge to look for theology in Paul's letters? Why are we able to do so? What are four of Paul's key Theological emphases?

     It is a challenge to look for theology in Paul's letters because all we have is the one-sided epistle-based conversations to audiences that we do not understand. We are able to do so because the context specific material can most usually be translated into a universal truth, or at least one that is useful in our society.

     Paul's 9 key Theological emphases are Nature of God (he is holy, a father, and reconciler), Nature of Christ (he transforms, is radical, is alive and present), Nature of Humanity (condemned to death, new morality if Christ), Rescued from Death (Jesus cut off sin's grip on the world so we can experience salvation, Born to New Life (those who turn to God in faith are born again), Empowered by the Holy Spirit (gift, is available to all people uniting them in Christ to the Father and other believers), Body of Christ (gifts of Spirit are never in competition> always toward same goal, made of dif people using dif gifts), Living a Life of Love (guidance and instruction founded in Christ's love, demonstrate love to others), and Grace and Faith (respond to God's grace and live in faith of Christ).

6. Why are some of the issues in the letters so controversial? How does reading the letter as a letter help here?

     We live in a different time period, we do not know the church or situations Paul was writing to. Paul's letters dealt with specific issues in the different churches. Usually, when u read a random letter, you don't understand it because you don't know the people or situations that it is written in. If you read the letters as letters, we will find the overall themes and not just random instructions.

7. What were some of the reasons Paul wrote his letters?

8. What were the two primary reasons Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus?

     The two primary reasons that Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus were because they had both worked with Paul as missionaries and started churches in Ephesus (Timothy) and Crete (Titus). They were influential leaders and provided encouragement and guidance to their church through Paul's letters. Paul tells them to appoint leaders and warns them to watch out for those who would lead people away from living for Christ.

9. Identify two letters.   1 Thessalonians

Author: Paul               Recipient: Thessalonians                                          Key theme: the hope of Christ's return comforts us and motivates us to God by living.       Key Theological Emphases: Living a life of love

                                James

Author: James               Recipient: Christians                                                Key theme: Real faith equals authentic deeds/actions                             Key Theological emphasis: Grace and Faith, Living a life of love

Identification Options

Two Fold Task: The two fold task for approaching the letters are understanding and application. We need to understand the context in which they were written to each individual church because of the different problems they were experiencing. We need to observe how the churches dealt with (or were told to deal with) their problems of just how to live and apply them to our life in a different culture.

Cultural Relativity vs. Transcendent Reality:

the Purpose of Hebrews: It is directed to a large group of Christian Jews who were beginning to move away from the church, back to Judaism. The author (unknown) clearly writes this letter to show the superiority of Christianity to Judaism. 

Paul and James "Intertwined": Paul calls people to faith but James stresses that if one has faith, they will choose to do good. The actions do not lead to salvation but are a faithful response in gratitude.

The General Letters: 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, 1&2&3 John, and Jude. They are NOT written to specific churches by Paul. They are letters to individuals, written to other general and specific audiences, and Hebrews which is unlike any of the letters.

Unit 2 - Introduction to the New Testament

1."The time had fully come" Why did God choose this time and this place to send His son? What were the key factors (historical, spiritual, cultural, geographical, etc) that made Palestine in the 1st century the ideal time for the arrival of Christ.

     The spiritual state of people and historical conditions was ripe for the coming of Christ: He took away burdens on the common people by their religious leaders, he offered an alternative to the failing Greek gods and philosophies, & he offered hope in a time increasingly characterized by hopelessness. The Gospel could be spread easily cuz of one common language. Israel? It was the centre of the known world, and the controller (influencer) of trade. Where God said Jesus would be born. Very controversial time with the Romans and religious leaders. Bethlehem? Shadow of the Herodian…

2. Daniel and the King's dream. What were the  main parts of the dream and what empire did they match up with?

     The Gold Head (Babylonian Empire), Silver Upper Torso (Persian Empire), Bronze Lower Torso (______________)    , Iron Legs (Roman Empire), Feet and Toes of Clay and Iron (________________), A Rock Cute not by human hands (__________________)

3. What key problem arose due to the teachings and practices of the Pharisees and teachers of the law?

     They created a fence of rules around the original law to prevent law breaking completely.

