SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY: RESURRECTION · 2019-09-18 · Biblical Theology Systematic Theology...

FOCUSSTRAND

3

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY: RESURRECTION

LEADER'S MANUAL

CONTENTS

AFES NTE 2018 Strand 3 Leaders Notes IIntroduction to the leaders notes IThe Process ITime Management II

Introductions 3Part 1: The Resurrection Gospel 4Part 2: Systematic Theology 7Part 3: Data Collection and Analysis 9List of Bible References to Resurrection 10Part 4: Synthesis 18

4.1 The resurrection of Jesus 184.2 Jesus’ resurrection and us 194.3 Jesus’ resurrection: Ruling the world 224.4 Resurrection and life now 26

Part 5: Integration 28Part 6: Application 29Part 7: Proclaiming resurrection 30Appendix 1: Recommended Resources ILeaders’ Appendix 1: “Example Diagram” III

NTE19 // Strand 3: Systematic Theology // Leader’s Notes This material belongs to AFES. Please do not make unauthorised copies.

I

NTE 2018 Strand 3 Leaders’ Notes

INTRODUCTION TO LEADER’S NOTES

Over the last decade Strand 3 has gone through multiple rewrites and revisions (it’s a source critic’s dream come

true). The version you’re currently holding builds on previous work by Peter Bolt, Paul Grimmond, Tim Thorburn, and

Michael Kwan, and others who have been lost in the mists of time.

This strand has two main aims:1. 1. To help students grasp the significance of Jesus’ resurrection for:

a. the gospel we proclaim

b. our own destiny

c. our lives in the here and now

And as a result, to be filled with the excitement, joy, and gravity of the NT proclamation of Jesus and the

resurrection

2. To introduce students to Systematic Theology (Doctrine, Dogmatics) by:

a. explicitly modelling a process for developing a Systematic Theology on any doctrinal topic

b. giving them an appreciation of some of the complexities and subtleties of doing Systematic Theology

c. using the Resurrection as a “model” topic to develop their Systematic theological skills

d. developing an evangelistic talk or tract, in order to give them something to take home and use

THE PROCESS

Introduction & Part 1: The Resurrection GospelThis section (including getting to know one another) is designed largely to introduce the topic and whet peoples’ appetite for the week. It raises the big question of whether we actually understand the place of the resurrection in the gospel that we preach. The aim at this point in time is not to answer peoples’ questions but to raise the issues and motivate them to learn. We introduce the “the diagram” (which we’ll build up over the conference).

Part 2: Systematic TheologyHaving begun with the topic, we then take a step back to do an introduction to Systematic Theology – what it is and how to go about it. The main things to get out of this section are:

• Everyone does Systematic Theology all the time so it’s not really scary at all

• Biblical Theology is a control on Systematic Theology

A brief overview of the main steps (i.e. gathering the biblical data, understanding, synthesising and integrating the biblical data). Getting a grip on the Bricks, House, Suburb analogy.

NB you could use an alternative analogy if you prefer (e.g. “Writing a book on Australia: workingout chapter headings, order, relationships of history to geography” or “Spider’s web: each truth isa strand on an interconnected web, in which some strands relate closely to particular strands, yetchanging one will change the shape of everything”). The notes run with the bricks, house, suburb.

NTE19 // Strand 3: Systematic Theology // Leader’s Notes This material belongs to AFES. Please do not make unauthorised copies.

II

Part 3: Data Collection - on the ResurrectionThis section involves thinking through how to gather the raw data for Systematic Theology, then doing thehard work of trawling through 140 verses to gather data on resurrection.

Part 4: SynthesisThis is the guts – the long, hard, and exciting part of the process. We look at a few selected passages onresurrection in order to explore the significance of the resurrection of Jesus. We use a diagram to build apicture of our growing understanding.

Parts 5 & 6: Integration and ApplicationWe take several passages that draw on a number of the elements we’ve explored in our Synthesis to helpsee how they pull together. We look at how Paul’s understanding of resurrection leads him to reject thesexual immorality of the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 6.

Part 5: Proclaiming ResurrectionThis involves creating a talk or tract about resurrection to present to others. This is where they see howclear their understanding is, and we see some masterpieces take shape! Not only that, it provides time forpersonal reflection and application of what they have leant.

TIME MANAGEMENT

The timings given for material are realistic, but tight. You’ll need to keep sharp eye on time. Below is a fairly detailed breakdown of timings.

Day Part Description Time (min) TotalSaturday Introduction 15

3:00

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Part 1 The Resurrection Gospel 40Part 2 Systematic Theology 15

Break 15Part 3.1 Data Collection & Analysis 70Part 3.2 Feedback 25

Sunday Feedback (cont’d) (add to diagram) 351:309:00 AM - 10:30 AM Part 4.1 Synthesis: The resurrection of Jesus 30

Part 4.2 Synthesis: Jesus’ resurrection and us 25Sunday 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Part 4.2 Synthesis: Jesus’ resurrection and us (cont’d) 452:00

Part 4.3 Synthesis: Jesus’ resurrection: Ruling the world 75Monday 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Part 4.3 Synthesis: Jesus’ resurrection: Ruling the world (cont’d) 25

1:30Part 4.4 Synthesis: Resurrection and life now 65

Tuesday9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Part 5 Pulling it together (and add to diagram) 401:30Part 6 Integration & Application 40

Add to diagram 10Tuesday4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Part 7.1 Proclaiming resurrection 152:00

Part 7.2 Prep talks 105Wednesday9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Part 7.3 Present Talks 1102:00

Conclusion 10

Total 13:30

Feedback and comments can be sent to Tim Thorburn: [email protected]

2 NTE19 // Strand 3 FOCUS: Systematic Theology // Leader’s Manual This material belongs to AFES. Please do not make unauthorised copies.

NTE19 // Strand 3 FOCUS: Systematic Theology // This material belongs to AFES. Please do not make unauthorised copies.

3

// GETTING STARTED //

MEETING THE GROUP AND MEETING GOD IN HIS WORD

1. Welcome, and Introductions. What are your expectations of this conference?

PRAY together for our strand time.

2 NTE19 // Strand 3 FOCUS: Systematic Theology // This material belongs to AFES. Please do not make unauthorised copies.

STRANDS OVERVIEW

You are here

Strand 1 Strand 2 Strand 3 Strand 4 Strand 5

PASSAGE/ TOPIC

Colossians 1 (NT)

1 Samuel 8 (OT)

Resurrection (Doctrine)

Work (Ethics)

Titus (Teaching a

series)

PARTICULAR FOCUS Exegesis Biblical

TheologySystematic Theology

Systematic Theology

Pastoral Theology

Strand 12 - The Gospel

Exegesis = magnifying glass Understanding the meaning of a Bible passage in its original context.

Biblical Theology = unfolding scroll Exploring themes in the big story of God’s plan of salvation as it is revealed progressively in the Bible.

Systematic Theology = filing cabinet Systematically organising biblical truths under topical headings.

Pastoral Theology = package Delivering and communicating biblical teaching to people in a contemporary context.

NTE19 // Strand 3 FOCUS: Systematic Theology // Leader’s Manual This material belongs to AFES. Please do not make unauthorised copies.

3


3

// GETTING STARTED //

MEETING THE GROUP AND MEETING GOD IN HIS WORD

1. Welcome, and Introductions. What are your expectations of this conference?

PRAY together for our strand time.

IntroductionTime: 15 minutes

The aim of this section is to rapidly build trust so that we create a safe environment where people can ask questions, contribute and disagree well.

The key to time management in the first session is to get to the end of Part 3.

The timing is tight, but achievable. You will need to think about having a break, having enough time to do the work of gathering and sifting through the data and time at the end to do the important work off finishing the first day with a stimulus to keep learning.



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THE LOGIC OF THE GOSPEL

We are used to the logic of Jesus’ death for us. Let’s try and create a diagram of it.


// PART 1: THE RESURRECTION GOSPEL //

OUR SPEAKING ABOUT JESUS

In pairs, one of you take the part of a non-Christian who asks, “So what do Christians believe?” The other partnercan take the role of a Christian and try to provide them with a short two minute answer. When you’ve finished,swap roles.

Note down the main ideas or issues you included in your gospel explanation.

