Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course you will;

The Social World Of The Old Testament

The Land of Ancient Israel

· Differences between Ancient Israel and the World Today

· The Geographical Location of Israel

· The Topography of Israel

· Resources for Studying Ancient Israel

Families and Home Life in Ancient Israel

· What Is a Family?

· Biblical Patterns of Marriage

· Aspects of Israelite Families

· Financial Transactions in Marriages

· Stages of a Marriage

· Childbearing and Childbirth in Israel

· Barrenness in the Ancient Near East

· Miscarriages in the Ancient Near East

· Nursing and Naming a Child in the Ancient Near East

Occupations and Economics in the Ancient Near East

· Economic Realities of Family Life

· Childhood in the Ancient Near East

· Occupations Outside of the Home

· Occupations for Women in the Ancient Near East

· Using People as Pledges in Business Transactions

· Legal Rights of Women in the Ancient Near East

· Literacy of Women in the Ancient Near East

· Introduction to Economics

· Genesis and Economics

· The Created Order

· Human Cooperation in Creation

· Ownership of Personal Property in Israel

· The Destructiveness of the Fall

· The Socioeconomics of Land Ownership

· Supporting the Poor in Israel

Government in Ancient Israel

· Leadership Development in Israel

· Moses’ and Joshua’s Leadership

· The Judges and the Monarchy

· The King’s Rule in Israel

· David’s Ascension as King

· Bureaucratic Appointments of David and Solomon

Religious Activities in the Ancient Near East

· Personal and National Altars

· The Sections of the Tabernacle

· Symbolism in the Tabernacle

· Shrines in Israel, Women and Prayer

· Women and Worship in the Ancient Near East

· Religious Practices of Women in the Ancient Near East

· Purposes of the Priests in Israel

· Practical Tasks of the Priests in Israel

Old Testament Structure & Story

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion you should be able to:

The most important question a person can ask is, “Who is Jesus?” In this course, the author evaluates the testimony of each of the Gospel writers and the apostle Paul to discover who the New Testament authors believed Jesus to be. He also considers the testimony of Jesus himself to see how he understood his own identity. You will have the opportunity to look at Jesus through historical, religious, and personal lenses as you reflect on your own response to Jesus’s question, “Who do you say that I am?”

The New Testament: Its Structure and Story

The Historical Jesus

• • Jesus and the Kingdom
  • What Did Jesus Think of Himself?
  • Did Jesus Think He Was God?

The Gospels

• • Overview
  • The Gospel of Mark: An Apology for the Crucified Messiah
  • The Gospel of Matthew: The Davidic Messiah
  • The Gospel of Luke: The Prophetic Messiah
  • The Gospel of John: The Elusive Messiah

The Apostle Paul

• • Paul’s Divine Christology: Part 1
  • Paul’s Divine Christology: Part 2
  • Concluding Remarks on Paul
  • From Nazareth to Nicaea

The Jesus of the Gospels

The Jesus of the Gospels focuses on the historical Jesus and the reliability of the four gospels. The course surveys different “quests” for the historical Jesus by critical scholarship and examines, apologetically, what we can demonstrate about the person of Jesus. It assesses the teaching of Jesus, his miracles, the intention of his ministry, and the historical evidence for his death and resurrection.

The Gospels and the Historical Jesus

• • • What Can We Know about Jesus?
    • Sources for Knowing about Jesus
    • What Are the Gospels? Part 1
    • What Are the Gospels? Part 2
    • How the Gospels Came to Be

Quests for the Historical Jesus

• • • Searching for the Real Jesus
    • The First Quest for the Historical Jesus
    • Rudolf Bultmann and the Period of No Quest: Part 1
    • Rudolf Bultmann and the Period of No Quest: Part 2
    • The Second Quest and the Jesus Seminar
    • The Contemporary Scene
    • Examining Method and Context
    • The Criteria of Authenticity
    • Contemporary Portraits: Part 1
    • Contemporary Portraits: Part 2

The Reliability of the Gospels

• • • Presuppositions, Biases, and the Burden of Proof
    • Luke: A Reliable Historian
    • A Generally Reliable Gospel Tradition
    • Contradictions in the Gospels
    • The Historical Reliability of John

The Chronology of Jesus’ Ministry

• • • A Portrait of Jesus from Afar
    • The Basic Structure of Jesus’ Ministry
    • A Chronology of Jesus’ Life

