The Early Israelite History: The Lord promised Joshua that just as He had been with Moses so He would be with him. There was only one condition which Joshua had to meet. He was to obey the word of God without deviation. Judges covers 300 years of history from Joshua’s death to the death of Samson. The book of Ruth is a love story. This little book gives to us a picture of the wonderful relationship that exists between Christ and his church.

The Kingdom Period: I and II Samuel comes out of the golden age of Hebrew literature and has four key players in this great drama - Eli, Samuel, Saul and David. You will see how the Lord is constant and faithful in this period of transition as Israel becomes a monarchy. I and II Kings is the continuing account of the origin, the rise, and the development of the monarchy of Israel. Gleason Archer Jr. says, “Whereas Kings is dominated by a prophetic interest, I and II Chronicles is characterized by a more definitive priestly point of view.” The purpose was that the true greatness of Israel consists in her relationship to Jehovah as a worshipping faithful and obedient congregation.

The Post Exilic Period: Ezra is the historical record of the first return of the captives to the land of Palestine. There under the prophetic leadership of Haggai and Zechariah, they would rebuild the temple. Nehemiah is a stirring record of how one man, impelled by God, accomplished what everyone had said was impossible. He rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. God placed Esther, an Israelite, as the new queen to accomplish his gracious purposes. She would be used by God to thwart the plan of the evil Haman, who had tricked the king into passing a law that would kill Esther’s people.

Old Testament Literature: The book of Job is God’s answer to “Why should the righteous suffer?” The Psalms are the finest expression of human devotion and delight in the Almighty God. To read the Proverbs is to be ready for life. To believe them is to be safe from the snares in life’s pathway. Ecclesiastes recognizes God Himself as the highest value in His creation, and that the truly meaningful life is the life lived in His service. Song of Solomon represents an actual occurrence in Solomon’s life in which he experienced a pure and holy love. Lamentations is a sequel to the prophecy of Jeremiah. This hymn of intense sorrow shows men inspired by God’s spirit as they seek to reach up to Him.

The Major Prophets: Isaiah prophesied in Judah during the reigns of four kings and during great crises. Expect to find practical every aspect of biblical truth. Jeremiah’s duty was to proclaim the judgment of the Lord and to advise the king and the people to submit to the enemy. Ezekiel was one of the three prophets of the period of the captivity. Here is a book that combines sobering history and stirring prophecy. Daniel deals with three significant interpretations of dreams and visions about the future. Daniel shows a God of precision and power, a God active and involved in history.

The Minor Prophets: Hosea means “salvation” He married an unfaithful wife whom he forgave and redeemed. Joel introduces the great prophetic concept of “The Day of the Lord”, and gives it the prophesy about the Holy Spirit. Amos means “bearer of a burden”. He proclaimed the coming destruction of neighboring nations, Israel, and Judah. In Obadiah, prideful Edom hated Israel and their doom was predicted. God calls Jonah to preach repentance to the people of Ninevah, the hated and evil Assyrians. Micah preached God’s judgment on Samaria and Jerusalem due to their idolatry. Nahum predicts the doom of Ninevah, 150 years after Jonah. Habakkuk dialogues with God and receives a vision of the pending woes to come from the Babylonians. Zechariah also returned to encourage the rebuilding of the temple. He prophesied how Jesus would deliver Israel, be rejected, and return again. Malachi brought God’s people a message of rebuke and promise.

The Gospels: The gospel of Matthew brings before us “The Kingdom of Heaven”, or the rule of the Heavens over this earth. You will find Jesus presented as King, the one who fulfills Scripture, the Messiah. Of the increase of His kingdom there shall be no end! Mark presents the Lord Jesus Christ as the servant of God and the servant of men. Mark records the call from Christ to followers who would serve Him, and the command of Christ to go and preach. Luke portrays Jesus as the perfect man and uses the term “Son of man”. Luke also shows that Jesus is not only a perfect human but the divine Son of God. The key verse of this gospel written by John is found in John 20:31. “But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name.” And this is eternal life, that you might know Him, the only true God, Jesus Christ.

Acts and Epistles (Section I): The book of Acts is chiefly the chronicle of the mighty missionary advance of the early church in its obedience to the commands of the risen Savior. It shows the true motive of missions, the best plans, and the secret source of power for the task. This doctrinal book of Romans states the basic principle of “justification by faith”. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek, for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith”. I Corinthians teaches Christian conduct in a wicked world with specific attention to the corruption that had crept into the church in Corinth. Paul writes of marriage and relationships, abiding in one’s call, the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts, the resurrection of Christ from the dead and much more. In II Corinthians Paul defends his ministry, as there were many in the church at Corinth still attacking his credibility. He is forced painfully to vindicate his apostolic authority.

