IPC Memphis: Teachings

Rev. Robert Browning leads a discussion on being intentional about ministry to develop individuals and leaders into healthy ministry groups.

Rev. Robert Browning speaks on the way we seek to be intentional with our relationships with the people to whom we minister, the importance of being curious about the individual, and using strategic well though out questions to better understand whom God is entrusting to our care.

Leslie Janikowsky closes the retreat by looking at Psalm 130:7-8, which teaches that the life of forgiveness gives us hope as individuals living in today's world and for the church corporately as we wait for Jesus' return.

Psalm 130:5-6 shows us that the life of forgiveness requires repentance, dependence on Jesus, and waiting on the Lord in hopeful expectation.

As Leslie Janikowsky teaches, Psalm 130:4 helps us understand what forgiveness is and how forgiveness draws us toward Jesus and changes the believer's heart and life.

Leslie Janikowsky teaches on Psalm 130:1-3, which shows us our need for forgiveness because of what is true about us and what is true about God.

Rev. Robert Browning speaks on the way we seek to be intentional with our relationships with the people to whom we minister, particularly as it relates to an individual's resistance to Jesus and/or the Church.

Rev. Robert Browning speaks on the purpose and goals of the church: fellowship and service leading to a Biblical world and life view.

Rev. Robert Browning speaks on the purpose and goals of the church: growing in grace, doing evangelism, and using missions to spread the Gospel.

Rev. Robert Browning teaches on the doctrine of sanctification and how to better understand God's continued work in the life of a Christian.

In a message to Covenant Presbytery, Dr. Sean Lucas teaches from Romans 8:31-39. In this passage, God's people are reminded that no matter what comes, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.

Rev. Stephen Felker explains how justification is the way that God reconciles sinners to Himself, by Himself.

Rev. Stephen Felker explores the only rule God provided to guide us in glorifying and enjoying Him: Holy Scripture.

Rev. Robert Browning begins a series examining what connects our beliefs and our practices.

The approach Lewis took to the Bible stood between fundamentalism and modernism. He was particularly interested in paying attention to literary genre and understanding how the Bible's "second sense" pointed believers to Christ. 

The Problem of Pain: While recent movies have suggested that Lewis shifted away from his theological explanations of the problem of suffering as a result of his wife Joy Davidman's death, such explanations are too simplistic.  The problem of a good God who allows suffering in his world is one that plagues Lewis throughout his life, a problem only resolved through Jesus's death on the cross. 

In this book, Lewis focuses his ethical questions through the lens of four Greek words that all have something to do with "love." In the end, our natural loves — especially friendship — are vital but must be redeemed by "charity" (agape) or divine love. 

This is the most dense and yet significant philosophical work that sets forward the natural law (or the Tao) a presupposition for apologetic. But this book also connects to many other places in Lewis's writings, serving as a key text for understanding his thought.

Lewis's most important apologetic began as a series of radio addresses commissioned by the BBC. There are some questions about how far this books represent "mere" Christianity, as it is a powerful restatement of our need for Christ and the way of the Christian life.  C.S. Lewis Original Recording - YouTube

Lewis's most famous book provides a window into his understanding of evil, devils, and hell; but also provides Christians an understanding of the common temptations that the enemy uses to try to pull us away from the light towards Nothing.

Lewis's views on the last things — death, judgment, heaven, and hell — can be fruitfully discovered through two key works, "The Weight of Glory" and "The Great Divorce." What we will find is that heaven and goodness are real and solid, while evil and hell are parasitical upon the good. 

In the three books that make up Lewis's interplanetary stories, he sought to create a mythopoeic world in which he could retell the Biblical story and point forward to Christ's redemptive work. Lewis also reinforced his commitment to the Medieval Model of the Universe that would teach people to pay attention to the "music of the spheres."

Why in the world did a middle-aged bachelor write children's stories? And what do we make of these stories? This episode offers a description of the Narnia stories as fairy tales, a retelling of history, and an apologetic.  Beyond Narnia: The Real Life of C.S. Lewis  

Was there an implicit additional structure for Lewis's fictional writing, especially the Chronicles of Narnia?  Dr. Sean Lucas explores Michael Ward's phenomenal book as well as Lewis's own Discarded Image to find out.

"The Pilgrim's Regress" was Lewis's first imaginative and autobiographical attempt at an apologetic focused on "sweet desire." Dr. Sean Lucas explores connections between it and "Surprised by Joy" and other writings.