Courses for Spring 2011
Click on course title for expanded syllabus as available
To register for a class, go to our Admissions and Enrollment page
NEST is offering three courses this spring. They have been scheduled consecutively to allow interested students to take all three.
Bible Interpretation: Tools and Techniques – John DeMassa, Instructor
Saturday Mornings, January 15 – March 5, 9:00-11:00am (8-week series)
Instructor: John M. DeMassa, Ph.D.
Location: Trinity Church, 300 North Benson Road, Fairfield CT 06824
Course Objectives: This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about how to interpret the Bible. A primary objective is to secure skills related to uncovering the original author-intended meaning of a passage, and discovering relevant personal applications. A practical interpretive approach will be presented to help guide the student through the most challenging biblical passages. Our ultimate objective will be to equip students to be responsible interpreters of the Bible, correctly handling the word of truth.
Course Outline: Our course will survey basic principles and guidelines for biblical interpretation. We will view interpretation as a four-stage journey that answers critical questions along the way. Included in the “journey” will be the development of skills on how to read the text at the basic word and sentence level then the paragraph and finally discourse levels (whole narratives). The historical and cultural background will be examined to shed light on the context of a passage. The student will also be exposed to various useful study tools such as Bible commentaries, dictionaries, and concordances. We will examine the role of the Holy Spirit throughout the interpretive journey. We will finally apply our techniques and tools to the Old and New Testaments, where we will discover the meaning of types, poetry, proverbs, parables, symbols, and prophecy.
The Kingdom, the Cross, and the Community: An Introduction to the New Testament- Chip M. Anderson, Instructor
Saturdays, March 12-April 2, 9:00am-1:00pm (4-week series)
Instructor: Rev. Chip M. Anderson
Location: Trinity Church, 300 North Benson Road, Fairfield CT 06824
Description: 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.
Course Rationale: The Church and its leadership need to be more familiar with the life settings of the apostolic Church, namely the occasion and historical background that brought about the New Testament documents. Such knowledge helps those in the study of theology, Church and lay leadership, and cross-cultural ministries to gain an appreciation for the Church’s New Testament documents, thus, building a foundation for both further study and good application of God’s word in the world today.
Here We Stand: An Introduction to Christian Theology – Ray Pennoyer, Instructor
Saturday Mornings, 9:00-11:00 am, starting April 9 (8-week series)
Instructor: Ray Pennoyer III, Ph.D.
Location: Trinity Church, 300 North Benson Road, Fairfield CT 06824
Description: What do we stand for? What do we really believe – about God, the world, the Cross, the end times, our very purpose in life? Having core beliefs at all runs counter to our age in which “being open-minded” is so highly prized. However, as G. K. Chesterton points out, an open mind has a proper purpose, much like the purpose of an open mouth at table: to close when it finds something solid. 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. Suitable for Christians both new and seasoned, with lively discussion encouraged! In traditional terms, this course will be an overview of Systematic Christian Theology.
Objectives: If we work together, we will each leave this course
- knowing our common Christian faith better,
- more able to defend our faith against contemporary challenges, misunderstandings, and unnecessary divisions; and
- better equipped to carry the life-giving gospel in a relevant way to our culture.
