Ministry > Our Daily Bread Christian University
SoulCare Foundations I: The Basic Model
This course is designed to help you enter people’s interior lives at a meaningful level and make a lasting difference as they deal with life’s struggles and crises. Some people call this type of help “counseling.” Others call this help “pastoring.” And perhaps others think of this kind of involvement as what one friend does for another friend. Larry Crabb uses the word SoulCare, with its focus on the inner life, where we become who we were intended and long to be.
Foundations of Effective Leadership
Leadership—how would you define it? How can you be an effective leader? The Foundations in Effective Leadership course defines leadership as moving people from where they are to a better place. During this course you will discover how Jesus set the example of being a servant leader and what leadership principles can be learned from His example. But to be an effective servant leader you first need to look at yourself. The kind of person you are is the kind of leader you will be. Are you ready to become an effective servant leader? You can begin today.
Doctrine of Man and Sin
As ambassadors for Christ and the Gospel, we must understand the true nature of man and the magnitude of his sin. This course presents a critical and historical overview of positions regarding the nature of mankind: both as the image of God and as corrupted by sin. The course presents a distinct Reformed anthropology coupled with a fair treatment of differing views and objections. Important and controversial questions regarding the origin of evil, the nature of man, and the effects of sin on humanity are all considered, allowing students to draw informed conclusions on these and other key issues.
The Letter to the Hebrews
From the earliest days of the church, believers have wrestled with the relationship between the old and new covenants. Humanity’s inability to fulfill the Law clearly showed the need for forgiveness, and God’s elaborate sacrificial system demonstrated sin’s consequences. Yet how were Jewish believers to view Jesus? What were the implications of the Messiah being the Great High Priest? In this course, students wrestle with these and other theological questions as they probe Christ’s death and resurrection. Buswell helps learners understand the book’s message while challenging today’s “great cloud of witnesses” to have complete faith in a sovereign and loving…
The Radical Reformation
Where the Protestants wanted reform, the Radicals wanted separation. This course examines those groups of the Reformation era that sought a complete break from the Catholic Church. Following a topical and historical progression, learners study the beginning of the movement, its development, and its various manifestations. Students gain insight into the tension between the Radicals and the Reformers that led to the rise of divisions within the church. The goal of the course is to understand more fully the shifts that have formed within the history of the church, enabling them to minister more effectively to contemporary church audiences.
The Parables of Jesus
Most readers empathize with the disciples’ request that Jesus explain His parables. This course surveys various methods of interpreting Jesus’ parables and offers an eclectic model that draws upon the best insights of each. Blomberg’s semi-allegorical model is then applied to each of the major narrative parables in the Gospels. Blomberg examines differences among parallel accounts and suggests plausible reasons for the variations. Students are encouraged to apply the conclusions about the theology and significance of Jesus’ parables to their lives and ministries.
Introduction to World Christian Missions
God has one unified, global purpose for all He does. This course introduces the exciting biblical, historical, cultural, and strategic dimensions of His plan. It addresses key issues: the basis of and necessity for world missions, and the status of and plan for world missions. Students are introduced to the basics they need to pursue missionary training or to help lead their local church in its global ministry.
The Theology of Jonathan Edwards
He has been called one the most brilliant men ever born on American soil. In this course, learners will examine the theological insights of Jonathan Edwards. Taking a topical approach, the course covers Edwards’ teachings on all the major points of systematic theology, giving particular emphasis to his unique theological contributions. Topics such as the place of reason, the decrees of God, the nature of justification, and the extent of sanctification are presented and analyzed with the goal that students apply new insights to their own lives and ministry.
A History of the Charismatic Movements
Charismatic theology is more than just a theology of spiritual gifts; worship, bibliology, sanctification, and ecclesiology are also central. Learners will complete a historical and theological study of the origins and developments of Classical Pentecostalism, Charismatic Renewalism, and Restoration Movements, with emphasis given to theological backgrounds and trends. Lectures also analyze other related movements, including the Jesus Only Movement, the Vineyard Movement, and the Toronto Revival Movement. Throughout the course, the pros and cons of the various charismatic movements are presented.
The History of Missions Through 1983
History is “His Story”: the account of God at work establishing His purposes and His Kingdom. In this course, Dr. Kane covers the historic development of the Christian world mission in chronological sequence from Pentecost to the birth of the modern missions movement (1800). He then introduces the modern period along geographical lines: Asia, Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. The course culminates by evaluating the missionary achievements of the past and the prospects for the future.
Christology
Since His ascension, Christians have asked questions about Jesus. What was His nature? What role did He play in creation? For whom did He die? In this course, Dr. C. Fred Dickason takes learners through an indepth study of Christ in an attempt to understand His person, nature, teachings and work. Known as Christology, the study of Christ brings learners face-to-face with the most important event in history as individuals unpack the Bible’s teachings on Jesus. Learners will be stimulated intellectually and spiritually as they visit the decisions reached by the early church councils and explore the questions raised since…
The Theology of Martin Luther
“On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me.” Those words of Martin Luther reflect the unswerving commitment to Scripture that permeated his theology and sparked his Reformation. In this course, learners survey the background and setting of Luther’s thought, as well as his teaching on a range of topics that form Christian theology: his understanding of sin and grace, justification and faith, and law and gospel. The course also emphasizes Luther’s view of the workplace as an arena to serve God. The goal of the course is for students to appreciate Luther’s steadfast commitment…
Contemporary Theology I: Hegel to Death of God Theologies
For good or for bad, philosophy has played a pivotal role in the development of theology and culture. In this course, learners examine the major trends in contemporary theological thought in light of their philosophical contexts. The course begins with a review of the major developments in Western thought prior to Hegel, and then explores the theologies of Hegel, Kierkegaard, Barth, Bultmann, and Tillich. The course culminates in the “Death of God” theologies of Paul Van Buren and Thomas Altizer. The course enables learners to evaluate contemporary, non-evangelical theologies and to recognize their impact on everyday life.
Augustine and Medieval Theology
Augustine is one of the most influential theologians in church history. His teachings have shaped the thinking of Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, and Barth. In this course, learners study a comprehensive introduction to Augustine; his life, his works, and his legacy in the medieval church. The course details his youth, conversion, literary works, and his battles against the day’s emerging heresies. Surveying Augustine’s life as a pastor, teacher, and writer, students are encouraged to evaluate his contribution to the development of medieval theology and to apply those contributions to their own lives and ministries.
Contemporary Theology II: From Theology of Hope to Post-modernism
Post-Modernism is having a profound influence on the Church, from within and without. Changing ideas about the source and nature of truth are affecting Christians’ lives and ministry. In this course, learners examine current trends in contemporary theology, and how these trends arose. The course focuses on the theologies that were prevalent in the 1960’s, including Theology of Hope, Liberation Theology, Feminist Theology, Process Theology, New Age Theology, and four forms of Post-modern Theology. Students are encouraged to draw from the course content so as to relate and communicate better to their post-modern world.
