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Course Catalog

Preaching and Pastoral Ministry

C101 Preaching and Preachers

16 sessions with audio lectures by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

In this course students will have the opportunity to hear one of the greatest preachers of the twentieth century share his vision of preaching.

Three texts are required for this course:

  • Preaching and Preachers by Martyn Lloyd-Jones
  • Between Two Worlds by John Stott
  • The Supremacy of God in Preaching by John Piper

Last Offered: Spring 2008 - Next Offered: Fall 2009


C102 A Biblical Call

10 sessions with audio lectures by Pastor Albert N. Martin

This course addresses the important question: What constitutes a biblical call to the work of the ministry? Topics include: six wrong reasons to enter the gospel ministry, four essential elements of the call, and the mental, spiritual and practical gifts required for the pastoral office. Pastor Al Martin has served as elder at Trinity Baptist Church of Montville, NJ since 1967.

One text is required for this course:

  • Lectures to My Students by C. H. Spurgeon

One additional text is recommended for this course:

  • The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges

First Offered: Fall 2006 - Next Offered: Fall 2008


Church Life: Ministry and Mission

C201 Worship

10 sessions with audio lectures by Dr. Bruce Leafblad

"True worship begins with a right understanding of God and a right view of ourselves in light of who He is and what He has revealed in His Word." "The great need of the church today is neither to cling to the old or to create the new forms and formats. Our greatest need today is to recover the priority of God in our worship and in the whole of life." Dr. Bruce Leafblad is Professor of Church Music and Worship at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

One text is required for this course:

  • Reformed Worship: Worship That Is According to Scripture by Terry L. Johnson

Additional texts are recommended in the course syllabus for course project

Last Offered: Fall 2007 - Next Offered: TBA


C202 Evangelism and the Excellencies of God

10 sessions with audio lectures by Jim Odens

The glory of God is the motivation, the purpose and the goal for truly biblical evangelism. This course outlines an approach to evangelism based on that truth, providing biblical principles and practical advice for greater effectiveness in fulfilling our Lord's commission. Jim Odens is president of PAGE Ministries and a veteran pastor who has helped many churches become more effective in making disciples for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Three texts are required for this course:

  • Lighting the Way to God by Jim Odens
  • Tell the Truth by Will Metzger
  • God-Centred Evangelism by R. B. Kuiper

Last Offered: Spring 2008 - Next Offered: TBA


C203 Maintaining a Healthy Church

10 sessions with audio lectures by Dr. Mark Dever

Learn about God’s purpose for the church and how to lead a church in a direction that will keep it healthy and thriving. Dr. Mark Dever serves as senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C.

Three texts are required for this course:

  • Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever
  • Three Priorities for a Strong Local Church by Roy Ortlund, Jr.
  • The Importance of the Local Church by Daniel Wray

Last Offered: Spring 2007 - Next Offered: Fall 2008


Spiritual Health and Formations

C301 Maintaining Your Spiritual Health

10 sessions with audio lectures by Dr. Don Whitney

Maintaining a healthy walk with God is vital for those who serve as leaders in the church, but it can be difficult in the heat of ministry. In this course students will learn to gauge and nurture spiritual health in themselves as well as in those whom they lead. Dr. Whitney serves as Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Two texts are required for this course:

  • Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health by Don Whitney
  • Brothers, We Are Not Professionals by John Piper

Last Offered: Fall 2006 - Next Offered: TBA


C302 Spiritual Depression

16 sessions with audio lectures by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Learn about the causes and cure for spiritual depression from a master physician and minister, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

Three texts are required for this course:

  • Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
  • When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy by John Piper
  • And Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture by Andrew Davis

First Offered: Fall 2008


Systematic Theology

C401 Systematic Theology I

16 sessions with audio lectures by Dr. Roger Nicole

This is the first in a series of four planned courses on Systematic Theology. Topics in this first course include: the Place of Systematic Theology, Divine Revelation and the Authority of Holy Scripture. Dr. Roger Nicole is a retired professor of theology emeritus at both Gordon-Cornwell Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminiary in Orlando, Florida.

