Course Descriptions and Catalog
The New England School of Theology (NEST) offers multi-site college level Christian instruction for all. Our teachers are seminary trained professionals with a high view of Scripture and a passion for teaching the Bible and Theology. Courses include the following:
Apologetics
An Introduction to Christian Apologetics. This course will survey critical contemporary questions facing Christians today. The course will examine the nature of apologetics, comparative religions, God, Science and the Bible, the resurrection, the person of Jesus, interpretive issues, problems in Christian history and special contemporary topics. It is designed for anyone interested in learning more about defending the faith and dealing with difficult questions. Instructor(s): Team.
Science and Theology: Domains and Dogma. This course surveys the formal areas of science and theology identifying their topics of study, methodological practices and philosophical assumptions. In addition to comparing and contrasting each, a thorough historical evaluation will be explored helping to set the context for a full discussion on apparent areas of dispute but also agreement. The student will also be exposed to contemporary scholarship that has thoughtfully constructed models holding these two great houses of truth in a cooperative worldview. Instructor(s): DeMassa.
Understanding World Religions and Contemporary Philosophies. Instructor(s): Team.
The Christian Mind: Critical Thinking and Christian Discipleship. Instructor(s): Anderson.
Biblical Languages
New Testament Greek: The Basics. Serious students of the Bible who are interested to step it up a notch in their knowledge of the New Testament will benefit from learning the basics of New Testament Greek. This course will give the self-learner and motivated student of the Bible the basics for understanding the original text of the New Testament and will prepare Bible students to read and study the Greek text of First John (in the second semester). This course will be beneficial to preachers and Bible study leaders as they seek to interpret the Bible for others. Instructor(s): Anderson.
New Testament Greek: Reading First John
This course is the second of the New Testament Greek courses. The student who takes this course will learn how the parts of Greek grammar and syntax work by reading and working through the book of First John. Instructor(s): Anderson.
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew I. The first part of an introduction to reading Biblical Hebrew for pastors and interested laypeople. Instructor(s): Pennoyer.
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew II. The second part of an introduction to reading Biblical Hebrew for pastors and interested laypeople. Instructor(s): Pennoyer.
Bible Foundations
Bible Interpretation: Tools and Techniques. This course surveys techniques and tools used to interpret the Bible. Primarily the original author-intended meaning of a chosen text is sought in its literary, historical and cultural context. A practical four step interpretive approach is presented to help guide the student through the most challenging biblical passages. The student will also be exposed to various useful study tools such as Bible commentaries, dictionaries, and concordances. We will finally apply our techniques and tools to the Old and New Testaments, and their diverse forms of literature. Instructor(s): DeMassa.
An Introduction to the New Testament: The Kingdom, the Cross, and the Community. This course surveys the historical background of the New Testament and its writings. It is a foundational course designed to give an overview of New Testament literature and its significance for the life of the church. Students who take this course will gain a framework for further study of individual New Testament Books. Special emphases will include the nature of the church community, Christian discipleship, and developing a biblical worldview. Instructor(s): Anderson.
What in the World has God been Doing? Turning Points in Salvation History. This fascinating course will provide an overview of salvation history. An exciting journey through the Bible that will make stops to visit Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus (the Center of all history!) and Paul. Far more than a character study, this course will unfold the drama of God’s mighty acts in time and our unique place in His plan. Instructor(s): Pennoyer.
New Testament
Encountering Jesus in the Gospels. In this course, Jesus Christ himself will be our primary teacher! Here’s how: The heart of the course will be an immersion in the Gospels of Luke and John, thus putting us directly in touch with the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus. Instructor(s): Pennoyer.
Jesus the Savior of the World. In this course we will examine the person and ministry of Jesus especially as presented in the Gospels. Questions such as “Can the New Testament witness to Jesus be trusted?,” “Who did Jesus consider himself to be?,” and “Why was Jesus executed?” will be addressed. We will also look at the special challenges the church faces in the “postmodern” era when it presents its audacious claim that Jesus is, in fact, the Savior of the World. Prerequisite: Encountering Jesus in the Gospels or Introduction to the New Testament. Instructor(s): Pennoyer.
Wasted Evangelism: The Gospel of Mark, Evangelism, and Social Action. Most Christians believe that evangelism is an important component of the Christian life. Also, many Christians believe that helping the poor is a biblical responsibility. Most Christians do not know that there is a biblical relationship between evangelism and social action. Utilizing the Gospel of Mark, this course will help the student to investigate the relationship between the Gospel we believe and advocacy for the poor. Instructor(s): Anderson.
Gospel of Matthew. Instructor(s): Anderson.
Epistle to the Romans. Instructor(s): Anderson.
Epistle to the Galatians. Instructor(s): Pennoyer.
Epistle to the Philippians. Instructor(s): Anderson.
Epistle to the Ephesians. Instructor(s): Anderson, Pennoyer.
Old Testament
Prophets and Prophecy. This course will explore the fascinating and challenging topic of Biblical prophecy. “Prophecy” in the Bible encompasses everything from the early prophets Elijah and Elisha, classical “writing” prophets such as Amos and Isaiah, the apocalyptic visions contained in Daniel and the Book of Revelation, and the gift of prophecy in the New Testament. By the end of the course, students should find the prophets less strange, but more compelling and powerful. The purpose of this course is to equip students with the concepts and tools needed to be faithful interpreters and teachers of this portion of Scripture. Instructor(s): Pennoyer.
Biblical Theology, Systematic Theology, and Applied Theology
An Introduction to Christian Theology: What Christians Believe and Why It Matters. What do we stand for? What do we really believe – about God, the world, the cross, the end times, our very purpose in life? In this course we will examine together the solid, time-tested central beliefs (or doctrines) of biblical Christianity and consider how these vital truths impact our lives and our society. In traditional terms, this class will be an overview of Systematic Christian Theology. Instructor(s): Pennoyer.
Images of God in Scripture, I.The Scriptures have functioned historically as the wellspring for Christian thinking about God. In this course we will explore some of the various ways in which God is presented in the Scriptures. Our standard procedure will be to trace a particular theme, or image used of God, from it roots in the Old Testament (or Jewish Scriptures) through its development in the New Testament. Instructor(s): Pennoyer.
Images of God in Scripture, II. Part 2 of the course above. Instructor(s): Pennoyer.
Biblical Views of Good and Evil. The issue of “good and evil” receives sustained and lively treatment in the Scriptures. We will approach this by specifically dealing with two closely related themes: The first of these is Theodicy (roughly, the problem of evil) and the second is Biblical Ethics. Instructor(s): Pennoyer.
God, Human Suffering, and the Holocaust. This course will fall roughly into three parts. The first part will addrss the question, put very simply, “What happened?” The second part will focus more specifically on the question, “Where was humanity?” And the third part of the course will focus on the question, “Where was God?” Instructor(s): Pennoyer.
Ethics: Foundations and Applications. We are continually beset with ethical choices (discerning what is “right” or “moral” in a given situation). Too often, perhaps, our reactions are ad hoc , or merely an uncritical reflection of our surrounding culture. This course will allow us to examine the basis of morality and become more consistent and biblical in our thoughts and actions. Instructor(s): Pennoyer.
Public Communication. Practical instruction and training in homiletics (preaching), the art of leading effective bible studies, writing for “letters to the editor” and other forms of public communication – all in the interest of effectively communicating truth to this generation. Instructor(s): Team.
For more information on how we can serve you, your church, or your community group, contact us at:
The New England School of Theology
PO Box 1174
Fairfield, CT 06825 USA
Tel: 203-554-0850
Email: info@nestheology.org
