We’re delighted to offer a program of Bible and Theology Classes for Young People at All Saints. The classes take place on Thursday mornings, and are designed particularly as a resource for families who teach their children at home.
The classes consist of discussions led by one of the Pastors at All Saints. Students prepare in advance by completing various readings and other assignments, so that they are able to contribute to the discussion and benefit from the contributions of others. You’ll find course details below. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.
Current courses
Eschatology (grades 11/12)
This one-semester course provides an introduction to Christian Eschatology. The term “eschatology” sometimes causes confusion. It comes from the Greek word eschatos, meaning “last”, and many people therefore imagine eschatology is simply the study of the so-called “Last Things” – death, judgment, heaven, and hell. There is some truth in this understanding, but in fact eschatology is much broader than this.
Eschatology is best understood as the Christian philosophy of history. Eschatology explores the overall shape and purpose of history from Creation to New Creation and the role of the church and other social and political institutions in the unfolding of history, as well as the specific events that God has promised will happen in the future (the return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the renewal of the creation, the final judgment, everlasting glory and everlasting punishment, and so on).
Eschatology is therefore both a demanding subject and a richly rewarding one. For eschatology draws upon a great many other subjects – the doctrine of God, the divine decrees, creation, sin, and so on – and challenges us to bring together what we know from many different parts of Scripture. Eschatology is also an immensely practical subject, for it directly addresses questions about what is happening in the world around us, and seeks to understand how the church ought to participate in God’s purposes.
Eschatology (1) The Christian privilege and duty of work, 20 July 2023
Eschatology (2) Defining Eschatology | The Butterfly Effect | Gen 1:26-31 | The image of God | Does all creation reflect God’s image? | In what sense are people made in God’s image? | Do we still reflect God’s image when we sin? | Creation, God’s providence, human sin, and the best of all possible worlds | Do Adam and Eve’s children also experience God’s blessing? 27 July 2023
Eschatology (3) More on maturity: maturity of Christ (Lk 2), maturity of Christians | God’s blessings to his people’s children (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses; sketch of New Covenant implications), 3 Aug 2023
Eschatology (4) Qu: Clarification about circumcision | Qu: In what sense does God bring about evil? | Augustine’s sun / light / shadow illustration | Qu: Could God “envision” any other world? | The sabbath | God’s holiness | Holy space and holy time, 10 Aug 2023
Eschatology (5) Sabbath, rest, and work, 24 Aug 2023
Eschatology (6) The Fall | The nature of Adam’s failure | Lessons about the nature of temptation | The tree of the knowledge of good and evil | Did Solomon “eat” from this tree? | The consequences of the fall, 31 Aug 2023
Eschatology (7) The Covenant with Noah | The symbolism of water, 7 Sep 2023
Eschatology (8) Presentation (revisited), 5 Oct 2023
Eschatology (9) Abraham and Moses | The unfolding and interconnectedness of God’s covenants | Food and the story of the Bible | Typology | The Tabernacle, 12 Oct 2023
Eschatology (10) David | Seeing the future increasingly clearly | 2 Sam 7; Pss 2; 22; 47; 63; 72; 1 Ki 10 | The king’s conquest of the nations, 19 Oct 2023
Eschatology (11) The New Covenant in Christ | Lk 1 | Mt 28 | Mk 4 | Ezek 47 | Jn 21, 26 Oct 2023
Eschatology (12) Postmillennialism, part 1, 2 Nov 2023
Systematic Theology, part 2 (grades 9/10)
This course provides an introduction to Systematic Theology using John Frame’s book Salvation Belongs to the Lord. This book provides simple explanations of the most important issues in Systematic Theology. The class discussions will take these issues further, considering in more detail the Biblical background to these issues and exploring in depth some further theological connections. Listen here.
Systematic Theology (1) The Christian privilege and duty of work, 20 July 2023
Systematic Theology (2) What is Systematic Theology | Contradictions in the Bible?? 27 Jul 2023
Systematic Theology (3) Historical and eternal election | Questions arising from the doctrine of election | Scratching the surface of Arminian soteriology (doctrine of salvation), 3 Aug 2023
Systematic Theology (4) J.I. Packer’s “Old Gospel” and “New Gospel” | Human action and God’s sovereignty | The analogy of human / divine ownership | Qu: Partial sovereignty? | Does God bring about sin and evil?
