Foundations of Christianity
A Lecture Series
Introduction
To be a disciple is to be a learner. We learn in various ways, but an important way, as
the disciples on the road to Emmaus discovered, is to learn how God is at work in
history.
This course aims to equip any Christian with a solid understanding of the Bible, how to
read it, how it fits into history, and how to apply it. In addition, we will survey the rich
history of the church’s interaction with the Bible, both in terms of church history and
theology, right up to today.
A “graduate” of this course, will be confident in their faith, able to winsomely engage
anyone, equipped to reliably interpret and apply the Bible, and sure of their place in
God’s unfolding plan of salvation.
This course will be run at Burleigh Church of Christ on Monday nights at 7:30PM, and
will be available in person or via Microsoft Teams. It will also be recorded. It consists of
a one hour, hosted lecture followed by a half-hour, moderated Q&A session. It will be
led and hosted primarily by Graham Grove and Malcolm Lithgow. In addition to the
recording, slides and references to reading, listening and watching resources will be
made available for each lecture.
You can access the Teams meeting from the appropriate event here.
Date
Topic
Introduction to the Bible
2
nd
June 2025
9
th
June 2025
Old Testament
16
th
June 2025
Creation, the Fall and Continued Falling
An exploration of Genesis 1-11 and what it teaches about origins
23
rd
June 2025
A Rescue Plan through a Man and His Family
God’s plan for the whole world to be saved, beginning with a covenant with one man and
family
30
th
June 2025
From Slavery to Freedom
God’s rescue begins with slaves made free, with the birth of a new society called to choose life
7
th
July 2025
Conquest and Judges
An Exploration of Courage, Conquest, Choice, Covenant, Corruption, and Cleansing through
Joshua and Judges
14
th
July 2025
A Unified Kingdom
One ancient Israelite kingdom under God – in God they trusted?
21
st
July 2025
Poetry and Wisdom
An exploration of God and humanity through timeless truths of heart and mind
28
th
July 2025
A Divided Kingdom and and God’s Truth-Sayers
Understanding Godly and ungodly leadership through Kings and the early Prophets
4
th
August 2025
Pre and Post-Exile
An exploration of how consequences from sin can bring about repentance and a return to God
11
th
August 2025
Partial Restoration and A Messianic Hope
Exploring the start the people’s restoration and the wait for Messiah
New Testament
18
th
August 2025
The Gospels
Understanding the centre of history
25
th
August 2025
The Resurrection, Apologetics and a Defence of Jesus as God
Getting prepared to always give an answer
1
st
September 2025
The Jerusalem Church
Understanding how the church began
8
th
September 2025
The Gentile Church
Understanding how the church expanded
15
th
September 2025
Apocalyptic Literature and the Book of Revelation
An exploration of images of the End Times, Day of Judgement and Heaven and Hell
Church History
22
nd
September 2025
The Early Church and Persecution
Exploring Jerusalem fall, the fathers of a persecuted church and a theology of suffering
29
th
September 2025
Apostasy and Creeds, the Nature of God and Christology
Understanding early church structures and the ancient creeds
October 2025
Break
3
rd
November 2025
The Church into the Middle Ages
Reviewing Mission and Crusades, East and West, a Celtic and English Church, Islamic Invasion
and Christian Crusades
10th November 2025
Reformation and Soteriology
Reviewing the Renewal of Biblical Faith in the Reformation
17th November 2025
To the Ends of the Earth and Pneumatology
The church in the modern era
Theology (trying to understand how God works)
24th November 2025
An Excursion into Greek and Hebrew and Bible Translations
Learning about the original language of the Bible, how it was formed and the history of
translations and exploring some Hebrew and Greek gems
1st December 2025
Practice and Theology of Christian Gathering and Song
An exploration of corporate worship and church relationships
8th December 2025
Practice and Theology of Prayer, Fasting, and Abstinence
An exploration of cultivating a relationship with God
15th December 2025
Church Leadership and Core Doctrine, Cults and Abuse
A cautionary exploration of cults and abusive leaders who twist key Christian principles of
leadership and doctrine
5th January 2026
Theology of Public Life – society, culture, science, media, politics and work
Living as a disciple of Jesus in today’s changing culture
12th January 2026
An unseen spiritual realm
Exploring the Bible’s explanation of the supernatural
19th January 2026
Theology of Service and Social Justice
An examination of the Biblical perspective of charity and service, and the worldly solution of
Marxism, critical theory, anti-racism, gender ideology and liberation theology
2nd February 2026
Theology of Mission and Revival
Recognizing the Spirit moving in today’s world and our calling
