Each course would take place once per week from 6-9:30 p.m. on a weeknight or in a Special Mini-Weekend Intensives (Friday night 6 -10 p.m.-all day Saturday 9 a.m-5 p.m.).  Fall Semester would be 12 weeks from mid-September to beginning of December.  Winter Semester would be 12 weeks from beginning of January to end of March.  Spring Semester would be 6 weeks from beginning in April to mid-May.   

Suggested order but can be taken in any order (Rotates between Old and New Testaments in mostly chronological order of the biblical events)

All courses are taught by college/seminary professors and pastors/leaders.

Genesis - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

The Book of Genesis is, in some ways, one of the most important books in the Bible.  To properly understand the entire Bible, one must clearly understand Genesis.  In fact, the New Testament quotes from Genesis at least 165 times. Key doctrine and themes discussed in this class will be: sin, redemption, justification, the fall, evil, Israel, the promise of the Messiah, creation, and covenants.  Key stories and characters in Genesis are: Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.  The Book of Genesis also serves as the first book of the Pentateuch.          

Mark -6 weeks (2 Credits):

The Book of Mark serves as the briefest of the four Gospels studying the life of Christ and may be the oldest of the Gospels.  The major theme of the Book of Mark is Christ the Servant.  Many other key Christian doctrines and themes will also be discussed in this class as well as the difficulties with the end of the Book of Mark.  

Job - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

The oldest written book in the Bible is Job. The book deals with the age-old question of the problem of evil and suffering. The book gives important insights into the work of Satan and into the character of God.

Luke - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

The Book of Luke emphasizes the theme of Christ as the Son of Man that demonstrates Christ’s humanity and serves as a study of the life of Christ.  Many other key Christian doctrines and themes will also be discussed in this class.   

Exodus - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

The second book of the Pentateuch, Exodus the theme of the deliverance from Egypt in fulfillment of God’s promise through the 10 plagues and the crossing of the Red Sea.  The book records the birth of the nation of Israel, the giving of the Ten Commandments and the Law, and the origin of ritual worship.

Matthew - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

The Book of Matthew reflects the Gospel written to the Jews to answer their questions about Jesus of Nazareth who claimed to be their Messiah.  Important sections include the Sermon on the Mount, including the Beatitudes, and the Lord’s Prayer, the parables of the Kingdom, and the Olivet discourse.  The theme is in this study of the life of Christ is Christ as the King.  Many other key Christian doctrines and themes will also be discussed in this class.  

Leviticus and Numbers - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

The third and fourth books of the Pentateuch will be discussed in this class.  Leviticus deals with the holiness of God and His requirements for fellowship with Himself.  Numbers deals with walking by faith, rebellion, and trusting God’s promises.  

John - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

The book of John is the fourth Gospel and is non-synoptic.  This book discusses the Seven Signs-Miracles to reveal the person and mission of Jesus.  This book serves as a study of the life of Christ.  Many other key Christian doctrines and themes will also be discussed in this class.  The difficulties of John 7:53-8:11 will also be discussed.  

Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

Three of the Wisdom Books of the Bible will be covered in this class.  Proverbs major theme is wisdom in everyday life.  Ecclesiastes covers both of the meaning and futility of life.  Song of Songs (Solomon) is a lyric poem in dialogue form discussing love and sexual relations but can be interpreted in a variety of ways.   

Acts - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

The Book of Acts covers the early history of the Church and the missionary expansion spreading the Church in the form of the Great Commission.  Many key Christian doctrines and themes will also be discussed in this class.     

James - 6 weeks (2 Credits):

The first and oldest written book in the New Testament and written by the brother of Jesus.  This book is concerned with the practical aspects of Christian conduct and it tells us how faith works in everyday life. Faith and works, the use of our tongue, and prayer for the sick are some of the key themes in this book.

Deuteronomy - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

The final book of the Pentateuch covers many important theological themes and doctrines.  In fact, Jesus quoted from this book to refute the devil and to summarize the Law.  Of the 27 New Testament books, 17 books quote from the Deuteronomy.     

Galatians - 6 weeks (2 Credits):

This class will study the first and oldest of Paul’s Letters.  Many key Christian doctrines and themes such as justification of faith and the fruit of the Spirit are discussed in this class.  

Joshua, Judges, and Ruth - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

These three historical Old Testament books cover a variety of themes and key Christian doctrines.  Joshua covers the entering of the Promised Land. Judges covers a dark history in the transitional period before Israel’s monarchy where God raised up various military and civil judges in Israel to bring the country back to the Lord.  Ruth also takes place during the Judges period and covers the partial lineage of David and thus of Christ.    

I Corinthians and II Corinthians - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

These two important letters of Paul deal with many key Christian doctrines and themes such as the Holy Spirit, Spiritual Gifts, love, sexual and moral behavior, the resurrection of Christ, financial giving, as well as personal and autobiographical glimpses into Paul’s life.

I Samuel - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

This book focuses on three principle characters: Samuel, Saul, and David. Well known stories include David and Goliath, David and Jonathan, and Saul and the witch of Endor.

I and 2 Thessalonians - 6 weeks (2 Credits):

These two important letters of Paul cover some key eschatological (end times) themes.  

