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Why Does Theology Matter?
4. Theology: Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
Julian A. Davies
The University Church Toledo, Ohio 43615
Why get out of bed in the morning? Do you have a purpose?
What’s the point?
Our responses are shaped by our
worldview
The American Worldview
The American Dream
The American Dream The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom
includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility for the
family and children, achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers.
[From Wikipedia; my underlining]
The Worldview of 1st-century Rome
The Peace of Rome
The Peace of Rome
Pax Romana (Latin for "Roman Peace") was the long period of relative peace and minimal
expansion by the Roman military force experienced by the Roman Empire after the end of
the Final War of the Roman Republic and before the beginning of the Crisis of the Third Century.
[From Wikipedia; my underlining]
The Worldview of 1st-century Judaism
Creation and Covenant
Creation and Covenant
The Creator God has entered into covenant with the chosen people such that they are blessed to be
a blessing to the whole world and to draw all people into holiness and righteousness through
right relationship with the Creator God.
Covenant: Holiness and Righteousness
The Worldview of Early Christianity
New Covenant
New Covenant
Through Jesus Christ people may enter into right relationship with the triune God and through the work of the Holy Spirit may be enabled to regain the Image of God individually and corporately as
the Kingdom of God is made real in the world.
Image of God and Kingdom of God
Why get out of bed in the morning?
• The American Dream – freedom – prosperity through hard work
• Pax Romana – peace – submission to the powers that be – payment of taxes through hard work
• Jewish worldview – live by the covenant – strive for holiness and righteousness
• Christian worldview – live by the new covenant – strive for recovery of the Image of God and the building of the Kingdom of God
Christian worldview
What does it look like to live by the new covenant and to strive for recovery of the Image of God and
the building of the Kingdom of God?
Recall that in the Wesleyan/Methodist tradition, this will all be fully recumbent upon the grace of God.
The Means of Grace
Works of Piety
Individual Practices Communal Practices
Works of Mercy
Individual Practices Communal Practices
The Means of Grace
Works of Piety
Individual Practices
Reading, meditating and studying the scriptures, prayer, fasting, regularly attending worship, healthy
living, and sharing our faith with others
The Means of Grace
Works of Piety
Communal Practices
Regularly share in the sacraments, Christian conferencing (accountability to one another),
and Bible study
The Means of Grace
Works of Mercy
Individual Practices
Doing good works, visiting the sick, visiting those in prison, feeding the hungry, and giving generously to
the needs of others.
The Means of Grace
Works of Mercy
Communal Practices
Seeking justice, ending oppression and discrimination (for instance Wesley challenged Methodists to end slavery), and addressing the
needs of the poor
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
If we strive to live within the Christian worldview, the following choices will face us each day …
1. Works of Piety - Individual Practices - Reading,
meditating and studying the scriptures; Works of Piety - Communal Practices – Bible study
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
2. Works of Piety - Individual Practices – prayer and fasting; Works of Mercy - Communal Practices –
addressing the needs of the poor
Generates additional time for prayer
Generates additional
resources for almsgiving
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
3. Works of Piety - Individual Practices – regularly attending worship
[Suppose that it is 4th of July weekend, for example … where will you be?]
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
4. Works of Piety - Individual Practices – healthy living
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
5. Works of Piety - Individual Practices – sharing our faith with others
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
6. Works of Piety - Communal Practices – Regularly share in the sacraments
This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Once a week? Once a month?
Every three months?
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
7. Works of Piety - Communal Practices – Christian conferencing (accountability to one another)
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
8. Works of Mercy - Individual Practices - Doing good works (e.g. visiting the sick, visiting those in prison,
feeding the hungry)
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
9. Works of Mercy - Individual Practices - Giving generously to the needs of others. Communal
Practices - Addressing the needs of the poor.
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
10. Works of Mercy - Communal Practices - Seeking justice, ending oppression and discrimination .
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
How will you spend your time?
How will you spend your energy?
How will you spend your money?
[Is it really “your money”? Or is it something that God has entrusted to you for building the Kingdom
here on earth?]
Ten Theological Matters We Each Will Face Today.
Reading and studying Scripture
Praying
Fasting
Almsgiving
Worship and sharing in sacraments
Healthy living
Sharing your faith with others
Christian conferencing
Doing good works
Working for justice
Getting out of bed to recover the image of God in one’s life and to help
build the Kingdom of God here on earth.
How do you make a start?
STOP
START
LEARN
STOP
START
LEARN
Become informed about fair-trade products
3 cents
15 cents
LEARN
Create a home recycling center
Why Does Theology Matter?
Because every choice you make today will depend upon the theology you hold dear, even if you
aren’t actively thinking about it!
As we conclude …
Any questions?
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