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Pelogos Scope

PELOGOS SCOPE

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WELCOME TO THE PELOGOS PROJECT

THE EXPLANATION

Pelos: (pay-los’) Greek word for Clay

Logos: (log’-os) Greek word for Word

Pelogos is the result of combining these two words. The goal of every Jesus follower
(the clay) is to allow the Word of God (The Logos) to influence and direct our lives as
we learn what it means to find our full satisfaction in Jesus (also, The Logos) who dwells
in us.

God is the Potter and we are clay. (Isaiah 64:8 :: Romans 9:21)
God is shaping us to become like Jesus (The Logos). (Romans 8:29)

THE PURPOSE

The purpose of The Pelogos Project is to help participants discover what it means to
become “relational theologians”. Relational living is defined as someone who is living in
the awareness of the Kingdom of God in order to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew
28:19-20) of making disciples and the Great Commandment (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 ::
Mark 12:29-31) of loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Theology is
defined as the study of God. Theology without relationships creates dead orthodoxy.
Relationships without theology create empty orthopraxy. In more simple terms, faith
without works is dead and works without faith is dead. So we must begin to think as
relational theologians.

THE NEED

The Pelogos Project is an experience that will deepen the level of understanding that
participants have about the Bible and their relationship with Jesus. Whether you are
new to the Christian faith or have been a believer for years, we all have a need to make
our faith practical where we live.

THE SOURCE

The source of The Pelogos Project is Jesus. We are working from the premise that the
Jesus (The Logos) in us is all we need for life and Godliness (2 Peter 3:19). The
philosophy is not to get truth “into” someone, but that the truth is already in us and we
simply need to respond to it. It is the distinction between “resource” based discipleship
and “response” based discipleship. Our hope is that The Pelogos Project becomes a
stimulus that prompts participants to respond to the life of Jesus in them and not
another resource that somehow tries to convince participants that they lack something.
John 15 describes this abiding moment-by-moment satisfaction that comes from the
Gardner (God) through the Vine (Jesus) to the Branch (believers) producing much fruit.

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The entire Bible (The Logos) really contains our “doctrinal confession” and for the sake
of simplicity, clarity and distinction, The Pelogos Project will use as its compass, the
theological explanations and the expressions of the Bible from the Second London
Confession of 1689. As early as 1855, Charles Haddon Spurgeon resurrected this
ancient document as the guiding source for the believers under his care. Here is what
he said about the 1689 Confession. “It is not issued as an authoritative rule, or code of
faith, whereby you are to be fettered, but as an assistance to you in controversy, a
confirmation in faith, and a means of edification in righteousness. Here the younger
members of our church will have a body of divinity in small compass, and by means of
the scriptural proofs, will be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in them. Be not
ashamed of your faith; remember it is the ancient gospel of the martyrs, confessors,
reformers, and saints. Above all, it is the truth of God, against which all the gates of Hell
cannot prevail. Let your lives adorn your faith, let your example adorn your creed.
Above all live in Christ Jesus, and walk in Him, giving credence to no teaching but that
which is manifestly approved of Him, and owned by the Holy Spirit. Cleave fast to the
Word of God which is here mapped out for you.”

We celebrate diversity and do not view it as a threat. Pelogos is designed as a starting

place to begin theological discussion and discovery. Since we all come from different
backgrounds theologically, Pelogos will serve as a catalyst to challenge and/or confirm
why you have arrived at certain theological beliefs and behavior.

THE TRUTH

Truth is that which conforms to reality. Specifically, Webster’s Dictionary defines it “as
reality; actuality; that which is considered to be the supreme reality and to have the
ultimate meaning and value of existence”1 Since truth is that which conforms to reality,
God who created reality is the source of all truth. Therefore, any relational theologian
who wants to understand life, their current reality, must first come to understand truth.
(God/The Logos)

THE LEARNER

We believe that there are at least three distinct learning styles that shape how a person
comes to understand and learn truth. The Pelogos Project includes all three learners.
The three distinct learning styles for understanding truth are as follows:

Auditory – learn by hearing

Visual – learn by seeing
Kinesthetic – learn by doing

1 Webster’s Dictionary

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THE STAGES

We also believe there are five stages that a person relates to Truth. Every stage takes
a person deeper into their understanding.

Exposure :: Exploration:: Experience :: Expression :: Equipping

Exposure is the level in which participants first learn about a new truth.

Exploration is the level in which participants explore verbally and/or physically the new
truth.

Experience is the level in which participants have had time to be exposed to the truth,
have explored it in some way and have felt or seen what it means through a personal
experience.

Expression is the level in which participants can communicate to someone else what
the truth means because they have been exposed to it, have explored it and have
experienced it.

Equipping is the level in which participants know the truth so well that they can journey
with someone else and help them discover the same truth they have already learned.

Remember this is about becoming a “relational theologian” so Truth isn’t known until a
participant is living in the light of the Truth. For the sake of The Pelogos Project, we are
using these levels as a gauge to determine how well a participant lives the Truth.

THE FORMAT

Pelogos is designed for mentoring and/or a small-group interaction. This is an

experience that places high expectations on participants.

You will not find an answer key with the Pelogos Project. It is simply a process of
listening to the Spirit, looking up scripture, answering questions and journaling both in
solitude and community. The reason we did not create an answer key is simple - we
want participants to listen to the Spirit in them to discover the “answers” and develop
their theology in community. We do however believe the Spirit works when we seek
wise counsel, so please feel free to consult other writers and commentaries.

EXPOSURE
Exposure is about discovery. The discovery process involves being introduced to the
key thoughts from each lesson.

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EXPLORATION
Exploration is about questions. Questions reveal in each of us what we truly understand
about the subject. Some of the questions will be for a deeper understanding of the
content and other questions will be designed for possible application.

EXPERIENCE
Experience is when truth intersects with life. Life unfolds as a daily story and we want
participants to share their story. As they share life experiences, they will collaborate
with the content being discussed.

EXPRESSION
Expression is about individual personality. Participants who express truth prove that
they understand it. Examples of expression could be art, poetry, drama, debate, a
paper, videos, or anything else that would demonstrate that participants “get it”.

EQUIPPING
Equipping others and ourselves is about confidence. Confidence is the result of
ownership. When participants own the truth, they have the ability to journey with
someone else. For example, participants will be asked to respond to someone who
says: “The Bible is not true and therefore does not have any authority to govern
anyone’s life.”

CONCLUSION
The leadership genius of Jesus is that he started with the end in sight. Join the growing
number of believers who desire to be shaped into the image of Jesus from the inside
out.

Welcome to The Pelogos Project!

If you have additional questions, need clarification or resources, please visit us on the
web at www.pelogos.com.

Becoming a Relational Theologian,

The Pelogos Project Team

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