APOSTOLIC SPEAKING ABOUT JESUS

In small groups, skim read two of the following passages and note:• What part does Jesus’ death (and its significance) play in the apostles’ gospel proclamation?• What part does the Jesus’ resurrection (and its significance) play in the apostolic gospel proclamation?

Significance of Jesus’ death Significance of Jesus’ resurrection

Acts 2: 14-41

Acts 4: 8-12

Acts 10: 27-43

Acts 13: 13-41

Acts 17: 16-34

Romans 1: 3-4

Romans 10:9-13

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

2 Timothy 1: 8-12

2 Timothy 2: 8

Why do you think our speaking about Jesus seems different from that of the apostles? What questions does this raiseabout the resurrection and how it fits into the gospel?

Part 1 Time: 40 minutes

This section is designed to shockstudents with the realisation that the Resurrection doesn’t tend to play a big role in our gospel explanations, but it’s actually the main focus of the apostles’ gospel. The purpose is to help them realise that they don’t really understand the Resurrection and motivate them to work hard at getting their heads around it this week.

Our Speaking about Jesus

Time: 8 minutes

Ask the group whether the resurrection (either Jesus’ or ours) had a significant place in the presentation.

Apostolic Speaking about Jesus

Time: 12 minutes

Give them a time limit to force them to skim the passages rather than reading them in detail. We’re just wanting them to be struck by how little the apostles speak about Jesus’ death, and how much they talk about his resurrection. They can just tick the boxes in the table below.

FOCUS groups may want to skip the longer, complex passages (Acts 2; 13).

Concentrate on covering Acts 17; Rom 1; 10; and 2 Tim 2. These passages are the surprising ones because the resurrection is affirmed while the death is either not mentioned or simply assumed.

They should be realising that they talk more about Jesus’ substitutionary atonement in explaining the gospel than the resurrection and that their gospel proclamation doesn’t match that of the apostles.

I like to ask them, “So why are you preaching a different gospel to the apostles?” It shocks them a bit :)


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5

THE LOGIC OF THE GOSPEL

We are used to the logic of Jesus’ death for us. Let’s try and create a diagram of it.

The logic of the gospel Time: 15 minutes for both diagrams

These diagrams are simultaneously the heart of strand 3 and also the most difficult part. International students are, in general, more comfortable with narratives and characters than they are with concepts and theories. That’s why this strand and these diagrams are going to be a real mind-stretch for them.

We suggest you bring a whiteboard rather than butchers’ paper for this part, because this diagram needs to be revised and changed frequently.

Help them to generate the diagram to the left. It’s not intended to be the final word on the death of Jesus, and the aim is not to get the same diagram as the one in the leaders’ notes, it’s just a rough way for them to start doing Systematic Theology with a topic they’re reasonably familiar with.

Here’s a process for generating it (basically it involves listing people, then topics/ideas, then connections):

1. Write “Jesus’ death” in the middle

2. Ask them what people are relevant to Jesus’ death (eg. Jesus, God, Humans)

3. Ask them what topics/ideas are connected with Jesus’ death (There’s lots! Just roll with whatever they give you.) I’ve put in sin, death, and justification

4. Now you can ask them, “What connections can you see between people, topics, and other topics?”

5. Add in connections as they call them out.

The time is for both drafting the “Jesus Death for us” and starting the “Jesus’ Resurrection” diagrams.

Example for step 1-4

Example for step 5



7

// PART 2: SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY // Congratulations! You're doing Systematic Theology! But let's step back and think about Systematic Theology itself...

WHAT IS SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY?

Systematic Theology is organising our knowledge of God into topics, so we can understand each topic better.

What is the relationship between systematic theology and biblical theology?

Why bother with Biblical Theology? Why not just jump straight to Systematic Theology?

DOING SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

1. Data Collection (Gathering the right bricks)As you read through the Bible you will findpassages that speak about the topic. Thesepassages give us the basic ideas we need tounderstand our topic. So we go looking for themand then gather them all up into our truck.

2. Synthesis (Building the house)The Bible doesn’t just give us the bricks and say, “Go builda house.” It also gives us the plans for how to build the righthouse with the bricks we’ve been given. In other words, theBible tells us how to put the data from our verses togetherso that we get an accurate understanding of the topic. Someverses are foundational, others are related but less important.

3. Integration (Location, location, location!)When we build our house, we also need to think aboutwhere it should be located in the suburb. Where should our“Resurrection” house stand in relation to the “Cross” house, the“God” house, and the “Humanity” house? Are they connected? Inwhat ways? In what order should we see them as we travel downthe street? And if the foundations of one house are wobbly, inwhat ways will that affect the other houses?

4. Application (Moving in)Once we’ve built our house with the right bricks, according to thebuilding plans, in just the right spot for it in the suburb, we don’twant to just pat ourselves on the back and wander off—it’s timeto move in and enjoy! As we settle in to the house and suburbGod has given us, we want to live in light of the truths we’vediscovered. As the Holy Spirit works in us to do that, we becomemore and more mature. More and more like Jesus.

Spirit raised Jesus

Jesus rose from death

Father raised Jesus

Jesus rose as

King

Jesus rose as firstfruit


As a group, try to come up with a diagram of Jesus’ resurrection.“The Diagram” By the end of Strand 3 we want to come up with a diagram something like the one in Leaders Appendix I. It looks complex, but we can build it up pretty simply through the strand. The colours correspond to different sections of the strand. You might find it helpful to use multiple coloured pens, but the colours are mostly for you as the leader to keep track of it. You could do it all in black, but it would be helpful to at least have a different colour forthe “do first” and “do second” stuff noted in the “Relationship to Strand sections” box below.

Important!

The diagram is not some kind of ideal systematic theology diagram, nor is the aim of the Strand to get an ideal diagram for resurrection. The aim is simply to help students start thinking about what the Bible says about resurrection, and how the different elements connect. The diagram above is just one possible way things might pan out.

See if you can get your strand group to develop their diagram organically over the course of Strand 3.

The aim at this stage is to struggle and raise lots of questions.

Just follow the same process as before:

1. Write “Jesus’ resurrection” in the middle

2. Ask them what people are relevant to Jesus’ resurrection (eg. Jesus, God the Father, Humans)

3. Ask them what topics/ideas are connected with Jesus’ resurrection (There’s lots, but we don’t need to get everything. Just collect a few ideas to get started.

4. Now you can ask them, “What connections can you see between people, topics, and other topics?”

5. Add in connections as they call them out, and point out any connections that we’re not sure of (eg. How exactly does Jesus’ resurrection connect to our resurrection?)

Above is a simple sort of diagram that you might get at this stage. We will return to the diagram later – so make sure you keep it!


7


7

// PART 2: SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY // Congratulations! You're doing Systematic Theology! But let's step back and think about Systematic Theology itself...

WHAT IS SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY?

Systematic Theology is organising our knowledge of God into topics, so we can understand each topic better.

What is the relationship between systematic theology and biblical theology?

Why bother with Biblical Theology? Why not just jump straight to Systematic Theology?

DOING SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

1. Data Collection (Gathering the right bricks)As you read through the Bible you will findpassages that speak about the topic. Thesepassages give us the basic ideas we need tounderstand our topic. So we go looking for themand then gather them all up into our truck.

2. Synthesis (Building the house)The Bible doesn’t just give us the bricks and say, “Go builda house.” It also gives us the plans for how to build the righthouse with the bricks we’ve been given. In other words, theBible tells us how to put the data from our verses togetherso that we get an accurate understanding of the topic. Someverses are foundational, others are related but less important.

3. Integration (Location, location, location!)When we build our house, we also need to think aboutwhere it should be located in the suburb. Where should our“Resurrection” house stand in relation to the “Cross” house, the“God” house, and the “Humanity” house? Are they connected? Inwhat ways? In what order should we see them as we travel downthe street? And if the foundations of one house are wobbly, inwhat ways will that affect the other houses?

4. Application (Moving in)Once we’ve built our house with the right bricks, according to thebuilding plans, in just the right spot for it in the suburb, we don’twant to just pat ourselves on the back and wander off—it’s timeto move in and enjoy! As we settle in to the house and suburbGod has given us, we want to live in light of the truths we’vediscovered. As the Holy Spirit works in us to do that, we becomemore and more mature. More and more like Jesus.

