Surprised By The God Of Hope
What you'll learn
- What it means for Christians to have hope: What are we hoping for? What can we do about that hope in the present time?
- The mission-shaped church being shaped by the arrival of God’s future hope in the present time.
- Resurrection and why the Christian hope is not about 'going to heaven' when we die.
- Heaven, hell, purgatory, and the Christian hope for 'life after life after death'.
- How the church must be the bearer of a new heaven and new earth reality.
Requirements
- Current translation of the Bible.
- Reading 'Surprised by Hope' is encouraged, but not necessary.
- Interest in the significance of the resurrection and the Christian hope for more than 'life after death'.
Description
Many people have questions about what happens after we die and wonder if hope is simply about our ultimate future destination. It is a common assumption in Western Christianity that the primary message is about 'going up to heaven to be with God'. What if there is so much more to Christian hope than something that is going to happen later that will take us away from this world to a ‘better place’? What if there is more to the Good News that Jesus proclaimed than just 'life after death'?
This course addresses many questions people ask about 'where we go' after we die, including ideas about heaven, hell, and purgatory. Those who have read 'Surprised by Hope' will appreciate a fresh take on lasting themes and content from the book. However, this course also presents new ideas and material about the Christian virtue of hope in the present time. Professor N.T. Wright explains why Jesus' resurrection offers surprising answers by the God of hope who came to take charge of his world and dwell with his people in Jesus of Nazareth and through the Holy Spirit. Over a series of 24 lectures you will learn how the Christian hope for life in God's new creation should inspire and inform the mission of the church and individual followers of Jesus today.
In this course you will be encouraged to learn the reasons for our hope right here and right now. We invite you to explore these ideas and to be refreshed and renewed along the way, and perhaps, even surprised by the God of hope.
Who this course is for:
- Anyone interested in learning what is unique about 'hope' from a Christian perspective.
- Anyone who wants to study more about what happens after 'life after death' and Christian hope.
- Anyone who has questions about what happens after you die.
- Those who wish to explore the ways in which the church must be shaped for mission and the God of hope.
- Clergy, Bible teachers, or theologians looking to study the implications of eschatology for Christian hope.
Featured review
Instructors
- 4.8 Instructor Rating
- 28,409 Reviews
- 123,276 Students
- 42 Courses
N.T Wright received his BA, MA and D.Phil. from Oxford University. He taught New Testament at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities 1978-1993. He was Dean of Lichfield, then Canon of Westminster, then Bishop of Durham (Church of England), 1994-2010. Prof. Wright is Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and is currently Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. He has published over 85 books and hundreds of articles. In 2014 Prof. Wright received the Burkitt Medal from the British Academy for services to New Testament scholarship. He enjoys music, golf the Isle of Harris, and spending time with his family in the midst of a busy schedule of writing and travelling.
- 4.8 Instructor Rating
- 28,515 Reviews
- 123,400 Students
- 43 Courses
David Seemuth has a Ph.D. from Marquette University in the field of Religious Studies with an emphasis on New Testament Theology. He has taught at the graduate level for over 30 years at numerous universities and seminaries. He also has 21 years of on-line teaching experience. His passion is to see that people not only understand the Scripture, but also apply them to daily life.
- 4.8 Instructor Rating
- 28,263 Reviews
- 122,283 Students
- 41 Courses
Jennifer Loop is currently a doctoral student at Durham University. She is the Director of Ministry Engagement for the Wisconsin Center for Christian Studies, and plays a critical role in the online education, both organizational and theological, by guiding the online student experience. Jennifer enjoys engaging with a virtual community of diverse students and learners to explore how theology, faith and practice intersect.