B101 - Old Testament Survey I

An introduction to the entire Old Testament, employing thematic and exegetical methods. Literary structure, historical background and parallel passages are also utilized to discover the unique and priceless lessons of each book. This survey covers Genesis through I & II Samuel.

Objectives:

1. That the student will become familiar with the general contents and interpretation of the Old Testament books from Genesis through II Samuel.
   
2. That the student will recognize the importance of historical and geographical background for the proper interpretation of this section of the OT.
   
3. That the student will recognize the overall importance of the OT, its proper authority, and its absolute importance for a thorough understanding of the New Testament.
   

Homework Load:

• 2 exams
  
• Eight Reading Reports on Scripture reading. Students must post brief comments on the passages they read that week and then respond to another student’s comment.
  
• Six Reading Worksheets based on Larry Heyler’s book.
  
• A book report reviewing The Messiah.
  

Required Textbooks:

• The Bible (English Standard Version recommended)
  
• Yesterday, Today and Forever by Larry Helyer ISBN: 1879215470
  
• The Messiah: Revealed, Rejected, Received by W. Varner ISBN: 1420807870
  

B102 - Old Testament Survey II

An introduction to the entire Old Testament, employing both thematic and exegetical methods. Literary structure, historical background, and parallel passages are also utilized to discover the unique and priceless lessons of each book. This survey covers Kings through Malachi.

Objectives:

1. That the student will become familiar with the general contents and interpretation of the OT books from I Kings through Malachi.
   
2. That the student will be able to distinguish the different literary genres of this section of the OT - History, Poetry, and Prophecy.
   
3. That the student will recognize the importance of historical and geographical background for the proper interpretation of this section of the OT.
   
4. That the student will recognize the overall importance of the OT, its proper authority, and its absolute necessity for a thorough understanding of the New Testament.
   

Homework Load:

• 2 exams
  
• Ten Reading Reports on Scripture reading. Students must post brief comments on the passages they read that week and then respond to another student’s comment.
  
• Five Reading Worksheets based on Larry Heyler’s book.
  
• A book report reviewing The Messiah.
  

Required Textbooks:

• The Bible (English Standard Version recommended)
  
• Yesterday, Today and Forever by Larry Helyer ISBN: 1879215470
  
• The Messiah: Revealed, Rejected, Received by W. Varner ISBN: 1420807870
  

B201 - New Testament Survey I

An introduction to the books of the New Testament with special emphasis on the life, teachings, and redemptive work of Christ, the founding and growth of the church, and the teachings of the epistles and Revelation. On the basis of the biblical text, parallel readings, projects, and lectures, the events and messages of the New Testament will be portrayed against their historical and cultural setting. New Testament I surveys the Gospels and Acts, while New Testament II is devoted to the Epistles and Revelation.

Objectives:

1. To be familiar with the basic background, argument and flow of the Gospels and Acts.
   
2. To know the themes, emphases and unique features of the Gospels and Acts.
   
3. To be able to show the relationship of each book to other parts of Scripture.
   
4. To develop a greater love for God, His Word, and others.
   
5. To grow in Christ-likeness and maturity in one's relationship with God in prayer and worship.
   

Homework Load:

• 3 exams
  
• Weekly reading assignments from Matthew to Acts
  
• 2 major writing projects outlining books of the Bible providing explanation and personal application.
  

Required Textbooks:

• Your Bible (We recommend one of the following translations: NASB, ESV, NIV)

B202 - New Testament Survey II

An introduction to the books of the New Testament, with special emphasis on the life, teachings, and redemptive work of Christ, the founding and growth of the church, and the teachings of the epistles and Revelation. On the basis of the biblical text, parallel readings, projects, and lectures, the events and messages of the New Testament will be portrayed against their historical and cultural setting. New Testament I surveys the Gospels and Acts, while New Testament II is devoted to the Epistles and Revelation.

Objectives:

1. Have a greater understanding and depth of the Epistles and Revelation, their background, argument, and flow.
   
2. Have developed a greater understanding and depth of some of the major doctrines of the Christian Church.
   
3. An ability to think and live biblically.
   
4. A greater desire to live a life of consistent, selfless Christian service.
   
5. A greater love for God, His Word, and others.
   

Homework Load:

• 3 exams
  
• Weekly reading assignments from Romans to Revelation.
  
