Topics for study... building the basis for a systematic theology

The articles are rated by their literary ease: (+) easiest to (+++) more academic.

God  

Names of God

Vinedresser

+The Vine and the Vinedresser (E. Radmacher '02)  

Nature of God

Attributes

 

Works of God  

His Creation

+Astronomical Insights (B. Setterfield '01)
+The Creation of Angels ('04)
+Observing the Creation of Man ('05)
+Why Did God Create Man? ('08)  

His Covenants

++Divine Covenants…the basis for a plan of salvation… ('01)
++Divine Covenants…the Law… ('02)
+Cultural revelations…limitations of the Law… ('01)
+Do you keep all or part of the Mosaic Law? ('02)
++Divine Covenants…the Land… ('02)
++Divine Covenants…the King… ('02)
++Divine Covenants…the New Covenant ('02)
++Gentiles and Divine Covenants ('02)

Jesus Christ  

Names of Christ

Bridegroom, Angel of the Lord, True Vine

+Images can be striking and symbolic ('01)
++Who is "the Angel of the Lord / God"? ('07)
+The Vine and the Vinedresser (E. Radmacher '02)  

Deity of Christ

Attributes of God

+Cultural revelations…limitations of the Law… ('01)
+Confronting personal sin…to omit or admit? ('01)  

Humanity of Christ

His Genealogy

+What's in a name? A look at genealogies… ('01)
++Firstborn and the Law of Primogeniture (Birthright) ('05)

His Humaness

He experienced emotion

Sorrow

+Images can be striking and symbolic ('01)  

His Ministry

Geography

+The Basic Geography of Jesus' Ministry (J. C. Laney '02)
 

His Parables

+Interpretation…do you get the point? (J. C. Laney '01)
+What is Grace? ('01)
+Defining moments…the difference between mercy and grace…(D. Mar '02)
+A response to Pharisees: The Parable of the Unclean Spirit Who Returns (’08)  

His Crucifixion

++Keeping track of time…timing is everything… ('01)
+The Certificate of Debt and the charges of Fallen Angels ('05)

Holy Spirit  

Deity of the Holy Spirit

Considered Divine

+Testing the Holy Spirit… The Mistake of Ananias and Sapphira ('07)  

Trinity

+Forming the doctrine of the Trinity… historical background ('03)
++In the beginning…how can God be both three and one? ('03)
+The Trinity…equal or hierarchal? ('02)  

Nature of the Holy Spirit

Affected as a Person

Has Moral Capacity

 

Works of the Holy Spirit

Ministry to Christians

+The Holy Spirit inside of me?! ('03)
+The Holy Spirit in the New Testament…working in the Believer's life… ('03)
+Disciple Making - The Filling of the Holy Spirit (K. Payne '06)

Ministry to the Church

Bible  

Transmission / Translation

+Copying the Old and New Testament Manuscripts - part 1 (K. Barker '01)
+Language and the Early Manuscripts - part 2 (K. Barker '01)
+Translating the Bible into English - part 3 (K. Barker '01)
+The American Translations of the Bible - part 4 (K. Barker '01)
+Hearing God’s Word Through a Good Translation - part 5 (K. Barker '01)
+What makes the Bible so distinctive from other religious books? ('01)
+Do the manuscript copies truly reflect the originals? ('01)
+A closer look into Jewish scribal customs… ('01)
++The Reality of Copyists' Errors (B. Thompson and E. Lyons '02)
+The challenge of making a Bible translation: a 2 step process… ('01)
+How did the Bible get its chapters and verses? ('03)
++What's Wrong with Gender-Neutral Bible Translations? (W. Grudem '97)

Old Testament

+Who wrote the Pentateuch? ('06)
++The Significance of Divine Names ('06)
++Variations in Diction and Style ('06)
++Parallel or Duplicate Accounts (Doublets) ('06)
++Historical Evidence of Post-Mosaic Authorship ('06)
++Examples of some discrepancies in the Pentateuch ('06)
++Lexical Anachronisms of the Pentateuch ('06)
++Beyond Literary Criticism ('06)
++A Smooth and Cohesive Literary Structure to the Pentateuch ('06)
++Examples of the Pentateuch's Literary Beauty ('06)

New Testament

++Introduction: Who was the author of 1 and 2 Timothy? ('06)  