II Samuel - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

This book records the history of King David’s reign, including his making Jerusalem the political and religious center of the nation, the establishing of the Davidic dynasty, the Davidic Covenant with God, David’s great military victories, and his sin with Bathsheba, and his sin with his census taking.   

Romans - 12 weeks 4 Credits):

The longest, most formal, and most theological of Paul’s letters.  This book quotes the Old Testament over 50 times. Many key Christian doctrines and themes such as justification of faith, the righteousness of God, general revelation, universal sin, original sin, union with Christ, spiritual gifts, and respect for government.   

Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon - 6 weeks (2 Credits):

These four books of Paul are commonly referred to as the Prison Letters since they were all written during Paul’s Roman imprisonment.  Many  key Christian doctrines and themes such as spiritual gifts, predestination, Christ’s headship over the body, the Church, spiritual warfare, God as fully God and fully human, prayer, supremacy and all-sufficiently of Christ, and heresy.   

I Kings and II Kings - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

These two important Old Testament historical books trace the history of the kings of Israel and Judah from Solomon to the Babylonian captivity and include descriptions of Solomon’s wisdom and his dedication of the Temple, the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, revivals under Hezekiah and Josiah.   

Titus, I Timothy, and II Timothy - 6 weeks (2 Credits):

These three books of Paul are commonly referred to as the Pastoral Letters.  Many key Christian doctrines and themes such as pastoral care of churches and qualifications for ministers and elders, heresy, and the inspiration of Scripture.  

I Chronicles and II Chronicles - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

These two Old Testament historical books focus on the reigns of King David, Solomon, and all the kings of Judah to the Babylonian captivity.   

Hebrews - 6 weeks (2 Credits):

The theme of the Hebrews is the superiority of Christ and thus Christianity and includes the heroes of the faith passages.  Many key Christian doctrines and themes will be discussed in this class.  The mystery of the book’s authorship will also be discussed.  

Psalms - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

This poetic book is often the favorite of many Christians.  The variety and types of songs, laments, and praises within the Book of Psalms will be discussed in the course.    

Jonah, Obadiah, Zephaniah, and Habukkuk - 6 weeks (2 Credits):

These four Minor Prophet books make up this course.  Jonah shows that God has concern for the whole world.  Obadiah is the shortest of the Old Testament books and covers judgments. Zephaniah also covers judgment and eschatology.  Habukkuk has a great psalm of praise in it and Habakkuk 2:4 is quoted often in the New Testament books of Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews.  

I John, II John, and III John - 6 weeks (2 Credits):

These three letters of John are covered in this class and cover the themes of light and darkness, children of God and children of the devil, love for God and one another, walking in Christ’s commandments, and heresy.  Many other key Christian doctrines and themes are discussed.

Isaiah - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

The first of the Prophetic Books and a book that covers such key Christian themes and doctrines on eschatology, prophecy, and the Messiah.  

I Peter, II Peter, and Jude - 6 weeks (2 Credits):

These three important short General Letters cover many key Christian doctrines and themes such as the true grace of God in the life of the believer, heresies and false teachers, inspiration of Scripture, and eschatology.   
Amos, Joel, Hosea, Micah, Nahum, Zechariah - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

These six Minor Prophet books make up this course and cover the key Christian doctrines and themes of eschatology, prophecy, sin and judgment.  

Jeremiah and Lamentations - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

These two major Prophetic books cover many key Christian doctrines and themes such as eschatology, prophecy, sin and judgment, and the Messiah.

Daniel - 6 weeks (2 Credits):

This major Prophetic book contains stories about Daniel in the lion’s den and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego thrown into the fire.  Daniel also contains many key Christian doctrines and themes such as eschatology, angels, prophecy.     

Ezekiel - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

This major Prophetic book covers such key Christian themes and doctrines on eschatology, prophecy, and the Messiah.

Revelation - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

The Book of Revelation is one of the most intriguing and difficult books of the Bible contains many key Christian doctrines and themes such as eschatology, angels, Satan and demonology, prophecies, and Christ’s second coming.  Different ways to interpret Revelation will be discussed in this course.    

Ezra, Haggai, Esther, and Nehemiah - 12 weeks (4 Credits):

These four historical and prophetic books deal with the time of the captivity and the return from exile to Israel and the rebuilding of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem.  The difficulties in the Book of Esther will also be discussed.      

Malachi and the Intertestamental Period - 6 weeks (2 Credits):

This course will cover the final Minor Prophetic book and the final book of the Old Testament, Malachi.  Also covered in this class will be the study of the Intertestamental Period from 400 B.C. to the time of Jesus birth in 6-9 B.C.  Some of the key themes of this important 400 year period are: Jewish history, the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great and the rise of the Greek Empire, the rise of the Roman Republic and Empire, the Maccabees, the formation of the Pharisees, the formation of the Sadducees, the Essenes, the Scribes, Herodians, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Apocrypha writings, and the everyday life in the time of Jesus and the New Testament.

Note: Biblical Interpretive Methods: 12 weeks (4 Credits); Old Testament Overview: 12 weeks (4 Credits); New Testament Overview: 6 weeks (2 Credits) from the Leadership Track can all three be included in the Bible Track Certificate or Diploma Levels if desired.

BIBLE TRACK 2 - COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:

Contact:  612-396-3091