The 2025-2026 All Faculty Common Read program will feature not only a single work, but a collection of readings pertaining to Regent University's Statement of Faith. For each of the seven tenets in the Statement of Faith, three readings are offered, representing classical, scholarly and contemporary approaches. Also included are periodic readings from We Believe : Transformative Truth for a Life of Worship and Mission. Chapel talks and discussion forums will take place each month to further explore each topic.
(For a reading list of all the resources referenced here, please click here.)
Regent University is a Christ-centered institution. The board of trustees, along with the faculty and staff of the university, is committed to an evangelical interpretation and application of the Christian faith. The campus community is closely identified with the present-day renewal movement, which emphasizes the gifts, fruit and ministries of the Holy Spirit.
All employees are expected to understand and adhere to the following articles of belief:
1. That the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible and authoritative source of Christian doctrine and precept.
2. That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3. That man was created in the image of God but, as a result of sin, is lost and powerless to save himself.
4. That the only hope for man is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Son of God, who died to take upon Himself the punishment for the sin of mankind, and who rose from the dead so that by receiving Him as Savior and Lord, man is redeemed by His blood.
5. That Jesus Christ will personally return to earth in power and glory.
6. That the Holy Spirit indwells those who receive Christ for the purpose of enabling them to live righteous and holy lives.
7. That the Church is the Body of Christ and is composed of all those who through belief in Christ have been spiritually regenerated by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The mission of the Church is worldwide evangelism and the nurturing and discipling of Christians.
Readings:
Classical Reading: “The Apostles Creed” and "The Nicene Creed."
These foundational creeds articulate the core doctrines of the Christian faith, grounding our theology in the historic confession of the Church. These creeds ensure Biblical fidelity, Trinitarian focus, theological continuity and unity, providing us with a shared, biblically rooted framework essential for Holy Spirit-empowered witness and ministry.
Scholarly Reading: Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity by Carl R. Trueman (Chapter 1 and Chapter 6).
Trueman critiques the cultural shift toward expressive individualism, calling the Church to recover a robust, Biblical, and historic Christian identity. This analysis strengthens a Christ-centered university by encouraging critical engagement with cultural trends while reaffirming the authority and relevance of Biblical and historic doctrine.
Tenet 1: The Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible and authoritative source of Christian doctrine and precept.
Readings:
Classical Reading: “Against Heresies” – Irenaeus (Book 3, Chapters 1-3).
Irenaeus defends the authority of Scripture against Gnostic distortions, affirming that true doctrine is rooted in the public teaching of the sacred Scriptures. His work reinforces our commitment to Biblical truth passed down through the historic Church, guarding against theological error.
Scholarly Reading: “Evidence of Scripture as God’s Written Word” and “The Inspiration of Scripture” by J. Rodman Williams (Renewal Theology).
Williams affirms the divine inspiration and authority of Scripture within a fully Trinitarian, Holy Spirit-filled theological framework. His writings teach and explain the unity of the Holy Spirit and the inspired Scriptures, equipping us to embrace both Biblical fidelity and the vitality that the Holy Spirit brings.
Contemporary Reading: “The Authority and Inerrancy of Scripture”, by Matthew Barrett (The Gospel Coalition).
Barrett upholds the Bible’s absolute authority and inerrancy in an age of skepticism, arguing for confidence in Scripture as God's trustworthy revelation. His contribution helps Renewal students engage contemporary challenges while maintaining a high view of Scripture grounded in theological and historical orthodoxy.
We Believe: Transformative Truth for a Life of Worship and Mission, Chapter 2
University Chapel: The Unchained Word: The Enduring Worth, Beauty & Authority of Holy Scripture
Wednesday, September 17, 12:00pm, Shaw Chapel
Corné Bekker, Dean, School of Divinity
Discussion Forum: Scripture & the Disciplines
Monday, September 22, 1:00pm, Library Gallery
Dr. Fernando Garzon, Associate Dean, College of Health & Behavioral Sciences
Professor Dave Velloney, Senior Lecturer, School of Law
Dr. Carrie Wood, Director of the Master of Divinity Programs, School of Divinity
Tenet 2: There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Readings:
Classical Reading: Anselm’s Monologion in the Oxford World’s Classics edition (Anselm of Canterbury: The Major Works) ISBN: 9780192825254. Chapters 29–64, (Download pages 45-70).
