Apollos VIII

Return of Christ - MIllennial or Amillennial?

2012-01-26T19:53:00.001-05:00

This from John MacArthur:

A film on premillennialism:

Here is David Murray on Amillennialism:

Assignments for Week 8, Session 6

2012-01-26T19:25:00.000-05:00

These assignments will be due for the ladies on Feb 2 and on Feb 9 for the men.

Using your resources, define "sanctification". Keep your definition to two paragraphs or less.
Write a paper on Article #9 of the SoF, "Christ's Return"

Note: while you may, if you wish, you will not be expected to defend the "premillennial" term used in Article #9.

Read "The Canons of Dort", pgs 31 &31 in your syllabus
Continue to work on the exposition of your personal passage.

Visual Theology "Attributes of God" - by Tim Challies

2012-01-24T13:42:00.001-05:00

Visual Theology - The Attributes of God

Tim Challies
01/24/12
17

A couple of weeks ago I released the first infographic in a series I am titling “Visual Theology.” What I appreciate about infographics is their ability to display information visually. Just as there are many words that can be used to describe any one fact, there are also many ways to display facts.

Today I have the second infographic in the series, one that focuses in on the attributes of God. When we talk about God’s attributes we do so to answer questions like Who is God? and What is God like? It is the way we seek to wrap our minds around just little fragments of who this God is. We have sought to represent some of that in this graphic (which, incidentally, would probably make quite a nice desktop background).

Note: If you click on the graphic you will be able to see it full-size.

You can also download this infographic in a high-quality PDF (8 MB). As with the last infographic, you are free to print it, copy it, distribute it, and so on. Just don’t sell it, please.

If you have other ideas for theological infographics, please feel free to leave a comment.

Assignments for Session 6

2012-01-12T22:41:00.005-05:00

These will be due next Thursday, Jan 19 for the ladies and Jan 26 for the men.

Using your resources, define "justification". Keep your definition to two paragraphs or less.
Write a paper on Article #8 of the SoF (Christian Living).
Read "The Canons of Dort" pg 29-30 in the Syllabus
Begin an exposition on your personal passage. This assignment can be spread out over a number of weeks.

Write it out
Paraphrase it
Identify key words
Do word studies on each key word
Write an outlive of the passage
Begin writing a teaching

Visual Theology

2012-01-11T09:53:00.003-05:00

Tim Challies has published a helpful chart showing one viewpoint on the order of salvation. Keep in mind there are other opinions on this but this one is well thought out - jk:

If you have read this blog for any length of time, and especially the daily A La Carte posts, you know that I’ve got a thing for infographics. What appeals to me about them is their ability to display information visually. Just as there are many words that can be used to describe any one fact, there are also many ways to display facts.

Today I’ve got an infographic for you, and one that I is going to kick off a series called “Visual Theology”—an attempt to display theology using a combination of words and pictures. I have asked one designer to take a shot at displaying theordo salutis, which is to say, the order of salvation, which refers to the sequence of conceptual steps involved in the salvation of the Christian. I will let the graphic explain it from here.

Note: If you click on the graphic you will be able to see it full-size.

You can also download this infographic in a high-quality PDF (10 MB).

If you have other ideas for theological infographics, please feel free to leave a comment.

Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility

2012-01-08T20:55:00.004-05:00

What I've posted below comes from Tim Challies blog today. This is a theme we've been emphasizing in our teaching at WBF for quite some time now and Tim covers it elegantly jk:

Better minds than mine (or yours, probably) have wrestled with the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The Bibles teaches, or seems to teach, that God is sovereign over all things, and yet it also teaches, or seems to teach, that man is responsible to turn from his sin and come to God. Here are two great quotes that discuss how we can reconcile these things.

The first comes from Andrew Fuller.

A fleshly mind may ask, “How can these things be?” How can Divine predestination accord with human agency and accountableness? But a truly humble Christian, finding both in his Bible, will believe both, though he may be unable fully to understand their consistency; and he will find in the one a motive to depend entirely on God, and in the other a caution against slothfulness and presumptuous neglect of duty. And thus a Christian minister, if he view the doctrine in its proper connexions, will find nothing in it to hinder the free use of warnings, invitations, and persuasions, either to the converted or the unconverted. Yet he will not ground his hopes of success on the pliability of the human mind, but on the promised grace of God, who (while he prophesies to the dry bones, as he is commanded) is known to inspire them with the breath of life.

Charles Spurgeon talks about this same thing in his inimitable way:

“That God predestines, and yet that man is responsible, are two facts that few can see clearly. They are believed to be inconsistent and contradictory, but they are not. The fault is in our weak judgment. Two truths cannot be contradictory to each other. If, then, I find taught in one part of the Bible that everything is fore-ordained, that is true; and I find that in another Scripture, that man is responsible for all his actions, that is true; and it is only my folly that leads me to imagine that these two truths can ever contradict each other. I do not believe they can ever be welded into one upon any earthly anvil, but they certainly shall be one in eternity. They are two lines that so nearly parallel, that the human mind which pursues them farthest will never discover that they converge, but they do converge, and they will meet somewhere in eternity, close to the throne of God, whence all truth doth spring.”

