For the first time in years I will be teaching again in The Elmbrook Christian Study Center. Starting Wednesday night, January 20 and going through May 4 (excluding February 17) I will be teaching a survey of the whole of the history of Christianity. I am looking forward to an eye-opening experience that will help us understand many of the issues we face today in this tension-filled world, and a focus on the gospel proclaimed today.
I truly believe that serious Christians need to understand their roots, their beliefs, and their traditions. Their triumphs and defeats. Their glory and their shame. The 2,000-year story of Christianity is anything but dull. It includes the martyrdom of Christians at the hand of Nero in Rome, the rapid expansion of the faith, the early conflict with Muhammad and his followers, the copying of the manuscript of the Bible, the Crusades, the reforms of Luther and Calvin, the birth of the Baptist, Methodist, Anglican and many other denominations, the modern missionary and revival movements, and much more. This story is vivid, inspiring, and sometimes violent. Embedded in the story of the history of Christianity is, of course, the work of the living God. Today there are churches in every corner of the world. Every Sunday believers gather to worship in the name of Jesus. How did this happen? And how is it that there have been times when Christian faith was almost smothered, as it was in the Muslim conquests of North Africa in the 100 years after Muhammad.
Anyone can take the 15-session course as an auditor, or for credit through Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Sign up HERE.
To audit, just look at the bottom of the page under AUDIT, and do steps A and B under NEW STUDENTS. Other options are on the page. To ask a question, email Susie Berry at sberry@elmbrook.org
Also, note these other fine courses being offered this term:
Introduction to the New Testament (David Seemuth); Major Prophets (Samir Massouh); Christian Formation and Journey (Dick Averbeck); Grief and Trauma in Christian Perspective (Dan Green); Perspectives in World Mission. Links to all these classes are HERE
To see the syllabus for the course, click here: CH5010Syllabus. Auditors can just come to the lectures, although anyone would find the book by Dowley excellent.
Again, if you have a question about registering, email Susie Berry at sberry@elmbrook.org Or, if you have questions about the course itself, you may contact me with the CONTACT link above.