Spirit raised Jesus

Jesus rose from death

Father raised Jesus

Jesus rose as

King

Jesus rose as firstfruit

Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology Time: 15 minutes The aim of this section is to introduce the students to Systematic Theology - what it is, how it relates to what they have done in the past (particularly Biblical Theology), and what they will be doing for the next few days.

This section works largely by the leader explaining things.

What is Systematic Theology? e.g. Taking what the Bible says in different places about ‘sin’ or ‘marriage’ and putting it all together so we understand what God has to say about these topics as a whole.

What is the relationship between Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology? Remind them that...

Biblical Theology is about exploring what’s revealed about a particular topic at each stage of the Bible’s unfolding story. Systematic Theology is taking all that information and producing one comprehensive explanation of the topic.

Or...

Biblical Theology asks ‘What does creation reveal about sin? What does the fall reveal about sin? What does the history of Israel reveal about sin? What does Jesus reveal about sin? What does the new creation reveal about sin?, etc.” Systematic Theology asks, “What’s the Bible’s view of sin, and how does it relate to other topics in the Bible?”

Or...

Biblical Theology tracks one particular theme as it develops through the story. Systematic Theology is the encyclopedia entry on that theme.

Why bother with Biblical Theology? Why not just jump straight to Systematic Theology?We need to understand the significance of any passage we are using for Systematic Theology by applying Biblical Theology. Biblical Theology also helps give us the major topics we use in Systematic Theology. Tracing a theme/topic through the Bible (Biblical Theology) gives us most of the information we need for Systematic Theology on that topic.

Show them the inside front cover “Strands Overview” and explain where we are in the series of strands.



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// PART 3: DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS //

3.1 SIFTING THROUGH THE DATA

Helpful steps:

1. Search for the word

2. It may be helpful to search for other forms of the word

3. Brainstorm passages that you know speaks about the topic

4. Search related ideas and the different forms of these words

Now you’ll have a lot of data to sort through!

Over the next few pages is a table which are the results from a computer search on the New Testament on resur* or raise* or rise* or lift*.

Now some analysis work has already been done for you in that some are irrelevant to the topic of resurrection (e.g.eyes are raised).

Even then, there is a huge amount of data. Your job now is to sift through the data and

1. Look out for: • New ideas (to you), • Questions you have; and, • Old Testament references about resurrection

2. See whether you can label the passage with a particular topic and gather passages which speak of similar topics together (begin the process of analysis).


WHY SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY?

1. You’re doing it anyway

2. It’s essential in reading and teaching the Bible

3. Most of the issues and questions we face as Christians come in a Systematic Theology form

4. It’s essential in opposing false teaching

(Take a 10-15 minute break here)

1. You’re doing it anyway We are all systematic theologians.Whether you realise it or not we all have a framework in our heads and a system of categories. You might as well make sure you do it properly!

2. It’s essential in reading and teaching the Bible Concordance before commentary. Whenever you look at a passage it is important to have some grasp of the whole of God’s truth. E.g. Matthew 10:35 – you could go off on the wrong track if you didn’t know that the Bible had other things to say about relating to family. A grasp of the whole helps us to understand the parts. “Systematic Theology is the fruit and the servant of good Bible study.”

3. Most of the issues and questions we face as Christians come in a Systematic Theology form. A friend at church whose marriage is on the rocks: “What does the Bible say about divorce?” A non-Christian relative going in for an operation asks: “What happens when I die?” These are not questions you can adequately answer by turning to one passage, or by telling the story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation; they are Systematic Theology questions.

4. It’s essential in opposing false teaching E.g. when Jehovah’s Witnesses come to the front door and say there is no Trinity. There is no single passage you could turn to in order to refute this idea. Or when you come back from NTE and the other youth group leaders screw up their faces and say, “Teach these kids the Bible? Why on earth would we do that?” you need a systematic answer.


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9

// PART 3: DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS //

3.1 SIFTING THROUGH THE DATA

Helpful steps:

1. Search for the word

2. It may be helpful to search for other forms of the word

3. Brainstorm passages that you know speaks about the topic

4. Search related ideas and the different forms of these words

Now you’ll have a lot of data to sort through!

Over the next few pages is a table which are the results from a computer search on the New Testament on resur* or raise* or rise* or lift*.

Now some analysis work has already been done for you in that some are irrelevant to the topic of resurrection (e.g.eyes are raised).

Even then, there is a huge amount of data. Your job now is to sift through the data and

1. Look out for: • New ideas (to you), • Questions you have; and, • Old Testament references about resurrection

2. See whether you can label the passage with a particular topic and gather passages which speak of similar topics together (begin the process of analysis).

Part 3: Data Collection...

The aims of this section are to:

1. Learn how to collect data: brainstorming, use of concordances, dictionaries, thesauruses, analytical concordances

2. Begin the work of analysis

3. Raise stimulating questions to continue to engage in the material

3.1 Gathering and sifting through the data Time: 70 minutes

Helpful steps:

1. Learn to use a concordance. But ‘resurrection occurs 43 times in the NIV.’ Many of them are in one passage or in parallel passages. The word doesn’t even occur in the Old Testament. Where to next?

2. Learn to use a dictionary and to do Boolean searches. Resurrect, resurrected, etc, may be present (though not in this case).

3. Use your brain!

4. Learn to use a thesaurus and search for words like raise, life, death, lift, etc, and their different forms.

The table as a whole is difficult for local students and extremely difficult of international students to move through at the pace they need to. Some ideas to help with this: where possible a larger group is great - each person can look at fewer verses. If there are few people, or if their English is poor, then you need to have done your homework and pick, say, 5 of the most important/enlightening/surprising passages on each page and then just get the students to do those. This kind of cuts against the actual process of “doing systematic theology from scratch”, but they’ll still get the idea.

Note: In preparation, you will need to look up all these passages and think about what you should draw to peoples’ attention and help ask the questions that they should be asking!

Allocate each group a number of references to look up. E.g., group one works through references 1-4 on each page, group two works through references 5-8 on each page, etc. This will make sure that no group just get one particular section of the New Testament and ensure an even spread. With the page with the references from 1 Corinthians, it might be good to

give them a section of 1 Corinthians 15 each and ask them to skim it. We will be spending more time on this passage later (tomorrow). Divide up the rest of the verses on the page. Students will need to look up the passages and read them in context.

Download and print PDF file of passage cards from nte.org.au/strand-leaders - This file has all the passages arranged for printing out onto card. The idea is that you give out the cards to each group, and after they have looked them all up, noting the main idea, any OT quotes, and any

questions raised we can get back together and put cards with passages that address similar aspects of resurrection into groups.

It’s probably helpful for them to record the main idea, OT quotes, and questions from their allocated verses in their books as well as on their cards. Even though we won’t go through all the verses as a group it will give them their own copy that they can look at and refer to.



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References - Section 2Passage New ideas Question raised OT References

1 Matthew 27:64

2 Matthew 28:6

3 Matthew 28:7

4 Mark 1:31

5 Mark 6:16

6 Mark 9:27

7 Mark 16:6

8 Luke 1:69

9 Luke 7:22

10 Luke 9:7

11 Luke 9:8

12 Luke 9:19

13 Luke 11:31

14 Luke 11:32

15 Luke 14:14

16 Luke 16:31

17 Luke 17:19

18 Luke 18:33

19 Luke 20:37

20 Luke 24:6


References - Section 1Passage New Ideas Question raised OT References

1 Matthew 9:5

(= Mark 2:9, Luke 5:23)

2 Matthew 9:6

(= Mark 2:11, Luke 5:24)

3 Matthew 10:8

4 Matthew 11:5

5 Matthew 12:41

6 Matthew 12:42

7 Matthew 14:2

(= Mark 6:14)

8 Matthew 16:21

(=Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22)

9 Matthew 17:9

(= Mark 9:9)

10 Matthew 17:23

(= Mark 9:31)

11 Matthew 20:19

(= Mark 10:34)

12 Matthew 22:23

(= Mark 12:18, Luke 20:27)

13 Matthew 22:24

(= Mark 12:19)

14 Matthew 22:28

(= Mark 12:23, Luke 20:33)

15 Matthew 22:30

(= Mark 12:23, Luke 20:36)

16 Matthew 22:31

(= Mark 12:26, Luke 20:36)

17 Matthew 26:32

(= Mark 14:28)

