Level 2 focuses on New Testament classes including: the Synoptic Gospels, the Book of Acts, and the Book of Romans. These would include the Pastoral Epistles and the General Epistles – classes that are New Testament teachings.
Course Descriptions
Classes in the Associate Program may include:
ACTS
The Book of Acts gives us the beginning and establishment of the Christian Church. We talk about the Holy Spirit and how the audience reacted to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We will touch on how the churches respond today about being filled with the Holy Spirit. We introduce the messengers and non-personality and roles in acts that spread the gospel of Jesus Christ , focusing on the ministry of Peter, Paul, Barnabas and the stoning of Stephen.
BOOK OF REVELATION: An intensive synthetical, Christological, and analytical study of the events and personages outlined in Book of Revelation from a premillennial viewpoint .
BOOK OF ROMANS: An extensive study of Paul’s argument in this epistle and his major theological teachings such as justification, sanctification, and the future of Israel.
BOOK OF HEBREWS: An expositional study of the Book of Hebrews, the better Covenant, demonstrating the superiority of Christianity over Judaism and of our Lord Jesus Christ over all.
CHRIST IN THE SCRIPTURES: A detailed look at Christ and the types of Christ in each book of the Bible.
CHRISTIAN LIVING
Many Christians who have been saved for years struggle with the knowledge of who they are. They mimic other Christians right or wrong, but they're mimicking them because that's their idea of what holiness is or that's their idea of what Christianity is. We need to know who we are and whose we are. The bottom line is we need to know who this being is that we serve and the only way we're going to be able to serve Him and serve Him the way He deserves to be served, is to learn of Him. The Word of God uses common things of this earth such and prolific internal truths about who we are as Christians. Christ is known as a shepherd - shepherd of the flock. He is known as the Good Shepherd, the great shepherd, and the chief shepherd. Look at all three aspects and see how that affects our Christian walk from three different perspectives. It is my endeavor to teach students what a Christian is. If you learn what a Christian is, you'll know how to work, you'll know how to cooperate, you'll know how to live, you'll know how to dress right. By dress I'm not talking about general attire, I'm talking about your spiritual attire. You'll know how to put on the armor of God. You're going to know how to use the right words when you're ministering salvation to somebody else, you’ll learn how to live so that it pleases God because our whole makeup is all about pleasing God.
CHURCH HISTORY: In this course we will survey the history of the church to see how the church that started as a little stone and is growing to fill the whole earth. It will be a survey of the development of Christianity, focusing on the key movement and the outstanding Christian leaders, revolutionary breakthrough, and critical culture and points in the history of the church, We will discuss the various periods which the church has past and we will see surprising that the more adversity the church faced, the stronger it grew.
DOCTRINE OF HELL
EPHESIANS: Ephesians offers general instruction in the truths of God’s redemptive work in Christ; the unity of the church among diverse peoples; and proper conduct in the church, the home, and the world.
GENERAL EPISTLES: The General Epistles are named for their author instead of the church or person to whom they were written. Most of the General Epistles are written to all Christians. The second Epistle of John may have been written to an unnamed lady and the Third Epistle of John was written to his friend Gaius. Epistle of James, First Epistle of Peter, Second Epistle of Peter, First Epistle of John, Second Epistle of John, Third Epistle of John, Epistle of Jude.
GOSPEL OF JOHN: The Fourth Gospel describes the mystery of the identity of Jesus. The Gospel According to John develops a Christology—an explanation of Christ’s nature and origin—while leaving out much of the familiar material that runs through the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH: A concise look at the development of Christianity, focusing on the key movements and outstanding Christian leaders, revolutionary breakthroughs, and crucial turning points in the history of the Church.
INDUCTIVE BIBLE STUDY: The inductive method is an investigative way of studying Scripture that can be used by both new and seasoned students alike. It’s a powerful tool for those who want to learn how to study Scripture well. When applied properly, the inductive method will provide a better overall understanding of a passage—what it says, what it meant to its original audience, and what it means today.
INTER-TESTAMENT HISTORY: The intertestamental period is the period of time between the events of the protocanonical books and the New Testament. Traditionally, it is considered to cover roughly four hundred years, spanning the ministry of Malachi (c. 420 BC) to the appearance of John the Baptist in the early 1st century AD.
LIFE & MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLE PAUL: The course will be based upon his missionary journey, we will adventure into the man Paul, we will see him in the Book of Acts, as a Pharisee, at the Sanhedrin, to be converted on the Damascus Road. He is arrested by the Lord Jesus Christ, as Saul whose kicking against the pricks. This same Paul is now the chosen vessel, raised up to be the apostle to the nation.
LIFE & MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST: We endeavor to better understand who He is today, but His role in eternity-past and HIs provision for our eternal future. Have you ever considered His heart, His pain, and unwavering commitment to complete His assignment to save a world that refuses to acknowledge Him? Along with Jesus’ knowledge, character, parables, miracles, and two ordinances given to believers; and His teachings, we will examine His encounters with the Jewish religious leaders and those life changing gentile meetings. Why was it necessary for Jesus to be baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit? What lies behind the brutality of His trial and death. What happened on the cross? What happened in the tomb? What did He preach when He went up to heaven, and importantly, what does the resurrection forecast? Answers to these questions and so much more, will be discussed in the course of this study.