These chapters emphasize the Trinity’s inseparable operations and unity in essence, laying the doctrinal foundation for Augustine’s later psychological analogies. They help us understand his orthodox Trinitarian theology which had an immense influence on Western Christianity.
Scholarly Reading: The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume 21: Writings on the Trinity, Grace, and Faith, Edited by Sang Hyun Lee (Yale University Press, 2002) ISBN: 978-0-300095050. “Discourse on the Trinity” (about 20 pages).
Edwards argues that the Father is the divine essence, the Son is God’s perfect idea or self-understanding, and the Holy Spirit is the mutual love between them, all sharing one divine substance. He puts great weight on their unity and coequality, using rational and biblical arguments for the Trinity’s coherence. This pastoral admonition has significantly shaped Protestant Trinitarian theology, blending philosophical insight with orthodox Christian doctrine.
Contemporary Reading: John Piper, “Can we explain the Trinity?”
John Piper affirms the mystery and Biblical foundation of the Trinity, emphasizing that while the doctrine of the Trinity cannot fully contain the mysteries of God, it is essential to Christian worship and faith. This teaching enriches us by grounding Spirit-empowered theology in the worship of the triune God, fostering both reverence and doctrinal clarity.
University Chapel: Why It Matters to Renewal Christians that God Is Known to Us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Wednesday, October 15, 12:00pm, Shaw Chapel
John-Paul Lotz, Associate Professor, School of Divinity
Discussion Forum: A Distinctively Trinitarian Academy
Monday, October 27, 1:00pm, Library Gallery
Dr. Melissa Davis, Post-Doctoral Fellow
Dr. Dominick Hankle, Department Chair & Associate Professor, School of Psychology
Dr. Jennifer Ripley, Hughes Endowed Chair of Christian Thought in Mental Health Practice, School of Psychology & Counseling
Tenet 3: Man was created in the image of God but, as a result of sin, is lost and powerless to save himself.
Readings:
Classical Reading: Athanasius, On the Incarnation, Chapters 2 to 5, pp. 15-33. (Use arrows on the right side of the red bar to move back and forth between chapters.)
On the Incarnation is a classical Christian apologetic defending the necessity of the Incarnation. In it, Athanasius explains that humanity, created in the image of God but corrupted by sin, could only be restored through the Incarnation of the Son, who is Himself the perfect image of the Father.
Scholarly Reading: Threlfall, Jonathan. “The Doctrine of the Imago Dei: The Biblical Data for an Abductive Argument for the Christian Faith.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 62, no. 3 (2019): 543-6.
Threlfall argues that the concept of the imago Dei provides a compelling biblical foundation for human dignity, relationality, and moral responsibility. By examining various scholarly understandings on the imago Dei, Threlfall demonstrates how this doctrine explains the dignity of human nature and exposes the paradox of our fallenness, while affirming how the image is restored in Christ.
Contemporary Reading: Hobson, George. Imago Dei: Man/Woman Created in the Image of God: Implications for Theology, Pastoral Care, Eucharist, Apologetics, Aesthetics. Eugene Oregon: Wipf & Stock, 2019; The section of interest is Part III, pp. 113-14. (eBook pages 138-171)
This is an extract from a series of homilies in which Hobson examines the theological implications of the doctrine of the Imago Dei for Christian identity, transformation, and mission. It emphasizes that life in Christ, by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, fully restores the image of Christ, transforming Christians, and empowering them to serve as God’s active witnesses to the world.