Two texts are required for this course:

  • A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith by Robert Reymond
  • An Abstract of Systematic Theology by James P. Boyce (text available online)

Last offered: Fall 2007- Next Offered: TBA


C402 Systematic Theology II

16 sessions with audio lectures by Dr. Roger Nicole

This is the second in a series of four planned courses on Systematic Theology. Topics in this second course include: Doctrine of God, Creation and Providence, the Doctrine of Man and Sin. Students can take the Systematic Theology courses in any order. It is not necessary to take Systematic I before taking Systematic II. Dr. Roger Nicole is a retired professor of theology emeritus at both Gordon-Cornwell Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminiary in Orlando, Florida.

Two texts are required for this course:

  • A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith by Robert Reymond
  • An Abstract of Systematic Theology by James P. Boyce (text available online)

Last Offered: Spring 2008- Next Offered: TBA


Church History and Historical Theology

C530 Theology of the Reformers

16 sessions with audio lectures by Dr. Timothy George

Study the theology of St. Augustine, Calvin, Luther, Zwingli and other men who helped bring about the Reformation. Dr. Timothy George is the founding Dean and Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama.

Two texts are required for this course:

  • Theology of the Reformers by Timothy George
  • The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther

Last Offered: Spring 2007 - Next Offered: TBA


C531 Calvin and the Reformed Tradition

16 sessions with audio lectures by Dr. Timothy George

The Reformation of the sixteenth century was a tremendous movement of ecclesial and spiritual renewal within the wider Christian tradition. The Protestant Reformation was the wellspring of both the evangelical awakening and the modern missionary movement. The purpose of this course is to examine the central theological concerns of the Reformation as they were embodied in the life and work of John Calvin. Dr. Timothy George is the founding Dean and Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama.

Two texts are required for this course:

  • Theology of the Reformers by Timothy George
  • The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin

Last Offered: Spring 2008- Next Offered: TBA


C560 Introduction to the Puritans

10 sessions with audio lectures by Dr. Mark Dever, Dr. J. I. Packer and others

The Puritans have provided a rich and profitable heritage of doctine and devotion. They lingered long in the Word of God and sought to apply its truths to every aspect of life and worship. This course offers students a brief historical overview of the Puritans and thier value to us today.

Three texts are required for this course:

  • Who are the Puritans by Erroll Hulse
  • A Quest for Godliness by J. I. Packer
  • The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter (Puritan paperback)

Last Offered: Fall 2007 - Next Offered: TBA


C561 Theology of the Puritans

16 sessions with audio lectures by Dr. J. I. Packer

In this course Dr. Packer delivers a rich overview of Puritan theology, drawing on a lifetime of personal study and passion for the Puritans. Topics include: Purtian identity, the Scriptures in Puritan theology, salvation by grace, the conscience, Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and church life. Dr. J. I Packer is the Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Three texts are required for this course:

  • Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
  • A Quest for Godliness by J. I. Packer
  • Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken

Last Offered: Fall 2006- Next Offered: Fall 2008


C580 Baptist Identity

16 sessions with audio lectures by Dr. Tom Nettles

Study the history and distinctives of Baptists from their seventeenth century origin as a separate denomination to the present day. Topics of study include: 1) the rise and development of English Baptists, 2) Baptist Beginnings in the United States to the formation of the Southern Baptist Convention, 3) The History of the Southern Baptist Convention to the present. Dr. Tom Nettles is one of the foremost Baptist historical theologians in America. Since 1997 he has served as Professor of Historical Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

Five texts are required for this course:

  • The Baptists: Beginnings in Britan (vol. 1) by Tom Nettles (Christian Focus, 2005)
  • The Baptists: Beginnings in America (vol. 2) by Tom Nettles (Christian Focus 2005)
  • Baptist Confessions of Faith by W. L Lumpkin
  • By His Grace and For His Glory by Tom Nettles (Founders Press, 2006)
  • Ready for Reformation? by Tom Nettles (Broadman & Holman, 2005)

First Offered: Fall 2007 - Next Offered: TBA


As we increase our course offerings, we will not be offering all our courses each semester. We hope to rotate through our courses and offer each at least once a year. To find out which courses are currently being offered through the Study Center, please see our Current Course Listing.


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