18 Matthew 27:52

19 Matthew 27:53

20 Matthew 27:63


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11


1 Matthew 27:64

2 Matthew 28:6

3 Matthew 28:7

4 Mark 1:31

5 Mark 6:16

6 Mark 9:27

7 Mark 16:6

8 Luke 1:69

9 Luke 7:22

10 Luke 9:7

11 Luke 9:8

12 Luke 9:19

13 Luke 11:31

14 Luke 11:32

15 Luke 14:14

16 Luke 16:31

17 Luke 17:19

18 Luke 18:33

19 Luke 20:37

20 Luke 24:6



13


1 John 12:32

2 John 12:34

3 John 20:9

4 John 21:14

5 Acts 1:22

6 Acts 2:24

7 Acts 2:31

8 Acts 2:32

9 Acts 3:15

10 Acts 3:22

11 Acts 3:26

12 Acts 4:2

13 Acts 4:10

14 Acts 4:33

15 Acts 5:30

16 Acts 7:37

17 Acts 9:41

18 Acts 10:40

19 Acts 13:30

20 Acts 13:34



1 Luke 24:7

2 Luke 24:34

3 Luke 24:46

4 John 2:19

5 John 2:20

6 John 2:22

7 John 3:14

8 John 5:21

9 John 5:29

10 John 6:39

11 John 6:40

12 John 6:44

13 John 6:54

14 John 8:28

15 John 11:23

16 John 11:24

17 John 11:25

18 John 12:1

19 John 12:9

20 John 12:17


13


13


1 John 12:32

2 John 12:34

3 John 20:9

4 John 21:14

5 Acts 1:22

6 Acts 2:24

7 Acts 2:31

8 Acts 2:32

9 Acts 3:15

10 Acts 3:22

11 Acts 3:26

12 Acts 4:2

13 Acts 4:10

14 Acts 4:33

15 Acts 5:30

16 Acts 7:37

17 Acts 9:41

18 Acts 10:40

19 Acts 13:30

20 Acts 13:34



15


1 1 Corinthians 15:4



















20 Galatians 1:1



1 Acts 13:37

2 Acts 17:3

3 Acts 17:18

4 Acts 17:31

5 Acts 17:32

6 Acts 23:6

7 Acts 23:8

8 Acts 24:15

9 Acts 24:21

10 Acts 26:8

11 Romans 1:4

12 Romans 4:24

13 Romans 4:25

14 Romans 6:1

15 Romans 6:5

16 Romans 6:9

17 Romans 7:4

18 Romans 8:11

19 Romans 8:34

20 Romans 10:9



15


15





















20 Galatians 1:1



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3.2 FEEDBACK TO ONE ANOTHER

1. What things did you noticed about doing this exercise? What were the frustrations and what were the good things?

2. What new ideas did you find? (Column 2)

3. What questions were raised for you? (Column 3)

4. What Old Testament passages are quoted or referred to? (Column 4)

5. What big topics/ideas did you find?

Add to the diagramUse the big ideas from the verses to add people, topics, and connections to our diagram.



1 Ephesians 1:20

2 Ephesians 2:6

3 Phillipians 3:10

4 Phillipians 3:11

5 Colossians 2:12

6 Colossians 3:1

7 1 Thessalonians 1:10

8 1 Thessalonians 4:16

9 2 Timothy 2:8

10 2 Timothy 2:18

11 Hebrews 6:2

12 Hebrews 11:19

13 Hebrews 11:35

14 James 5:15

15 1 Peter 1:3

16 1 Peter 1:21

17 1 Peter 3:21

18 2 Peter 1:19

19 Revelation 20:5

20 Revelation 20:6


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3.2 FEEDBACK TO ONE ANOTHER

1. What things did you noticed about doing this exercise? What were the frustrations and what were the good things?

2. What new ideas did you find? (Column 2)

3. What questions were raised for you? (Column 3)

4. What Old Testament passages are quoted or referred to? (Column 4)

5. What big topics/ideas did you find?

Add to the diagramUse the big ideas from the verses to add people, topics, and connections to our diagram.

3. Some example questionsWhat does the resurrection prove? (Luke 16:30,31 and Acts 17) Why was Peter so upset if Jesus was just going away for a few days? (Mark 8:31) What does it mean to “preach in Jesus the resurrection” (Acts 4:2)? Why does Paul preach the good news

about Jesus and the resurrection and not Jesus and his resurrection (Acts 17:18)? How is Jesus “raised for/because of our justification” (Romans 4:25)? What is it for Jesus to become the Son of God (Romans 1:1-4, Phil 2, Acts 2)? Is this an adoptionism heresy? How does it tie in with what it means to be human?

What is the connection between baptism and resurrection? What is the second death? What does it mean to say that the sting of death is sin? What’s with the zombies in Matthew 27? Why won’t people believe even if they witness the resurrection (Luke 16)? Etc, etc

Feedback to one another Time: 60 minutes

1.This question is designed to get people to reflect on the exercise that they have just taken part in. It should allow people to speak about their frustration – it is just tiring hard work!! It is worth helping them to see that this sort of “boring” hard work is required in understanding God’s word better.

Notice that not all the verses relate to the topic – but they should be able to see that you have to look at them all because you cannot know beforehand which verses relate and which ones don’t.

Talk a bit about the need for context – that is some of them will have looked at the verse and realised that they need to read around the verse to find out the significance of the verse.

Allow people to also reflect on the breadth of the things that they have found. That the hard work has actually yielded fruit in terms of finding new ideas and themes, as well as raising the questions that the Bible raises for us.

For questions 2 - 5Make a quick list on a piece of butcher’s paper.

For 5. You could add them to your list of passages from the OT.

6. IMPORTANT:Get them to put the cards into piles according to “Big idea”. nternational students may not be able to quickly group the 140 cards into piles according to ‘topics’. One option is to skip this grouping, and instead generate some key topics for our diagram from questions 2 and 3 on this page. Further topics will be suggested in later sections as well.

Add to the diagram

Use the big ideas from the verses to add people, topics, and connections to our diagram.



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4.2 JESUS' RESURRECTION AND US

Key Text 1 Corinthians 15

Read vv1-11What is Paul doing?

Read vv 12-28What are some of the Corinthians saying about resurrection?

Read vv 29-58. From these verses, what other questions/objections might they have had about resurrection?

Exploring the logicIn pairs, gather information from 1 Corinthians 15:14-26 to fill in the first two columns.

If Christ hasn’t been raised from the dead, then… If Christ has been raised from the dead, then…Our preaching is useless Our preaching is useful


// PART 4: SYNTHESIS //

4.1 THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

What do you know about Jesus’ resurrection (from the passages you may have looked at in the data collection or fromgeneral knowledge)?

• What was the nature of his resurrection body?

• Was it a permanent resurrection?

• Was the resurrected Jesus the same as the “pre-crucified” Jesus?

• Is the resurrected Jesus human or divine and does it matter?

• Is the resurrected Jesus doing anything now? If so, what?

If you saw an item on the news reporting that a dead person had come back to life (with very good eye-witness evidence), what would you make of it?

• Would you conclude the person was God?

• Would you conclude that the person was going to be the judge of the world?

• Would you conclude that you would be raised to life after death?

So why do you think the resurrection of Jesus has any special significance?

At this point there would normally still be a lot of work for you to do in sorting out which passages to focus on and how to fit them together. But in order to speed up the process, we’re going to focus on some specific issues that are important for understanding resurrection.

When it comes to developing our systematic theology on resurrection we could start with any of the big ideas we’ve identified. But because it’s probably most familiar to us—and more importantly because the apostles’ proclamation of the gospel seems to focus there—we’re going to start by exploring some aspects of Jesus’ resurrection.

Part 4: Synthesis Total time: 4.5 hours

Over the next three sessions (1.5 hours each or a total of 4.5 hours) we want to build our understanding of resurrection by seeing how it connects with a whole range of topics that are central to the Christian message and to life itself.

There will be lots of Bible work and the key is being creative in doing this. As we grow in our understanding we can add topics and connections to our diagram.

4.1 The resurrection of Jesus Time: 30 minutes

The aim of this section is to stir the pot again to help them want to find out the significance of Jesus’ resurrection.

Interact as a large group—use passages from the data collection. Feel free to play devil’s advocate where it’s helpful.

