Theology

Prerequisites: None

Credits: 2

Given the enormous depth and breadth of the Old Testament, it is impossible to fully study it in two semesters. This course, therefore, will be a thematic overview of God’s Word to us in the Old Testament. In studying the Old Testament both instructor and students will find answers to “Who is God and what is His nature?”, “Who is man and what is his nature?” “What is man’s relationship to God?”, and “How then shall we live?” The major central theme in the Old Testament and the one that will be highlighted is mankind’s rebellion and God’s eternal response of undeserved love centered in the coming Messiah. Both Biblical and extra-biblical sources will be used to understand the context and meaning of the message.

This course as it seeks to develop and understand the central themes of the Old Testament will involve academic rigor and serious scholarship. The instructor and students are expected to regularly keep up with the readings, analyze what they have read, ask questions, take notes, and become involved in the learning process. Through our involvement with the text, we will find God’s message to us in the Old Testament to be unique, challenging, uplifting, and exciting.

While the course is academic and inquiry based in nature, the class atmosphere seeks to include the whole person as both students and teacher respond to the text with appreciation for God's beauty and goodness and for each other as fellow creatures loved by God.

Prerequisites: None

Credits: 2

All of human history centers around the fulfillment of God’s promise of a male child, born of a human woman who would defeat the forces of evil and rescue us from our rebellion against God.  The years 4 BCE-33 CE are pivotal in the history of the world.  In fact, our calendars try to center on the date of Jesus’ birth.  The goal of the course is that we receive what God promised – forgiveness and to be brought into the kingdom of heaven through hearing, reading, and studying the words of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension and the writings of the other eye-witnesses.  Apart from Jesus, it is impossible to truly know who God is.  Our goal is to know Jesus in his word and find a firm foundation for our trust in God and grow in our practice of life as God’s child  -- to live and mature in God’s love and in love for one another.

The course will read through one of the four gospel accounts in its entirety and include elements from the other for the 1^st semester.  Second semester will include what the eyewitnesses said and did in response to having been with Jesus.  We will read through the books of Acts, Romans, and one other of the New Testament writings.  

Emphasis is also placed on Christian Doctrine and Biblical interpretation. In conjunction with the New Testament course, issues that face youth today will be studied and discussed on a regular basis. All issues will be taught from a Christian perspective.

Credit: 1

Taken either junior or senior year

This course will assist students sort out the many different religious beliefs of people from various parts of the world. Upon learning of the inadequacies of other religions, it is hoped that our students will strengthen their personal commitment to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Included in this course will be a study of Martin Luther, Christian Doctrine, and other Christian denominations, major faith groups, and cults.

Credit: 1

Taken either junior or senior year

This course is designed to assist the Christian student through an understanding and comprehension of Christian Doctrine as a whole. Points of emphasis will include, although not be limited to; Systematic Theology of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, New Testament applications, Apologetics, and living one's faith in a contemporary society.