Systematic Theology (5) The Synod of Dort | Calvinist and Arminian soteriology, 24 Aug 2023
Systematic Theology (6) Q&A so far, 31 Aug 2023
Systematic Theology (7) Eph 1-2 and Rom 8 | Presentations, 7 Sep 2023
Systematic Theology (8) Presentation (revisited), 5 Oct 2023
Systematic Theology (9) Faith | In Jesus or in the Triune God? | Partaking in the divine nature | Repentance, 12 Oct 2023
Systematic Theology (10) The logic of Faith in Christ and obedient living | Romans 6:1-4 | The place and significance of baptism: initiation into a new life, 19 Oct 2023
Systematic Theology (11) Dying with Christ| Romans 6:5ff, 26 Oct 2023
Systematic Theology (12) Justification and Adoption, 2 Nov 2023
Miscellaneous talks
I was privileged to have the opportunity to speak with some parents at the Oaks Tutorials at their Parents’ Academy on April 27th, 2023. You can listen to the recording of what I said here:
Previous courses
Christian Ethics (grades 11/12)
This course provides an introduction to Christian ethics. It covers a number of important methodological themes in ethical reflection (sometimes called meta-ethics), equipping students to think with clarity and rigor about complex ethical issues. It also covers a number of practical ethical problems (applied ethics), many of which have been almost completely neglected among Christians in recent decades, frequently with tragic consequences. This course thus aims to shape in significant ways how we live our lives, enabling us to think more clearly together about issues which often cause confusion and division within the church. Listen here.
Introduction to Systematic Theology, part 1 (grades 9/10)
This course provides an introduction to Systematic Theology using John Frame’s book Salvation Belongs to the Lord. This book provides simple explanations of the most important issues in Systematic Theology. The class discussions will take these issues further, considering in more detail the Biblical background to these issues and exploring in depth some further theological connections. Listen here.
The Ten Commandments (grades 7/8)
This one-semester course is a study of the Ten Commandments, one of the most important texts in the whole of Scripture. It covers the exegesis of the Ten Commandments in their original context, their exposition elsewhere in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy, their appropriation in later Biblical texts throughout the Old and New Testaments, and their application to contemporary life. The course therefore combines biblical exegesis, biblical theology, systematic theology, and ethical reflection. Listen here.
Homework for this course involves reading Peter Leithart, The Ten Commandments: A Guide to the Perfect Law of Liberty, and also listening to a series of sermons on the Ten Commandments, which may be found below.
The Doctrine of God | Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics (grades 11/12)
All the doctrines treated in dogmatics [i.e. Christian doctrine]—whether they concern the universe, humanity, Christ, and so forth—are but the explication of the one central dogma of the knowledge of God. All things are considered in light of God, subsumed under him, traced back to him as the starting point. Dogmatics is always called upon to ponder and describe God and God alone, whose glory is in creation and re-creation, in nature and grace, in the world and in the church. It is the knowledge of him alone that dogmatics must put on display.
With these breathtaking words the great Reformed theologian Herman Bavinck (1854–1921) begins the second volume of his monumental work Reformed Dogmatics. He thus highlights that everything—literally, every thing—is, in the end, all about God. Even when we may be contemplating any one of the near-infinite number of other possible topics of conversation, those subjects ultimately trace their origin to God, the Creator of all things. Nothing makes ultimate sense apart from him, and all true and consistent knowledge of anything in heaven and on earth must in the end flow from a true knowledge of him. As the apostle Paul put it, “from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).
Topics covered include:
Chapter 1
- The meaning of dogmatics; mystery and dogmatics; knowledge and infinity (p. 29).
- Creation as the revelation of God; the effects of the fall; enjoying God in all things (pp. 29-30).
- Reasons to believe in God (p. 30)
- How many gods? (p. 30-31)
- God in Biblical and non-Biblical thought; intro to divine incomprehensibility (pp. 32-36)
- More on divine incomprehensibility (pp. 36-41)
Chapter 2
- Is atheism possible? (pp. 56-58)
- Are atheists really atheists? Overview of Innate knowledge (pp. 59-70)
- Innate knowledge of God (pp. 70-76)
- Proofs for God’s existence (pp. 77-91)
Chapter 3
- The names of God; accommodation and anthropomorphism (pp. 97-101)
- More on speaking about God (pp. 101-103)
- The adequacy of language, metaphorical language (pp. 104-107)
- Introducing divine simplicity (pp. 108-118)
- More on divine simplicity (pp. 118-131)
Chapter 4
- Communicable and incommunicable attributes; independence (aseity) (pp. 148-152)
- Divine immutability (pp. 153-159)
- Divine infinity (pp. 159-170)
- Is divine simplicity communicable?