Epistles (Section 2): Galatians is the declaration of the glorious freedom that Jesus has won for all believers. It defends the truth of justification by faith alone, which imparts to us incredible freedom in Jesus. Ephesians unfolds God’s wonderful workmanship in fashioning a new and invisible spiritual organism designated as the body of Christ. It stresses true church unity. The purpose of Philippians is to give thanks to the believer at Philippi for a gift that they sent to Paul, and to correct friction that existed there. Paul gives words concerning Christ as the believer’s life, pattern, object, and strength. Colossians discloses the fact that Jesus Christ is the head of the body which is the church, and emphasizes that it is in Him that all the fullness of the Godhead dwells. I and II Thessalonians contain a rich presentation of the secret of effective Christian service, the believer’s sanctification, and the coming of the Lord. Some believed that they were already in the tribulations of the day of the Lord. Paul corrects this misapprehension and encourages them to go on with the Lord. I and II Timothy are addressed to men who have the responsibility for the administration of local assemblies. These letters reveal God’s will regarding doctrine, church administration and discipline

Epistles (Section 3): Paul put Titus in charge of the church in Crete and gave him this letter of instruction on how to do the work there. The letter to Philemon from Paul asked him to take back his runaway slave, Onesimus, who had met Paul and was converted to Christ. The author of Hebrews wrote in order to encourage and energize the Christian readers into a viable and active faith in Jesus. It appears they had begun to lose heart and were in danger of allowing unbelief to grow. James is a book that speaks of works. It teaches that we are saved by faith only, but saving faith never is alone. It is always accompanied by good works. I Peter’s purpose is to strengthen and comfort those believers who are called upon to bear severe testing as a trial of their faith. II Peter warns against church leaders allowing sin in the church for the sake of monetary gain. Sin will bring blindness, and they will no longer look for the Lord. I, II and III John speak about fellowship, to not belittle the deity of Jesus, to live righteously by faith, to love one another, to resist false teachers, and to hold fast to the faith. Jude is devoted to the great apostasy of the last days and the conditions before the apocalyptic judgments fall. It brings to a climax all the teaching regarding apostasy. Revelation as a book of prophecy contains descriptions of unique animals, angels, demons, beasts, harlots, and brides. Christ is the central figure as it talks of the ages. “Blessed is he that reads it and they that hear it and keeps those things that are written therein.”

Great Doctrines (Section 1):

Great Doctrines (Section 2): These courses provide a good understanding of the basic doctrines of the Christian Faith. The distinctives of Christianity are studied. Spiritual truths that form the foundation of the Christian world are brought forth with resounding clarity. The student is able to define why he believes as he does. It is by the explanation of these truths the believer is able to effectively explain and interpret the teachings of Scripture to those met in every day life.

The Life of Christ: The Birth of Jesus. Jesus is the most outstanding person in all of history and indeed is the central figure of all time. The course illuminates the circumstances, important factors, and prophecy surrounding His birth. His Early Life. We only have a glimpse of Jesus’ boyhood and early. Enough is told to enable us to know that as a child Jesus had a normal life. His Temptation. Jesus could not begin to do the work the Father God had commissioned Him to do until He had passed this severe test. His Early Ministry in Judea and Galilee. Within a few months Jesus had labored in the city of Jerusalem, in Samaria, and Galilee. He covered all the main areas of Palestine at this early stage in His ministry. His Teachings and Miracles. What are the basic teachings of Jesus? What spiritual legacy has He left for us? Never a man spoke like this man. The Training of the Twelve Disciples. The command of the Lord, “Follow Me!” The future of Christianity and God’s plan lay with twelve men chosen by Jesus. Moving Toward Calvary. Lazarus is dramatically raised from the dead by Jesus. He then turns to focus toward Jerusalem while evil men began to plan His destruction. He was the people’s champion as He entered the great city. Upper Room Discourse. Jesus called His disciples together to a private place to eat the famous Last Supper. He washes their feet, teaches them the Lord’s Supper, tells of the Holy Spirit to come, says farewell, and goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray and wait. His Trial and Death. Jesus stood before the leaders of his own nation, and before the Romans, and then they crucified Him. His Resurrection and Ascension. Every tear of sadness at His death is drowned out by the shouts of joy at His resurrection. Jesus is alive!