• 2 major writing projects outlining books of the Bible providing explanation and personal application.
  

Required Textbooks:

• Your Bible (We recommend one of the following translations: NASB, ESV, NIV)
  

B346 - Life of Christ

A thorough overview of the life of Jesus Christ on earth, with special attention to the developing emphases and distinctive purposes that prevailed during our Lord’s public ministry. Theological and chronological difficulties are also considered.

Objectives:

1. To provide the student with an appreciation of the historical and cultural background of Jesus’ earthly life so one can place Him within the context of His own day. The Jewish world in which He lived will be particularly emphasized.
2. To focus the student’s attention primarily on the narrative flow of the events so as to ascertain the basic pattern of development in Jesus’ actions and teachings. Particular emphasis will be placed on incidents rather than the long discourses.
3. To introduce the student to some current critical thought about Jesus and the Gospels. These critical ideas center in such movements as the “Jesus Seminar” and the increasing fascination with Gnostic “Gospels” and their alternative view of Jesus.
4. To stress the humanity of the Lord while also affirming His full deity.   To explore how these two vital truths are complementary and not contradictory in achieving a better understanding His words and works.
5. To introduce the student to the various theological emphases of Jesus’ teaching – His Messiahship, His miracles, His preaching of the Kingdom, His knowledge and sinlessness. An effort will be made to understand the importance of these issues even if all difficulties cannot be solved.
6. To understand better the Passion of the Lord during the last months of going up to Jerusalem and particularly the last week of His earthly life and ministry.
7. To challenge the student to apply to his/her life the spiritual principles of Jesus’ life and teaching so we can be better formed into His image in our daily walk.

Homework Load:

• Read assigned textbooks and report reading, summarizing some of the reading.
• Take a midterm and final exam.
  

Required Textbooks:

• A Harmony of the Gospels: NASB edition by Robert L. Thomas and Stanley N. Gundry (ISBN #006063524X)
  
• What have they Done with Jesus by Ben Witherington III (ISBN #0061120022)
  
• In the Steps of Jesus by Peter Walker (ISBN #0310276470)
  

BTH321 - Christian Theology I

An analysis of the great doctrines of Scripture. The significant issues of each great theme are discussed, taking care to demonstrate that the Scriptures are the only true source of theology. The student is expected to learn to examine all previous doctrinal conceptions in the light of the Word of God. The fall semester will cover Theology proper, Bibliology, Christology, Pneumatology and Angelology.

Objectives:

1. Cognitive
   
   • To understand the process of systematic theology.
     
   • To understand the essential teaching of Scripture in each area of theology covered (including prolegomena).
     
   • To understand the major options on the more controversial subjects within each area.
2. Affective
   
   • To appreciate the place and value of systematic theology.
     
   • To develop confidence in the sufficiency of the Bible to deal with relevant issues in each area.
3. Skills
   
   • To improve the student's ability to systematize biblical teaching on a subject.
     
   • To develop the ability to discern between differing options in theology.

Homework Load:

• Read assigned textbooks and answer question sheets that prepare you for book exams.
  
• Write a two page paper on each section of Theology covered in lectures (four sections total).
  
• Four exams, one on each section of Theology.
  

Required Textbooks:

• The Inspiration of Scripture by Rene Pache (ISBN #187921511X)
  
• Knowing God by J.I. Packer (ISBN #0340604085)
  
• Jesus Christ Our Lord by John F. Walvoord (ISBN #0802443265)
  
• The Holy Spirit by Charles C. Ryrie ( ISBN #0802435653)
  

BTH322 - Christian Theology II

An analysis of the great doctrines of Scripture. The significant issues of each great theme are discussed, and the student is expected to take at least a preliminary position in his own choice of the options involved. The second course will cover the doctrines of Man, Sin, Redemption, the Church, and the Last Things.

Objectives:

1. Cognitive
   
   • To understand the process of systematic theology.
     
   • To understand the essential teaching of Scripture in the five areas of theology.
     
   • To understand the major options on the more controversial subjects within each area.
2. Affective
   
   • To appreciate the place and value of systematic theology.
     
   • To develop confidence in the sufficiency of the Bible to deal with relevant issues in each area.
3. Skills
   
   • To improve the student's ability to systematize biblical teaching on a subject.
     
   • To develop ability to discern between differing options in theology.