Chapter 6
- The Trinity in the OT; introducing Trinity and incarnation
- Logic and the Trinity
- Biblical background to the Trinity; Gen 18
- Rahner’s Dictum, John 5
- John 5:26, Arianism, begetting, and intratrinitarian relationships
- The value of human relationships
The book of Ruth (grades 11/12)
This course provides an opportunity for a detailed study of the book of Ruth, incorporating consideration of major Biblical and theological themes within the book, its place in salvation history, and numerous other hermeneutical, practical, social, and philosophical issues raised by the text.
- 1:1 Introduction and overview
- 1:1-5 Historical background in the book of Judges; Elimelech’s character; narrative ambiguity; the fading figures of 1:5
- 1:6-22 (in outline) Naomi’s character, esp vv. 6, 20-21
- 1:6-22 Chiastic / panel structure; the character of Orpah and Ruth
- 2:1-23 Chiastic structure; emulating Boaz’s and Ruth’s character, personal discipline, and hard work
- 2:1-8 The gleaning laws; Biblical welfare vs. modern “welfare” systems; Boaz’s character: his first words, his address to Ruth, narrative ambiguity and the exposure of the reader’s motives.
- 2:9-13, focusing on vv. 11-12, the center of the chiasm. Boaz’s self-identity as the Redeemer; the interaction between God’s large-scale purposes and the unfolding personal relationship between Ruth and Boaz; the “wings” of the LORD.
- 2:14-19 More on Boaz: invitation to the table of the kurios; having food left over (cf. Mk 8); shaping your culture; men – being highly selective in your search for a wife; interpreting and going beyond the law.
- 2:1-13 The character of Ruth. Diligence, initiative; being unashamed of poverty; politeness and deference; Ruth and Proverbs; Ruth and the Masoretic canonical order (Prov – Rt – SoS)
- 2:14-23 The character of Ruth. Understanding and critiquing our worldview and presuppositions, transforming character through example.
- 3:1-5 What was Naomi thinking? And what were you thinking? Intentional ambiguity and (non-postmodern) reader-response.
- 3:1-18 Structural overview; spotting structural frameworks; resonances within the chiasm panel structure
- 3:1-18 More on the structure; Boaz’s merry heart in v. 7
- 3:15 Numerology; the problem of translations
- 4:1-6 The shrewdness of Boaz
- 4:7-8 Sandals and Biblical typology
- 4:1-22 Structure; the vanishing heroine
- 4:18-22 Should Israel have a king?
Introduction to Christian Theology | Calvin, Institutes (grades 9/10)
This two-year course aims to provide an introduction to Christian Theology by guiding students through a complete reading of one of the most significant and influential works of Christian theology ever written: John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. You’ll read Calvin in your own time, and then we’ll gather to explore it together through class discussion. From time to time you’ll also be given some additional reading from other sources to shed light on Calvin’s work or supply alternative perspectives.
This is a monumental task. Calvin’s work is over 1500 pages long. This course is scheduled for a total of approximately 128 class hours (2 classes per week, 32 weeks per year, 2 years), and you can reasonably be expected to spend approximately the same amount of time reading Calvin outside class in preparation for our discussions. On average, then, even if I only gave you Calvin to read, you would have around five minutes to read each page of the Institutes, and we would have about the same length of time to discuss it together.
You may be able to read a page of text in five minutes quite easily. Whether you can read, understand, and reflect intelligently on a page of Calvin in the same amount of time is another matter, and there is not the slightest possibility that five minutes will be long enough for us to discuss fully everything contained in the average page of the Institutes. There is simply far, far too much to talk about. Theologian Karl Barth, whose Church Dogmatics runs to over 6000 pages, once famously wrote of Calvin’s theological legacy, “I lack completely the means … even to assimilate this phenomenon, not to speak of presenting it adequately … I could gladly and profitably set myself down and spend the rest of my life just with Calvin.”
It seems, then, that we have set ourselves a rather demanding task. Are you ready for the challenge?
Topics covered include:
- Introduction to Calvin; introduction to the Institutes; how to read.
- Adam and Jesus as Priest, King, Prophet.
- Christ’s conquest of death; the cross; God’s love for fallen humanity
- Christ’s descent into hades (parts 1 and 2)
- Christ’s merit; Christ and the Spirit
- The Spirit
- Faith
- Faith and assurance
- Faith, faithfulness, and the OT
- Repentance
- The unforgivable sin
- Motivations to godliness
- Self-denial
- Loving the unlovable
- Carrying the cross
- Meditation on “the future life”
- Using our material blessings
- Avoiding anxiety and covetousness
- Introducing justification by faith
- Justification by Faith, Osiander the Lutheran
- Justification by faith: Four kinds of people
- Justification by faith: Good pagans
- Justification by faith: Total depravity
- Prayer: Introduction
- Prayer and union with Christ
- Prayer: Unanswered prayer
- Prayer: Practical aspects
- Predestination, part 1: Introduction, key definitions, predestination and God’s grace
- Predestination, part 2: God’s work and ours
- Predestination, part 3: Christ as the mirror of our election
- Predestination, part 4: Election of the visible covenant people; election to eternal glory; Biblical terminology; election and eschatology
- Predestination, reprobation, and God’s glory
- The resurrection of the dead
- The church: Introduction
- The church: Is the voice of the preacher the voice of God?
