August Theological Roundtable

Sunday Mornings at 9:30 am in the Lewis Conference Room, Bernsen Community Life Center

Topics and Speakers

August 1, 2010 – State of the Presbyterian Church

July 3-10 is the General Assembly of the Presbytery Church (USA). Some of the major issues for this year’s GA are revisions to the Form of Government, Ordination Standards, statement on Christian Marriage, statement on the Middle East, and the future of middle governing bodies. It’s likely that the GA – as it typically has in the past – will make national news for some part of its business. This panel will attempt to speak to the pertinent and pressing issues facing the PC(USA) and how that may affect local congregations.

Greg Coulter
Robbie Burke
Gary Mathews
Warren Muller

August 8, 2010 - First Presbyterian Church, Looking Back, Looking Forward

This year FPC celebrates 125 years of faithful witness and service to Christ and His Kingdom. This panel will reflect historically and theologically on where FPC has been and where it is headed. Along with panel the discussion, Craig Hoster will be showing some “clips” from a discussion with Dr. Miller. Topics will range from the founding of FPC, the Tulsa Race Riots, important milestones, and hopes and plans for the future.

Elaine Johnson
David Crowell
Amy Tingleaf
Mike Neal

August 15, 2010 – New Atheism, A World Without God

Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and a host of others have sold millions of popular books rejecting the existence of any religious expression of God; and it seems their argument is at its most vitriolic when attempting to deconstruct the God who brought Israel out of Egypt and raised Jesus Christ from the dead. The panel will explore the “why” of this rejection and the logical consequences that follow this choice in society. In other words, what reasoning lies behind this “new atheism” and what are its implications for society, family, work, recreation, and even the church. Michael Horton in his book “Christ-less Christianity” is, in effect, claiming that even the church is vastly populated by atheists that have a faith that is self-centered rather than Christ-centered. How is this so, what does it mean, and what ought the church do about it? Panelist will also discuss the intellectual integrity of a long and deep history of Christian thought over and against atheisms of all kinds.

Jeff Francis
Rick Davis
James Estes
Phillip Shaw
Lauren Bull

August 22, 2010 – Christian Hope, A Study of Eschatology from a Reformed View

At the beginning of the third millennium, we see the ideology of historical progress for what it is – a myth that can no longer provide humanity with grounds for true hope. The panel will discuss ways in which various Christian traditions have wrestled with God’s plan for creation’s consummation before, during, and after the collapse of this Enlightenment ideology of progress. What has the church historic and catholic had to say about the end of all things? What has the church in the West – particularly in America had to say in all its manifestations? What does the bible say? What does the Reformed tradition have to add? As with any conversation on the “last things”, this should prove fun!

Ryan Moore
Rick Davis
Warren Muller
James Estes

August 29, 2010 – The Authority of the Word in Our Lives

This fall Dr. Miller will be encouraging the congregation of FPC to read The Bible in 90 Days. Admittedly, this is no easy task. So why the effort? Paul says in his letter to Colossae, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Or, as Eugene Peterson has said, “Eat this book.” More often than not – if we’re students of the bible at all – we see God’s Word as a utility to be used for our own purposes rather than a gift that seeks to do a transforming work within and through us. The Westminster Divines spoke beautifully and at length about the essential centrality of God’s Word in faith and life. “Question 3: What do the Scriptures principally teach? Answer: The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.” That about sums it up: orthodoxy (right belief) and orthopraxis (right way of being).

Ryan Moore
Wambugu
Denise Rounds
Sheldon Waeger
Duff Points