Homework Load:

• Read assigned textbooks and answer question sheets that prepare you for book exams.
  
• Write a two page paper on each section of Theology covered in lectures (four sections total).
  
• Eight exams, one on each section of Theology.
  

Required Textbooks:

• Created in God's Image by Anthony Hokema (ISBN 0802808506)
  
• Saved by Grace by Anthony Hokema (ISBN 0853646252)
  
• The Church in God's Program by Robert Saucy (ISBN 080241544X)
  
• The Bible and Future Events by Leon Wood ( ISBN 0310347017)
  

BC300 - Introduction to Biblical Counseling

Throughout this course, the student will be confronted with at least 13 foundational statements regarding biblical counseling. Each statement could be likened to a pillar that supports the structure and framework of counseling. These foundational principles form the basis of the methodology for biblical counseling. Without a biblical understanding of the nature of counseling that can accurately be called Scriptural, the counselor will be more apt to substitute the teaching of the Bible in the area of counseling with worldly philosophies of psychology. These 13 foundational statements will serve as driving motivations for the biblical counselor who wishes to base his ministry on the sufficiency of Scripture. Students will gain a greater confidence in the sufficiency and superiority of the Scripture for handling all the personal and interpersonal problems of life. This course also lays a foundation for understanding counseling as a vital ministry of all members of the local church.
Objectives:

1. Pursue an enriched and improved personal life and relationship with Christ.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts, presuppositions, and distinctive features of biblical counseling.
3. Identify and develop the personal qualities that are necessary for effective counseling.
4. Recognize and understand how and why biblical counseling differs from all other kinds of counseling.
5. Evaluate people and their problems in a distinctly biblical way.
6. Develop a practical framework for understanding the counseling process from a biblical perspective.
7. Build upon a correct theoretical basis when pursuing future studies in biblical counseling.

Homework Load:

• 2 exams
• Weekly reading reports
• A Personal Improvement Project including worksheets, frequent journaling and a summary report.
• A group project where each person contributes a portion of a counseling case study analysis.
• A single, extensive scripture memory quiz.

Required Textbooks:

• Counseling: How to Counsel Biblically by John MacArthur and Wayne Mack (ISBN #1-41850-005-4)
• Psychobabble by Richard Ganz (ISBN #0-89107-734-0)
• Idols of the Heart by Elyse Fitzpatrick (ISBN #0-87552-198-3)
• Our Sufficiency in Christ by John F. MacArthur ( ISBN #1581340133)

E211 - English Literature I

This course is designed to present a broad overview of the literature of Britain from the early Middle Ages through the Renaissance to the edge of the Enlightenment, or from approximately 700 to 1700 AD. Massive changes in language, religion, politics, art forms -- the whole of culture and society -- make this era of history both fascinating and difficult. However, early Britain is largely the root source of our American culture, particularly in its Protestant and evangelical expression: much of what you are today has been deeply influenced by the texts you will be reading for this course.

Objectives:

1. Gain a general understanding and appreciation for the literary achievements of the period; grasping the historical context of art in early modern Britain;
2. Develop an ability to read and understand a wide variety of literary texts and to interpret these in the light of a biblical worldview;
3. Personal spiritual growth as seen in an increased capability for reading non-biblical materials in a sensitive, biblically-critical mode
4. Appreciate the creative artistry of a given artifact while remaining aware of it as the product of sinful humanity;
5. Be able to write about and discuss literary art from a definitively Christocentric position.

Homework Load:

• Journal entries in response to daily reading assignments
• Term Paper on a topic of your choosing (5 pages)
• 2 Exams

Required Textbooks:

• The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume I, 6th, 7th or 8th edition (ISBN # 0393974871)

E110 - English Composition*

E110 is designed to help students become stronger writers—especially in the field of academics. Ten weeks are spent building a foundation that will serve students well in future classes and in the rest of life. The course focuses on two things: Structure and style. By style, we mean all the ingredients that will help students craft cleaner, crisper, and more engaging sentences and paragraphs. These basic skills play a vital role in success as a writer in all professions and areas of academia.
An equal amount of time is spent on structure. By structure, we mean the basic elements of a solid, cohesive paper—one that makes sense. This portion of the course is as much about thinking as it is about writing, perhaps even more so. It will sharpen analytical skills and help take some of the mystery out of writing a college-level paper.