Assignments for Week 6 Session 5

2011-12-18T22:05:00.003-05:00

The next Women's class will be Jan 5, Men's Jan 12.

Define the following. Limit your definitions to two paragraphs and be ready to share in class

Predestination
Grace
Forgiveness

Prepare a paper on Article 6 of the SoF (Holy Spirit)
Prepare a paper on Article 7 of the SoF (The Church)

We strongly suggest that your spread these 2 papers out over the break.

Read the Canons of Dort, pg 27-28 in the Syllabus
Continue to meditate on your personal passage

We will begin writing an exposition of our personal passages in our next class.

We will have two presentations of 5 minutes or less for our next class:

Dyan and Pat will do "impartation" in respect to our righteousness
Theresa and Randy will do "imputation" in respect to our righteousness

Hint: impartation implies a change of ownership. Imputation denotes a credit given.

Our Provocation and Reason subject for the Christmas break is "free will". Does it appear anywhere in Scripture?

Class has been phenomenal! As teachers, we have been blessed and energized by your work and enthusiastic participation. We want to wish you all a blessed, marry and safe Christmas!

Bob, Lois, Peter and John

Three Videos on the Holy Spirit

2011-12-18T20:39:00.002-05:00

Piper on the Holy Spirit:

Paul Washer weighs in on what it really means to have the Holy Spirit:

John MacArthur speaks on the Baptism in the Spirit. This is where we are as a church:

What's All This Doctrine About?

2011-12-17T09:53:00.000-05:00

From the Blazing Center by Josh Blount:

Let’s be honest. There are two kinds of people in the world: those who asked for the three volume set of Elenctic Theology in their stockings this year, and the other 6,999,999,998 of us on the planet.

Ok, perhaps that’s not an entirely fair polarization of humanity. But maybe you’ve wondered sometimes, what’s with all this talk of doctrine and theology and academic stuff? Shouldn’t Christians just love Jesus and love people? In this post I want to give you one particular reason why it might be worth your time to crack open a challenging doctrinal book over the holidays (though your stocking still might be better off without Elenctic Theology). But first a story.

When I was a kid, I loved all things western. I wore a cowboy hat in my preschool pictures; through my mom, I personally dictated a letter to the local TV station that had the audacity to removeBonanza from the daily programming (oddly enough, an irate letter from a 5 year old did nothing to alter their decision). Around the time I was old enough to have my own room, I discovered the author Louis L’Amour who, despite having about four basic plot ideas, managed to write over one hundred western novels. I read them all. But there was a problem.

The heroes in all the L’Amour novels were tough mountain men, and I soon discovered that they shunned sleeping in beds as too “softening.” Real men slept on the hard ground, wrapped in their one blanket, six-shooter in hand, steely eyes piercing the gloomy dark for bandits and desperadoes. I on the other hand had a box spring, a mattress AND a goose-down pillow. My manliness was in serious jeopardy. So I asked my parents for permission to remove my bed. And (I have very flexible parents) they agreed. For about three years I slept on the floor (though my parents drew the line at a six-shooter and campfire). Why? Because when I learned about Louis L’Amour characters, I loved them – and so I wanted deeply to be like them. What we know and love, we imitate.

Now here’s the point: if you want to be like God, you need to know and love God. And conversely, if you grow in your knowledge of who God is (which is what good theology is all about) you will begin both to love him more and to imitate what you love in Him. There’s no better way to grow more patient towards you spouse than to study God’s patience towards you; there’s no better way to grow more compassionate to the people around you than to study Jesus’ compassion to hurting people.

So why tackle a book like Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology or Richard Sibbes’ The Bruised Reed or John Piper’s The Pleasures of God? Because the more you and know and love God, the more we’ll imitate him and strive to be like him.

And (thankfully) God won’t make you give up your mattress.

The Incarnation - Erwin Lutzer & John Piper

2011-11-28T21:27:00.001-05:00

Posse Non Pecarre?

2011-11-18T09:13:00.001-05:00

Hank Hannegraaff "The Bible Answer Man" from the Christian research Institute.

Dr. Tom Halstead talks about Christ's "impeccability" - Dr. Halstead teaches at the Masters College in Southern California.

Piper weighs in and, as usual, provides some thought provoking perspectives.

Assignments...

2011-11-11T09:37:00.001-05:00

These are due for Session 4:

Using; Charts of Christian Doctrine and Theology, Strong's, Vine's, Smith's Bible Dictionary and Nave's, define (in not more than two paragraphs) the following:

Sovereignty
Repentance
Election

Write a paper on Article #4 of the SoF
Meditate on your Personal Scripture Passage
Read The Canons of Dort, pg 25-26 in the Syllabus

Keep in mind, we will have a break over Thanksgiving. There will be no women's class on November 24 nor a men's class on Dec 1. In order to keep up with our schedule, though, please complete the following assignment before we reconvene for Session #4 on Dec 8 (women) and Dec 15 (men).

Write a paper on Article #5 of the SoF

This makes two papers due before our next class. Meanwhile, keep working on your Personal Passages. Consider starting a journal to record your thoughts.