4. What were the four main political/religious groups, how did they each respond to Christ, why?

     Pharisees: didn’t like cuz He was not one for laws, especially the Sabbath Laws. Sadducees:  didn’t like cuz He said he would rise (did not believe in resurrection, eternal life, spirits, or angels). Also, he didn’t abide by the Old Testament Laws. Essenes: didn’t like cuz He wasn’t either of the 3 Messiahs they believed in (prophet ,military ,priest). Zealots: didn’t like cuz He was kind to everyone & told them to pay taxes to Caesar. He wasn’t the warrior Messiah they were expecting to defeat the Romans. Scribes: didn’t like cuz he went against OT laws. Wanted a Messiah to enforce the laws, but Jesus changed them & made new contradicting laws. Sanhedrin: didn’t like cuz they were politically threatened (afraid of Romans).

5. Why is Palestine such a key strategic location? Why did God put his people there?

     The many major trade routes went through & 2 actually meet there (Via Maris-NS, Jericho Rd.-EW) God wanted them to be able to influence the world by occupying the centre of the world, as a result they weren’t allowed to be a holy nation to be the light of the world. God put Israel in the crossroads of the known world (influenced Trade). We are called to stand in the crossroads, not in the mountains, so society can see you.

Identification Options

Intertestamentary Period: the 400 year period between the writing of the Old and New Testament. Also known as the "Silent Years".

Hellenism: Hellenism questioned traditional spiritual beliefs (gods). History becomes more characterized by a moral & spiritual vacuum. The belief of two worlds (Gnosticism): spirit world & matter world (us). When Greek empire was defeated, Hellenism (Greek language & culture) was still influential. Everyone spoke Greek so it was easier to spread the gospel.

Torah: the written law, our old Testament.

Talmud: oral law or “traditions.” Later written down.

Fence around the law: see question #3. Is a large set of rules or requirements that the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law set up around the original Law given in the Old Testament. This happened because they wanted to stop law breaking altogether. It gave them control over the people.

Diaspora:  dispersal = the dispersed ones = the spread out ones

These are all the Jews spread out over the different empires (Assyrian, Babylonian, Roman) who HOLD ON to their Jewish beliefs even though they live in different cultures. These were all the descendants of the Jews carried off into captivity.


It is THESE people that are all gathered in Jerusalem for the Pentecost
celebration (all faithful Jews would return for key events to
Jerusalem).  Thus when the Holy Spirit causes them to speak in tongues, there are actually faithful Jews who SPEAK all these different tongues to HEAR these unschooled farmers and fishermen speaking a language that SOUNDS foreign to MOST...but not to various Jews from all over the empire.  This is why God's timing is so perfect here.  When the disciples speak in tongues, people both hear and understand...and they ALL here the same message--in different languages from their respective homelands.

Standing at the crossroads: see question # 5

     God placed Israel in the centre of the known world. For Asian countries to trade with African countries, they had to pass through Israel. The city of Gezer was located at the intersection or "crossroads" of the Via Maris and Jericho Road. So this was a very wanted region because it almost controlled the world. For such a small nation to occupy and maintain this area was quite unusual. The faith lesson for us today is to stand at the crossroads where they can see us and have an influence on the world.

Standing Stones: Whenever something spiritually significant happened, a large stone would be placed up so whenever someone saw them they would ask why they were there. God puts us here for us to stand out and people to ask us why we are here. When they see us, they see God.

Unit 3 - The Gospels and the Kingdom

1. The book of Matthew is written by Matthew a disciple of Jesus, the tax collector. It was written to the Greek-speaking Jews to prove to them that Jesus is the Messiah (the one they had been waiting for).

The book of Mark is possibly written by John Mark but unknown. It was written to the church in Rome (Gentiles) to teach and prepare the Roman's & Gentiles for persecution. Mainly focused on the cross, discipleship, teachings of Jesus, and the Son of God.

