The Old Testament classes will focus on the biblical writers, book outlines, major themes, key individuals, and events in biblical history. The New Testament classes will focus on the cultural, religious, literary, and historical perspectives during the life of Jesus and during the early church, as well as personal applications for students today.
OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
This overview of the Old Testament will focus on the biblical writers, book outlines, major themes, key individuals, and events in biblical history. Students will study the character of God, to get a clear perspective on the overarching rise and fall of man’s relationship with God as displayed in the Old Testament; and to show a clear pattern of man’s constant fluctuation from faithfulness to faithlessness, with an understanding of His consistent faithfulness regardless of our failures.
THE PENTATEUCH
(Genesis-Deuteronomy)
This course is designed to develop a working understanding of the first five books of the Bible, and will better acquaint you with the message of the Old Testament and the part that each individual book plays in forming that message. You will form an understanding of Scripture at large, while also examining how each book fits within and is foundational to the remainder of the Old Testament and the entire Bible.
WISDOM LITERATURE & PROPHECY
This course will guide you thoughtfully through the Old Testament books of wisdom literature and the prophetic books of the Bible in a way that helps you to understand the unique contribution of each of these books in the Bible. This course examines the background and theology of Israel’s wisdom literature. The goals are to understand what “wisdom” means in these literatures, what distinguishes wisdom literature from other kinds of ancient literature, and how these themes inform ethics in the modern Christian tradition. This course will also examine the biblical stories about prophets, the works of the classical or “writing” prophets, the theological perspectives of each prophetic work, and the ways in which Old Testament prophecy is taken up in the proclamation of the New Testament. You will see how these books are foundational for the New Testament, and how they are practical for daily living.
NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY
This overview of the New Testament will focus on the cultural, religious, literary, and historical perspectives during the life of Jesus and during the early church, as well as personal applications for students today.
THE EPISTLES
This course is a practical study of the principles Paul wrote to the churches during his imprisonment. The concepts are presented in language that is easy to understand with explanations, illustrations, and applications that make the concepts helpful to you in both your personal lives and ministries. This course also includes a clear presentation of our identification with Christ as defined by Paul in these epistles.
THE GOSPEL
In this course, students will complete a chronological study of Christ’s birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension as recorded in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The course focuses on the time, place, circumstances, and people involved in the events of our Lord’s ministry; from the incarnation to the ascension, you will grasp a fuller understanding of Christ’s words and works in light of Old Testament prophecy and cultural context.
ACTS
This key transitional book of the Bible will reveal the major changes in God’s dealing with the world and His people, and will guide you to understand the birth and growth of the church under the sovereign direction of the resurrected Christ. The purpose, historical context, and major events of each section will be covered, and how those texts are relevant for faithful Christian living. The course will study practical applications to help you as you face similar problems today and apply the material in Acts to your personal Christian life.
HERMENEUTICS & BIBLE STUDY METHODS
This course presents simple and effective approaches to unlock the word of God and is a study of the crucial importance of sound Bible interpretation. You will study basic principles used to interpret Scripture, receive instruction on multiple methods of Bible interpretation, and see how to apply these principles toward understanding the Bible with clarity.
THEOLOGY: GOD, CHRIST, HOLY SPIRIT AND MAN
These classes are designed to give you an overview of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith, as it surveys the major topics in Christian theology and their relationship to each other. In each class, you will study what the Bible teaches about God’s word itself, God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. It is our desire that you will better understand the heart of God and what he desires from His people, as well as gain a greater understanding as to what it means to be a Christian.
THE 10 MOST MISINTERPRETED PASSAGES OF THE BIBLE
A discussion of the true meaning of the ten most misinterpreted passages of the Bible will include background of each passage, history of the what was happening at the time it was written, and context, providing a better perspective of what these Scriptures truly meant. You will have a better understanding of how and when to use these Scriptures when in ministry as well as in discussion or prayer.
THEOLOGY: THE DOCTRINES OF SIN AND SALVATION, ANGELS AND DEMONS, AND HEAVEN AND HELL
These classes are designed to give you an overview of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith, as it surveys these topics in Christian theology and their relationship to each other. In each class, you will study the definitions, relationship and the differences between the extremes of Sin and Salvation, Heaven and Hell, and Angels and Demons, as well as how each of them evolve. Scripture will be used to show the thread of each of these doctrines throughout the Bible, giving you a deeper understanding and clarity of the role they play in Christianity and your faith.