Academy

Gospel

BIB529-1 The Gospel of Matthew – Unit 1

This Gospel forms a natural bridge from the Old Testament, as Matthew’s focus is the presentation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Each of the Gospel writers presents a unique perspective and their selection of events, genealogies, and other aspects support their respective themes. This review of Matthew’s Gospel will attempt to maintain an overview of their composite design while focusing on Matthew’s distinctives.

Matthew profusely includes specific allusions from the Old Testament as the fulfillment of the Messianic prophesies, and, as a trained stenographer (required of customs agents), he apparently records a number of the key discourses of Christ verbatim.

Unit 1 explores the legal genealogical claim of Christ to the throne of David, His Manifesto of the Kingdom (“the Sermon on the Mount”) and His selection and initial training of the disciples in Galilee, until He ostensibly closes His public ministry in Chapter 12.

Course Objectives:

Explore the legal genealogical claim of Christ to the throne of David
Discover His Manifesto of the Kingdom (“the Sermon on the Mount”)
Understand Christ selection and initial training of the disciples in Galilee

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Matthew (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 12 sessions
Credit: 3 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB529-2 The Gospel of Matthew – Unit 2

This course continues Matthew’s presentation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Each of the Gospel writers presents a unique perspective and their selection of events, genealogies, and other aspects support their respective themes. This review of Matthew’s Gospel attempts to maintain an overview of their composite design while focusing on Matthew’s distinctives.

Unit 2 continues with Christ’s training of the disciples—including a detailed analysis of the Kingdom Parables—and the famed, but often confusing, “Olivet Discourse.” Substantial emphasis is focused on the climactic Final Week, detailing the events of the Last Seder, Gethsemane, the six trials, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.

Course Objectives:

Explore Christ’s training of the disciples
Analyze in detail the Kingdom Parables—and the famed, but often confusing, “Olivet Discourse”
Focus on the climactic Final Week, detailing the events of the Last Seder, Gethsemane, the six trials, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Matthew (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 12 sessions
Credit: 3 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB530-1 The Gospel of Mark – Unit 1

Each Gospel writer presents a unique perspective with a selection of events and observations that support his theme. The book of Mark reads like a movie script. It moves rapidly through a series of visual images, emphasizing action.

In this book, we find a rich young ruler who questioned Christ about what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Mark’s Gospel includes a detail that Matthew and Luke failed to mention, “And Jesus looking upon him loved him…” This hints at the possibility that young John Mark himself may have been that rich young man.

Mark also presents Jesus Christ as the Suffering Servant. His close relationship with Peter resulted in his intimate portrait of Christ as Peter had presented it.

Course Objectives:

Discover more miracles recorded in Mark than in the other Gospels
Understand servanthood and the importance of discipleship
Examine the importance of “finishing well” and that although Mark had a rather problematic beginning, he finished well, indeed

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Mark (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 8 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB530-2 The Gospel of Mark – Unit 2

This course continues Mark’s presentation of Jesus Christ as the Suffering Servant. Each Gospel writer presents a unique perspective with a selection of events and observations that support his theme. The book of Mark also reads like a movie script. It moves rapidly through a series of visual images, emphasizing action.

Course Objectives:

Explore Chapters 9-16 of the book of Mark
Examine the days leading up to the death and resurrection of Christ
Understand the “controversial” last 12 verses of Mark

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Mark (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 8 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB531-1 The Gospel of Luke – Unit 1

Luke was the “beloved physician,” who used more medical terms than Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine.” The writings of Dr. Luke show the extent and accuracy of his medical knowledge. His are among the finest historical works in all of ancient literature.

(Sir William Ramsay, a skeptical archaeologist, sought to disprove Luke’s record. His careful study showed that Luke was completely accurate. Ramsay became a believer.)

Luke presents Jesus Christ as the Son of Man; his purpose was to extol His humanity. (His genealogy of Christ begins with Adam, the first man.) The apparent paradox of the blood curse pronounced by God on Jeconiah (and the royal line of David) is unraveled as this genealogy is examined.

Luke was also a poet: he alone records the lovely songs of Christmas and some of the marvelous parables. Luke gives us features omitted by Matthew and Mark: an obstetrical account of the virgin birth; 20 miracles, six exclusive to his account; and 23 parables, 18 of which are nowhere else.