Jesus’ Birth and Childhood

• • • Introduction to the Birth Narratives
    • The Genealogies
    • The Virginal Conception
    • Bethlehem and the Census
    • Popular Myths about Christmas
    • Jesus’ Family Life

The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry

• • • John the Baptist: The Herald of Messianic Salvation
    • The Baptism of Jesus
    • The Temptation of Jesus

The Teaching of Jesus

• • • Jesus the Teacher
    • The Kingdom of God
    • Jesus and the Law: Part 1
    • Jesus and the Law: Part 2
    • Grace and Works
    • Jesus and Social Justice
    • The Parables of the Kingdom: Part 1
    • The Parables of the Kingdom: Part 2

The Miracles of Jesus

• • • The Question of Miracles
    • Did Jesus Perform Miracles? Part 1
    • Did Jesus Perform Miracles? Part 2
    • The Significance of Jesus’ Miracles

The Messianic Words and Deeds of Jesus

• • • The Remarkable Authority of Jesus
    • The Scope of Jesus’ Ministry: Calling the Twelve
    • The Scope of Jesus’ Ministry: A Universal Kingdom
    • The Significance of the Triumphal Entry
    • The Significance of the Temple Cleansing
    • Jesus’ Titles: Christ
    • Jesus’ Titles: Son of Man
    • Jesus’ Titles: Son of God
    • Jesus’ Titles: Lord

The Death of Jesus

• • • The Role of the Romans
    • The Role of the Jews
    • Jesus’ Expectations
    • The Significance of Jesus’ Death

The Resurrection of Jesus

• • • The Importance of the Resurrection
    • Rationalistic Explanations for the Resurrection
    • Historical Evidence for the Resurrection
    • The Significance of the Resurrection

Concluding Thoughts

• • • Faith, Apologetics, and the Gospels
    • The Already/Not Yet Kingdom of God

Jesus and Archaeology 

Join the author on a journey to some of the most significant New Testament archaeological sites. Filmed on-site in Israel’s Galilee region, Dead Sea region, and Jerusalem, this course will give you insight into first-century socioeconomic life and will help you grasp the historical and biblical context of Jesus’ ministry.

As the course takes you through cities and other locations around the Sea of Galilee, you’ll learn where Jesus and his disciples walked and lived, including Capernaum, the headquarters of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. Discover how the Qumran Dead Sea Scrolls reveal how deeply rooted in the Old Testament the early Christian movement was, and hear how these texts have been preserved for future generations. Explore burial practices and evidence of crucifixion in the first century in Jerusalem.

Galilee and the Surrounding Areas

• • • Nazareth
    • Capernaum: Synagogue and Peter’s House
    • Bethsaida
    • Magdala: Village and Synagogue
    • Magdala: Boat
    • Caesarea Maritima

Dead Sea Region

• • • Masada and the Dead Sea
    • The Essenes and the Dead Sea Scrolls
    • Messianic Expectation at Qumran
    • Damascus Document and the Serek Scroll

Jerusalem

• • • Discoveries in and around Jerusalem
    • Hezekiah’s Tunnel and the Pool of Siloam
    • The Jerusalem Temple and Evidence for the Crucifixion
    • Roman Crucifixion and Jewish Burial Practices
    • X-Shaped versus T-Shaped Cross Theories
    • Jehohanan’s Heel Bone: Part 1
    • Jehohanan’s Heel Bone: Part 2
    • Jesus’ Cross
    • Jewish Burial Practices at the Tombs of Aceldama
    • The Shroud Tomb and Jesus’ Burial
    • Jesus’ Burial and Resurrection

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion you should be able to:

• Discuss the authorship, date, genre, and historical reliability of the book of Acts
• Indicate the relationship between the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts
• Explain the importance of Acts and the best ways to interpret the book
• Outline the book of Acts and identify its major scenes
• Describe the characters of the book of Acts and how they are characterized by Luke
• Identify the literary parallels that exist in the book of Acts
• Recall how Luke uses the ancient cultural practice of hospitality to show how distinct groups are able to become socially incorporated into the one Christian movement
• Recognize the major themes and subjects in the book of Acts
• Express the relationships the early church has with the Jews and the Gentiles

Background for the Study of Acts

• • • The Authorship of Acts
    • The Date of Acts
    • The Genre of Acts
    • The Historical Reliability of Acts
    • The Relationship of Acts to Luke
    • The Importance of Acts
    • Interpreting Acts

 Spirit, Kingdom, and Commission (Acts 1:1–26)

• • • The Continuing Story of Jesus
    • Enactment and Proclamation
    • Narrating the Church’s Testimony
    • Judas, Peter, and the Twelve

