Lectio Divina: Learning to Pray the Scriptures

Spring 2021

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Class Meets on Thursdays at 7:00pm Central Time (UTC-6:00)

Thursday, March 11 – Thursday, April 29

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Course Instructor: Matthew Dereck

Lectio Divina (“sacred reading”) is the ancient practice of reading the Scriptures in a meditative fashion as a guide for prayer. Developed by Benedictine monastic communities in the Middle Ages, Lectio Divina continues to be a rich resource for prayer across many Christian traditions. This course will survey the biblical foundations for Lectio Divina as well as techniques for the practice of this method of prayer. Following this course, students will be prepared to implement Lectio Divina in times of personal prayer and in corporate prayer services.

The Psalms: Prayer Book of the People of God

Fall 2021

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Class Meets on Thursdays at 7:00pm Central Time (UTC-6:00)

Thursday, January 6 – Thursday, February 24

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Course Instructor: Matthew Dereck

The Psalms are the written record of the hopes, fears, and prayers of ancient Israel. In the centuries since they were written, they have served to guide the prayers of the people of God spread across the earth. Saint Athanasius, the fourth-century bishop, described the Psalms in this way: “The Psalms have a unique place in the Bible because most of the Scripture speaks to us, while the Psalms speak for us.” This course is designed to give students an introduction to the Psalms, specifically reflecting on how the Psalms can shape our life of prayer. Following this course, students will be able to interpret the Psalms and use them in times of corporate and personal prayer.

Spiritual Disciplines in the Virtual Age

Fall 2021

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Class Meets on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:30pm Central Time (UTC-6:00)

Tuesday, August 17 – Tuesday, October 5

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Course Instructor: Jonathan J. Armstrong

What is virtual reality (VR) and how will it change the life of the church in the future? Living in the digital age presents many distractions, but there are also new opportunities to share the gospel and for communal devotion. This course will explore the way that evangelicalism has appealed to technology in the past for the purposes of Christian mission as well as sketching out a theology of technology that will allow us to reflect on technological innovation from a Christian perspective.

Prayer in the History of Revival

Fall 2021

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Class Meets on Thursdays at 7:00pm Central Time (UTC-6:00)

Thursday, October 14 – Thursday, December 9

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Course Instructor: Matthew Dereck

Whenever revival has occurred throughout history, fervent prayer has always been at the heart of the movement. This course will survey key revivals from the First Great Awakening in the 1730’s to the present, exploring the role of prayer in each chapter of this story. In addition, this course will survey the theological foundation of prayer in revival. Following this course, class participants will have a deeper knowledge of the role of prayer in revival history and will be equipped to join in fostering global prayer networks.

Prayer in Seasons of Suffering

Fall 2022

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Class Meets on Thursdays at 7:00pm Central Time (UTC-6:00)

Thursday, October 13 – Thursday, December 8

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Course Instructor: Matthew Dereck

The lives and prayers of David, Solomon, Job, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, the Apostle Paul and even Jesus all attest to the fact that suffering can be the place where God develops in us depth in our prayer lives. Inevitably, all people will face periods of suffering to some extent, so it is vital to understand the role of prayer in seasons of suffering. Course sessions will address this topic from a biblical perspective while simultaneously evaluating the presence and meaning of suffering in the Bible.

Spiritual Warfare

Spring 2022

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Class Meets on Thursdays at 7:00pm Central Time (UTC-6:00)

Thursday, March 10 – Thursday, April 28

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Course Instructor: Matthew Dereck

What does spiritual warfare look like in the modern world? What are the gifts of the Spirit? How are the gifts in use today? What role does prayer play in these topics? In seeking to address these and other questions, this course will survey the major Christian perspectives on these topics. Through this course, students will be able to develop biblically-informed perspectives on these issues, specifically considering how they interact with prayer.

Evangelism and Discipleship in the Modern World

Fall 2022

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Class Meets on Thursdays at 7:00pm Central Time (UTC-6:00)

Thursday, August 18 – Thursday, October 6

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Course Instructor: Jonathan J. Armstrong

Jesus Christ is the master teacher in the art of disciple making. From his opening call to his own disciples to become “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19) to his concluding “Great Commission,” in which he sent the apostles out to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), the Lord taught the priority of evangelism and discipleship. This course will study the pattern of the Lord’s method of disciple making presented in the Gospels as well as showcase practical methods for calling and developing disciples in the contemporary context.

Introduction to Prayer: Communing with the Triune God

Spring 2023

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Class Meets on Tuesdays from 12:00-1:30pm Central Time (UTC-6:00)

Tuesday, January 3 – Tuesday, February 21

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Course Instructor: Jonathan J. Armstrong

Learning to pray is the proper starting point for the study of theology. As Evagrius Ponticus, the fourth-century Christian writer, said: “He who prays truly is a theologian; he who is a theologian prays truly.” This course is designed to give participants a basic introduction to the practice and theology of prayer in the Christian tradition. Course sessions will explore the theological framework of prayer and study the prayers of the Bible as a pattern for our own prayers. Following this class, students will be able to evaluate the dynamics of their personal prayer lives and be prepared to lead corporate prayer services.