Provocation and Reason:
Here are three aspects on the nature of man:
Posse Pecarre - the ability to sin
Posse Nonpecarre - the ability not to sin
Nonposse pecarre - not able to sin

Which of these belonged to Christ?

Note: Your Strong's is keyed to the King Jame Bible. Some words may not be available as there are certain language difference between your NASB and KJV. You can use Blue Letter Bible. Follow these steps:

Change "Version" to NASB
Enter your word into the (help)(abbreviations) box
Click on the "search" button
Click on the "Lexiconc" tab next to the "Primary Results Tab"

An Inside Look At Bible Translation

2011-11-08T11:46:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder what it would be like to be part of a Bible translation committee? Or, what the discussions look like as teams of scholars wrestle with difficult texts and issues?

Justin Taylor has posted this 4-minute video of the ESV translation committee wrestling with the issue of how to translate Hebrew and Greek words that could be rendered “slave” or “servant” or “bondservant.”

You can see how essentially literal translation gets complicated by cultural and historical settings and considerations. “Slave” in one era meant something different in another era. Meaning and connotations are not static, and understanding the Bible properly requires at least two things:

1. Knowing how the original author used the word and what they intended; and
2. Being aware of how the contemporary audience hears the word and what meanings they freight it with.

So, reading the Bible well becomes a task not just in reading the words, but also of reading the contexts. Reading the bible well requires not that we read culture (singular) but cultures (plural). Moreover, reading the Bible well means allowing the Bible to read the reader, exposing our assumptions and the predispositions we bring to the text. Makes me want to read the Bible and to be read by the Bible!

CATEGORIES: BIBLE, BIBLE STUDY, VIDEO

| PRINTABLE VERSION

The Human Condition by R.C. Sproul

2011-11-03T23:32:00.002-04:00

An Excerpt from "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith"

"...As we said in the previous chapter, a common point of debate among theologians focuses on the question, are human beings basically good or basically evil? The hinge upon which the argument turns is the word "basically." It is a virtual universal consensus that nobody is perfect. We accept the maxim: "To err is human."

The Bible says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Despite this verdict on human shortcomings, the idea persists in our humanistically dominated culture that sin is something peripheral or tangential to our nature. Indeed, we are flawed by sin. Our moral records exhibit blemishes. But somehow we think that our evil deeds reside at the rim or edge of our character and never penetrate to the core. Basically, it is assumed, people are inherently good.

After being rescued from captivity in Iraq and experiencing firsthand the corrupt methods of Saddam Hussein, one American hostage remarked, "Despite all that I endured I never lost my confidence in the basic goodness of people." Perhaps this view rests in part on a sliding scale of the relative goodness or wickedness of people. Obviously some people are far more wicked than others. Next to Saddam Hussein or Adolf Hitler the ordinary run-of-the-mill sinner looks like a saint. But if we lift our gaze to the ultimate standard of goodness - the holy character of God - we realize that what appears to be a basic goodness on an earthly level is corrupt to the core..

The Bible teaches the total depravity of the human race. Total depravity means radical corruption. We must be careful to note the difference between total depravity and "utter" depravity. To be utterly depraved is to be as wicked as one could possibly be. Hitler was extremely depraved, but he could have been worse than he was. I am sinner. Yet I could sin more often and more severely than I actually do. I am not utterly depraved, but I am totally depraved. For total depravity means that I and everyone else are
depraved or corrupt in the totality of our being. There is no part of us that is left untouched by sin. Our minds, our wills, and our bodies are affected by evil. We speak sinful words, do sinful deeds, have impure thoughts. Our very bodies suffer from the ravages of sin.

Perhaps "radical corruption" is a better term to describe our fallen condition than "total depravity." I am using the word "radical" not so much to mean "extreme," but to lean more heavily on its original meaning. "Radical" comes from the Latin word for "root" or "core." Our problem with sin is that it is rooted in the core of our being. It permeates our hearts. It is because sin is at our core and not merely at the exterior of our lives that the Bible says: "There is none righteous, no not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one." Romans 3:10-12

It is because of this condition that the verdict of Scripture is heard: we are "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1); we are "sold under sin" (Romans 7:14); we are in "captivity to the law of sin" (Romans 7:23); and "by nature children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3). Only by the quickening power of the Holy Spirit may we be brought out of this state of spiritual death. It is God who makes us alive as we become His craftsmanship (Ephesians 2:1-10).

Summary:

1. Humanism sees sin at the edge or periphery of human life. It considers
human beings to be basically good.

2. Biblical Christianity teaches that sin permeates the core of our life.

3. Total depravity is not utter depravity. We are not as wicked as we
possibly could be.

4. Radical corruption points to the core sinfulness of our hearts.

Biblical passages for reflection:
Jeremiah 17:9
Romans 8:1-11
Ephesians 2:1-3
Ephesians 4:17-19
1 John 1:8-10

Excerpt from Essential Truths Of The Christian Faith by R. C. Sproul © pages 147-149 (Tyndale 1992)

Apollos Class Objectives

2011-11-03T23:20:00.002-04:00

The work we've seen, so far, has been really great! Everyone seems to have a grip on how the papers come together and our classes have been engaging and challenging. As you continue to work, keep our original class objective in mind:

1. Our primary objective is to learn how to use the resources we have assembled to study and mine the eternal truths of the Scriptures for ourselves.