Course Objectives:

Examine how Luke’s writings may have been trial documentation required by Roman law
Explore 18 parables, of which are nowhere else
Understand Jesus as the Son of God

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Luke (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 12 sessions
Credit: 3 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB531-2 The Gospel of Luke – Unit 2

This course continues the review of the Gospel of Luke, with an emphasis on his unique climactic distinctives: the so-called “Olivet Discourse” (and its differences from the event recorded in Matthew 24); the Triumphal Entry (and its astonishing fulfillment of Gabriel’s prophecy in Daniel 9); and, the revealing episodes on the Emmaus Road and other post-resurrection appearances.Luke’s Gospel is the first of two volumes (with the Book of Acts as his sequel) which some believe were the trial documents that were required to precede Paul’s appeal to Caesar

Course Objectives:

Continue to examine how Luke’s writings may have been trial documentation required by Roman law
Continue to explore 18 parables, of which are nowhere else
Understand Jesus as the Son of God

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Luke (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 12 sessions
Credit: 3 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB532-1 The Gospel of John – Unit 1

Each of the Gospel writers presents a unique perspective, and their selection of events and other aspects supports their respective themes. John’s Gospel unabashedly presents Jesus as the Son of God, and he opens it with the “genealogy” of the Preexistent One.

John’s Gospel, from the author of five New Testament books, is the most mystical. It is clearly inexhaustible: it is shallow enough for a child to wade in; yet also deep enough “for an elephant to bathe in”! It is a fruitful place for a beginner to begin, yet it continues to reveal surprises to challenge the most sophisticated and diligent!

This Gospel includes many distinctive treasures: it explains the enigma of Moses’ brazen serpent in chapter 3; it shreds the heretical “Deutero-Isaiah” theory in chapter 12; anticipates the Rapture in chapter 14; and gives us a rare glimpse in the real “Lord’s Prayer” in chapter 17. A tour d ’force that never fails to excite!

Course Objectives:

Examine why many believe this gospel is the most important for new and old Christians alike to take to heart
Explore seven miracles, seven discourses and seven “I AM” statements

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of John (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 10 sessions
Credit: 3 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB532-2 The Gospel of John – Unit 2

This review of John’s Gospel will climax with the final “Passion week.”

The Gospel of John covers only 21 days of Jesus’ 3 1/2 years of ministry, It devotes 10 (of 21) chapters to just one week; One-third of the verses (237 of 879 verses) cover a single 24-hour period in Jesus’ ministry.

John provides a detailed record of the events in the Upper Room, in Gethsemane, the six trials, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection.

John’s entire Gospel is intense and uniquely rewarding for both the novice and the highly seasoned and diligent.

Course Objectives:

Examine why many believe this gospel is the most important for new and old Christians alike to take to heart
Explore seven miracles, seven discourses and seven “I AM” statements

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of John (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 10 sessions
Credit: 3 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB533-1 The Book of Acts – Unit 1

“Luke Volume II,” often called “The Acts of the Apostles,” completes the “Pentateuch of the New Testament.” The traditional title of this book is, in some respects, a misnomer: it primarily deals with the “acts” of Peter (Chapters 1-12) and Paul (Chapters 13-28). It really should be called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.”

This review will explore the continuing mysteries of Hag Shavuot in Acts 2; the surprises in the history lesson Stephen gives the Sanhedrin in Acts 7; the controversies dealt with in the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15; the seamanship details which permitted the discovery of the anchors cut loose in Acts 27, as well as the adventures of Paul and his companions during his missionary journeys.

(Some scholars suspect that Luke’s two volumes were to satisfy legal requirements for Paul’s appeal to Caesar). Regarded by many as the most exciting and relevant book for the current believer, it is, indeed, one of the most essential for any serious student of the New Testament.

Course Objectives:

Understand God’s intention for His Millennial Kingdom, which includes a population of believers taken from Jews and Gentiles during this Age
Explore the continuing mysteries of Hag Shavout
Examine the surprises in the history lesson Stephen gives the Sanhedrin

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Acts (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 8 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours REGISTER HERE

BIB533-2 The Book of Acts – Unit 2

Acts – Unit 2 continues to explore “Luke Volume II,” often called “The Acts of the Apostles.” Acts includes both Peter and Paul as prime characters: Peter was the minister to the circumcised, as Paul was to the uncircumcised.

The traditional title of this book is, in some respects, a misnomer: it primarily deals with the “acts” of Peter and Paul. But it really should be called “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.”

Ultimately, this book is about Jesus Christ, and not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is very prominent and we will learn a great deal about Him, but as is consistent with His Mission, He bears testimony of the Son, Jesus of Nazareth!

Course Objectives:

Examine the “acts” of Paul and the “Uttermost part of the earth”
Understand the “freeness” of God’s salvation, which is Grace
See how the book of Acts covers the first 30 years of church history; Revelation 2 and 3 covers the next 2000

Required Materials:
1) Expositional Commentary on the Book of Acts (MP3 CD-ROM or DVD is recommended as they include computer-aided visuals)
2) A good Bible translation (not a paraphrase).

Duration: 8 sessions
Credit: 2 credit hours REGISTER HERE