Theology by Glen Prior

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THEOLOGY Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION: HOW AND WHY WE STUDY THEOLOGY ���������������������������3 Chapter 2: GOD ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 13 Chapter 3: HUMANITY ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 23 Chapter 4: SIN AND SALVATION ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������35 Chapter 5: CHRISTOLOGY �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������45 Chapter 6: PNEUMATOLOGY ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 55 Chapter 7: ECCLESIOLOGY ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������65 THEOLOGY APPLIED: ORTHODOXY AND ORTHOPRAXY ������������������������������������������� 75

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INTRODUCTION: HOW AND WHY WE STUDY THEOLOGY

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.

A.W. TOZER

THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

DOCTRINE AND DEFINITION:

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CHAPTER 1 — Introduction: how and why we study theology

SCRIPTURE:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

TRADITION:

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CHAPTER 1 — Introduction: how and why we study theology

REASON:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

EXPERIENCE:

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CHAPTER 1 — Introduction: how and why we study theology

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

NOTES

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CHAPTER 1 — Introduction: how and why we study theology

NOTES

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2 GOD

Who can come under the illuminating influence of the Bible and doubt God? Who can listen — not only with the ears but also with the heart — to sound gospel preaching and go away saying God does not exist? Who can know Christ as a living Person and questions that God is?

DONALD E. DEMAR AY

THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

DOCTRINE AND DEFINITION:

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CHAPTER 2 — God

SCRIPTURE:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

TRADITION:

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CHAPTER 2 — God

REASON:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

EXPERIENCE:

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CHAPTER 2 — God

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

NOTES

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CHAPTER 2 — God

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

PROMPTING DISCOURSE 1. Do you believe that God is using everything in existence to reveal Himself to us? Why or why not?

2. Choose a characteristic of God to meditate on for a few minutes. Record any revelation below:

3. How has your experience with God changed or informed your theology? How do you keep yourself grounded in the tension between Absolute Truth and personal encounter?

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3

HUMANITY

“Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground — everything that has life.” And that is what happened.

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

GENESIS 1:26-31

THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

DOCTRINE AND DEFINITION:

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CHAPTER 3 — Humanity

SCRIPTURE:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

TRADITION:

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CHAPTER 3 — Humanity

REASON:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

EXPERIENCE:

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CHAPTER 3 — Humanity

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

NOTES

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CHAPTER 3 — Humanity

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

Read Romans 5:12-14 and Psalms 51:1-5. Record your thoughts below.

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CHAPTER 3 — Humanity

PROMPTING DISCOURSE 1. What does it mean to be an image-bearer? What does it mean that God created you to ref lect His glory?

2. How free do you believe yourself to be? How free do you believe humanity to be?

3. How does reframing the idea of free will with the concept of God’s free grace change your understanding of the topic?

4. Do you think of salvation as the forgiveness of sins, or as reconciliation with God? What is the difference between these two positions? Compare and contrast.

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4

SIN AND SALVATION

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

JOHN 3:16

THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

DOCTRINE AND DEFINITION:

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CHAPTER 4 — Sin and salvation

SCRIPTURE:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

TRADITION:

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CHAPTER 4 — Sin and salvation

REASON:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

EXPERIENCE:

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CHAPTER 4 — Sin and salvation

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

NOTES

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CHAPTER 4 — Sin and salvation

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

PROMPTING DISCOURSE 1. What is your understanding of sin?

2. What can you say about the effects of sin?

3. Read Romans 5:6-11 and record your thoughts:

4. Read 1 John 1:5-10 and record your thoughts:

5. Read Ezekiel 18:20-22 and record your thoughts:

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5

CHRISTOLOGY

Who is Jesus Christ? He is both man and God. He came to show us what God is like. He is Savior; He is Master; He is the Wonder Worker, performing the mighty acts of God; He is the Author of Love; He is unique; He is God Incarnate.

DONALD E. DEMAR AY

THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

DOCTRINE AND DEFINITION:

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CHAPTER 5 — Christology

SCRIPTURE:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

TRADITION:

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CHAPTER 5 — Christology

REASON:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

EXPERIENCE:

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CHAPTER 5 — Christology

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

NOTES

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CHAPTER 5 — Christology

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

PROMPTING DISCOURSE 1. Discuss one way you have encountered Jesus that deepened your understanding of God:

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6

PNEUMATOLOGY

Without God’s Spirit, there is nothing we can do that will count for God’s kingdom. Without God’s Spirit, the church simply can’t be the church.