Hermeneutics

+Skillbuilder: What is Biblical Hermeneutics? ('06)  

Observation

+A review of grammar…the importance of understanding words… ('01)
+A review of grammar…assembling words together to communicate ideas and concepts… ('01)
+A review of grammar…syntax and the expression of thoughts… ('01)
+Literary genres…composing information with style… ('01)
+Tutorial: Bible Study Tools (D. Parlett '02)
+Tutorial: Different Types of Biblical Literature (D. Parlett '03)
+Chiasms: the Hebrew X-factor ('03)
+Literary devices and figures of speech…communicating with images… ('01)
+Tutorial: Observation Techniques (D. Parlett '02)
++A Smooth and Cohesive Literary Structure to the Pentateuch ('06)
+Examples of the Pentateuch's Literary Beauty ('06)  

Interpretation

+Interpretation…in search of context… ('01)
+Interpretation…do you get the point? (J. C. Laney '01)
+Principles for Interpreting Narratives of the Old Testament (G. Fee and D. Stuart '01)
+Tutorial: The Rules of Interpretation (D. Parlett '02)
 

Application

+Application…working with the heart…assessing the raw material… ('01)
+Application…working with the text… ('01)
+Application…working with the mind…
+Application…working with accountability ('01)
+Putting it all together…a method from homiletics…(C. Hammond '01)
+Tutorial: Application (D. Parlett '08)  

Study Methods

+How to Understand What the Bible Means by What It Says (E. Radmacher '01)
+Method 1 - The Devotional Method of Bible Study (P. Rhebergen '06)
+Method 2 - The Chapter Summary Method of Bible Study (P. Rhebergen '06)
+Method 3 - The Character Quality Method of Bible Study (P. Rhebergen '06)
+Method 4 - The Thematic Method of Bible Study (P. Rhebergen '06)
+Method 5 - The Biographical Method of Bible Study (P. Rhebergen '06)
+Method 6 - The Topical Method of Bible Study (P. Rhebergen '06)
+Method 7 - The Word Study Method of Bible Study (P. Rhebergen '06)
+Method 8 - The Book Background Method of Bible Study (P. Rhebergen '06)
+Method 9 - The Book Survey Method of Bible Study (P. Rhebergen '06)
+Method 10 - The Chapter Analysis Method of Bible Study (P. Rhebergen '06)
+Method 11 - The Book Synthesis Method of Bible Study (P. Rhebergen '06)
+Method 12 - The Verse By Verse Method of Bible Study (P. Rhebergen '06)

Angels  

General Aspects of Angels

+Sytematic Theology: Angels ('08)
+The Creation of Angels ('04)
+The Nature of Angels ('04)
+Are Angels Personal Beings? ('04)
+Is there a hierarchy among personal beings? ('04)  

Elect or Good (unfallen)

+Names and titles of the Unfallen ('05)
+Unfallen Angels and Human Beings ('05)
+Shall we pray to our Guardian Angels? ('07)  

Evil (fallen)

+Fallen Angels: free or confined? ('04)
+Names and titles of the Fallen ('05)
+Who is Satan? ('05)
+The Certificate of Debt and the charges of Fallen Angels ('05)
+Disciple Making - Accusations (K. Payne '06)
+What Can Satan and His Demons Do? ('07)
+What Satan and His Demons Cannot Do? ('07)
+What is Demon Possession? ('07)
+Can a Christian have a demon? Part 1: the Issue ('08)
+Can a Christian have a demon? Part 2: Examining the evidence for the demonization of a Believer ('08)
+Can a Christian have a demon? Part 3: Examining the evidence against the demonization of a Believer ('08)
+Exorcism ('08)  

Miscellaneous

++Who is "the Angel of the Lord / God"? ('07)

Human Beings  

Creation of Human Beings

+Observing the Creation of Man ('05)
+Why Did God Create Man? ('08)
+Observing the Fall of Man ('05)
+What does the biblical term "soul" mean? ('08)
+The Sixteen Grandsons of Noah (H. Hunt with R. Grigg '01)
+Disciple Making - Three Types of People (K. Payne '06)  

Created as Moral Beings

Parts of the body as a moral aspect of humanity

Heart

+The heart is desperately sick; who can understand it? ('04)

