Doctrines
Course Outline & Assessment Information
Objectives
This class is designed to provide an overview of the major doctrines of Grace Communion International. Students will be introduced to the GCI Statement of Beliefs and spend time with the scriptural passages and the theological background behind key statements contained within it.
On completion of this class students should be able demonstrate a basic understanding of the core beliefs and teachings of Grace Communion International as evidenced by written responses to assigned exercises.
Content
The course content includes the GCI Statement of Beliefs and 15 written Lectures and with response questions.
Be sure to look up and read each of the scriptural references following each of the Statements in the Statement of Beliefs.
| Class 1 - Theology: What Difference Does It Make? |
| Faith seeking understanding |
| Revelation |
| Dynamic theology |
| Listening to God |
| Karl Barth |
| New creation |
| Ignored |
| New creation in freedom |
| Class 2 - An Introduction to God |
| His existence |
| Greatness |
| Goodness |
| Response |
| Class 3 - Who is this man? |
| Fully human—and then some
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| Acting like God
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| Who did he think he was?
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| Previous life
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| Worthy of worship
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| Truly human, truly God
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| How can this be?
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| Class 4 - The Holy Spirit |
| The Holy Spirit is God
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| The Spirit is personal
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| The Spirit in the Old Testament
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| The Spirit and Jesus
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| The Spirit and the church
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| The Spirit and believers today
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| Class 5 - The Trinity: Just a Doctrine? |
| Does it make any difference?
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| A God who wants to share
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| Showing us the Father
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| Reconciliation for everyone
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| Key points
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| Class 6 - The Present and Future Kingdom of God |
| First-century Jewish expectations
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| Present condition of the kingdom
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| The kingdom of God is yet future
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| The kingdom of God in the past
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| The kingdom and the gospel
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| Perspective from the future
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| Class 7 - Can We Still Trust the Bible? |
| But does the Bible contradict itself? |
| So can we still regard the Bible as a reliable guide to all aspects of life today? |
| So are you saying that the Bible is not historically reliable? |
| Are you saying it doesn’t all apply to us? |
| Isn’t that encouraging a "pick and choose" approach to living by every word of God? |
| So what advice do you give to someone who is reading some of these things for the first time? |
| But once you say that Scripture has limitations, don’t you open up a Pandora’s Box? |
| Class 8 - The Christian Church |
| Jesus is building his church
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| Why we need the church
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| Descriptions of the church
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| Working together
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| Organization
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| Deacons
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| Purposes of the church
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| Class 9 - Believing the Gospel |
| Fear of the gospel
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| Trusting God
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| Overcomers
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| Priorities
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| Class 10 - What is Salvation? |
| What humans are |
| The center of the plan |
| Repentance |
| Faith |
| Grace |
| Justification |
| A new start |
| Class 11 - Getting a Grip on Repentance |
| Common mistake |
| Repent and believe |
| Not about morals |
| God’s initiative, not ours |
| Two sides of the same coin |
| Corpses don’t improve |
| Behavior not a measure |
| Class 12 - Baptism and The Lord’s Supper |
| Baptism pictures the gospel |
| Raised with Christ |
| Into one body |
| Teens and children |
| By immersion |
| What is the meaning of the Lord's Supper? |
| Is it wrong to use the term "Lord's Supper"? |
| What kind of bread and wine? |
| Who should partake of the Lord's Supper? |
| What is our position on transubstantiation? |
| Class 13 - Where Are We Now in Prophecy? |
| What does Jesus say? |
| What do the apostles say? |
| Focus of prophecy |
| Everyone in the end time |
| What to do |
Texts and Supporting Materials
Provided Readings
- Michael Jinkins, Invitation to Theology. Chapter 3: I Believe in God. *
- Robert Farrar Capon, The Mystery of Christ Chapter 2: The Mystery and Guilt. *
- Thomas Torrance, The Mediation of Christ Chapter 4: The Meditation of Christ in our Human Response. *
- James Torrance, Worship, Community and the Triune God of Grace Chapter 3: Baptism & the Lord's Supper - the Way of Communion. *
*All of the related chapters are supplied on ambascol.org in the Doctrines' resource library section (along with any other supporting materials).