This is designed to help them see that they probably don’t understand the relevance of Jesus’ resurrection. Let them struggle with it a bit.


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4.2 JESUS' RESURRECTION AND US

Key Text 1 Corinthians 15

Read vv1-11What is Paul doing?

Read vv 12-28What are some of the Corinthians saying about resurrection?

Read vv 29-58. From these verses, what other questions/objections might they have had about resurrection?

Exploring the logicIn pairs, gather information from 1 Corinthians 15:14-26 to fill in the first two columns.

If Christ hasn’t been raised from the dead, then… If Christ has been raised from the dead, then…Our preaching is useless Our preaching is useful

4.2 Jesus’ resurrection and us Time: 70 minutes

The aim of this section is to see that Jesus’ resurrection is essential to our future. Jesus’ resurrection is a guarantee of our resurrection because it shows that sin has been paid for, it defeats death (when the new kid beats up the school bully, everyone can be free), we have a sure hope that because Jesus has won we will share in eternal, physical life in the new creation. achieved: judgement, defeat of sin, restoration of order, the reign of the Christ, new suitable bodies.

What is Paul doing?

Paul reminds them of the historicity of Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection and appearance. That was the gospel message he preaches and passes on. We, together with Paul, can be confident of the event of the resurrection.

What are some of the Corinthians saying about resurrection?

The big problem was that there were some in the Corinthian church saying that there is no resurrection of the dead (see vv. 12, 16, 29, 32). They’re not denying that Jesus was resurrected, but they are denying that we will be resurrected.

Exploring the logic

After filling in the table, regather the whole group and collect their answers for the first two columns. Don’t let it get bogged down.

Work together as a large group on the 3rd column, trying to explain Paul’s logic. Point out the enormous consequences of each column.



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In what ways is Christ like Adam?

In what ways is Christ not like Adam?

What is the connection between Jesus’ resurrection and our resurrection?

Go back to 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

How has Jesus defeated death?

What will “death being swallowed up in victory” look like?

What do you think that experience will be like?

Read Romans 8:18-21Does Jesus’ resurrection only have implications for humans?

Add to the diagram Add these topics to the diagram and in the light of what we’ve just looked at, add in connections:

humans Jesus‘ rule

sin Resurrection of the dead (i.e. General resurrection)

death new creation

new creation

Work through this next bit together.

When is Christ reigning?

From the time of his resurrection onward. vv24 & 28 are potentially confusing. It’s not that Christ ceases to reign when he hands over the kingdom to the Father, but rather that his reign puts everything into right relationship with the Father. The point is that Son is not a rival to the Father, so when all God’s enemies have been destroyed God the Son will (as always) reign in submission to the Father.

When does he destroy all dominion/rule, authority and power?

Note that we’re making a distinction between defeat and destruction. Jesus will finally destroy all other rivals when he comes again (v23-24)

What do we learn about the nature and history of “death”?

Death began with Adam and reigned over everyone until Christ defeated it by his resurrection, and it will finally be destroyed when he comes again.


Using verses 20-28, draw a timeline of world history.

When is Christ reigning?

When does he destroy all dominion/rule, authority and power?

What do we learn about the nature and history of “death”?

creation new creationJesus’ resurrection

EXCURSUS: DEATHWhat did Adam do that has caused us all to die? (v22; cf. Genesis 3:17-19)

In what sense is death an enemy?

How do you see this reflected in human experience?

What is needed for death to be defeated?

Excursus: Death

What did Adam do that has caused us all to die? He sinned, rebelling against God, provoking God’s righteous anger and his judgment of death. His action led to all his descendants (us!) rebelling against God and receiving the same judgment.

What did Adam do that has caused us all to die? eg. fear of death, existential angst, mid-life crises, FOMO (fear of missing out—we rush around trying to cram experiences in because we know we’ve only got a short time), grief at the death of loved ones.

What is needed for death to be defeated? Living really long lives? People stop dying from now on? This body stays dead, but we get a new one? Ceasing to exist at death? What about if we become disembodied souls? Actually, only the reversal of death (i.e. resur-rection of our current bodies) seems to cut it.


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In what ways is Christ like Adam?

In what ways is Christ not like Adam?

What is the connection between Jesus’ resurrection and our resurrection?

Go back to 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

How has Jesus defeated death?

What will “death being swallowed up in victory” look like?

What do you think that experience will be like?

Read Romans 8:18-21Does Jesus’ resurrection only have implications for humans?

Add to the diagram Add these topics to the diagram and in the light of what we’ve just looked at, add in connections:

humans Jesus‘ rule

sin Resurrection of the dead (i.e. General resurrection)

death new creation

new creation

In what ways is Christ like Adam?Christ is a human. His action determines the fate of everyone after him.

In what ways is Christ not like Adam?Adam caused the death of everyone, but Christ makes all alive.

What is the connection between Jesus’ resurrection and our resurrection?This is the critical concept to get. Because Jesus has defeated death by his resurrection and will destroy it, death is defeated for us too. Imagine a bully at school who pushes everyone around, but then a stronger kid comes to the school and defeats him. What does that do to the bully’s power? It’s broken for everyone. Whoever aligns themselves with the stronger kid is victorious over the bully.

What is the relationship between death, sin, and the law?Death (pictured as a bee, scorpion, or snake) uses sin to sting us and kill us, because having sinned we deserve God’s judgment for having broken his law/rebelled against him.

How has Jesus defeated death?But Jesus has de-fanged death and pulled death’s sting out of us by taking the punishment for our sin on the cross and rising victorious. And like the stronger kid defeating the bully, if we are on Christ’s side he has been victorious for us. See v58: God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What will “death being swallowed up in victory” look like?Not just that people stop dying, or our disembodied souls go to heaven, but the reversal of death through resurrection.

Add to the diagram Time: 5 minutes

Add these topics to the diagram and in light of what we’ve just looked at, add in connections:

Again, don’t stress about getting some ideal diagram, the aim is to help them see some of the key topics for resurrection and the ideas that connect them.



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Re-read 1 Corinthians 15:25-27. What connection(s) does Paul see between Psalm 8 and resurrection?

The resurrection of the Messiah In 1 Corinthians 15 and many of the passages we have looked at, Jesus is identified as “Christ” or “Messiah”. Christ is not Jesus’ surname but his title. He is the Christ, the anointed one—in other words, the king.

Now we’re going to step away from the topic of resurrection for a moment to think a bit more about the “Christ”

1. Read 2 Samuel 7:1-17 and note down the promises God made to David.


4.3 JESUS' RESURRECTION: RULING THE WORLD

Remember Luke 16:31, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” Understanding the Old Testament and its expectations is necessary for understanding resurrection (see also 1 Peter 1:10-12).

There are lots of Old Testament passages we could look at that connect to Jesus’ resurrection: eg. Genesis 3:15, 5:24, Psalm 16, 110, Daniel 7, Genesis 22, 37-47, Jonah 1:17-2:10 (referred to in Matthew 12:39-40), 2 Kings 18:5; 20:5, 8, Hosea 6:1-2, and lots, lots more. You might like to look them up and think through how they relate to resurrection.

For the moment we’re going to focus on Psalm 8, partly because it’s quoted in 1 Corinthians 15:27, and partly because it’s so significant for our understanding of resurrection.

Jesus’ resurrection and the place of humanityRead Psalm 8. In the Psalm:

Under whose feet has God put everything?

What passage(s) in the Bible might be the background to this understanding?

What position has God given humans in his creation?

Why has God done that?

Is Psalm 8 a realistic portrayal of human life?

Has God withdrawn his intention for humanity?

Hebrews 2:6-8 also quotes Psalm 8. Read Hebrews 2:5-15.What does this passage say about how realistic Psalm 8 is in its portrayal of human life?

Has God withdrawn his intention for humanity?

How is God fulfilling his intention for humanity?

How good a ruler is Jesus?

What result will Jesus’ rule have for us?

4.3 Jesus’ resurrection: Ruling the world Total time: 100 mins

The aim of this section is to see two consequences of Jesus’ resurrection:

1. It restores God’s purposes in creation by re-establishing humans as rulers of creation under God

2. It identifies and enthrones Jesus as Messiah and Lord

Jesus’ resurrection and the place of humanityThey can do this whole section in pairs, but regather as a big group to review the key questions.