We Believe: Transformative Truth for a Life of Worship and Mission, Chapter 3
University Chapel: Flawed Perfection
Wednesday, November 19, 12:00pm, Shaw Chapel
Professor Jeffrey Brauch, Associate Dean for Faculty Development & Intellectual Life, School of Law
Discussion Forum: The Divine Image, the Fall, Our Academic Callings
Monday, November 24, 1:00pm, Library Gallery
Dr. Andrea Francis, Assistant Professor, School of Divinity
Dr. William Skiles, Associate Professor, College of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Don Finn, Associate Professor, School of Education
Tenet 4: The only hope for man is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Son of God,
who died to take upon Himself the punishment for the sin of mankind,
and who rose from the dead so that by receiving Him as Savior and Lord, man is redeemed by His blood.
Readings:
Classical Reading: “Confessions” by Augustine of Hippo (Books 8 and 10).
This is an extract from a series of homilies in which Hobson examines the theological implications of the doctrine of the Imago Dei for Christian identity, transformation, and mission. It emphasizes that life in Christ, by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, fully restores the image of Christ, transforming Christians, and empowering them to serve as God’s active witnesses to the world.
Scholarly Reading: “Salvation”, “Sanctification”, and “Life Everlasting” by J. Rodman Williams (Renewal Theology).
Williams presents salvation as a dynamic, Spirit-empowered process that includes justification, sanctification, and the hope of eternal life. His work equips us to form disciples who live in the fullness of the Spirit while grounded in Biblical soteriology.
Contemporary Reading: “Salvation: An Overview” by Fred Zaspel (The Gospel Coalition).
Zaspel provides a clear and concise summary of the doctrines of salvation, emphasizing grace, faith, and the work of Christ. This resource supports us by offering a theologically sound and accessible framework for understanding salvation in today’s context.
We Believe: Transformative Truth for a Life of Worship and Mission, Chapters 5 & 6
University Chapel: Are You Saved? From What and For What?
Wednesday, December 10, 12:00pm, Shaw Chapel
Dr. Mark Jumper, Associate Professor and Director of Chaplaincy & Military Affairs, School of Divinity
Discussion Forum: Jesus Alone Saves -- What This Means for Our Disciplines
Monday, December 8, 1:00pm, Library Gallery
Dr. John Bauer, Assistant Professor, College of Arts & Sciences
Dr. Dan Koev, Department Chair and Professor, Government & Criminal Justice, Robertson School of Government
Dr. Kurt Kreassig, Dean, School of Education
Tenet 5: Jesus Christ will personally return to earth in power and glory.
Readings:
Classical Reading: Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “The Two Appearings and the Discipline of Grace,” Sermon preached on April 4, 1886 at Metropolitan Tabernacle.
In this excerpt, Spurgeon preaches that the promise of Christ’s return has great significance for how we are to live as Christians in the present. For Spurgeon, the hope of Christ’s glorious return offers strength and encouragement to the Christian that enables us to strive for the “discipline of grace.”
Scholarly Reading: Donald G. Bloesch, The Last Things: Resurrection, Judgement, Glory (Intervarsity Press, 2004), 62–78.
In this chapter, Bloesch places the Christian hope of Christ’s return in its fuller biblical context, explaining this event as the fulfillment of the prophetically promised Day of the Lord. While the Day of the Lord has already come in the incarnation of Christ, his second coming marks the consummation of his incarnation “when he comes to set up the eternal kingdom that has no end.”
Contemporary Reading: Keith Mathison, “The Coming of the Kingdom,” Ligonier, November 30, 2007.
While there may be many disagreements and debates over the exact timing and events that accompany Christ’s return, Mathison encourages us to focus on the big picture of redemptive history. In this post, Mathison touches on some of the biggest biblical themes and ideas through which we understand the significance of Christ’s return.
