I. Course Description
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.
II. Course Mentor
This is a mentor led course. If you are taking this course as directed studies, you must have a mentor to successfully complete the course requirements. A list of available mentors for this course and their contact information is posted in the Student Area. If you have any difficulty arranging for a mentor, please contact the Study Center Director.
III. Attendance and Participation
This course meets for 16 sessions. Students will have 20 weeks to complete all the sessions (from September 2, 2008 until January 31, 2009).
Your participation in the course will be determined largely by your contact time with your mentor. You may work through the course material online at your own pace, but to fulfill the attendance requirement for the course, you must stay in contact with your mentor and log at least 16 meetings with your mentor (one for each session of the course). If you meet long enough to sufficiently cover two sessions, your mentor may give you credit for two meetings. It will be up to your mentor to determine at the end of the course if you have fulfilled the attendance requirement and sufficiently covered the course material.
If extenuating circumstances arise and you will not be able to complete the course in the allotted time, please contact the Study Center Director.
IV. Required Texts
Three texts are required for this course:
• Worldly Saints by Leland Ryken
• A Quest for Godliness by J. I. Packer
• The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
Additional reading assignments will be provided online.
V. Outline of Sessions
The 16 sessions of this course are as follows:
1. The Puritan Identity (Part 1)
2. The Puritan Identity (Part 2)
3. The Bible in Puritan Theology
4. Salvation by Grace (Part 1)
5. Salvation by Grace (Part 2)
6. Salvation by Grace (Part 3)
7. The Good Fight (Part 1)
8. The Good Fight (Part 2)
9. The Pilgrim's Progress
10. The Puritan Conscience (Part 1)
11. The Puritan Conscience (Part 2)
12. Puritan Church Life (Part 1)
13. Puritan Church Life (Part 2)
14. Puritan Church Life (Part 3)
15. Puritan Theology for Today (Part 1)
16. Puritan Theology for Today (Part 2)
VI. Method of Instruction
Teaching methods will include:
• Listening to audio lectures with power point slides online
• Study Guides for each Session (covering the material from the reading and lecture)
• Discussion of course material with your mentor
• Feedback from your mentor on course assignments
VII. Course Assignments
All assignments for the course are outlined on the session pages and in the study guides.
Weekly Assignments:
Each session will include the following:
1) Reading Assignments
2) Discussion Questions over the Reading Assignments
3) Discussion Questions over the Lecture
Please complete all the readings for the session and print out a hard copy of your answers to the discussion questions so you are prepared for your meetings with your mentor. You will receive credit for doing your weekly assignments once you have met and covered the material with your mentor.
Major Projects:
1. Biographical Sketch
Your first project for the course will be to write a biographical sketch on one of the Puritans. Your paper should be minimum of three pages (not including title page), double-spaced, no larger than 12-point font (Times Roman or Arial), with 1 inch margins. You will choose from a list of names and begin with a brief overview of his life. You will also seek to investigate and discover insight in two specific areas: his personal walk with God (daily practice of devotion) and his philosophy of pastoral ministry. More detailed instructions on this project will be provided in Session 7.
2. Position Paper
Your final project for the course will be to prepare a position paper. Your paper should be minimum of five pages (not including title page), double-spaced, no larger than 12-point font (Times Roman or Arial), with 1 inch margins. You will choose one topic of theology from a list of available topics (election, justification by faith alone, the atonement, the will of man…). Your paper should cover your own understanding of the topic, a defense of your view from Scripture, and a survey of Puritan teaching on the topic. More detailed instructions on this project will be provided in Session 14 .
Your mentor will assign specific due dates for your projects. All course work must be complete to the satisfaction of your mentor by January 31, 2009.