ST-5303 Systematic Theology III

Study the Holy Spirit, the church and the Christian hope for the future, and learn to teach these doctrines with clarity and lead God's people with wisdom.

The course follows Michael Bird's Evangelical Theology, which centres every doctrine on the gospel. You read it beside chapters of three other systematic theologies. Where evangelicals disagree, as on baptism or the millennium, you learn to weigh each view fairly. The last part speaks of death, grief and persecution; if these touch your life, turn to your church or a qualified counsellor.

What you will study

• The Holy Spirit as a divine person, and his work in creation, Israel, the Messiah and the church
• Baptism in the Spirit, filling with the Spirit, the spiritual gifts and the inspiration of Scripture
• The church as the community of the gospel: its images, shape and marks
• Church government, and the views of baptism and the Lord's Supper
• The kingdom of God now and not yet, and the return of Jesus Christ
• The millennium, the final judgment, life after death and the new creation
• How these doctrines shape ministry and mission

Course materials

• Evangelical Theology (Michael F. Bird), a textbook you obtain
• Christian Theology (Millard J. Erickson), a textbook you obtain
• Christian Theology: An Introduction (Alister E. McGrath), a textbook you obtain
• Essentials of Evangelical Theology (Donald G. Bloesch), a textbook you obtain
• The Bible