Ministry > Our Daily Bread Christian University
Discipleship in Community: Spiritual Formation and the Church
What is spirituality? How is it formed in private and in community? This course explores the meaning of Biblical Christianity and its relation to faith and practice within contemporary cultural contexts, giving special attention to the corporate dimensions of spirituality and spiritual formation as defined in the New Testament. The lectures analyze and discuss those historical and cultural factors that have led to the privatization of Christianity, and develop a paradigm of spiritual growth and maturity that focuses on the assembly rather than the individual. Please Note: This course was formerly titled, “Spiritual Formation: Corporate Dimensions of Spirituality.”
Christian Worldview
How do you view reality? What is the source of your knowledge? Do you live what you believe? Such are the questions that a worldview answers. This course examines the nature and function of belief structures, and the value of developing and living a distinctly Christian life. The course develops a Christian worldview from a redemptive history model of biblical theology, which is then clarified using the philosophical categories of metaphysics, epistemology, and axiology. Learners will gain an understanding of modern and postmodern thought and how to critique them biblically, and are encouraged to develop and apply a Christian worldview…
New Testament Survey: Epistles & Revelation
Correct theology is inseparable from correct living. The New Testament epistles reinforce this concept as they demonstrate both the why and how of kingdom living. This course surveys the New Testament epistles and the book of Revelation, examining both the introductory issues and the basic content of each book. Students will wrestle with significant and challenging passages by exploring the major issues and then interacting with specific passages through inductive Bible study. The goal of the course is to gain an increased commitment to and capacity for applying these portions of God’s Word to the world and Christian living today.
New Testament Survey: The Gospels/Life of Christ
In this course, students complete a chronological and synthetic study of the Gospels’ accounts of Christ’s birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. The course focuses on the time, place, circumstances, and people involved in the events of our Lord’s ministry. From the incarnation to the ascension, students will grasp a fuller understanding of Christ’s words and works in light of Old Testament prophecy and cultural context.
The Book of Isaiah
Few Old Testament books are as theologically rich and literarily compelling as Isaiah. Students discover those dynamics as they complete an exegetical study of the book of Isaiah. In addition to surveying the contents of the book, the course develops the understanding and skills of exegetical exposition. In the process, students examine key chapters in Isaiah, such as the promise of Immanuel, the message of hope, and the “Suffering Servant.” The course demonstrates how a proper theology of the Messiah is integral to successful Christian life and ministry.
The Book of Job
Is God too weak to stop suffering? Does God not care about my situation? In a world full of sin, pain and hardship remain daily realities. Throughout history, humanity has wrestled with the problems of suffering and has often questioned the goodness of God. Wood retells the story of Job and the struggles he endured. Throughout the course, students examine Job’s tumultuous life and the various responses to his suffering given by his friends and family. Ultimately, Job learns to praise God no matter what his circumstance. Despite Satan’s attempts to thwart the plans of God, the Lord remains sovereign…
The Acts of the Apostles
The book of Acts is the intended sequel to the gospel of Luke, showing how the new community of faith applied Christ’s teachings to life and how they proclaimed His message throughout the world. In this course, students complete an exegetical study of the book of Acts by focusing on the biblical theology of the book, the historical background of events, and the theological emphasis of the speeches. The goal of the course is to enable learners to articulate the message of Acts in ways that are both textually accurate and contemporaneously relevant.
Biblical Preaching: A Pastor’s Look at Homiletics
Biblical preaching is a divinely ordained way of calling people to repentance and for edifying the people of God. It is communicating God’s Word to His people—standing between the world of Scripture and the world of people and speaking the truth of God. Some wonder whether preaching is an out-of-date form of communication and not of value to current church needs. Dr. Stott gives a clear presentation of the importance of the preaching ministry today. This course will enable pastors, teachers, and church leaders to understand the importance and power of preaching, to develop an awareness of true biblical preaching,…
The Book of Proverbs
Students discover the role of wisdom in the book of Proverbs by doing an exegetical study of the book itself in its cultural, historical, and literary settings. The course begins with an analysis of the book’s structure and purpose, focusing on the forms of wisdom literature as seen in the literary structure of Proverbs. Waltke then moves to poetic analysis and finally to the prominent theme of wisdom that permeates the book. Students are encouraged to apply wisdom themes to life.
The Book of Acts
The book of Acts of the Apostles is the exciting narrative of the church’s formative years. Acts begins with the ascension of Jesus and takes readers through the activities of early believers seeking to fulfill the Great Commission. Throughout the course, students examine the difficulties faced in the decades following Pentecost as the church sought to formulate doctrine and send missionaries throughout the Roman Empire. Learners will benefit from Babcock’s academic and pastoral background as he teaches the text’s historical and theological insights as well as noting spiritual applications for ministry today.
O.T. Theology II: Latter Prophets & Writings
In order to understand and apply any passage of Scripture faithfully, one must begin with the foundational concepts and theology that precede and inform it. In biblical theology, the foundation is developed in the Latter Prophets and Writings (Job–Malachi). The history, poetry, wisdom, and prophecy of these books are essential for fully grasping the meaning and message of Jesus’ teaching and the mission of the church today. Averbeck introduces the content and theology of the Writings and Latter Prophets, working through the books section-by-section, focusing on major passages and their theological connections throughout all of Scripture.
The Book of Psalms
How important are songs in the life of Israel and the church? In this course, students study the book of Psalms, giving attention to the various forms of the psalms and their function within the historical experience of Israel. The course begins by focusing on the formulation and interpretation of the psalms. Students then examine in detail the various types of psalms including lament, royal, pilgrimage, wisdom, messianic, and psalms of descriptive praise. Waltke gives sermonic treatment of selected psalms with application for today’s church.
The Book of Revelation
When Jesus ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, He told onlookers that one day He would come again. In the book of Revelation, the apostle John has penned a picture of what that return will look like and what will take place in the last months of Earth’s history. What do the images mean? Are they allegorical or is John recording a literal truth about the future? Smith explores possible interpretations of the end-times. Using sound biblical exegesis with historical and contextual facts, students study the book afresh while gaining insights into Jesus’ return.
Spiritual & Ethical Formation: Theology and Practice
Spiritual and ethical formation is a topic of discussion in many circles. We all long for intimacy with God, but how is spiritual growth and maturity developed? What are the dynamics in which God most often works in the heart of believers to make them like his Son, Jesus Christ? In this seminar, Richard Averbeck and James Grier address these and other questions in order to lay a biblical, theological foundation for proper Christian thought. In addition, they identify and describe specific practices that the listener can apply immediately to his/her life of faith.
The Christian and Old Testament Theology
This course examines the foundational theology of the Old Testament as applied to the New Testament and the church. It also identifies the focal point for the Old and New Testaments and discusses the continuity and discontinuity between the Testaments concerning: saving faith, the people of God, the Law, worship, atonement, the kingdom of God, the Messiah, and the new covenant. Throughout the course, Kaiser examines how Old Testament theology is vital to contemporary Christian living.