We Believe: Transformative Truth for a Life of Worship and Mission, Chapter 12
University Chapel: Every Eye Shall Now Behold Him
Wednesday, January 8, 12:00pm, Shaw Chapel
Dr. Jonathan Ottaway, Assistant Professor, School of Divinity
Discussion Forum: The Present Impact of the Return of Christ
Monday, February 2, 1:00pm, Library Gallery
Dr. Anna Ord, Dean, College of Health & Behavioral Sciences and Assistant Provost for Graduate Studies
Dr. Robert F. Schwarzwalder, Senior Lecturer, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Jon Thompson, Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
Tenet 6: The Holy Spirit indwells those who receive Christ for the purpose of enabling them to live righteous and holy lives.
Readings:
Classical Reading: Basil The Great – “On the Holy Spirit” (Chapters 6-9). (Online pages 28-44)
One of the earliest and best examinations of the Holy Spirit by one of the greatest Eastern fathers. Basil defends against the attacks of his day and explains why the church believes in the Trinity and the Spirit’s role within the Godhead.
Scholarly Reading: Wayne Grudem, “The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit,” Union Publishing (2025).
A concise overview of the person and work of the Holy Spirit in clear and accessible language. Grudem touches on many of the major elements of pneumatology (the study of the Holy Spirit) in this essay, including his role in spiritual rebirth, inspiration, empowering believers, growing in godliness, guidance, spiritual gifts, and unifying believers.
Contemporary Reading: Arv B, “Enjoying The Work of the Holy Spirit: Who is the Holy Spirit and what does he really do in our lives?” Together For the Gospel (June 27, 2022).
A personal narrative of one pastor as he moved from knowing about the Holy Spirit to genuinely understanding and experiencing the Spirit. A simple account filled with practical insight and wisdom.
We Believe: Transformative Truth for a Life of Worship and Mission, Chapter 7
University Chapel: He Who Gives Life
Wednesday, February 25, 12:00pm, Shaw Chapel
Dr. Jeffrey Anderson, Associate Professor, School of Divinity
Discussion Forum: A Holy Spirit Filled & Empowered Academy
Monday, March 2, 1:00pm, Library Gallery
Dr. Dawn Barbee, Assistant Professor, School of Education
Senior Associate Dean Doug Cook, Senior Associate Dean,Robertson School of Government
Chancellor Gordon Robertson
Tenet 7: The Church is the Body of Christ and is composed of all those who through
belief in Christ have been spiritually regenerated by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The mission of the Church is worldwide evangelism and the nurturing and discipling of Christians.
Readings:
Classical Reading: Athanasius, On the Incarnation (selected readings, especially parts of Chapters 2–4, 8–9). (Use arrows on the right side of the red bar to move back and forth between chapters.)
This text roots the Church’s identity in the Incarnation of Christ, offering a foundational perspective on how our mission and life flow from the work of Christ and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. As we engage with this classic text, we’ll explore how our teaching and community life at Regent reflect a faith that is both Christ-centered and Spirit-filled.
Scholarly Reading: Gerald Bray’s The Church: A Theological and Historical Account, Chapter 7.
Bray’s chapter bridges the gap between theology and practice, exploring the Church as the Body of Christ, called to worldwide evangelism and nurturing discipleship. His work challenges us to be a visible sign of God’s kingdom, embodying both holiness and mission in the world.
Contemporary Reading: “Guide My Feet While I Run This Race” (African American Spiritual).
This African American Spiritual echoes the Church’s Holy Spirit-empowered identity and mission, exemplifying Holy Spirit-led perseverance and discipleship. It invites us to reflect on how our faith journey as the Body of Christ is not an isolated race, but a shared mission sustained and renewed by the Holy Spirit.
We Believe: Transformative Truth for a Life of Worship and Mission, Chapters 8 & 9
University Chapel: Guide My Feet: The Church as Christ's Living Body in the World
Wednesday, March 18, 12:00pm, Shaw Chapel
Dr. Matisha Dentu, Assistant Professor, School of Divinity
Discussion Forum: The Church and the Academy in the Mission of God
Monday, March 23, 1:00pm, Library Gallery
Dr. Bill Brown, Professor & Research Fellow, School of Communication & the Arts
Dr. Mark David Hall, Professor, Robertson School of Government
Meg Kelsey, Director, Center for Global Justice®