2. We use the EFCA Statement of Faith for two reasons

As a way of learning to utilize our resources
As a way of learning who WBF is and what we believe, as a church.

3. Our heart's desire, as leaders of the class, is for you to be able to articulate not only what you believe...but why you believe it. In that light, we want to encourage you in these areas:

If you want to express an opinion about a particular point of doctrine or element of an article, you should be able to substantiate that opinion with Scripture.
If you disagree with anything, you should be able to explain why you disagree. You should also substantiate your position with Scripture. Disagreements are acceptable if the can be supported by a clear and accurate interpretation of Scripture, taken in context.
We're not looking for total harmony in all things (although there are essentials we all have to agree on if we are to call ourselves "Christians"). But we are expecting that, by the end of class, we all will understand and respect where WBF stands on certain doctrinal issues.

So, as you write your primary papers on the Articles of the SoF, some of your work may be fairly routine as you dive into the points they make and find that you agree with many of them. You will simply use Scripture to explain why these points are true.

But, point #3 can be challenging as we go forward. We want you to think and consider the things you believe and why you believe them, being challenged by the truth expressed in the Scriptures. The more we study the Bible, the easier it is to see that there are certain things we may have been taught that just aren't accurate. As such, there will be times you may have to decide whether you will continue to believe these things, or will change your beliefs to accommodate what the Scriptures say. We encourage you to work diligently and apply the resources we have and the techniques we are learning in affirming the truth of the text, allowing your heart and mind to conform to God's inspired word.

Some of you may never face challenges like this as you work your way through class. That's OK as well. Even if you're not challenged by the material, you will graduate with a clear idea of who we are as a church and where you fit in with our church family. Hopefully, along the way, you'll also pick up some great study disciplines.

We hope and pray that all of us will be edified by our time and studies, finding at the end of class that we refreshed and confident that the foundations of our faith are secure and supportable by the truth we find on our Bibles.

Are We Always Sinning?

2011-11-03T18:50:00.001-04:00

John Piper on depravity:

Assignments for Session #2

2011-11-03T14:26:00.002-04:00

Week 2, Session 2

Assignments for next session:

· Words & Phrases

o UseStrong’s, Vine’s, Smith’s Bible Dictionary and Nave’s Topical Bible to definethe following; limit your definitions to two paragraphs. These do not necessarily have to be turned in but can be held until class discussion:

§ Atonement

§ Faith

· Prepare a paper on Statement of Faith Article 3:The Human Condition

· Meditate on your Personal Scripture Passage

· Reading assignment

o The Canons of Dort, pages 23 & 24 in the Syllabus

Provocation and Reason (thinking point):

· Does God have potential?

Inerrancy in Scripture

2011-11-03T10:55:00.002-04:00

What exactly is meant by the confession: "The Bible is without error in the original manuscripts?"

The doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture is foundational to evangelical faith, yet there is some diversity in the opinion of what inerrancy entails. Back in 1976, John Piper sought to bring clarity to this issue in a short paper, "How Are the Synoptics 'Without Error'?"

This paper was recently transcribed as another new-old resource to feature in the Resource Library under the Life of the Mind column. Coming from Pastor John's professor days, these resources are mostly academic in nature, though this particular work concludes with a pastoral word of application:

From history and from my own experience, I can say that it is almost impossible to exaggerate the importance of the Bible. We humans are incapable of finding out what we need so much to know: how to overcome sin, to escape the wrath of God, to become new creatures, to walk pleasing to the Lord. God must reveal this to us or we perish. This he has done and continues to do by means of a written Word, the Bible. When a man has understood the Bible he has understood the revelation of God infallibly, inerrantly and verbally.

Read the entire paper.

Apollos VIII Personal Passages

2011-10-21T13:45:00.001-04:00

Here are the passages each of you picked (or, in a few cases, we picked for you). We recommend you read your passage once a day, every day. Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit will show you the incredible depth and texture of the Word of God as you meditate on it and absorb it deeply into your heart. We'll be working with your personal passage more as we move forward.

Jay Gheen - Gen 3:6-19
Mike Van Dyke - Psalm 139:13-16
Dawn Knoeble & Bronson Armstrong - Psalm 139:1-6
Matt Rhodes - Gen 2:18-25
Dyan Croushore & Charlie Phelps - Psalm 139:7-12
Danielle Dean & Randy Davidson - Psalm 91:1-10
Amy Caron & Pat Nutz - Eph 6:10-18
Steve Croushore - Ex 3:1-10
Jim Ely - Eph 5:22-33
Therese Simpson & Jim Dean - Dt 8:1-10
Ashleigh James & Scott Groves - 1 Peter 3:1-9
Lisa Sherril - Gen 12:1-3 & Heb 11:8-12

Assignments Due for Session 2

2011-10-14T10:30:00.000-04:00

We got off to a great start! Please let me emphasize that any of the teachers or alumni are ready and eager to help out if you have any questions or need any input.

