Course Offerings

In his book Changed into His Likeness, Watchman Nee explores the combined experiences of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the patriarchs of the children of Israel, to tell our story. Their start was our start, their experiences are our journey, and their end is our destiny. The apostle John wrote, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” (1 John 3:2) God’s goal for us is that we would be changed into the Son’s likeness. In God’s dealings with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we can clearly see the path God has set us on, and how we will reach His goal. To those who want such a map, this book has great value. Let us follow it together.

The book of Psalms is a book of poetry. As long as people have had hearts, they have written poetry—using words to convey the depths of their experiences, sentiments, and thoughts. The psalms compiled in the book of Psalms are the same; they express a multitude of feelings from many people arising from their real walks with God. They speak out praise to God, accusation of the enemy, resentment of evil ones, blessings to the righteous, criticism of man, and evaluations of themselves. But the Psalms are also different; expressing not just human feelings, but also God’s speaking. There is one Psalmist writing the Psalms—God Himself. The voice of this Psalmist rings out through the praises of David, the sighing of Moses, the prayers of Solomon, the yearning of the sons of Korah, and the aspirations of many anonymous writers.

Hallelujah! After a long journey, the psalmist has led us to Book Five (Psalms 107—150). Here, we use all our voice to shout, “Hallelujah! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6) After the experiences of the first four books of Psalms, which includes the growth of life (Book One), the church life (Book Two), the building of the church (Book Three), and the testimony of life (Book Four), the psalmist and the church, with accompaniment from all instruments, sing praises to God: “Hallelujah!”

This class includes how to read the Hebrew Old Testament (focusing on Pentateuch), how to do Hebrew key word study with Hebrew lexicons and theological dictionaries, how to conduct verses and chapters studies with Hebrew grammar, syntax, and key commentaries. In this semester we will focus on the study of the word “gospel” in the New Testament. We will put all participants in small groups for group assignment and group presentation in the class.

There are times in every believer’s life when we find ourselves caught in the minutiae of our lives, both with earthly things and spiritual things, and it becomes harder to see the overall picture of why we’re here. Galatians 3:8 says that the Scripture “preached the gospel to Abraham,” long before the gospel arrived as we know it, to give a grand view of God’s vision for His people. God promised him a nation, a blessing, a land, and a seed. These promises, however, are not only for Abraham and the Israelites; they are also for us. In this class we will uncover the significance of these promises and how they all fit together in God’s plan. If you’ve ever wondered how the Old Testament and the New Testament are related, then this class is for you. If you’ve asked God for things but never asked what He wants to give you, then this class is for you. If you desire to broaden your view of what your Christian life could be, then this class is for you.

In the fortieth year of Israel’s wilderness wanderings, in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan River, Moses, the servant of God, “spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him in commandment to them” (Deut. 1:3).

The English name for this fifth book of the Bible—Deuteronomy—comes from the name given to it in Ancient Greek, which means “second law,” or, “copy, repetition” of the law (based on the Hebrew word that gave rise to its Greek name). However, what Moses proceeded to speak over the last month of his life was far from mere repetition or amendment. Instead, he speaks with earnest, inspired, and impressive words, full of observations and exhortations, so that the law given by God would be observed and clung to in Israel’s national life. Moses’ aim was that a new generation of Israelites would obey God; yet their obedience would not be based on fear or obligation, but on love and relationship with the Lord Himself. These final addresses of “a dying father to his children” (Keil and Delitzsch) are the book of Deuteronomy.

Why study Christ in the Old Testament? As a Christian, isn’t reading the New Testament enough to know about Jesus, the gospel, and salvation? First, this was the Lord’s idea. When Jesus appeared to some of his disciples after his resurrection, what did he talk to them about? Luke 24:27 records that “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Second, knowing the facts about Christ from the entirety of Scripture can give believers a bigger foundation to build our faith upon. Third, the “pictures” in the Old Testament tell us about Christ in a different way compared to the gospels and epistles of the New Testament. These “pictures” are people, situations, or statements that show some aspect of who Jesus is in a way that can inform, broaden, challenge, encourage, and wow us.

The Exodus is one of the most crucial events in the Bible. It, along with the preceding and subsequent events, are mentioned or referenced in different passages throughout the Old and New Testaments as a reminder to remember and rehearse the history that happened at that time. These events were timeless lessons. What exactly was the Exodus, and what made it such a monumental marker in Israelite history? How did it affect New Testament believers and how does it affect our lives today? This class will seek to answer these questions by looking at the key events in the Exodus history and how they are fundamental for everything in the Christian life.

Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures (Luke 24:27)

The first five books of the Bible—the Pentateuch—form the base of all the other books. They show the beginning of creation and mankind, his fall, and God’s plan for redemption through calling out Abraham and eventually Israel. Thy show how God formed a nation by bringing His people out of slavery to a rich inheritance in the land of Canaan. They show God’s provision of law, worship, and offerings for that nation, and the nation’s victories, failings, and lessons. The New Testament is found in the Old, as Jesus explained the things about Himself “beginning with Moses” to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. The Pentateuch shows us Christ. Adam is a type of Christ as the ancestor. The cover of the ark is Christ as propitiation. The Passover and the Lamb of the sin offering are Christ. The Pentateuch also shows us our Christian experience. Baptism corresponds to the waters of Noah’s flood. We are to look at Jesus, just like Israel was to look at the bronze serpent. We all have our trek out of Egypt into a land where we eat manna, drink from the rock (Christ), and enter the land—our inheritance. This course is an overview of the Pentateuch and the New Testament truths unveiled through it. Many of the topics are overviews of other classes given in this semester’s Sweet Savor curriculum.

