Evangelism & Church Health

Vocabulary flashcards covering the theological marks of a healthy church, disciplines of theology, historical statements of doctrine, and the mechanics of the gospel and conversion.

First Four Marks of a Healthy Church

1. Expositional preaching, 2. Biblical theology/sound doctrine, 3. The gospel, 4. A biblical understanding of conversion.

Expositional Preaching

Preaching that faithfully explains and applies the meaning of a biblical text.

Biblical Theology (as Mark 2)

Sound doctrine: teaching that agrees with Scripture.

Exegetical Theology

The theological examination of the meaning of particular biblical passages.

Biblical Theology (as a Method)

The theological examination of how themes develop across Scripture and the testaments.

Historical Theology

The theological examination of Christian beliefs and practices throughout church history.

Systematic Theology

The theological discipline that organizes biblical teaching by subject.

Normative Task

Determining what ministry ought to be according to theological standards.

Pragmatic Task

Determining how to put theological principles into practice in a particular setting.

Lectio Continua

Continuous reading: working sequentially through Scripture.

Nehemiah 8:1-8

The passage describing Scripture being read and explained so people understand it.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

The passage teaching that Scripture is inspired by God and equips God's people for good works.

2 Timothy 4:2

The passage featuring the central command to preach the Word, and to correct, rebuke, and exhort with patience and instruction.

Hebrews 4:12

The passage teaching that God's Word is living and active and judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Justin Martyr

Early Christian writer who describes Sunday Scripture readings followed by instruction and exhortation.

John Chrysostom

Historical preacher who preached verse by verse through many biblical books.

Ambrose

Historical preacher whose exposition of Luke and Genesis is discussed in the lectures.

Augustine (on Scripture)

Emphasized that understanding the meaning of Scripture matters beyond memorizing its words.

Contextualization in Preaching

Communicating the text faithfully through language, illustrations, and applications suited to the actual audience.

Titus 2:1

The passage instructing teachers to teach what accords with sound doctrine.

1 Timothy 4:16

The passage telling a minister to watch their life and their teaching.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

The passage warning that people may reject sound doctrine and choose teachers who suit their desires.

Titus 1:9

The passage detailing two doctrinal responsibilities: encourage people through sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it.

Deuteronomy 4:2

The passage that prohibits adding to or subtracting from God's commands.

Doxology

Praise or glory to God; identified in the lecture notes as the end goal.

Irenaeus

Historical theologian who connects apostolic doctrine with blameless conduct.

Vincent of Lrins

Historical theologian who emphasizes guarding and faithfully clarifying received doctrine.

Thomas Aquinas (on Divine Revelation)

Emphasized that divine revelation is necessary and human reason alone is insufficient for saving knowledge.

Martin Luther (on Sound Doctrine)

Connected sound doctrine with harmony and unity, noting that error disrupts them.

Creed

A concise statement of central Christian beliefs.

Confession of Faith

A fuller statement of a church or tradition's doctrinal beliefs.

Catechism

Instruction in doctrine through questions and answers.

Nicene Creed (on the Son)

Emphasizes the claim that the Son is truly God: begotten, not made.

Chalcedonian Definition

Formulation teaching that Christ is one person in two natures: fully God and fully human.

Chalcedonian Safeguards

Four safeguards describing Christ's two natures: without confusion, change, division, or separation.

451

The date associated with the Chalcedonian Definition.

1689

The date associated with the Second London Confession.

Four Gospel Headings

God loves the world; sin separates us from God; God's grace saves us; repent and believe.

Ephesians 2:8-9

The passage teaching salvation by grace through faith rather than works.

Romans 3:23

The passage stating that all have sinned.

Gospel Storyline

The narrative arc of the gospel summarized in four stages: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and New Creation.

Sacrifice and Substitution

Typological connection where sacrificial animals die in place of sinners, and Jesus is the perfect substitute who dies in our place.

Exodus (Gospel Relation)

God's rescue of Israel from Egypt connecting with Christ's rescue of believers from sin and death.

Forensic

Legal or judicial: referring to a declaration of righteousness.

Protestant Justification Column

The column in the professor's comparison of justification that uses initial and forensic.

Conversion

The turning point in salvation involving the two inseparable responses of repentance and faith.

Repentance

Turning from sin.

Saving Faith

Trusting in Christ for salvation.

Regeneration

New birth: God's work of giving spiritual life.

Shuv

Hebrew word meaning to turn back or return.

Metanoia

Greek word meaning repentance or change of mind.

Pistis

Greek word meaning faith.

Ezekiel 36:26-27

The prophetic passage promising a new heart and God's Spirit.

John 3:3-8

The passage teaching that people must be born again through the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17

The passage teaching that anyone in Christ is a new creation.

Ephesians 2:1-3

The passage emphasizing that humanity is spiritually dead apart from God's intervention.

John Calvin (on Repentance and Faith)

Taught that repentance and faith can be distinguished, but they cannot be separated.

Martin Luther (on Repentance)

Emphasized that the believer's entire life should be characterized by repentance.

Ordo Salutis

The theological phrase meaning order of salvation.

Arminian Ordo Salutis

Soteriological framework where faith comes before regeneration, enabled by God's grace.

Reformed Ordo Salutis

Soteriological framework where regeneration comes before faith.

Prevenient Grace

God's grace enabling a response before conversion.

Justification

Being declared righteous before God.

Adoption (in Salvation)

Receiving the status of God's child.

Sanctification

Growth in holiness.

Glorification

The final completion of salvation.

Free Grace Proponents

Charles Ryrie and Zane Hodges.

Free Grace Concern

The concern that requiring commitment of life risks adding a condition to the gospel beyond faith.

Lordship Salvation Proponents

A. W. Tozer, J. I. Packer, and John MacArthur.

Lordship Salvation

The position emphasizing that saving faith is inseparable from repentance, Christ's lordship, and discipleship.

Notitia

Knowledge: knowing the gospel's claims about Christ.

Assensus

Assent: agreeing that the gospel's claims are true.

Fiducia

Trust: personally relying on Christ to save.

Know - Agree - Trust

The memory aid for the three elements of saving faith (notitia, assensus, and fiducia).