N.T. WRIGHT

THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

DOCTRINE AND DEFINITION:

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CHAPTER 6 — Pneumatology

SCRIPTURE:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

TRADITION:

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CHAPTER 6 — Pneumatology

REASON:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

EXPERIENCE:

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CHAPTER 6 — Pneumatology

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

NOTES

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CHAPTER 6 — Pneumatology

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

PROMPTING DISCOURSE 1. How does the Holy Spirit bind individual Christians together in unity?

2. How does the concept of fellowship (koinonia) relate to the Holy Spirit?

3. What is the relation of the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost to the church?

4. Read Matthew 16:13-20 and record your thoughts:

5. Read Acts 4:32-37 and record your thoughts:

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ECCLESIOLOGY

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

MATTHEW 16:18

THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

DOCTRINE AND DEFINITION:

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CHAPTER 7 — Ecclesiology

SCRIPTURE:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

TRADITION:

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CHAPTER 7 — Ecclesiology

REASON:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

EXPERIENCE:

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CHAPTER 7 — Ecclesiology

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

NOTES

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CHAPTER 7 — Ecclesiology

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

PROMPTING DISCOURSE 1. Does the gathering of Christians constitute a church? In what sense does the church consist of Christians and in what sense does it consist of a place?

2. What would you describe as the distinguishing marks of the church?

3. Since Christians often disagree with one another about theological issues, how should they relate to each other? How does your view apply to churches working together?

4. What is the role of church discipline?

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THEOLOGY APPLIED: ORTHODOXY AND ORTHOPRAXY

THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

DOCTRINE AND DEFINITION:

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Theology applied: orthodoxy and orthopraxy

SCRIPTURE:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

TRADITION:

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Theology applied: orthodoxy and orthopraxy

REASON:

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

EXPERIENCE:

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Theology applied: orthodoxy and orthopraxy

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

NOTES

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Theology applied: orthodoxy and orthopraxy

NOTES

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THEOLOGY by Glen Prior

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THEOLOGY Th is seven-week course seeks to organize Christian theology in a systematic way, drawing from the whole of Scripture. Systematic theology will begin by placing a simple order across the landscape of theology and drawing out definitions, beliefs, and doctrine for living the Christian life; through that ongoing practice, this course will help you understand yourself, the world, and those around you better. Learn to interpret Scripture within Scripture's own context and redemptive development. As God reveals His plan and message over the scope of the canon, we see more and more the full intent and message of Scripture, especially as it culminates in Jesus.

KEY OUTCOMES  To provide the student with practical tools for understanding the Christian faith and its creator God.  To provide the student with an opportunity to grow in their understanding of their personal beliefs about the Christian faith.

 To provide practical tools and a simple way for the student to work through the doctrines of the Christian faith, and to become intimately familiar with the scope of theology.  To provide a structure that helps students formulate definitions, biblical proofs, and specific applications for each doctrine.

PASTOR GLEN PRIOR Glen Prior loves the church and lives out his personal call to exalt the name of Jesus, equip the saints for service, and expand the Kingdom of God within the Free Methodist Church. A graduate of Azusa Pacific Seminary (M.Div), Glen is committed to building Christ-centered sustainable ministries beginning with the whole-formation of leaders through education, discipleship, and reflection and extending out to the best practices of leadership within the church. Since 1994, he has served executive ministry roles within the Free Methodist Church. He has twice filled the role of Executive Pastor, served as the Director of Business and Ministry Development for the FMC Southern California and in 2015 was appointed acting Superintendent over a conference of churches in Arizona and New Mexico. Most recently, in 2018, Glen was also elected to the Superintendent Team of the FMC Southern California Conference to lead a group of churches in fulfilling the mission of the church to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples.

Glen is husband to Koni and in 2019 they celebrated 30 years of marriage. Together they have two daughters and the family loves to play music, lead worship, and enjoy the company of friends. It is a privilege and honor to be given the opportunity to serve the church of Jesus Christ and shepherd the people of God. C E N T E R P O I N T S C H O O L O F M I N I S T RY

PRICE: $20.00