Introduction to Theology
Understand what Christians believe, why they believe it and explore the difference it can make in your everyday life.
Revelation
Tim discusses the four major ways in which we know God and our Christian faith--our personal experience, our thought or cognition, our traditions, and the Bible or Scriptures. How do these relate to each other? What do we do when they appear to be in conflict?
God
In this lecture, Tim talks about what is so special and unique about our Christian understanding of God that sets it apart from all other conceptions. There is no one like Him
Human Beings
Are human beings basically good or basically bad? In this lecture we explore the biblical polarities between humans as created in the image of God and then fallen in to the misery of evil. In light of this tension we consider what sort of salvation we need.
Jesus Christ - The Person
What kind of Savior do human beings need? What sort of person is able to rescue and restore us to God, to others, and even with ourselves? In this lecture, we explore why Jesus Christ is the One who perfectly answers these questions as the Savior we need.
Jesus Christ - Part 2
In our second lecture on Christology—the study of Jesus Christ—Tim addresses the work of Jesus. Jesus came to save us. How did Jesus accomplish this? Our focus is on the events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
The Holy Spirit - I
This lecture focus on the amazing story of how the move of the Spirit has impacted the Church and the world since the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, 1906. Today, over 600 million Christians identify with the Pentecostal-Charismatic Movement. What good has come of it? What challenges? We suggest the image of the fire of the Spirit within the fireplace of Biblical Theology to answer these questions.
The Holy Spirit - 2
In this second lecture on the Spirit, we build the theological fireplace in which the light and heat of the Third Person of the Trinity can best transform our lives, our churches, and our world.
Salvation - 1
In this lecture on Soteriology or the theology of salvation, Tim shares his personal story of coming to faith. We further explore the foundations of salvation which comes to us in Scripture alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, due to Christ alone, and to the glory of God alone.
Salvation - 2
In this second lecture on Salvation, we follow the flow or sequence of our faith experience. Salvation has a before, a beginning, a continuing, and a completion. We look at subjects including predestination, foreordination, redemption, calling, repentance, faith, justification, new life in Christ, and our final eternal blessings.
The Church
We think of the local church in many ways--as a fellowship, a ministry center, a missions and evangelism organization and so forth. In this lecture we look at the church through a theological lens as a "Community of the Trinity," a fellowship of God that grounds its identity in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As a Community of the Trinity, the church is called and empowered to live and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Other matters are important but secondary to this center to the church's identity and work.
The End Times
In this final lecture in Spotlight Theology: An Introduction to What Christians Believe, Tim spotlights Eschatology or the doctrine of the Last Things. He looks at the subject through the lens of "hope." We need hope to live joyful and productive lives for God. As Paul writes, "these three remain: faith, hope, and love" in 1 Corinthians 13. Our eschatology is to make us people who look for the "blessed hope" of the glorious return of Jesus Christ.
Divine Sovereignty & Human Free Will
When it comes to salvation, most Christians want to affirm both God’s sovereignty and our free will. But how do these fit together? In this lecture, Tim presents the two major approaches in Protestant Christianity known as Calvinism and Arminianism. He explains how Calvinism places more emphasis on God’s election while Arminianism leans toward human free will.