Under whose feet has God put everything?Humans. Don’t over-read “son of man” in v4. In this context it just means “human being”.

What passage(s) in the Bible might be the background to this understanding?

Genesis 1:26-28

What position has God given humans in his creation? Ruler over everything under God.

Why has God done that?To crown us with glory and honour (v5), to share the glory of ruling with us (cf. glory in v1 & v5). Because he cares for us (v4). To show his majesty.

Is Psalm 8 a realistic portrayal of human life?Yes and no. We do rule the world, but we don’t do it very well. Certainly not like Psalm 8 envisages.

Has God withdrawn his intention for humanity? No.

Read Hebrews 2:5-15What does this passage say about how realistic Psalm 8 is in its portrayal of human life? It’s not a great description of how we see humans now.

Has God withdrawn his intention for humanity? No

How is God fulfilling his intention for humanity? Through Jesus, whom God has crowned with glory and honour by raising him form the dead, having tasted death for everyone.

How good a ruler is Jesus? Awesome! He rules over everything in order to bring many sons and daughters to glory.

What result will Jesus’ rule have for us? We are already freed from slavery to the fear of death because Jesus has defeated death for us. Because he has defeated death, Jesus’ people will share in his resurrection glory too!


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Re-read 1 Corinthians 15:25-27. What connection(s) does Paul see between Psalm 8 and resurrection?

The resurrection of the Messiah In 1 Corinthians 15 and many of the passages we have looked at, Jesus is identified as “Christ” or “Messiah”. Christ is not Jesus’ surname but his title. He is the Christ, the anointed one—in other words, the king.

Now we’re going to step away from the topic of resurrection for a moment to think a bit more about the “Christ”

1. Read 2 Samuel 7:1-17 and note down the promises God made to David.

Re-read 1 Corinthians 15:25-27

What connection(s) does Paul see between Psalm 8 and resurrection?Christ has already defeated death by his resurrection, so he is the firstfruits of a future resurrection of all people. When Christ brings about this future general resurrection, all the enemies of humanity (especially death) will finally have been destroyed. Jesus the human (and his people with him) will then rule over all creation in the way envisaged by Psalm 8.

The resurrection of the Messiah

1. Do this as a large group

2. Could assign passages to pairs and then report back to the whole group.



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3. Write down in your own words how the Apostles used Jesus’ resurrection to show that he is the Christ.

4. In 2 Timothy 2:8 Paul summarises his gospel as Jesus “descended from David, raised from the dead.” Why are these two things at the heart of Paul’s gospel?

5. Romans 1:3-4 says that Jesus “was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead.” How does Jesus’ resurrection appoint him Son of God?

Add to the diagram Add these topics to the diagram and add in connections:

fail to rule Christ

human rule Lord


In the book of Acts, the apostles’ preaching to Jewish audiences centres on the fact that the resurrection shows Jesus to be the Christ.

For each of the passages below: i. Make a note of the Old Testament passages the apostles use In their argument. ii. Look at each Old Testament quote in its context and note down what was actually expected. iii. Make some notes about how the Old Testament passages contribute to the argument in Acts that Jesus is the Christ.

OT Passages quoted

OT Expectations Argument in Acts

Acts 2:22—38

Acts 13:26—43

Split into groups. Each group look at one passage and then report back to the whole strand group.

Regather as a large group and summariese the arguments of each passage

Ps 16:8-11 David is talking about hisexpectation of eternal life becausethe LORD will not abandon himto the grave

David’s body most certainly did see decay, sohe can’t have written Ps 16:10b about himself.He must have been prophetically writing aboutsomeone else—the Holy One—who must be David’s descendant whose throne God will establish forever (2 Sam 7:13). Jesus’ resurrec-tion shows he is the Holy One and therefore the Christ.

Ps 110:1 The LORD will establish at hisright hand one greater than David(see Matt 22:41-46) as priest/king to rule over all the nations and judge them. This must be the offspring that God promised David in 2 Samuel 7.

David did not ascend into heaven to sit at God’s right hand as ruler, but by his resurrection and ascension Jesus has been raised to God’s right hand. Therefore Jesus must be the one that David wrote about in Psalm 110, who must be the Christ.

Ps 2:7

A reminder of 2 Sam 7 that Godwould make a descendant of Davidan even greater king than Davidhimself who would be God’s son.

Jesus is the promised one who would be God’s son.

Isaiah 55:3God declares that the promisesmade to David (i.e. 2 Sam 7)haven’t lapsed.

The blessings promised to David can only cometrue if one of his descendants reigns on the throne forever, and the only way that can happen is if God raises that descendant from the dead.

Ps 16:10

David is talking about hisexpectation of eternal life becausethe LORD will not abandon him tothe grave

David’s body did decay, so he can’t have writtenPs 16:10b about himself. The “Holy One” mustrefer to the promised descendant of David whosethrone God would establish forever (2 Sam 7:13).Jesus’ resurrection shows he is the Holy One andtherefore the Christ.

Habakkuk 1:5To the amazement of Israel God isgoing to bring judgment by raisingup Babylon

Don’t disbelieve God’s amazing work in raising up Jesus, or else you will fall into judgment like Israel did when God raised up Babylon.


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3. Write down in your own words how the Apostles used Jesus’ resurrection to show that he is the Christ.

4. In 2 Timothy 2:8 Paul summarises his gospel as Jesus “descended from David, raised from the dead.” Why are these two things at the heart of Paul’s gospel?

5. Romans 1:3-4 says that Jesus “was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead.” How does Jesus’ resurrection appoint him Son of God?

Add to the diagram Add these topics to the diagram and add in connections:

fail to rule Christ

human rule Lord

4. To be the long-promised Messiah/Christ who would defeat the enemies of God, rule his people, and bring salvation you had to be descended from David (2 Sam 7).

Jesus’ resurrection is his victory over the enemies of both God and his people. It establishes him as the long-promised descendant of David who will reign forever, bring salvation to God’s people.

5. It’s not about Jesus becoming God the Son (he’s always been that), but about becoming the Son of God in the sense of 2 Samuel 7: 14 “I will be his father, and he will be my son,” and Psalm 2:7 “You are my son; today I have become your father.” Jesus’ resurrection enthrones him as the powerful son of God—the longpromised king in David’s line, who would rule forever.

One thing that most students are not clear about is the difference between “God the Son” and “the son of God”. The former marks Jesus out as God Himself and the second person of the Trinity, while the latter marks a number of people out as the human king of Israel. There are many ‘sons of God’ (Saul, David, Solomon, etc); but only one ‘God the Son’. This needs to be spelled out here, because in Rom 1:3-4 Paul is not saying that the resurrection proves that Jesus is God. He is, in fact, saying that the resurrection marks Jesus out as God’s chosen *human* king.


Add these topics to the diagram and add in connections.

Again, don’t stress about getting some ideal diagram, the aim is to help them see some of the key topics for resurrection and the ideas that connect them.



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Read Romans 1:1-4, Acts 2:33, 38; Romans 8:9-11What role/s does the Holy Spirit play in resurrection?

So how have we been “made alive/raised with Christ” (Eph 2:5-6)?

How can we be sure God will “give life to our mortal bodies” (Rom 8:9-11)?

Read Colossians 3:1-10What has happened to us?

What will happen to us?

What should we do now? Why?

Add to the diagramAdd these to your diagram:

God the Father God the Holy Spirit

Spiritual Resurrection Union with Christ


4.4 RESURRECTION AND LIFE NOW

Read Ephesians 1:18-23 In Ephesians 1:18-19 Paul prays that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know...”

1. the hope to which he has called you

2. the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people

3. his incomparably great power for us who believe

In verses 19b-23 Paul expands on the third point. What has God’s incomparably great power/mighty strength done?

Who benefits from this? How?

Read Ephesians 2:1-10How does this passage illuminate God’s “incomparably great power for us who believe”?

What has God in his power done for us?

How? Why? When?

What connections can you see between what God did for Jesus and what he’s done for us?

What do you think the results would be of God enlightening the eyes of our hearts to know his “incomparably great power for us who believe”?

4.4 Resurrection and life now Time: 65 minutesThe aim of this section is to help people see how Jesus’ resurrection leads to our present spiritual resurrection (i.e. being raised from spiritual death to spiritual life), and this our future bodily resurrection.

