Lecture 10

Question 1

What is practical theology?

Answer 1

application of theology for everyday life

Question 2

Richard Osmer’s Wide Reflection Equilibrium Model:

Answer 2

• The Description-Empirical Task (what is going on?) - collect data from culture as stuff happens and then order it and understand what’s really going on…this is needed before you address the culture.
• The Interpretive Task (why is this going on?) - why does culture go in a certain way?
• The Normative Task (what ought to be going on?) - what does the Bible say about what’s going on, and what should be going on?
• The Pragmatic Task (how might we respond?) - how do we take the teachings of Scripture and implement them into our Christian life and be able to speak to the culture of the world?

Question 3

What is the biblical precedent for studying practical theology?

Answer 3

Jesus said to “…teach believers” and observe all He commanded (Matthew 28:19-20.

Question 4

How do we apply practical theology?

Answer 4

by taking systematic theology and making it applicable in people’s lives.