Here are the assignments for our next ladies' session on Oct 27. The assignments will also apply to our next men's session on Nov 3:

Prepare a 3 minute personal testimony.
Emphasize: Redemption, forgiveness, salvation, new life
De-emphasize: negative aspect of your life before Christ

Read "Canons of Dort", pg 21-22 in the Syllabus
Extra credit to anyone who can explain what they are.

Turn on paper on Article #1 of the Statement of Faith (SoF)

Turn in paper on Article #2 of the SoF

Please email your papers on the articles to Peter, Lois, Bob and I. You can hold your additional work (testimonies, etc) until class.

Here are our emails:
John Kuvakas kuvakas@aol.com
Peter Ristau pristau@mac.com
Lois Ristau lvristau@gmail.com
Bob Hoke bobhoke@juno.com

You can find the EFCA SoF with Scripture references by clicking here. This link is included in the list of "Resources" at the right of this blog. Blue Letter Bible can be quite handy as well.

For easy updates, you can subscribe to receive these blog postings via email by filling in your email address under the "Follow By Email" heading to the upper right.

Finally, we will all be praying for you. Pray for each other and for your teachers as we begin this new adventure together!

Welcome Apollos VIII!

2011-09-25T22:58:00.003-04:00

We're absolutely thrilled you have decided to join us. We've worked hard to streamline the class and to help you get as much out it as possible. Classes will start for the Women on Oct 13 and for the men on Oct 20. All classes will begin at 7:30 and run until 9:00 PM with the ladies and the gents on alternating Thursdays. There's a handy list of online resources to the right of the blog, use them freely but please resist the temptation to "Google" for answers. there's too much misinformation out there to waste your valuable time trying to soft through what's reliable.

We pray this class is as much a blessing for you as it is for us to have the honor of leading it. We're looking forward to serving each of you!

Your Apollos Teachers

Our Last Class!

2011-02-18T15:32:00.003-05:00

We had a great meeting last night. Dee Gross presented her paper on her personal verse and did a wonderful job of sharing and showing us the depth of her passage.

After some discussion and a suggestion regarding the papers, it was decided that the paper on Article #10 would be optional. I was asked to submit my own paper on Article #10 to the class as a way of demonstrating what my perceptions and approach are. I gladly agreed and will have a paper for each of you within the next two weeks (I'm finishing my paper on Article #5 this week). If you have already completed work on Article #10, please feel free to submit it for review.

Also, send us your papers on your personal verses sometime over the next few weeks. If you have completed them, send us what you have. If you haven't started yet, send us a summary of your verses and a few paragraphs about why you think God gave you that verse and how it has impacted you. If you need some input, please give one of us (Peter or myself) a call or send us a note.

Our last session will be next Thursday evening. It will be an informal discussion about our experiences with the class. Let's focus on the following questions to get things started:

What things did you most enjoy about the class?
What things could use some improvement?
What things did you find helpful?
What things were not helpful?
Do you have any suggestions concerning the curriculum or materials?
What would you think of an extended schedule with meetings once a month instead of once a week?
Are you willing to be a speaker at the graduation service in April? We would need about 7 minutes of testimony concerning your time in Apollos.

Some folks have papers due in order to be eligible to graduate. We'll compile a list of papers sometime early next week.

No Class Next Week!

2011-01-14T08:55:00.002-05:00

We will not have class on Jan 20. Our next class will be Jan 27.

Assignments for Jan 27 will be:

Write a paper on article #8 of the SoF
Read chapter 8 of our book
Continue working on your exposition of your personal passage
Dee Griffith will do a presentation on "Justification" including; "What is God's part?" and "What is our part?"

Including this next class, we have 4 more classes to go! Great job, ladies! Let's finish well.

Assignment for Jan 13

2011-01-07T10:59:00.003-05:00

Wonderful class last night, ladies. Thanks!

Our assignments for next week is;

Read Ch 7 of our book
Write a paper on Article #7 of the SoF, "The Church"
Begin an exposition of your personal passage. This project will be spread out over a numder of weeks.

To do an exposition, follow these steps:

Read and meditate on the passage (hopefully already accomplished)
Identify key words and do appropriate word studies
Rewrite the passage in your own words
Check with your resources (Charts, Systematic Theology)
Read a commentary if necessary (this is absolutely the last step)
Outline their passage
Begin writing your message

We will have a presentation by Kristi Tressler on "Atonement". Carol Dark will do one on "Justification" the following week.

Assignment for Week 6

2011-01-03T18:14:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the delay, Peter just reminded me that I had not posted the assignment for this week.

Begin to consider an exposition of your personal passage
Write a paper for Article #4 of the SoF (The Work of Christ)

Class Resumes this Thursday evening at 7:30

Week 5 Assignments

2010-12-04T08:58:00.002-05:00

Our class for next week will be the last class before we take our Christmas/New Year break. We will have a special guest speaker, Wayne Yunghans, who will give us a short presentation on exposition.