Tongue

+Literary devices and figures of speech…communicating with images… ('01)  

Relation to other Created Beings

++Gentiles and Divine Covenants ('02)
+Strangers, aliens, foreigners, and gentiles…oh my! ('03)
+Is there a hierarchy among personal beings? ('04)  

Spiritual Condition of Human Beings

 

Death of Human Beings

+Why Do People Die? ('08)
+The Encyclical Epistle of the Church at Smyrna, Concerning the Martyrdom of St. Polycarp

Sin:  

Nature of Sin

Universal

+The Gospel without sin?? (J. Peterson '05)
+Of sin, natural revelation, and the wrath of God (J. Peterson '05)
+Of sin, the depravity of man, and the wrath of God (J. Peterson '05)
+The heart is desperately sick; who can understand it? ('04)
+What is the proverbial fool? ('04)  

Types of Sin  

Imputed

+Observing the Fall of Man ('05)
++What is the Doctrine of Imputed Sin? ('03)  

Inherited:

 

Personal:

+Confronting personal sin…to omit or admit… ('01)
+The battle within… ('01)
+Peer pressure: the betrayal of personal values… ('01)
+Facets of Unfaithfulness ('04)
++Do Christians Sin? A response to pseudo Christianity ('07)

Salvation  

Initial Salvation  

Foreknowledge, Election, Predestination

+Summons with Eternal Security: part 1 (R. Zuck '03)
+Summons with Eternal Security: part 2 (R. Zuck '03)  

Calling

General

+Putting it all together…a method from homiletics… (C. Hammond '01)
+Finding Forgiveness For Your Sin (R. Alcorn '05)
+Disciple Making - Salvation: Steps to Peace With God (K. Payne '06)
+Disciple Making - Forgiveness (K. Payne '06)
+Disciple Making - Assurance (K. Payne '06)
+A response to Pharisees: The Parable of the Unclean Spirit Who Returns (’08)  

Specific / Effectual

+Salvation at the deathbed…who?…what?…when?…where?…why? ('01)  

Regeneration

 

Conversion

 

Adoption

 

Justification

++Justified Equally… but what does that mean? ('05)  

Progressive Salvation  

Repentance

+Failure analysis: the paralysis of analysis vs. conviction through forgiveness… ('01)
+++The Doctrine of Repentance in Church History. A series on Repentance: part 1 (R. Wilkin '02)
+++The Doctrine of Repentance in the Old Testament. A series on Repentance: part 2 (R. Wilkin '02)
+++The Doctrine of Repentance in the New Testament. A series on Repentance: part 3 (R. Wilkin '02)
+++New Testament Repentance: Repentance in the Gospels and Acts. A series on Repentance: part 4 (R. Wilkin '03)
+++New Testament Repentance: Repentance in the Epistles and Revelation. A series on Repentance: part 5 (R. Wilkin '03)  

Sanctification

+++Unfruitful branches? Lift up! Lift up! A series on Sanctification: part 1 (E. Radmacher '02)
+++Cleansing for service… A series on Sanctification: part 2 (E. Radmacher '02)
+++Intersection…divine sovereignty and human responsibility… A series on Sanctification: part 3 (E. Radmacher '02)
+++Choices for the Christian…and their consequences… A series on Sanctification: part 4 (E. Radmacher '02)
+++What does it mean to abide? A series on Sanctification: part 5 (E. Radmacher '02)
+++Love for one another…implications to the church… A series on Sanctification: part 6 (E. Radmacher '02)

Perseverance

 

Future Salvation

Glorification

Christian Living  

Responsibilities toward God  

Have Faith in God

+The joy of trials? (K. Payne '01)
+Trial by fire…the forging of spirit… (K. Payne '02)
+Putting the most into life… (K. Barker '01)
+Facets of Unfaithfulness ('04)
+Disciple Making - Trials: Divine Payback, Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones (K. Payne '06)
+Disciple Making - Vain Regrets (K. Payne '06)
+What is Paul’s "thorn in the flesh"? ('08)
+Suffering and the Response of a Godly Man (’08)

Magnify God

Loving God 

Obeying God

+How to Lose in Life (Part 1): False Priorities (R. Zuck '03)
+How to Lose in Life (Part 2): False Perspective (R. Zuck '03)
+How to Lose in Life (Part 3): False Assumption (R. Zuck '04)
+How to Lose in Life (Part 4): False Fear (R. Zuck '04)  

