MAC Study podcast

Introduction Who is the Holy Spirit, and what role does he play in Christian life? The doctrine of pneumatology—the study of the Holy Spirit—explores the person and work of the third member of the Trinity. Understanding the Spirit properly affects every aspect of Christian experience, from initial salvation to ongoing sanctification, from prayer to Christian living. The Book of Romans presents a r...

Introduction What is the church, and why does it matter? The doctrine of ecclesiology—the study of the church—explores the nature, purpose, and function of the community God creates through the gospel. Understanding the church properly affects how we view Christian fellowship, ministry, evangelism, and our relationship to both local congregations and the universal body of Christ. The Book of Roman...

Introduction How can sinful humanity be reconciled to a holy God? This question lies at the heart of the Christian gospel and determines everything about our relationship with God. Soteriology—the study of salvation—explores how God rescues people from sin's condemnation and corruption, bringing them into eternal fellowship with himself. The Book of Romans provides Scripture's most systematic trea...

Introduction Who is Jesus Christ? This question stands at the heart of Christianity and determines everything else about the faith. Christology—the study of Christ's person and nature—explores how Jesus can be both fully God and fully human, both historical figure and eternal Lord. Understanding Christ's identity properly affects our view of salvation, worship, ethics, and the nature of God himsel...

Introduction What does it mean to be human? This fundamental question affects every aspect of life, from personal identity to social relationships, from ethics to politics. The doctrine of anthropology—the study of human nature and purpose—provides crucial foundations for understanding ourselves and our place in God's creation. The Book of Romans presents a comprehensive view of humanity that is b...

Introduction What is God like? This question stands at the centre of all theological inquiry and shapes every aspect of Christian faith and practice. Theology proper—the study of God's nature and attributes—forms the foundation upon which all other doctrines rest. How we understand God's character determines how we approach salvation, ethics, worship, and our relationship with creation itself. The...

Introduction How does God make himself known to humanity? This fundamental question lies at the heart of Christian theology and shapes every aspect of our faith. The doctrine of revelation explores how the infinite, invisible God bridges the gap between heaven and earth to communicate with his creation. In the Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul presents a comprehensive understanding of divine revela...

Biblical theology of blessing and curse spans from Genesis to Revelation, revealing God's covenant relationship with humanity. Here's a comprehensive examination: Foundation in Creation and Fall Original Blessing (Genesis 1-2) * God blessed humanity with his image (Gen 1:26-27) * Dominion over creation (Gen 1:28) * Fruitfulness and multiplication (Gen 1:28) * Provision and abundance (Gen 1:29-30)...

1. Old Testament Foundations A. The Divine Shepherd The metaphor begins with God as shepherd. The most famous instance is Psalm 23: "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want." This psalm encapsulates the core theology: * Provision : "He makes me lie down in green pastures" * Guidance : "He leads me beside still waters" * Protection : "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death" * Pre...

1. Creation and Original Shamelessness A. The State of Innocence Genesis 2 presents humanity's original condition: * "Naked and unashamed" (Gen 2:25): Perfect transparency * Unhindered relationship : With God, each other, and self * Complete acceptance : No fear of rejection or exposure * Integrated identity : No gap between being and appearing B. The Nature of Original Honor Pre-fall existence ch...

1. Water in Creation and Cosmic Order A. Primordial Waters Genesis 1 introduces water as primordial reality: * Pre-creation state : "The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters" (Gen 1:2) * Divine ordering : God separates waters above from waters below * Life-giving potential : Dry land emerges from waters, enabling life * Controlled chaos : Waters represent both creative potential and destruct...

I. Introduction and Definition The concept of the remnant represents one of Scripture's most significant theological themes, describing God's consistent pattern of preserving a faithful minority through whom His redemptive purposes continue despite widespread apostasy. The Hebrew terms she'ar (שְׁאָר) and she'erit (שְׁאֵרִית) convey the idea of "that which remains" or "survivors," while the Greek...

Introduction Covenant (בְּרִית, berith in Hebrew; διαθήκη, diatheke in Greek) stands as the fundamental organizing principle in Scripture's revelation of divine-human relationship. More than a contractual arrangement, covenant represents God's sovereign initiative to establish relationship with humanity through binding promises, commitments, and faithfulness across salvation history. I. The Nature...

The Powerpoint Slides - HERE Introduction * Pete, an electrician in London * Pete's existential question: "What is the point of life?" * How humans typically search for meaning when faced with difficulties * The many competing narratives in our culture offering answers * Introduction to a new nine-week series exploring "The Better Story" from the Bible The Biblical Narrative of Life * The God who...

Divine warrior The Divine Warrior motif represents one of Scripture's most powerful theological threads, depicting God as a cosmic combatant engaged in battle against forces of chaos, evil, and death. This theme undergoes significant development from Genesis through Revelation, providing a cohesive framework that illuminates God's redemptive purposes. Origins in Creation: Bringing Order from Chaos...

Introduction: The Theological Paradox The relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility presents one of Scripture's most enduring theological tensions. This paradox—how God can be absolutely sovereign while humans remain genuinely responsible moral agents—runs as a consistent thread throughout biblical revelation. Rather than resolving this tension, Scripture consistently affirms...

Introduction: The Biblical Concept of Freedom Freedom stands as one of Scripture's most profound yet frequently misunderstood themes. Unlike contemporary notions that often equate freedom with autonomy or the absence of restraint, biblical freedom presents a more nuanced understanding—one rooted in relationship, responsibility, and redemptive purpose. This comprehensive biblical theology will trac...

Introduction: The Centrality of God's Glory The glory of God (doxology) represents the most fundamental and pervasive theme in Scripture. It encompasses God's intrinsic worth, His manifest presence, His self-revelation, and the proper response of worship due to Him. The Hebrew term kabod (כָּבוֹד) literally means "weightiness" or "substance," suggesting the substantial reality and significance of...

The love of God stands as the central, defining attribute of God's character in Scripture, from which all divine actions flow. This theological exploration examines how God's love (expressed through Hebrew hesed and Greek agape ) serves as the foundation for creation, redemption, and judgment throughout biblical revelation. Foundational Concepts of Divine Love Hesed : Covenant Loyalty and Steadfas...

Introduction The Hebrew concept of שָׁלוֹם (shalom) represents one of Scripture's most comprehensive theological themes. Far more than the mere absence of conflict, shalom encompasses wholeness, completeness, harmony, and flourishing that touches every dimension of existence. This account explores how shalom functions throughout Scripture as God's original intent, the lost ideal, and the promised...

The Bible, while comprised of 66 individual books written across centuries by numerous authors, contains one cohesive "metanarrative" or grand story that provides unity to the entire collection. This comprehensive narrative arc follows the classic storytelling structure while spanning from creation to the end of time. The Basic Elements of Narrative Arc Before examining the Bible's specific story,...

Welcome to the Mac Study podcast, a supplement to our sermon series "The Better Story." Today we're laying the groundwork by exploring what biblical theology is and why it matters for us as Christians at Menai Anglican Church. What is Biblical Theology? When we talk about biblical theology, we're not just referencing another academic discipline that scholars engage in. Rather, biblical theology is...