Here are the assignments for week 5:

1. Write a paper on article #3 of the Statement of Faith

2. Read Ch 5 of our book

3. Exposit these two verses; 1 Cor 14:35, Gal 3;38

To exposit:
Read the verse a number of times
Jot down a loose paraphrase of the verse
Identify key words and look up their meaning
Using your resources and definitions examine what the verse means
Write a short analysis of what you have learned

Free Will and God's Sovereignty - John Piper

2010-11-25T19:51:00.002-05:00

This from the Desiring God blog:

One of the most influential passages in the Bible that God used to open my mind to his sovereignty over my will is Philippians 2:12-13.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

So my working and willing are necessary. They are real. But they are not first or ultimately decisive. God’s willing and working is decisively under and in my willing and working. The word “for” is crucial. I work because he is working in me. I will, because he is willing in me.

Believing this precedes understanding how it works. God says it. I believe it. Now I am spending a lifetime learning what it is like to live this way.

Paul did not just tell me to live this way. He modeled living this way one chapter later. He said in Philippians 3:12,

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

His pressing on to secure the resurrection from the dead (v. 11) is rooted in Christ’s decisively securing him for the resurrection from the dead. In other words, all Paul’s striving is real, and it is certain because Christ makes it certain.

He modeled the same thing in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”

So abandon any anti-Bible intellectual baggage you have inherited from planet earth, and recalibrate your brain to embrace the paradoxes of real human choice and decisive divine sway.

Week 4 Assignments

2010-11-19T10:31:00.005-05:00

Another great class, ladies! Hopefully it got all of us thinking about why we believe the things we believe.

Regarding the issues of election, predestination and free will (choice), our "Charts of Christian Theology and Doctrine" book is a very good resource. See pages 57, 58, 59 and 60. Take a look at it over the break. We will not have class next week.

Here are our assignments of the next class:

Faye will do a short presentation on "impart/impartation"
Amy will do a short presentation on "impute/imputation"
Define the following words and provide Scripture references for them: Forgiveness, Predestination, Grace (use your "Charts" to help out and take a look at your Systematic Theology Book))
Write a paper on Article #2 of the SoF
Read ch 4 of "Women's Ministry in the Church"

I pray all of you have a great holiday. I'm so excited about where the class is going and how hard everyone is working! One of the things I'll be particularly thankful for over the holiday is each of you great ladies!

Assignments for next week

2010-11-11T21:01:00.003-05:00

Great class tonight ladies. Thanks for the active discussion and challenging thought!

Begin considering these two words:

Impart - to give something
Impute - to credit to

We will be looking closer at these two words as we go forward.

Look up the definitions of the following words and cite a Scripture reference for each:

Repentance (or repent)
Election (or elect)
Free will
Sovereignty

Write a paper on Article #1 of the SoF

Read Ch 3 of our book

Note: you only have to send in your papers on the SoF. All other work should be brought to class for discussion.

Nother note: In two weeks, we will take out break for Thanksgiving.

Assignments for Week 2

2010-11-04T21:41:00.005-04:00

Isn't this week 3? well, yes it is but we kind of took a break last week so...here are the assignments for the original 2nd week,,,now the 3rd week but....well anyway, here are next week's assignments!

Look up the meaning of the following words and find a Scripture verse that has each in it.

atonement
faith

Write a short paragraph describing what they each mean.

Write a paper on Article #5 of the Statement of Faith
Read Ch 2 of our book

We assigned, at random by picking out of a bag, Scripture passages to each woman tonight. For now, read these passages at least once each day until you are very familiar with them.

Lois Ristau - 1 John 3:1-10
Cyndi Smith - Eph 5:20-32
Laurie Ward - 1 Peter 3:1-7
Lynda Booth - 1 Cor 13:4-7
Dee Gross - Gen 2:15-25
Carol Dark - John 15:1-11
Kimberly Hunt - Gen 12:1-9
Sheri Farmer - Deut 8:1-10
Amy Reid - Psalm 91
Kristi Tressler - Psalm 139:13-24
Dee Gross - Psalm 139:13-24
Faye Brewster - Exo 3:1-12

Week 1 Assignments

2010-10-21T20:38:00.005-04:00

1. Prepare personal testimonies

Keep to 3 minutes
Emphasize positive aspects like redemption, forgiveness, salvation, new life
De-emphasize negative aspects (do not spend a lot of times on what you did before conversion

2. Assignments

Write paper on Article #6 of the Statement of Faith
Give a snapshot of who Apollos is (use your Strongs)
Read Ch 1 of "Womens Ministry In the Church"

Welcome Ladies!

2010-09-15T16:16:00.008-04:00

We're excited to have you with us for this session of Apollos. We pray that, through our time together, your walk with the Lord will be enriched and deepened. Our classes will be highly participatory so come prepared to discuss and provide input.

We'll be meeting on Thursday evenings at 7:30 to 9:00 in the Townhouse, starting on Oct 21, at the church. Peter Ristau and I will be leading the classes. You can reach us at
pristau@mac.com and kuvakas@aol.com. There will be a break for Thanksgiving and another for Christmas starting after our class on Dec 9 and ending when we resume classes on Jan 6. Given that there may be a cancellation or two for weather, we hope to finish the 12 class course by the end of February.