LIVES OF FAMOUS EVANGELISTS: This class is one that is historical in nature and is designed for those who are interested in exploring the lives of the men and women, dynamically empowered by the Holy Spirit that God used to fuel the fires of revival across the nation in the 19th and 20th Centuries. As we take a biographical look at 12 pioneer leaders of the Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, we will discover that the impact of their work and ministries can still be felt in the church today. We will take a look at God’s generals, both their successes and failures to learn from them. Some of the powerful figures that we will study are Rosa Seymour, an African-American son of a former slave, who started the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles. We will look at Aimee Semple McPherson who founded the Four Square Church of the nation’s first radio station, Smith Wigglesworth who was a plumber who read no books accept the Bible, and Kathryn Kuhlman, the Evangelist, whose miracle-filled meetings bought millions of skeptics to faith in Jesus Christ.
MEN IN THE BIBLE
NEW TESTAMENT INTRODUCTION
PASTORAL EPISTLES: The pastoral epistles are a group of three books of the canonical New Testament: the First Epistle to Timothy (1 Timothy) the Second Epistle to Timothy (2 Timothy), and the Epistle to Titus. They are presented as letters from Paul the Apostle to Timothy and to Titus. They are generally discussed as a group (sometimes with the addition of the Epistle to Philemon) and are given the title pastoral because they are addressed to individuals with pastoral oversight of churches and discuss issues of Christian living, doctrine and leadership.
PRISON EPISTLES: The prison epistles—Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon—are so named because they were written by the apostle Paul during one of his incarcerations. While the prison epistles reflect Paul’s earthly position as a prisoner of Rome, he makes it clear that his captivity was first and foremost to Christ.
SYNOPTIC GOSPELS: An analysis of the Gospels written by Matthew, Mark, and Luke with emphasis upon the similarities and the differences in their structure, subject matter, and presentation of Christ.
THE ANCIENT JEWISH WEDDING & THE RAPTURE: Christ’s first miracle on earth was at a wedding (John 2:1-10), and His last event in heaven is at a wedding supper (Revelation 19:7). The ancient Jewish wedding reveals the exact patterns for the future Rapture of the church. God does not deal with the Gentiles and the Jewish nation at the same time. The Bride of Christ must be removed before God can restore His full relationship with His bride Israel.
THE BOOK OF ACTS: This course concentrates on this unique, foundational historical Book, focusing upon its transitional place in the progress of revelation; its relation to the Epistles; and the role of the Holy Spirit in the missionary expansion of the church.
THE MIRACLES THAT JESUS PERFORMED: Study of the miracles Jesus performed in the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles and the Apocalypse.
THE EPISTLE OF JAMES: The Epistle of James is great to help us Christians grow up. In case you are not aware of this, not everybody who grows old, grows up. There is a vast difference between age and maturity. One of the most practical books in the New Testament, James, is the how to book of the Christian life. In a few words, James explains the responsibilities of a Christian while giving instructions and exhortation to all Christians who are experiencing problems as we all are. We all have crosses to bear, situations that sometimes put us in a tailspin. As if the trials themselves are not bad enough, James points out the dangers that come with them. He warns of the pitfalls of failing to put our trust in God and not enduring. James speaks of prejudice, improper speech, judging one another, leaving God out of our plans, and even bitterness. A short letter of only 5 chapters, James is full of invaluable wisdom, understanding and lessons to help us as we navigate the vicissitudes of life. What does James really mean when he tells us to count it all joy when all hell seems to be breaking loose around us? Really James, it sounds easy, it sounds simple, but not realistic, then what is he really saying? Let’s find out. Let’s grow up together.
THE PARABLES: Careful attention is given to the historical and cultural setting of each story, offering practical insight into Jesus' words.
THE PENTATEUCH: (The Five Books of Moses) A survey of the major events recorded by Moses in the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
UNDERSTANDING THE PARABLES OF CHRIST
UNFOLDING THE PARABLES: Careful attention is given to the historical and cultural setting of each story, offering practical insight into Jesus' words.
URBAN AND FOREIGN MISSIONS
POETIC BOOKS: An analytical approach to Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.
REVELATION
As we sit here tonight the state of California is burning and it's on fire. Many people have left their homes and just before we started this orientation, I was listening to the news saying that many of their hydrants don't work. It’s the signs of the last days. Jesus said when you see these things to look up. Wars and rumors of wars. When we study the Book of Revelation, we’ll begin to understand what end times are about and where the second coming of Christ comes in.
TABERNACLE OF DAVID: This tabernacle is an Old Testament picture which foreshadowed worship based on faith and grace. The study involves a comparison of the structure ceremony, and order of service instituted with this Tabernacle as it differs from the Tabernacle of Moses.
TEN COMMANDMENTS: An in-depth study of the Law of Moses and its relevance today.
THE BOOK OF JOB: It tells the story of a man who loses everything, his wealth, his family, his health and wrestles with the question, Why?
WORSHIP & PRAISE: This course is designed to establish a connection between the Old and New Testaments of the biblical pattern of God's requirements of man to approach Him. Considered are the patterns of the Tabernacle of Moses, the Levitical system and Sacrificial system.
1ST & 2ND SAMUEL: First and Second Samuel deal with a transitional period in the history of ancient Israel. There is a transition of leadership first from the priest Eli to the judge Samuel, then from the judge Samuel to the king Saul, and then from Saul to David. Samuel thus is the link between the judgeship and the kingship in Israel. He is the prophet God uses to anoint both Saul and David.