Character Development – How to Fulfill Your Call in Life (2 units)
God has created you a unique person who can accomplish things no one else on earth can. When you discover and fulfill your destiny, you will become a world-changer—and a happier and more fulfilled person. Come and be changed and empowered for life!
Character Development is a series of topics on the most important quality of a Christian – character. It’s the very opposite of the hypocrisy Jesus condemned in the religious leaders of His day. God wants us to walk in victory and become like His Son, Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:28-29). Learning all about the Lord and the Bible is great. Learning to minister in power is wonderful. But if we do not develop His character we will eventually get shot down by the world, the flesh, or the devil. God has definite steps to achieve victory in each area of our lives and the twelve Character Development courses are where you’ll learn them.
Second Coming of Christ (2 units)
Who could be more wonderful than God the Father, who gave His only begotten Son. One day the trumpet will sound and the world as we know it will end. Jesus Christ will appear in the sky and every eye will see Him coming with great power and glory. The greatest event in history—coming soon to your world! Are you ready? Now is the time to get ready. This course will electrify you and prepare you for the most important day in your life and in history. Jesus Christ is coming again, this time as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Hermeneutics – Six Rules of Biblical Interpretation (2 units)
God’s Word is His treasure trove of truth for all people everywhere. In the Bible, God speaks to us personally about who He is, what His plan of redemption and salvation is for us, and how we are to live in light of the amazing truth that He created us and loves us with an everlasting love. God has reached out to us and wants a personal relationship with us. That is amazing news. God has indeed spoken and His words are recorded forever. Since God has spoken, it is crucial that we understand everything that He has said to the best of our ability. We must therefore learn (as the most important of all), how to read the Bible for all its worth. There are certain rules and principles that apply to biblical interpretation and the task of understanding what the Bible proclaims is “Hermeneutics.”
Hermeneutics is the art and science of biblical interpretation. It is a science in that certain rules apply. It is an art in that the more you apply these rules, the better you get at it. In this course, our goal will be to learn what these rules teach and say and work at applying them to the text of the Bible. We will grow in our ability to interpret the Word of God by becoming pros at applying six key rules to various texts in Scripture. These rules apply to all of Scripture and give us a memorable and methodical way to draw out or “exegete” the treasures of the Word. I look forward to our journey together this quarter!
Divine Mysteries Revealed By God in Job (2 units)
In a conversation He initiates, God asks Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth…?” (Job 1:9) After that question, intense disappointment, loss, and pain are unleashed upon Job, yet out of this suffering, profound questions also emerge. What does this story say about God, His character, His will, His ways, and how He runs the universe? In chapter after chapter Job fearlessly questions God, and in the end God answers audibly from a whirlwind. That answer is an exploration of the cosmos and the mysteries within it, and in that journey through creation are profound lessons for us to learn. In this class we’ll study the divine speeches, and what we learn about joy, judgment, justice and other topics will deeply affect our lives as it affected Job’s life.
How to Be Abide in Christ and Be Transformed (2 units)
The impending departure of Jesus represented for the disciples of Jesus a serious test. It was crucial that they pass this test. So on the eve of His arrest, trial and crucifixion, Jesus set aside time to distill for His disciples the most important principles of the Christian life. He expressed these truths in the form of Three Priorities. These priorities are recorded in John 13–17. In this course we will learn how to shape our lives and ministries around these priorities, and so enjoy a deeper experience of the life and power of Jesus. “In the world you have tribulation,” Jesus said, “but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus also told His disciples that it was His Father’s will that they “bear much fruit. . . fruit that remains.” In this course we will learn what conditions are necessary in order to lead fruitful Christian lives and ministries.
Apologetics (2 units)
Peter says to “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15a). Yet we have all been “nailed” at times by articulate atheists or crafty cultists who frame their unbelieving questions in such a way that we’re at a loss as to how to answer. This course will prepare you for battle, for the typical, hackneyed arguments and baffling conundrums that will come your way from unbelievers. Your confidence will grow as you gain clear, concise answers to such questions, and the skill to guide the adversary to faith in Christ. (2 units)
Evangelism (2 units)
The word “evangelism” means taking the good news about salvation through Jesus Christ to other people. Jesus came to preach the gospel to the poor, and He is still doing that today through us, because we are His body (1 Corinthians 12:27). How do we learn to evangelize? Mainly by doing it. This is a “field experience” course, which involves witnessing for at least one and a half hours a week, turning in weekly lists of the people witnessed to, reading a missionary book (supplied) and writing five pages of notes on it.
Saturday Seminar – To be announced (2 units)
In a one-day seminar on a Saturday, 10AM–4PM. Date and topic to be announced.