Biblical Prophecy: The Significance of Prophecy. What does “prophet” mean in the Word of God? What is the extent of prophecy in the Old and New Testaments? Major Themes of Prophecy. There are 13 or 14 major areas upon which the light of the prophetic word falls. Hebraic Prophecy. Those predictions beginning in Genesis through to the New Testament concerning the history and ultimate destiny of the Hebrew People are called Hebraic Prophecies. Messianic Prophecy. The prophecies about the coming of the Lord Jesus are by far the most important in all literature. Prophecies in Daniel. The book of Daniel is the only panoramic survey of the great empires of the world down to the end of the age. It has chronological prophecy indicating the coming of the Lord. Prophecies of Christ. Jesus talked prophetically concerning himself, the church, the Jews and the fall of Jerusalem, the course of the age, the end of the age, and of judgment to come. The Olivet Discourse. On the Mount of Olives during Holy Week Jesus delivered His last pronouncement to the public in general. It is recorded in Matthew 24-25. Mark 13 and Luke 21. In this last discourse Jesus prophesies on the time before, during and after the Tribulation. The Resurrection Chapter. I Corinthians 15 talks about the Resurrection. Is there certainty in the resurrection of Jesus? What is its importance. The Anti-Christ. Who is this Anti-Christ, the supreme enemy of God? What will be his work? What are his characteristics? Who are the two beasts that come against God? The Book of Revelation. We need this final book of triumph and victory. It is a book of conflict, of light over darkness, between the powers of evil, Satan and hell against the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Personal Evangelism: What Is It and Why Is It Important? We need a definition that will narrow it down within very definite limits and yet will enable us to see the breadth and sweep of what is included in the total work of evangelism today. Who Can Do It and How Is It Done? How shall we go about dealing with an individual on spiritual things? Our best instruction comes from the master disciple winner, Jesus Christ. Areas of Faulty Thinking on the Part of Christians. Am I good enough? What if I fail? How can I talk to people who have no interest in religion? How can I witness when I do not love souls as I ought? How can I witness when I know little of the Bible? What will I do when I can’t answer people’s question? What the Personal Worker Must Be. What sort of person should the worker be? What equipment is necessary for the work and what are the conditions for success? Making the Approach. What are the things the soul winner must know before making contact? Who is on your contact list and who do you invite to your home or church? Answering Questions and Meeting Objectives. When excuses are made we must know how to meet them. Often they are just a smoke screen for sin. Reaching the Decision. What are some of the difficulties? What steps should be taken and how can we be sure the decision is intelligent and purposeful. Conserving the Fruits of Evangelism. Having received salvation, how do we follow-up? It is just the beginning to win someone to Christ.

Church History: The Apostolic Church. AD 30 to 100. From the ascension of Jesus to the death of St. John, we see the early church at Jerusalem, Antioch, Samaria, and Philippi. The Persecuted Church. AD 100 to 313. From the death of St. John to the Edict of Constantine, the Roman Empire invoked all its power to destroy Christians. The Imperial Church. AD 313 to 476. From the Edict of Constantine to the fall of Rome, Christianity was made the Empire’s religion. The Medieval Church. AD 476 to 1453. From the fall of Rome to the fall of Constantinople, there is 1000 years of the Middle Ages. Crusades and Monasteries. During the time of the Medieval Church the Romantic Movement to free the Holy Land from the Moslems began. The Prelude to the Reformation. There were attempts by early reformers to change the Church, but they were ignored and persecuted. The Reformation. AD 1453 to 1648. From the fall of Constantinople to the end of the Thirty Years’ War, Martin Luther’s boldness had finally created change. Reform and Puritanism in England. Who were John Calvin and William Farel, the Episcopalians, Puritans and Separatists? The Modern Church. AD 1648 until today. From the end of the Thirty Years’ War until today, there have been great movements in the church in England, Europe and America. Religion and Reform in Europe. There came enemies of the faith in Communism, Marxism, evolution, and Biblical criticism. The 18^th and 19^th Century Church. What was “The Second Awakening”? How did two world wars effect the church? The 20^th Century Church. 20^th century theology has been marked by words like turmoil, radical, evangelical and hope.

Sermon Preparation and Delivery: Christian leaders wishing to develop their skills in communicating the gospel message will derive help from “Sermon Preparation and Delivery” This course will be presented with a “practicum” component and promises to deliver measurable increase in the students command of public presentation.

Galatians and Philippians: (Galatians) The Magna Carta of Christian Liberty. It has a greater effect on us today than any constitution of freedom given to any group of people. Paul’s Source of Doctrine. Paul establishes that he had been taught by God and God alone. Paul’s Rebuke of Peter. Paul confronts Peter’s segregation from those who had not been circumcised. Justification by Faith. Paul addresses those who believed that good works could be part of salvation. The Covenant of God. All men shall be blessed through the seed of Abraham, namely, Jesus Christ. This covenant cannot be broken. Maturity Demands Faith. Can we go to God in intimacy? We are no longer servants, we are sons. Christian Liberty. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. The Law of Love. Paul gives practical counsel on Christian living.

(Philippians) Paul’s Abiding Joy. From beginning to end Paul speaks of joy, confidence, and affection for his fellow Christians. The Mind of Christ. From prison Paul teaches the church at Philippi about a source of joy that overflows irrespective of circumstances. God’s High Calling. The joy of humility. Paul rejoiced because he knew God and His power regardless of the suffering. Triumphant Christian Walk. Joy in hardship! Are we a joy and a crown to some tested and tried Christians? Is there someone who is glad for us?

The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is no longer the neglected member of the Trinity but now has become the most controversial. This course will answer your most difficult and persistent questions about the person and activity of the Holy Spirit – from Genesis to Revelation and throughout modern history from the time of the Apostles until now.