Communicating with God: Prayer

+Pattern your prayers after Psalms: a lament when surrounded by adversity… ('01)
+Incredible promises: the bestowing of power… ('01)
+Declaring praise in the belly of a fish?! (K. Barker '01)
+Hindrances to successful prayer… ('01)
+Disciple Making - Prayer (K. Payne '06)
+Qualities of a Leader: Genuine Prayer ('07)

Pursuing God

 

Seeking Personal Virtues and Qualities

+Ethics: How Did Morality Originate? ('03)
+Proverbs…the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge… ('04)
+Disciple Making - Christian Liberty (K. Payne '06)
 

Responsibilities toward Others  

Towards Family

To your Parents

To your Spouse

Men

++Firstborn and the Law of Primogeniture (Birthright) ('05)

To your Children

+Training Our Youth ('04)  

Toward Christians

+What is Grace? ('01)
+++Love for one another…implications to the church… A series on Sanctification: part 6 (E. Radmacher '02)
+Disciplemakers - Impact Players for Christ (K. Payne '06)  

Toward the World

+Chiasms: the Hebrew X-factor ('03)
+Make a ready defense with gentleness and reverence… A look at Systematic Theology (D. Mar '02)
+Disciple Making - Warfare (K. Payne '06)
+Disciple Making - Loving People That Don't Seem Lovable (K. Payne '06)

The Church  

Old Testament

The Temple

+Architectural detail…a look at interior design… ('01)
+Of economics and finance…taxing ransoms… ('01)  

New Testament

Names of the Church

Bride

+Images can be striking and symbolic ('01)  

Mission, Ministry, and Activities

Discipline

++What does it mean: "Be angry, and yet do not sin?" ('07)
+What does it mean to "hand one over to Satan"? ('07)  

Offerings

++The offering…the example of King David (J. Peterson '02)
+Disciple Making - Financial Giving (K. Payne '06)  

Ordinances

++The Lord's Supper (A. Farstad '03)  

Spiritual gifts

+Did you open your gifts? ('01)  

Organization and Officers of the Church

General

+The Question of Elders (Part 1): What is the name for our church leaders? (E. Radmacher)
+The Question of Elders (Part 2): How many leaders does a church need? (E. Radmacher)
+The Question of Elders (Part 3): What is the nature of leadership? (E. Radmacher)

Role of Men

++Firstborn and the Law of Primogeniture (Birthright) ('05)

Role of Women

+++Which definition of Kephale is correct? Examining the controversy of women and head coverings… (Part 1) ('05)
++What is Headship? Examining the controversy of women and head coverings… (Part 2) ('05)
+Does Headship and Submission still exist in the New Testament Church? ('07)
++Examining the authenticity of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35… Part 1: a peek into the discipline of Lower Criticism ('05)
++Examining the authenticity of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35… Part 2: a study into histo-cultural context ('05)
++Examining the authenticity of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35… Part 3: a look at what prophesy means ('05)
++Examining the authenticity of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35… Part 4: a review of various interpretations ('05)
++Examining the authenticity of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35… Part 5: an interpretation within context and without contradiction ('05)
+Observing Paul’s thoughts leading up to 1 Timothy 2:12 ('06)
++Taking a closer look at 1 Timothy 2:12 ('06)
+++The Great Debate (G. Kappas '01)
+What shall I wear to worship? (G. Kappas '01)
++Examining the theological basis for 1 Timothy 2:12 ('06)

Creeds, Confessions, and Statements  

Creeds

+The Apostles Creed
+The Nicene Creed
+The Athanasian Creed  

Confessions

Anglican

+++Thirty-Nine Articles

Baptist

+++The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

Lutheran (The Book of Concord)

+++Augsburg Confession
+++Smalcald Articles
+++Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope
+++Luther's Small and Large Catechisms
+++Epitome of the Formula of Concord

Presbyterian

+++Westminster Confession of Faith
+++Westminster Shorter Catechism
+++Westminster Larger Catechism

Reformed

+++The Belgic Confession
+++The Canons of Dordt
+++The Second Helvetic Confession
+++The Heidelberg Catechism  

Statements

+++The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978)
+++The Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics (1982)