We'll be using either the recommended list of books for class or Logos Bible Study Software. You can learn more about the software here. If you want the latest version of the software, I highly recommend the "Bible Study Library" collection. I'll be happy to show you how to use it (it's VERY easy). We will also have a limited number of the previous version of Logos available to you, if you find the price of the new version challenging. Once we find out which way you would like to go, we'll hand out materials at the first class unless you would like to make arrangements to get them sooner. We will collect payment for materials at the first class but we want to make it as easy as possible for all who would like to attend to do so. As such, we are happy to make any arrangements necessary to get your materials and extend payment over a period of time, if that helps.

Assignments should be emailed to both of us prior to class. Papers should be no more than 2 pages with 1" margins on all sides, 11 pt font and 1" between the lines. If you feel you would like to write more, you can enclose additional comments under another heading. In completing your assignments, priority should be given to your papers on the Articles of the Statement of Faith as a complete set of those are needed to graduate.

You'll notice to the right, we have listed a number of trusted online resources you can use in your homework. In particular, the EFCA Statement of Faith is a handy tool that includes the Scriptures they used in formulating each article.

Looking forward to seeing you on Oct 14!

Assignment for Week #8

2009-12-15T17:30:00.002-05:00

Write a Paper on Article #9 of the SoF.

Thursday evening class:

Wayne Johnson will do a short presentation on "The Doctrine of Grace". Ron Spencer will do a short presentation on "What is the Atonement and Why Is It Important?"

Saturday Morning Class:

Mike Richey will do "The Doctrine of Grace". Mike Lowery will do the Atonement.

Gary Farmer will also do "The Doctrine of Grace" in whichever class he attends.

The Debate Is On!

2009-12-15T17:06:00.003-05:00

The Great debate of 2010 is on!

Here are the two sides:

1. Salvation is accomplished by God alone.

2. salvation is accomplished by man's decision alone.

Side 1 will defend the position that God is the sole catalyst in salvation and that man has no part in accepting or denying God's will for who is to be saved. This is the classic Reformed view of the doctrines of Election and Predestination.

Side 2 will defend the position that God offers the gift of salvation to man and man decides whether to accept it or not. this is the classic Armenian view of salvation.

Your book "Charts of Doctrine and Theology" will be a big help here. You can use "Systematic Theology" as well.The book we recommend for class is written by Wayne Grudem, who is Reformed, but can be helpful to either side. I have a few Systematic theology books that detail the Armenian position if anyone would like to use them. I am also willing to pull together some resources for either team.

Here are the teams:

1. Darren Gazes, John Davis, Scottie James, Mike Lowery, Walter Phillips

2. John Crater, Mike Richey, Ron Spencer, Charles Orndorff, Wayne Johnson,

You will have to work together but, on the day of the Debate, there will be only three speakers from each team. So, you'll have to decide among yourselves who will represent the team. We will alternate sides with Team 1 starting out first. When the first person from Team 1 is done with his presentation, then we will hear from the first person from Team 2. We'll follow that pattern until both teams are done. Each presentation should be no longer than 7 minutes.

One suggestion for the structure would be: The first person gives the position and explains it, the second provides Scriptural substantiation and the third ties it all together, making a conclusion. This is not the only way and teams are free to think outside the box and develop their own method of defending their position.

We have a specific reason for asking teams to defend the opposite side of what they believe so we want to encourage you to work diligently to defend your position, in spite of your convictions. Let's all let God teach us something here!

2010 Conferences

2009-11-16T21:19:00.004-05:00

As some of you may know, the Staff and elders, along with a number of men from WBF attend a few conferences each year. The conferences are very reasonable priced and it provides and opportunity to sit under some of the great theological teachings of our time.

We usually start the year out at John MacArthur's "Shepherds Conference", one of the finest and most jam packed conferences of the year. Last year we had 8 men go with us.

An easy conference for many of our guys is the "Basics 2010 conference in Cleveland. It's about a 6 hour drive and we leave early Monday morning, returning Wednesday early evening.

Here's a list of conferences and dates, along with web sites, that we will attend this year. Consider joining us. The fellowship is great, we eat well at the conferences and the teaching is life-changing. All the conferences are tailored for Pastors and congregation members alike.

Shepherd’s Conference March 3-7 Los Angeles

http://www.shepherdsfellowship.org/sc/

Basics 2010 (Begg) May 10-12 Cleveland

http://www.parksidechurch.com/partners/basics/

T4G 2010 April 13-15 Louisville

http://www.t4g.org/conference/t4g-2010/

So far........

2009-11-14T11:06:00.003-05:00

Let's welcome Darren Gazes and Jon Crater to Apollos VI!

We have assigned papers on articles 5,6,7 &3.

