Fall 2011 Course Schedule

The Fall 2011 semester begins September 12th. Select the course listings below to learn more about class times and description:

• NT 201 Jesus: The Whole Story

• BI 101 Bible Study Methods

• PH 112 Critical Thinking

• HIST 201 History and Theology of Worship

• OT 101 Old Testament Survey

• MI 201 A People's History of Justice in the Modern Era

• ART 212 Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction

• HI 102 Acts to Reformation (IS)

• HI 103 Reformation to Present (IS)

• OT 102 Wisdom Literature (IS)

• NT 213 Luke (IS)

NT 201 Jesus: The Whole Story (3 credits)

This course provides a survey of what the earliest Christians believed about Jesus. There will be two main parts to the course. First, we will look at what the writings of the New Testament say about Jesus, including his birth, years of ministry, death and resurrection, message, and his theological significance. Second, we will look at some of the Christological developments after the Biblical period which eventually led to doctrines such as the Trinity. The overall goal of the course is to help Christians in the twenty-first century better understand how Jesus was understood by his early followers.

BI 101 Bible Study Methods (2 credits)

The Bible study methods class will focus on how we can grasp the intended meaning of Scripture in a way that grasps us, and ultimately changes us. We will learn and practice the principles of the historical-cultural-grammatical method of Bible study that best ensure arriving at true authorial intent.

PH 112 Critical Thinking (3 credits)

This course will examine the relationship between faith and reason and the biblical and theological basis for training our minds. We will learn to assess and respond to arguments raised against Christianity. We will study the basics of logic and learn to identify informal logical fallacies. We will also discuss how to get the most out of reading. This class is for anyone who wishes to love the Lord with all their mind.

HIST 201 History and Theology of Worship (3 credits)

This class provides an overview of worship and art in the Bible, throughout both Old and New Testaments. We will examine the types and forms of worship in the tabernacle, temple, and feasts, as well as the fulfillment of those roles in the new covenant, including the concept of a lifestyle of worship. The class will also provide an overview of worship and arts from Biblical times to modern day practices and forms.

OT 101 Old Testament Survey (3 credits)

Unlock the mysteries that seem to bind the Older Testament. Discover the relevancy of a book written thousands of years ago by different authors from different cultures yet united by one theme. Explore a library of 39 books containing history, poetry, legal, and prophetic literature and discover how these books fit together chronologically.

MI 201 A People’s History of Justice in the Modern Era (3 credits)

This course will look at the topics of justice, injustice, human rights, politics and society from historical, theological and philosophical perspectives. This course will also pay special attention to developments in the modern era and the viewpoint of disenfranchised and oppressed people.

ART 212 Creative Writing: Creative Nonfiction (2 credits)

Creative Nonfiction has exploded in popularity in the last several decades, from memoir to nature writing to travel writing. This course will introduce students to the major modes of creative nonfiction, giving them opportunities to write, revise, and share their stories.

HI 102 Acts to Reformation (3 credits) credit students only

The purpose of this course is to help the student develop an understanding of the major people, places and events in the history of Christianity from the early Church to the eve of the Reformation. Lectures are recorded and presented by Garth Rosell.

HI 103 Reformation to Present (3 credits) credit students only

The purpose of this course is to help the student develop an understanding of the major people, places and events in the history of Christianity from the Reformation to today. Lectures are recorded and presented by Garth Rosell.

OT 102 Wisdom Literature (3 credits) credit students only

"Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding" (Proverbs 3:13). In this course learners discover the role of wisdom in the Book of Proverbs by doing an exegetical study of its contents in their cultural, historical, and literary settings. The course begins with an analysis of the book's structure and purpose, focusing on the forms of wisdom literature as seen in the literary structure of Proverbs. The lecturer, Dr. Bruce Waltke, then moves to poetic analysis and finally to the prominent theme of wisdom that permeates the book. Students are encouraged to apply wisdom themes to life.

NT 213 Luke (3 credits) credit students only

At the heart of Luke's Gospel are questions about God's plan, his Messiah, and the emerging new community of Gentile Christians. In this course, students complete a textual examination of the Gospel of Luke and its message by working through the argument of Luke at one chapter per lecture. The purpose of the lecturer, Dr. Darrell Bock, is to show "how Jesus' life, teaching, death, and resurrection actually reflect divine events 'fulfilled among us' (Luke 1:1)." The course enables students to prepare this narrative material for teaching in ministry, and to apply the message of Luke to life.