The church benefits. Let them struggle with how we benefit

Read Ephesians 2:1-10 What has God in his power done for us? Made us alive with Christ, saved us, raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

How? Why? When?How: By his grace, as a gift.

Why: Because he loves us and is merciful. We couldn’t make ourselves spiritually alive. In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace. So we could do the good works God has prepared for us to do.

When: When we believed (v8—it is by grace you have been saved, through faith).

What connections can you see between what God did for Jesus and what he’s done for us?God made Jesus alive (physically) and he’s made us alive too (spiritually). We are somehow connected to Christ (notice that we are made alive with Christ, raised up with Christ, seated with Christ)


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Read Romans 1:1-4, Acts 2:33, 38; Romans 8:9-11What role/s does the Holy Spirit play in resurrection?

So how have we been “made alive/raised with Christ” (Eph 2:5-6)?

How can we be sure God will “give life to our mortal bodies” (Rom 8:9-11)?

Read Colossians 3:1-10What has happened to us?

What will happen to us?

What should we do now? Why?

Add to the diagramAdd these to your diagram:

God the Father God the Holy Spirit

Spiritual Resurrection Union with Christ

Read Romans 1:1-4; Acts 2:33, 38; Romans 8:9-11

What role/s does the Holy Spirit play in resurrection?God raised Christ from the dead through the Spirit. Christ’s resurrection allows him to pour out the Spirit on those who believe. Christ is in us by the Spirit, who has raised us from spiritual death now, and will raise us from physical death in the future.

So how have we been “made alive/raised with Christ?” (Eph 2:5-6)God has united us to Christ by his Spirit, enabling us to believe, raising us from spiritual death to life. Because Christ is in us by his Spirit, we are in Christ (i.e. united to him).

How can we be sure God will “give life to our mortal bodies” (Rom 8:9-11)?Because the Holy Spirit—through whom God raised Christ from the dead—is already dwelling in us, so he will raise us from the dead just like he raised Christ.

Read Colossians 3:1-10

What has happened to us?

We have been raised with Christ

What will happen to us?Christ will appear and we will appear with him in glory (i.e. be physically raised)

What should we do now? Why?Set our hearts and minds on things above. Don’t live according to our old earthly nature, because we have been raised with Christ.

Often the students have raised a question on our butchers’ paper back from p17 asking about the “first resurrection” from Rev 20:5-6. At this point we can answer that question by saying that the first resurrection is our spiritual resurrection now. The implied “second resurrection” in Rev 20 refers to our bodily resurrection that is to come.


Add these to your diagram



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// PART 6: APPLICATION //

Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20What issue is Paul discussing with the Corinthians?

What are the Corinthians saying?

What can you work out about why they might have been saying that?

What does Paul say about our bodies?

What connections can you see to the topic of resurrection?

So how might our doctrine of resurrection shape our thinking living as a Christian (“ethics”)?

Add to the diagram Add “Ethics” to the diagram.


// PART 5: INTEGRATION //

The task of integration is exploring the connections between different theological topics. We’ve been doing that throughout this strand, but now we’re going to look at one particular passage to see how it connects resurrection to various other topics.

1. Acts 17:31 teaches that “God has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man be has appointed, and he has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” Can you explain how Jesus’ resurrection is proof of this?

2. 1 Peter 1:3 teaches that God “has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead”

Describe as extensively as you can the connections between Jesus’ resurrection and:

a) our new birth

b) our living hope

Add to the diagramSee if you can work out where these could fit:

Final judgment New Creation

Part 5: Pulling it TogetherTotal Time: 40 minutes Work as a large group

1.There are probably several things at play in Paul’s thinking here.

1. God has already begun his just judgment in vindicating Jesus by raising him from the dead.

2. Jesus’ resurrection is the firstfruits of the future resurrection of all people.

3. Jesus’ resurrection shows that he is still a human (“the man he has appointed”)

4. Jesus’ resurrection establishes him as Lord and Messiah, and that means that Jesus will judge.

2.Work in pairs and then share with group


See if you can work out where these could fit


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// PART 6: APPLICATION //

Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20What issue is Paul discussing with the Corinthians?

What are the Corinthians saying?

What can you work out about why they might have been saying that?

What does Paul say about our bodies?

What connections can you see to the topic of resurrection?

So how might our doctrine of resurrection shape our thinking living as a Christian (“ethics”)?

Add to the diagram Add “Ethics” to the diagram.

Part 6: Integration & Application Total Time: 40 minutes Do this as a whole group. Skip it if time is tight.

What issue is Paul discussing with the Corinthians?Sexual immorality.

What are the Corinthians saying?“We can do whatever we like sexually”

What can you work out about why they might have been saying that?They think sexual immorality doesn’t matter what they do with their bodies because their bodies are just going to be destroyed anyway.

Note: In verse 13 both the ESV and the NIV1984 treat “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food” as what the Corinthians are saying, and “but God will destroy them both” as Paul’s response. But the NIV11 is almost certainly right that the Corinthians declare: “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” And Paul responds: “The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” That is, Paul is rejecting the idea that the body will be destroyed, rather it is meant for the Lord, and the Lord is for our body, because God will raise our bodies (as he points out in v14).

What does Paul say about our bodies?Our bodies will be raised (v14).Our bodies are united with Christ in the Spirit (v17). The Holy Spirit dwells in our bodies (v19). They were bought with a price (v20).

Add to the diagram Time: 5 minutes Add “Ethics” to the diagram”

What connections can you see to the topic of resurrection?Because of what we’ve looked at in the strand already we can see how resurrection forms the basis of Paul’s arguments here:Jesus is our resurrected Lord to whom we belong (v13). The resurrection of Jesus means we will be raised too (v14).

Our bodies are united with the Lord by the Spirit (v17), who guarantees our future resurrectionAll the arguments above are based on the resurrection of Jesus, our present union with him by the Spirit (what we’ve called our present spiritual resurrection), and our own future bodily resurrection.

So how might our doctrine of resurrection shape our thinking about ethics?Our bodies aren’t inconvenient shells to be discarded for the real spiritual us, but essential to who we are. Therefore, how we use our bodies now is important.



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Notes that are helpful for putting together a tract and writing a talkWe don’t all go about doing things the same way; some of us are creative lateral thinkers while others are moresystematic linear thinkers. So there is no “right” way to go about this. It is important that you work in a way that isloving and encouraging to others (especially if tiredness is creeping in).

Here are some suggestions to stimulate your thinking (don’t be restricted to them or their order)

a. Lateral thinking

Brainstorm ideas surrounding questions like: » What is it about the resurrection that is true, exciting, relevant to non-Christians? » How do they think about such things at present? Can we connect? » How do we want them to respond when they hear this gospel? What might move in that direction? » What images, illustrations, analogies come to mind? » Is there a big idea that you could hang the whole message from? » Is there a Bible passage that captures the heart of what you want to say? How could you use it?

b. Linear thinking

Work logically and systematically » Try to list the main points you want to make » Which of these need explanation, justification, background information? (Add these as extra points that

need to be made.) » How do all the points relate to each other? » Is there an order (temporal or logical) in which to make the points? » Is there a story to be told in a particular order? » Where can we start? (so listeners can “get on board” even if they don’t agree.) » How can we finish?

From all this raw material, try to set out the main skeleton of the ideas In order.

c. Deciding

» Which ideas are crucial? » What order of ideas makes the most sense? » Will we use any visuals in the presentation? If so, what? » If you’re creating a tract, will you use the Bible explicitly? If so, how many passages, and which ones?

d. Refining

» Leave out ideas that are unnecessary, confusing, distracting » Get the logic clear » Get the wording clear – accurate, concise, jargon-free » Crystallising the ending » For a tract: » Get any visuals simple, clear, effective, integrated » Fit the words and visuals together

e. Trialling

» Read through your talk or tract out loud, are there any bits that sound clunky? » Try padding out the bare form to see if there are better ways of saying it » Practice the whole thing on someone outside Strand 3 – see if it makes sense


// PART 7: PROCLAIMING RESURRECTION //

7.1 SOME IDEAS

Points of contactSo far, what we have done in doing Systematic Theology is to understand a topic coherently. More than that, in understanding what God says about resurrection we’ve been given real hope and purpose. We know that Jesus is our risen Saviour and Judge, Christ and Lord of the universe. We know that he has risen victorious over death, and that we are united to him by the Spirit through faith. Where he goes, we go. So we’re looking forward to his return and our resurrection to share with him in the new creation. And we know that what we do with our bodies really matters, because our bodies are not disposable shells, but an integral part of us.