The book of Luke is written by Luke (not sure) for Theophilus, a Roman Official. It was to strengthen the faith of all believers and to answer the attacks of unbelievers.

The book of John was written by the Apostle (disciple) John to the Greek thinkers. There were three main emphases: 1. Supplement accounts found in other gospels. 2. give a version of Christian message to thinkers. 3. those reading it may come to believe in Jesus.

2.What is a Parable? Why did Jesus use them?

A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus used them so that it would be easy for the 'common' people to understand his message of the kingdom which was for ALL people. Explaining with illustrations is an easy way for them to apply His message to their own lives.

3. How did Jesus use the parables to reveal the Kingdom of God? Unpack the message that three of the parables give about the Kingdom of God.

The Parable of the Net: Some fishermen caught some fish, they separated the good from the bad. At the end of the world, the angels will separate the righteous and throw the unrighteous into hell. We have to be prepared so that when the end of the age comes, we will not go to hell.

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant: The Master released the debt that was owed to him by his servant. The servant then went out and put a friend in jail for not paying him. The Master heard about this and put the servant in jail. We should forgive others otherwise God will hold us accountable. God forgives us, we should forgive others.

The Parable of the Talents: A master gave one servant 10 talents, the next 5, and the final 1. They were to go, invest, and bring back more than was given. Each servant came back with twice as much as they had been given so they were rewarded. But the servant who had been given the 1 talent had buried it and gained none. The master called him lazy! Find the talents that you are given and make them grow. Succeed and have an even greater effect on the world than when you are first given them.

4. Why is the "Parable of the Sower" considered to be the most important?

     It is considered the most important because it is a parable of how people respond to the word of God. The parables themselves were the word of God. For any of the other parables to be understood and put into practice, the people receiving it need to be like the good soil receives and accepts the seed.It is also important because in THIS one Jesus actually EXPLAINS exactly what it means, rather than leaving it for his audience to figure out...which makes it KEY for us, too.

5. What were some of the key misunderstandings about the Kingdom of God that Jesus uses the parables to address?

     Some of the key misunderstandings about the Kingdom of God were ¹they expected the kingdom to come soon. ²they expected a political or military revolution that would cast off the Roman oppressors. ³ they expected a final judgments on sinners and enemies of the kingdom.  they didn't understand Jesus completely (contradicting OT).  didn't expected Jesus to look for the lost.

6. More on Sermon on the Mount (also #7,unit1)

7. What is Jesus' 3-fold ministry?

8. What does Vanderlaan suggest is the key mistake made by churches and Christian Schools? What does he suggest instead?

     The key mistake churches and Christian schools have made is to believe that we need to be on the defensive, trying to protect ourselves. He suggests that churches should be places to train people to go out and confront the world (evil). Christian Schools: young people should be taught to indentify, then show an action plan.

9. Explain what is meant by Vanderlaan's challenge "Here is the problem in ________. What will YOU do?"

     Vanderlaan challenges us to find a problem and make a plan to help. We need to learn what we are going to do before the Spirit empowers us. We need to learn to use our gifts. Once we are trained, we need to use the gifts in the world with the Holy Spirit. We need to go and confront the evil in our world.

Identification Options

Jesus and Herod: Jesus is the promised Messiah, Herod was the ruler so he was a threat to his throne. They were opposites in three ways; morally, culturally, and in apparent status.

Dead Sea Scrolls: Documents written by the Essenes at Qumran which were discovered in 1947. They are the earliest documents written besides the gospels.

Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke. Synoptic means seeing together. There are seven theories about the relationship between these gospels. (oral tradition, written fragments, Q document...)

The Mystery of the Kingdom: the way the Kingdom comes and developes. It is revealed but hidde, comes in weekness but with authority, and it looks defeated but is victorious. It is hidden in the world, like Christ was hidden in a human.

Transcendental Nature of the Kingdom: but it is not revealed in human history. Jesus is born in human time and the kingdom is revealed by God through humans actions.

Chiastic Structure: the literary structure known by the Jews and used in the book of Matthew.

Jesus as completion of the Exile: Jesus, like Moses, goes to his death with the promises and warnings still ringing in his peoples ears.