- The church: Gifts for mutual service; the necessity of the church
- The church: Visible and invisible; historical and eschatological
- The church: The marks – word and sacraments
- The church: Leaving the church?
- The sacraments: Intro: Signs of the covenant
- The sacraments: the word, faith, and the sacraments.
- The sacraments: Baptism as a seal; is it necessary?
- The sacraments: The three benefits of baptism; union with Christ in his death and resurrection
- The sacraments: Infant baptism, part 1
- The sacraments: Infant baptism, part 2
- Can infants have faith?
- The Lord’s Supper (1) John 6
- The Lord’s Supper (2) Five views
- The Lord’s Supper (3) “Lift up your hearts”?
- The Lord’s Supper (4) The reality of Christ’s presence
Genesis to Malachi (grades 7/8)
This course provides an overview of the whole of the Old Testament. With 39 books and no less than 929 chapters of Scripture, we have a pretty hefty task before us. We also have a wonderful treat in store, for our aim is to provide a birds-eye view of God’s plan for the history of the world as it unfolds from the dawn of Creation to the eve of Christ’s coming.
We obviously won’t be looking in detail at every chapter of the Old Testament. Instead, we’ll try to keep the big picture in mind, while at the same time looking in detail at some of the key turning points in the history of God’s work in the world. In this way, by God’s grace we’ll be able to see with greater clarity the glory of his work in Christ.
Topics covered include:
- Genesis 1:1-3 Creation and Trinity
- Genesis 1-3 Creation; stars and rulers; Adam as Priest, King, and Prophet
- Genesis 4-6 Three falls
- Genesis 7-9 Noah and Adam
- Genesis 12 God and Abraham
- Genesis 17:1-5 The promises to Abraham and the plan of Genesis to Joshua
- Genesis 12-36 Human barriers to God’s promises
- Genesis 37-50 The life of Joseph
- Exodus 1 Pharaoh and the midwives
- Exodus 2 The emergence of Moses
- Exodus 3-11 The plagues
- Exodus 3-15 The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart; the Red Sea crossing
- Exodus 19-20 Sinai
- Exodus 21-40 The Tabernacle
- Leviticus 1-16 The structure and significance of Leviticus
- Leviticus 17-27 The Jubilee
- Numbers An overview of the book of Numbers
- Numbers 11-14 The grumbling of Israel
- Numbers 27; 36 The daughters of Zelophehad
- Deuteronomy Overview
- Deuteronomy Blessings and curses
- Joshua Overview and ch. 1
- Joshua Background to the conquest
- Judges Introduction, failure of the second generation (chs 1-2)
- Judges Othniel and the Cycle of the Judges
- Judges 3:31 Shamgar
- Ruth Overview
- 1 Samuel Overview
- 1 Samuel 1 The story of Hannah
- 2 Samuel 1-10 Overview, God’s covenant with David
- 2 Samuel 12, 18 The tragic death of David’s sons
- 1 Kings 1-4 Narratives beginning with death; Solomon’s wisdom and ours
- 1 Kings 5-11 Solomon’s rise and fall; the recurring temptation of Solomon
- 1 Kings 12 Rehoboam’s folly
- 1 Ki 17:1 Introduction to the Prophets; Elijah
- 1 Ki 18 First words throughout the BIble; Elijah and prophets of Baal
- 1 Ki 17; 19 Elijah and Jonah
- 1-2 Kings God’s blessings to the nations through Israel’s disobedience
- 2 Ki 17; 27 The exile of Israel and Judah
- Isaiah 1:1-2 Introduction and historical context
- Isaiah 5-6 Israel’s sin and Isaiah’s call
- Isaiah 13-25 Oracles against the nations
- Isaiah 29 Their hearts are far from me
- Isaiah 40 Behold your God!
- Isaiah 42-53 The Servant of the LORD
- Psalm 1:1-2 The Psalms, part 1. Introducing parallelism
- Interlude: The Gruffalo. Understanding poetry
- Psalms 1-2: Structure; summary; intro to the Psalter
- Proverbs. Introduction and overview
- Proverbs: Men and women
- Ecclesiastes
- Job
- Nehemiah
- Malachi