South Bay Community Church Urban Leadership Institute
Enhancing the Kingdom of God by equipping leaders to serve Christ’s church

Current Classes

Module 5: Introduction to Biblical Interpretation
Module 2: Introduction to the Kingdom of God

Module 5: Introduction to Biblical Interpretation
September 10 - November 15, 2008
This module focuses on the facts, principles, and implications of interpreting the Bible.

Lesson 1: Biblical Inspiration
The Origins and Authority of the Bible, we will outline the need for biblical interpretation, and what we need to do to prepare for this great task. We will explore both the divine and human dimensions of the Bible, clarify the goal of all interpretation, and lay out clearly our theological assumptions regarding the high place of the Scriptures in the Church. We will especially concentrate on the kind of life and heart preparation necessary to interpret God’s Word accurately. We will also look at the Bible’s claim to be inspired of God, and its authority and place in theological and spiritual judgments in the Church. We will also take a brief look at modern biblical criticism, and wrestle with its claims as it relates to our study of Scripture today.

Lesson 2: Biblical Hermeneutics
We will introduce The 3Step Model, an effective method of biblical interpretation designed to help you approach your study of Scripture so as to bridge the gap between ancient and contemporary worlds. In the 3Step Model: we will seek to understand the original audience, discover general principles, and make applications to life. We will actually examine a passage of Scripture employing this model, looking at a passage in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, in his first epistle, 9.1-14. Using the framework found in your Keys to Bible Interpretation appendix, we will canvass this great text of Scripture looking specifically at how a deliberate, careful, and prayerful approach can yield great knowledge and encouragement to us as we strive to understand God’s will through his holy Word.

Lesson 3: Biblical Literature
We focus upon the types of literature found in the Bible and how to interpret them. We will Interpret the Genres of the Bible. We will define and outline the concept of genres (pronounced JOHN- ruhs) in biblical interpretation, laying out an overview of the idea, and giving a few basic assumptions of this kind of special hermeneutics. We will discuss various forms of biblical genres, but will give special attention to two types which represent the vast majority of the actual material in the Bible, narrative and prophetic showing how attention to genres can help us better interpret Scripture.

Lesson 4: Using Study Tools in Bible Study
Here we will explore the kind of scholarly reference tools available to us as we attempt to understand the meaning of a biblical text.

The student of the Bible has access today to many remarkable tools, both written and software, all which can help him or her gain a mastery of the Word. We will concentrate first on the basic tools for solid biblical interpretation: a good translation of Scripture, Hebrew and Greek aids, a Bible dictionary, a concordance, and exegetical commentaries. We will also consider additional tools that may enrich our study of Scripture. These will include cross-reference aids, topical Bibles; cross-reference Bibles, and topical concordances. We will also discuss aids which focus on history and customs of the Bible: Bible dictionaries, Bible encyclopedias, atlases, and other related reference works. Finally, we will briefly look at Bible handbooks, study Bibles, and other helps, and conclude our discussion with the use of Bible commentaries, and the role of tools in general as you interpret you’re Bible for personal devotion, preaching, and teaching.

The Bible’s own remarkable claim of its transforming power ought to be reason enough to challenge us to master the Word of God. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” 2 Tim. 3.16-17.

The God-breathed Word of God in the words of humankind is sufficient to enrich us, delight us, and make us competent and equipped for every good work. Truly, the Word of God cannot be broken, will always accomplish its purpose, and will ensure the person of God enjoys good success in all they do to advance the Kingdom of God wherever they are (John 10.35; Isa. 55.8-11; Josh. 1.8).

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Module 2: Introduction to the Kingdom of God
November 5 - December 17, 2008
Of all the subjects preached and taught by Jesus of Nazareth, none are as significant and controversial as the subject of the Kingdom of God. Both conservative and liberal scholars agree that Jesus’ favorite subject, the one he preached and taught upon most often, is the Kingdom of God. Sadly, the modern Church seems to pay little attention to what Jesus considered to be most important in his prophetic and Messianic ministry. Our hope is that your heart will be gripped by the kingdom story - the King and his Kingdom - and see its importance in the life of personal discipleship and ministry.

Lesson 1: God's Reign Challenged
This lesson focuses upon God as the sovereign majesty. It discusses how the absolute sovereignty and lordship of God was defied, both by the devil and his angels, and the first human pair, Adam and Eve, through their willful disobedience in the garden. This rebellion produced tragic results in the world, in human nature, and the release of the demonic into the world. In spite of our rebellion, however, God intends to restore all heaven and earth back under his reign, and constitute again a universe where his name is glorified and his justice and peace rule forever.

Lesson 2: God's Reign Inaugurated
We will explore God’s intent to eradicate all disobedience and rebellion as a result of the Fall - God becomes a Warrior in this fallen realm. God made a covenant with Abraham as his solemn promise to bring a Seed through whom the shalom and justice kingdom reign would be brought back to earth. This covenant promise was renewed with Isaac and Jacob, to the Israelite nation, to the tribe of Judah, and finally to the family of David. Here we trace in bold line the origins of the Messiah, so the reign of God would be brought back into this fallen and sin-cursed world. Jesus of Nazareth is the Kingdom’s presence realized, with God’s reign demonstrated in his incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension.

Lesson 3-4: God's Reign Invading and God's Reign Consummated
Now that our Lord Jesus has died, risen, and ascended into heaven, the Kingdom of God is being proclaimed throughout the world by his Church. The Church of Jesus Christ is the locus–the place or context--of God’s salvation, of the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, and of authentic kingdom shalom, the place where God’s presence and power are freely being displayed. The Kingdom of God will be consummated at the Second Coming of Jesus, where death, disease, and all evil will be put down, all heaven and earth shall be renewed, and God will become All-in-all.

The Story of the Kingdom is the story of Jesus, and God’s intent is to bring the world back under his rule in him. Our prayer is that your love and service to him will abound as you study the Word of God on the forever rule of God!

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