Recommended Reading
- Michael Jinkins, Invitation to Theology
- James Torrance, Worship, Community and the Triune God of Grace
- Thomas Torrance, The Mediation of Christ
- Robert Farrar Capon, The Mystery of Christ
- Karl Barth, Christ in Adam
- Ray Anderson, Theology, Death and Dying
- C. Baxter Kruger, The Great Dance
- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
These texts can be purchased from most online bookstores (we recommend Book Depository which offers free shipping) or from select Christian book retailers.
Assessment
The components of assessment for this class are all listed below. You are encouraged to work through the class notes and readings before launching into the assessments. Assessments must be submitted before the due dates outlined in the course syllabus you received upon registration. Do not submit more than three assessments before receiving feedback from your teacher. The assessments are as follows:
Assessment
Assessment for the doctrines course involves answering two questions after each class, one must be submitted, the other will be a Zoom discussion question or self reflection if you are not studying in a cohort.
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Assessment 1: Short Answer (300 words per question)
- What is theology and why is it important?
Assessment 2: Short Answer (300 words per question)
- In what ways does God describe his relationship with humans?
- What do we learn about God from the crucifixion of Christ? (Zoom discussion/self study question)
Assessment 3: Short Answer (300 words per question)
- Who did Jesus believe he was?
- How can Jesus and the Father both be God, if there is only one God? (Zoom discussion/self study question)
Assessment 4: Short Answer (300 words per question)
- Why do Christians believe in the Holy Spirit?
- What is the meaning of the Greek word parakletos?
Assessment 5: Short Answer (300 words per question)
- How does the doctrine of the Trinity give Christians assurance about their salvation?
Assessment 6: Short Answer (300 words per question)
- How can believers be certain of salvation?
- Why should Christians avoid a life of sin? (Zoom discussion/self study question)
Assessment 7: Short Answer (300 words per question)
- What is wrong with ‘taking the Bible literally’?
- What is the purpose of the Bible? (Zoom discussion/self study question)
Assessment 8: Short Answer (300 words per question)
- In what way is the church ‘the body of Christ’?
- Why should Christians of different traditions seek to cooperate? (Zoom discussion/self study question)
Assessment 9: Short Answer (300 words per question)
- Can a human live without sin?
- What is the meaning of ‘grace’ in terms of the gospel? (Zoom discussion/self study question)
Assessment 10: Short Answer (300 words per question)
- What do humans need saving from?
- Why does God make salvation available? (Zoom discussion/self study question)
Assessment 11: Short Answer (300 words per question)
- How do repentance and faith work together?
- Why can you trust God with your salvation even though you are not perfect? (Zoom discussion/self study question)
Assessment 12: Short Answer (300 words per question)
- What does baptism teach us about the gospel?
- What does the Lord’s supper teach us about the gospel? (Zoom discussion/self study question)
Assessment 13: Short Answer (300 words per question)
- What is the true focus of Bible prophecy?
- What are some of the dangers of obsessing on prophecy? (Zoom discussion/self study question)
Lecturer
More about the Lecturer, John McLean
Grading System
Check the "FAQ" option from the ABOUT dropdown menu.
Copyright
This web site contains course material that is for the use of the students of Ambassador College of Christian Ministry only. Re-publication and re-dissemination, including posting to news groups or web pages, is strictly prohibited without prior written consent of Ambassador College of Christian Ministry. Your participation in an ACCM course indicates your agreement.
Class Notes - Conventions
As you work through the class notes, you'll have opportunities to complete exercises, reflect on particular points and take special note. These are clearly indicated, with relevant instructions alongside
Queries
These should be emailed to info@ambascol.org
ALL THE BEST WITH YOUR LEARNING JOURNEY!