Here's our class schedule for the holidays:

No class thanksgiving Week (Nov 26 & 28)
Christmas break starts Sunday Dec 13. We will have class on Dec 10 & 12
Class will resume Jan 7 & 9

Personal Scripture Passages

2009-11-13T15:27:00.002-05:00

Sorry this has taken so long gents:

Butch Zarr - Psalm 91
John Davis - Deut 8:1-10
Charles Orndorff - Ex 3:10-18
Wayne Johnson - Psalm 139:7-16
John Strang - 1 Peter 3:1-12
Mike Richey - Eph 5;22-30
Walter Phillips - Psalm 23
Ron Spencer - Eph 6: 10-17
Bob Adinolfi - Gen 12:1-10
Mike Booth - Psalm 139:1-6
Mike Lowery - Psalm 139:13-18
Gary Farmer - Psalm 91
Scottie James - Luke 15:11-32
Darren Gazes - Eph 6:10-19
John Crater - John 1:1-14

A few reminders:

At this point, you should be reading your passage every day
Pray a short prayer before you begin, "Father, speak to me through Your word"
Carry it around with you. If you would like a reduced copy, let us know.

Assignment for Week #5

2009-11-13T15:01:00.003-05:00

Here are our assignments for this week:

Darren will do a short (2-5 minute presentation on imputation
Butch will do a short presentation on impartation

The entire class will exposit the following two verses: 1 Cor 14:35, Gal 3;28

How do these two verses compare with each other? How do they work together?

Write a paper on article 33 of the Proposed Statement of Faith

A word of encouragement, gentlemen. The work Bob and I have seen has been, without exception, excellent. Each of you is working at his own level and the character building challenge is evident as you begin to absorb all this class throw at you. Continue to work at your own pace and allow the Word of God to stretch you but not break you. Don't compare yourselves to each other, each of you is at a different place in his walk and each of you has different gifts, praise God! It is precisely that variety of gifts that will give our class texture and depth (1 Cor 12;4-12). We're looking forward to God meeting each of us where we are individually and collectively at the same time. Let the Holy spirit have His way and expect God to move supernaturally in you!

Assignments For Week 1

2009-10-19T08:17:00.003-04:00

Great first class guys! I'm really looking forward to seeing what God does among us. Here are the assignments for this week:

1. Prepare testimonies

a. Keep to 3 mins

i. Emphasize positive aspects

1. Redemption

2. Forgiveness

3. Salvation

4. New Life

ii. De-emphasize negative aspects

1. Do not spend a lot of time on things before conversion

2. Assignments:

a. Prepare a paper on 6^th article of SoF

i. Using resources

b. Give a snapshot of who Apollos is

Please keep in mind our general guidelines:
The paper on the Statement of Faith (SoF) should be the first things you do
You will start your Apollos work by using "Strong's"
Let the research be a joy andn not a burden

Here is the information on the handout we passed around:

Class times – Thurs evening 7:30 – 9, Sat morning 7:30-9

Kuvakas – 540-428-6678, kuvakas@aol.com

Hoke – 540- 272-5398, bobhoke@juno.com

Apollos blog site - http://wbfapollos.blogspot.com/

WBF web site – http://wbfva.org

One other item, The SoF on the WBF web site is the current WBF SoF. For class, we will be using the proposed SoF that was distributed Sunday morning. It's a far better document and a bit more of a challenge but it will keep you and your work current with what is happening in the church.

Welcome Men of Apollos VI

2009-09-23T06:55:00.001-04:00

I hope you're as excited about the new class as we are in being privileged to lead it.

A few class details:

Classes are on Thursday evening at 7 PM and Saturday mornings at 7:30 AM.
You can come to either class at any time.
If possible, email us your homework as a Word document when it's ready. Here are our email addresses
You can always view the EFCA Statement of Faith (with helpful Scripture references) by clicking in the "Resources" box to the right or by going here

John Kuvakas - kuvakas@aol.com

Bob Hoke - bobhoke@juno.com

Rick Reece - reecefam@hughes.net

Any of us are available at any time if you need help or input on anything.
Bookmark this blog or we can help you set it up as a RSS Feed, just ask us. It will be the primary means of communication for the class.
The resources listed to the right are great resources when you're in a jam.
Pray frequently for the class, your classmates and our fellowship as we walk through class together.

May the Lord bless you mightily in your work and study of His word.

Resentment - by A.W. Tozer

2008-11-17T14:43:00.001-05:00

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. (Hebrews 12:15)

In the course of scores of conferences and hundreds of conversations I have many times heard people say, “I resent that.” But I repeat: I have never heard the words used by a victorious man. Resentment simply cannot dwell in a loving heart. Before resentfulness can enter, love must take its flight and bitterness take over. The bitter soul will compile a list of slights at which it takes offense and will watch over itself like a mother bear over her cubs. And the figure is apt, for the resentful heart is always surly and suspicious like a she-bear.

Few sights are more depressing than that of a professed Christian defending his supposed rights and bitterly resisting any attempt to violate them. Such a Christian has never accepted the way of the cross. The sweet graces of meekness and humility are unknown to him. He grows every day harder and more acrimonious as he defends his reputation, his rights, his ministry, against his imagined foes.

The only cure for this sort of thing is to die to self and rise with Christ into newness of life. OGM105-106.

“Keep me, I pray, in the way of the cross, the way of meekness and humility. Amen.”

(A.W. Tozer, Tozer on Christian Leadership, November 17)