Pentecost and the Spirit (Acts 2:1–47)

• • • The Event of Pentecost: Part 1
    • The Event of Pentecost: Part 2
    • Peter’s Speech: Part 1
    • Peter’s Speech: Part 2

The Power of the Resurrected Messiah (Acts 3:1–4:31)

• • • The Lame Man Healed
    • Jesus’ Witnesses
    • God’s Fulfillment and the People’s Response
    • The Beginning of a Conflict
    • The Conflict between the Apostles and the Jewish Leaders: Part 1
    • The Conflict between the Apostles and the Jewish Leaders: Part 2

Threats to the Church and God’s Response (Acts 4:32–6:7)

• • • The Unity of the Church
    • The Threat of Ananias and Sapphira
    • The Threat to Israel’s Leaders
    • The Threat of the Hellenists and Hebrews

Stephen, the Hellenists, and the Church’s Expansion (Acts 6:8–9:31)

• • • The Persecution of Stephen
    • Stephen’s Speech: Israel’s History of Rejection
    • Stephen’s Speech: God’s Unbound Glory
    • Stephen’s Speech: The Temple Idolatry
    • The Fulfillment of God’s Promises and Acts 1:8
    • The Significance of Samaria
    • The Samaritans and the Filling of the Spirit
    • The Turf Battles
    • The Ethiopian Eunuch: Part 1
    • The Ethiopian Eunuch: Part 2
    • The Conversion of Paul

Peter, Cornelius, and the Gentiles’ Inclusion (Acts 9:32–11:30)

• • • The Beginnings of Gentile Inclusion
    • The Story of Cornelius and Peter: Part 1
    • The Story of Cornelius and Peter: Part 2
    • The Story of Cornelius and Peter: Part 3

The Jerusalem Church (Acts 12:1–25)

• • • From Upheaval to Growth
    • The Epiphany of the Angel in Prison
    • The Epiphany at Mary’s House
    • The Epiphany of Herod and the Angel in Caesarea

Paul’s First Missionary Journey (Acts 13:1–14:28)

• • • Witnesses to the End of the Earth
    • Paul and Barnabas on the Island of Cyprus
    • Paul’s Sermon in the Synagogue: Part 1
    • Paul’s Sermon in the Synagogue: Part 2
    • The Responses to Paul’s Sermon
    • Paul and Barnabas in the City of Iconium
    • Paul and Barnabas in Lystra

The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:1–35)

• • • Gentile Salvation and Inclusion
    • A New Community

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (Acts 15:36–18:22)

• • • Divine Initiative
    • The Role of Gentile Hospitality
    • Lydia’s Hospitality
    • The Philippian Jailer’s Hospitality
    • Gentile Hospitality in Thessalonica and Corinth
    • Christianity and Conflict
    • Paul’s Speech at the Areopagus: Part 1
    • Paul’s Speech at the Areopagus: Part 2

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (Acts 19:1–20:38)

• • • Christ’s Agent in Ephesus
    • The Conflict with Artemis
    • Paul’s Return to Jerusalem
    • Paul’s Speech to the Ephesian Elders

Paul in Jerusalem (Acts 21:15–26:32)

• • • Introduction to the Final Chapters of Acts
    • Paul’s Relationship to Judaism
    • Paul in the Temple
    • Paul’s Defense Speeches: The Teacher of Israel
    • Paul’s Defense Speeches: Jesus, the Fulfillment of Scripture

Paul’s Journey to Rome (Acts 27:1–28:31)

• • • The Importance of a Narrative Ending
    • The Voyage to Rome
    • The Shipwreck on Malta: Theoxeny
    • The Shipwreck on Malta: The Barbarians
    • The Shipwreck on Malta: The Success of the Divine Visitation
    • Paul, the Prophet to Israel

Learning Objectives

During one of his missionary trips the Apostle Paul questioned a group of believers about the Holy Spirit. He asked if they had received the Holy Spirit since they believed. Their answer was, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost” (Acts 19:2).* Paul shared the message of the ministry of the Holy Spirit with these Christians (Acts 19). Today it is equally important that believers understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit. God promised:

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My
Spirit upon all flesh… (Acts 2:17)

The fact that God is willing at this time to pour out His Spirit upon us makes this study important. We must understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit in order to be part of this special revelation of the power of God. The study of the Holy Spirit is one of the major doctrines of the Bible. A doctrine is all the teachings which relate to a particular subject. Paul said: …give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (I Timothy 4:13) It is not through the natural powers of man that God moves in our world. It is through the ministry of the Holy Spirit: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord. (Zechariah 4:6)

This course examines the nature and personality of the Holy Spirit. It discusses the titles given the Holy Spirit and emblems which represent Him. Both reveal much about His ministry. The purposes, gifts, and fruit of the Holy Spirit are examined in detail. Practical guidelines are given for experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit, identifying spiritual gifts, and developing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

____________________

* The term “Holy Ghost” used in the Bible refers to the Holy Spirit. He is called either the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost.

