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Once a month (except in December), we will gather for a Panel Night at Frontline Downtown from 6:30p–9:00p. At each Panel Night, a small group of cohort participants will field questions for 30 minutes over a specific theological topic. Panels will include general theological questions, as well as pastoral scenarios. Questions will be asked by the elders at their discretion.
Panelists will need to answer questions using the Bible as their only available reference source. In addition, one 3” x 5” index card will be allowed for pre-written notes. You will be notified of each month’s topic in advance and provided with resources to help you prepare (see below), should you serve on the panel. However, you will not know in advance which panel you will be serving on. Following each panel, there will be a 25-minute teaching over that topic, as well as fifteen minutes for elders to answer any questions you may have.
Panel Night 1: Monday, September 18
THEME: The Gospel
The What of the Gospel (Overarching Gospel Narrative, Atonement)
The How of the Gospel (Regeneration, Justification, Sanctification)
Required Reading: “What is the Essential Gospel?,” by Andrew Wilson
Recommended Study Materials:
Extended excerpt from How Does Sanctification Work? by David Powlison
“The Cross in Crisis,” by Sam Storms
“The Doctrine of Justification,” by Philip Eveson
“Faith and Works,” by Tom Schreiner
“Regeneration,” by Matthew Barrett
“The (True) Story of the Cross,” by Tim Keller
Panel Night 2: Monday, October 16
THEME: The Church
Ecclesiology
Metaphors of the Church
Required Reading: “The Church in Our Time,” by Gregory Thompson
Recommended Study Materials:
“Metaphors for the Church,” by Josh Kouri
“The Marks of the Church,” by Edmund Clowney
“The Nature and Origin of the Church,” by Christopher Morgan
“The Membership of the Church,” by Gregg Allison
“Jesus Loves His Church, So You Should Too,” by Rob Bentz
Panel Night 3: Monday, November 13
THEME: Reformed Theology
Providence, Sovereignty, and Responsibility
Election, Reformed Soteriology
Required Reading: Five Points: Towards a Deeper Experience of God's Grace, by John Piper
Recommended Study Materials:
Excerpt from Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, by J. I. Packer (chpts. 1 and 2)
Excerpt from Kept for Jesus, by Sam Storms (intro. and chpt. 1)
“How Could a Good God Allow Suffering?,” from The Reason for God, by Tim Keller
“God’s Love and Sovereignty,” from the Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, by Don Carson
“The Doctrine of Reprobation,” by Richard Blaylock
“The Freedom and Bondage of the Will,” by Steven D. West
“Why Are Calvinists So Negative?,” by John Piper
Panel Night 4: Monday, January 8
THEME: Spirit-Filled
Charismatic Theology
Charismatic Practice
Required Reading: “Charismatic,” Spirit and Sacrament: An Invitation to Eucharismatic Worship, by Andrew Wilson
Recommended Study Materials:
“The Spirit’s Divine Person” and “The Holy Spirit and the Holy Trinity,” from God, Gift, and Guide: Knowing the Holy Spirit, by Gregg Allison (chpts. 3 and 4)
“Practicing the Power of Healing” and “Principles for Prophecy Today,” from Practicing the Power: Welcoming the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Your Life, by Sam Storms (chpts. 5 and 8)
“Why God Wouldn't, Couldn't, Doesn't Heal the Sick,” by Sam Storms
“10 Things You Should Know About Speaking in Tongues,” by Sam Storms
“Why NT Prophecy does NOT result in ‘Scripture-quality’ revelatory words,” by Sam Storms
Panel Night 5: Monday, February 12
THEME: Bible-Honoring
Scripture and Hermeneutics
Sacraments
Panel Questions: Come prepared to thoughtfully respond to the following questions
Required Reading: Excerpts from 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible, by Robert Plummer
Recommended Study Materials:
The introduction from God's Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible, by Vaughan Roberts
“Sacrament Resources,” compiled by Frontline Church (Andrew Wilson, Heidelberg Catechism, etc.)
“Reformed View: The Real Presence of Christ,” by John Hesselink, from Understanding Four Views on the Lord's Supper
“Eucharistic,” from Spirit and Sacrament: An Invitation to Eucharismatic Worship, by Andrew Wilson
“The Fear of Baptizing Children,” by Justin Taylor
“Should I Get ‘Re-Baptized’?,” by Bobby Jamieson
“Why Do We Get Baptized One Time but Take Communion Many Times?,” by Kevin P. Emmert
“Can I Take the Lord's Supper if I've Had a Bad Week Spiritually?,” by John Piper
Panel Night 6: Monday, March 11
THEME: Kingdom-Focused
Biblical Theology of the Kingdom
Eschatology
Panel Questions: Come prepared to thoughtfully respond to the following questions
Required Reading: “Chapter 3: The Missionary Church and Its Vocation in the World” from The Church and Its Vocation: Lesslie Newbigin’s Missionary Ecclessiology, by Michael W. Goheen
Recommended Study Materials:
“Chapter 12: Rethinking Salvation: Heaven, Earth, and the Kingdom of God” from Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church, by N. T. Wright
“Four Views on Christians and Culture (Pt. 1 of 2),” by Andrew Wilson
“Christians and Culture: A Proposal (Pt. 2 of 2),” by Andrew Wilson
“The Kingdom of God—5 Questions: 2 Scholars,” by Justin Taylor
“The Kingdom of God,” by Christopher Morgan
“Views of the Millenium,” by Alan S. Bandy
“What's going to happen 30 seconds after the Rapture?,” by Sam Storms
“The Dispensational Premillennial View of the Kingdom of God,” by Sam Storms
Panel Night 7: Monday, April 15
THEME: Gender-Redeeming
Gender
Sexuality
Panel Questions: Come prepared to thoughtfully respond to the following questions
Required Reading: Excerpts from The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory, by Abigail Favale and “Beautiful Difference: The (Whole-Bible) Complementarity of Male and Female,” by Andrew Wilson
Recommended Study Materials:
Excerpts from God and the Transgender Debate, by Andrew T. Walker
“What is Sex For?” from Mere Sexuality, by Todd Wilson
Excerpts from Is God Anti-Gay?, by Sam Allberry
“Sexual Morality” from Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis
Capstone Evening: Monday, May 13
No homework prior to Capstone Evening