It’s beautiful! But how do we use what we’ve learnt to connect with others who don’t know Jesus, and to invite them to share with us in all the benefits of his resurrected life?

What points of contact can you think of?

Some points of contact might be:• Death• Birth and new life• Ageing bodies, disease• Morality

Once you’ve identified these points of contact, how can you use them to talk about Jesus, resurrection, and what it means for life?

How will you relate it to the story of resurrection?

How will you invite them to respond?

OptionsThere are all sorts of ways you could try and persuade others about the truths we’ve uncovered about resurrection, you could write song or a poem, prepare a Bible study, create a drama.

But to keep it simple we’re giving you a choice between writing a short talk (10mins max.) or creating an evangelistic tract focused on resurrection.

Part 7: Proclaiming resurrection Total Time: 4 hours

The aim of this section is to apply what we have learnt to our communication with others by preparing a short evangelistic talk or tract. They could prepare them individually or in small groups.

• 15 minutes to introduce (7.1 Some ideas)

• Leave 105 minutes during the Tuesday afternoon session to write talks

• Leave enough time for presentations and wrap-up in the last session on Wednesday

Note: There is a blank page on p.33 of the student’s booklet they may wish to use for preparing their presentation

What points of contact can you think of?

Get students to close their books after the introductory paragraphs to brainstorm possible points of contact before looking at the suggestions given in the notes.


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Notes that are helpful for putting together a tract and writing a talkWe don’t all go about doing things the same way; some of us are creative lateral thinkers while others are moresystematic linear thinkers. So there is no “right” way to go about this. It is important that you work in a way that isloving and encouraging to others (especially if tiredness is creeping in).

Here are some suggestions to stimulate your thinking (don’t be restricted to them or their order)

a. Lateral thinking

Brainstorm ideas surrounding questions like: » What is it about the resurrection that is true, exciting, relevant to non-Christians? » How do they think about such things at present? Can we connect? » How do we want them to respond when they hear this gospel? What might move in that direction? » What images, illustrations, analogies come to mind? » Is there a big idea that you could hang the whole message from? » Is there a Bible passage that captures the heart of what you want to say? How could you use it?

b. Linear thinking

Work logically and systematically » Try to list the main points you want to make » Which of these need explanation, justification, background information? (Add these as extra points that

need to be made.) » How do all the points relate to each other? » Is there an order (temporal or logical) in which to make the points? » Is there a story to be told in a particular order? » Where can we start? (so listeners can “get on board” even if they don’t agree.) » How can we finish?

From all this raw material, try to set out the main skeleton of the ideas In order.

c. Deciding

» Which ideas are crucial? » What order of ideas makes the most sense? » Will we use any visuals in the presentation? If so, what? » If you’re creating a tract, will you use the Bible explicitly? If so, how many passages, and which ones?

d. Refining

» Leave out ideas that are unnecessary, confusing, distracting » Get the logic clear » Get the wording clear – accurate, concise, jargon-free » Crystallising the ending » For a tract: » Get any visuals simple, clear, effective, integrated » Fit the words and visuals together

e. Trialling

» Read through your talk or tract out loud, are there any bits that sound clunky? » Try padding out the bare form to see if there are better ways of saying it » Practice the whole thing on someone outside Strand 3 – see if it makes sense



7.2 PREPARING TO PROCLAIM

This is your chance to prepare a clear, persuasive gospel proclamation focussed on resurrection.

7.3 THE PROCLAMATION

As you listen to each other, think about:• The clarity of what was said about the resurrection

• The accuracy of what was said about the resurrection

• The coherence of what was said

• The language used

• The visuals used

What was the best thing about the presentation of the talk/tract?

What is one change that could improve things?

7.4 CONCLUSION

• General discussion

• Review. Retell the story of the resurrection and show it on the diagram again.

• Prayer

• Photos/swap emails and Facebook contacts, etc!

7.2 Preparing to Proclaim Total Time: 105 minutes

7.3 The Proclamation Total Time: 110 minutes

7.4 Conclusion Total Time: 10 minutes


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I NTE19 // Strand 3 FOCUS: Systematic Theology // Leader’s Manual This material belongs to AFES. Please do not make unauthorised copies.

APPENDIX 1: RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

• T. C. Hammond, In understanding Be Men (IVP) An Oldie, but a goodie. The introduction serves as a good summary of the purpose of systematic theology.

• B. Milne, Know the Truth (IVP) Good on the practical implications of what we believe.

• P. F. Jensen, At the Heart of the Universe (Lancer) Probably the best. Especially good on the framework for systematic theology.

• J. I. Packer, Knowing God (Hodder & Stoughton) An important book on the place of Scripture in doing systematic theology. Encouraging and nourishing!

• A. McGrath, A Cloud of Witnesses – Ten Great Christian Thinkers (IVP) Introduces some key theological ideas by examining their main proponents in history. Nice short chapters. A good read even if you don’t like history.

• P. D. Jensen & T. Payne, The Blueprint (Matthias Media) Studies on the AFES doctrinal statement, including research and discussion questions.

GENERAL REFERENCE WORKS

• W. A. Elwell (ed), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology (Baker) Probably the best of the dictionaries.

• D. F. Wright, S. B. Ferguson & J. I. Packer (eds), New Dictionary of Theology (IVP)

• D. R. W. Wood, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, D. J. Wiseman & I. Howard Marshall (eds), New Bible Dictionary (IVP) Includes articles on many theological ideas

• M. J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Baker) More a text book than a dictionary. For the serious student.

THEOLOGY OF RESURRECTION

• P. Beasley-Murray, The Message of the resurrection (BST) This book explores all the major NT passages about resurrection. It is simple to read, well structured and helps you think through the implications of the resurrection.

• O. O’Donovan, Resurrection and Moral Order (Eerdmans) A super-dense but profound treatment of the significance of resurrection to life, especially ethics.

• M. Harris, Raised immortal; resurrection and immortality in the New Testament (Eerdmans) Good on the reality and nature of Jesus’ resurrection, less on the theological significance of Jesus’ resurrection

• P. Head (Ed), Proclaiming the Resurrection (Paternoster Press)

• N. T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God (Augsburg) An epic read (over 800 pages), but great for a serious student who is prepared to think hard.


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APOLOGETICS ON JESUS' RESURRECTION

1. L. Strobel, The Case for the Resurrection: A first-century investigative reporter probes history’s pivotal event.

2. J. McDowell, The Resurrection Factor: Does the historical evidence support the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

3. M. Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach

4. P. Lapide, The Resurrection of Jesus: A Jewish Perspective An interesting read. A Jewish man investigates and comes to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus happened but remains a Jew. Sort of the Luke 16 scenario.

III NTE19 // Strand 3 FOCUS: Systematic Theology // Leader’s Manual This material belongs to AFES. Please do not make unauthorised copies.

LEADERS' APPENDIX I: EXAMPLE "DIAGRAM" A

By the end of Strand 3 we want to come up with a diagram something like the one below or the one on the next page. It looks complex, but we can build it up pretty simply through the strand. The colours correspond to different sections of the strand. You might find it helpful to use multiple coloured pens, but the colours are mostly for you as the leader to keep track of it. You could do it all in black, but it would be helpful to at least have a different colour for the “do first” and “do second” stuff noted in the “Relationship to Strand sections” box below.

Important! The diagram above is not some kind of ideal systematic theology diagram, nor is the aim of the Strand to get an ideal diagram for resurrection. The aim is simply to help students start thinking about what the Bible says about resurrection, and how the different elements connect. The diagram above is just one possible way things might pan out.

See if you can get your strand group to develop their diagram organically over the course of Strand 3.

Relationship to Strand sections4.2 (do first)4.2 (do second)4.34.4 (do first)4.4 (do second)56


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LEADERS' APPENDIX I: EXAMPLE "DIAGRAM" B

Schematic Diagram of Resurrection TheologyAlternative version (uses the timeline schema)

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SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY: RESURRECTION · 2019-09-18 · Biblical Theology Systematic Theology...

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