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

• Describe the personality of the Holy Spirit.
• List various names and titles of the Holy Spirit.
• Identify emblems representing the Holy Spirit.
• Describe the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
• Explain how to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
• Receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
• List and define the gifts of the Spirit.
• Identify your spiritual gift(s).
• Identify the fruit of the Spirit.
• Identify the works of the flesh.
• Develop the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life. 

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion you should be able to:

Examine one of the most exciting and controversial books in the Bible, the book of Revelation. Explore the challenging aspects of the book as well as the beautiful elements that invite us to worship God. This course focuses on the themes in Revelation, including prayer, suffering in light of hope, and how the Spirit empowers us to share Christ with others.

How to Approach Revelation

• • • An Overview of Commentaries
    • Central Themes in Revelation
    • Interpretive Principles for Reading Revelation
    • Reading Revelation Badly
    • Common Questions When Interpreting Revelation
    • Reapplied Symbols in Revelation
    • Exploring Symbols: 666 and Babylon
    • The Symbolism of the Mark of the Beast
    • The Time Structure of Revelation
    • Emperor Worship and the Setting of Revelation
    • The Context of Apocalyptic Literature
    • Comparing Revelation and Other Apocalyptic Texts

The Beginning of Revelation

• • • Jesus in Revelation
    • The Time Is Soon
    • Epistolary Introduction
    • The Centrality of Jesus
    • The Narrative Introduction
    • The Portrayal of Jesus
    • Jesus among the Lampstands
    • The Seven Stars and the Seven Angels

The Messages to the Seven Churches

• • • The Church at Ephesus
    • The Church at Smyrna
    • The Church at Pergamum
    • The Church at Thyatira
    • The Church at Sardis
    • The Church at Philadelphia
    • Excursus: The Period of Tribulation
    • The Church at Laodicea, Part 1
    • The Church at Laodicea, Part 2

The Throne Room Vision

• • • A Scene of Heavenly Worship
    • The Elders and the Four Creatures
    • Jesus the Lamb
    • Hymns of Redemption

Opening the Seven Seals

• • • Seals of Judgment
    • Martyrs as Sacrifices
    • God’s End-Time Army
    • Interpreting the 144,000
    • Reapplying Traditional Biblical Symbols
    • Plague of Locusts
    • Eating the Scroll

Key Imagery in Revelation

• • • Two Witnesses and the Temple
    • The Earth Belongs to God
    • The Mother, the Child, and the Dragon
    • A Reapplication of Time
    • Celestial Combat

Identifying the Beasts

• • • The Beast from the Sea
    • The Dragon, the Beast, and the Lamb
    • The Parody of the Beast
    • The Beast’s Name

The Beginning of Judgment

• • • The Army on Mount Zion
    • Announcements of Judgment
    • God’s Winepress
    • Bowls of God’s Anger
    • The Plagues Begin
    • Babylon the Prostitute
    • The Kings of the Earth
    • Babylon’s Economy
    • The Arrogance of Rome
    • The Economics of Rome
    • Crucial Imports

The Reign of God

• • • The Beginning of God’s Reign
    • Views of the Millennium
    • The Millennium as a Literary Device
    • New Heavens and Earth
    • A Depiction of the City
    • The Glory of God’s City

Conclusion

• • • Final Thought

In this course, we are making a careful evaluation of the strategies available to win the war against Satan in the battle for your body. You will learn to do battle for your physical body and to minister these truths to other wounded warriors in God’s army.

Learning Objectives

This course is an Introduction to Christian Apologetics which is simply providing an explanation or defense for the Christian faith.  We will see several arguments this generation has to the existence of God, the identity of Jesus, and Systematic Theology.

Upon successful completion you should be able to:

• Identify the need for Apologetics

• Show Scientific proof to support the existence of God

• Understand the Role of miracles in Apologetics

• Show evidence that Jesus is God

• Show evidence that the Bible is the Word of God