During this nine-week class we will take a closer look at the life and ministry of Martin Luther (1483-1546) who was a unique figure and reformer in the history of Christianity. Luther and his contributions to the reformation of the Christian Church and Faith, both in terms of practice and doctrine, are unique among most others in church history. This class will cover many of the details that are standouts in Martin Luther's life and noteworthy of consideration for any Jesus lover.

After taking this class one should expect to see how Martin Luther's person and general ministry to the Body of Christ as a reformer of Christianity during an era when the Dark Ages was coming to an end, was indeed a turning point in the history of the Church of God Over the nine weeks we will look at highlights from Martin's humble family life and begins born into modest means, his calling, his marriage and family life as well as many of the spiritual events and happenings related to his formal service in religious circles, persecutions as a reformer, and his achievements (as well as struggles) as a main contributor of to the development of many Protestant doctrines and practices, many of which are still impactful and important to the Lord's children today.

Hebrews 8:1-5 speaks of a heavenly tabernacle and Holy priesthood that was foreshadowed by the earthly tabernacle and priesthood detailed in Exodus and Leviticus. With this key to understanding the pictures described in the Old Testament, we will dive into the meanings of the materials and erection of the tabernacle as well as the glorious representation of the priest’s clothing and worship rituals. In classes 1-5 we will discuss the revelation of God’s building work as seen in the type of the tabernacle and in classes 6-9 we will fellowship about serving in the church life as seen in the type of the priesthood.

The beginning of a new church is an exciting time. Those who have believed in Jesus Christ, and experienced the new birth in Christ, are a new creation. As they come together with other believers to worship and serve the God whom they love, they are filled with hope and expectation to be a light to their community, to reach the unsaved, and to grow numerically and in the knowledge and stature of Jesus Christ. How many churches have begun in this way? How many churches continue in this way? How many churches stumble and eventually split? We have only to read church history, and look at the situation of many churches today, including our own, to realize that the church life is not as idyllic a life as we imagine it to be. The apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, like no other letter, brings us down to earth, to challenge each church with stages that must be gone through in order to become the testimony that satisfies Christ and shines to the world.

This is a one year (three semester) course. However, each semester is self-contained, even though only five or six chapters of the book will be covered each semester. Thus, during the fall semester, in chapters 1-4, we looked closely at the first stage that a church needs to pass through: its relationship with apostles, or those servants of God who have raised up the church, as well as its standing in a particular city, as the church. During the winter semester, we will move on to the second stage, that of our humanity, and examine chapters 5-11. Without a proper humanity, the spiritual life has no container, and any spiritual pursuit will have little value. We will consider six challenges that we confront in our human life, the outcome of which will determine the nature of the church life that we may have.

Le début d’une nouvelle église est une période passionnante. Ceux qui ont cru en Jésus-Christ et ont expérimenté la nouvelle naissance en Christ sont une nouvelle création. Alors qu'ils se réunissent avec d'autres croyants pour adorer et servir le Dieu qu'ils aiment, ils sont remplis d'espoir et d'attente pour être une lumière pour leur communauté, pour atteindre ceux qui ne sont pas sauvés et pour grandir numériquement, dans la connaissance et dans la stature de Jésus-Christ. Combien d’églises ont commencé de cette manière ? Combien d’églises continuent ainsi ? Combien d’églises trébuchent et finissent par se diviser ? Il suffit de lire l’histoire de l’église et d’examiner la situation de nombreuses églises aujourd’hui, y compris la nôtre, pour réaliser que la vie de l’église n’est pas aussi idyllique que nous l’imaginons. La première lettre de l’apôtre Paul aux Corinthiens, comme aucune autre lettre, nous ramène sur terre, pour défier chaque église avec des étapes qu’elles doivent franchir afin de devenir le témoignage qui satisfait Christ et qui brille pour le monde.

Il s'agit d'un cours d'un an (trois semestres). Cependant, chaque semestre sera autonome, même si seuls cinq ou six chapitres du livre seront abordés chaque semestre. Ainsi, au cours du semestre d’automne, nous avons examiné de près la première étape par laquelle une église doit passer : sa relation avec les apôtres, ou les serviteurs de Dieu qui ont élevé l’église, aussi bien que la position des croyants dans une ville particulière, en tant que l’église. Pendant le semestre d’hiver, nous passerons à la deuxième étape, celle de notre humanité, et examinerons les chapitres 5 à 11. Sans une humanité correcte, la vie spirituelle n’a pas de contenant, et toute poursuite spirituelle aura peu de valeur. Nous considérerons six défis auxquels nous sommes confrontés dans notre vie humaine, dont le résultat déterminera la nature de la vie d’église que nous pourrons avoir.