This course is designed to give the student a comprehensive and practical understanding of the Old Testament. An introduction to the authorship, time of writing, style of language used, as well as the purpose and content of each book will be examined in order to put the student in the place of the first readers. From this perspective, we can begin to grasp what God is saying to us today as He continues to address us through these same scriptures.

The goal of this course is that by means of lecture, discussion, research and journal keeping, the student will be enabled to understand the history and cultural setting of the New Testament. Students should be better able to understand and articulate the continuity between Old and New Testament and its covenantal basis. The student will be able to identify the major theological issues addressed in the New Testament and link them to specific books.

These courses are aimed at providing the student with a firm grasp of the biblical theology recaptured at the time of the Reformation. The basis for study will be the Westminster Standards with reference to other venerable expressions of Reformed theology. Reading, lectures and memorization will be key components of these courses. Semester I will cover chapters 1-18 of the Westminster Confession of Faith and Semester II will complete the Confession focusing on chapters 19-33.

We as Christians believe that God’s Law as codified in the Bible and summarized in the Ten Commandments is eternal and unchanging. It is the God given standard by which we must continually assess everything that goes on around us. Sadly, our modern world seeks to reverse this process and subject the law of God to the standards of our culture. This course will examine the proper relationship between God’s law and society and help the student to critically assess everything through the lens of God’s law. These goals will be achieved through means of class lecture and class readings but a prominent portion of the course will be classroom discussion of cultural expressions coming from a variety of media types.

This is a foundational course, spanning history from the Greek Philosophers, through the early Christian era and the Renaissance to the Age of Enlightenment, Idealism and American Pragmatism, culminating with Post Modernism. This course aims to equip students to understand these philosophers and our calling as 21st century Christians within this context.

As Christians it is our responsibility to communicate the truths of God clearly and effectively in whatever situation the Lord should place us. This course will provide the principles of proper and effective communication skills. Throughout the year an equal emphasis will be given to the areas of research (how to manage time and tools), logic (how to think clearly and accurately) and communication (both written and verb al skills will be developed). The end result will be the students increased ability to discover, clarify and communicate the revealed mind of God.

This course will help the student become more effective and efficient in the area of research. The consistent use of these skills with allow the student to work more quickly and comprehensively resulting in better time management and ultimately better grades. Topics will move from a general introduction to research methods through to putting the finishing touches on a completed research paper.

These modules will run concurrently and consist of one two-hour class on alternate weeks through both first and second semesters.

Oral Communication
The use of classical rhetorical devices and logic will be emphasized. Wherever possible topics being dealt with in other courses will be used to practice the principles of clarity in oral presentation. The development of clarity in voice and speech, as well as thought, will be the goal. Short topical presentations will be required and form the basis for 20% of the total grade of this course.

Logic
An important element in presenting arguments that are persuasive is the proper use of logic. An introduction to the elements of logic and a familiarity with logical fallacies will assist the student in evaluating speeches of note both historical and contemporary. The evaluation of this portion of the module will be by two short answer tests for 20% of the total grade of this course.

Participation in classroom discussion (10%). The Research and Written Communication portion of this course will make up the remaining 50% of the grade.

This module will consist of 13 1-hour classes on alternate weeks through both first and second semesters. Wherever possible written assignments from other courses will be used to practice the principles of clarity in writing. In addition a short persuasive essay and a column intended for publication in the magazine of the student’s choice will be required. Marking of this module will be by continuous assessment and participation in classroom sessions.

The purpose of this course is to give practical help in declaring our faith to various persons in different situations. The student will increase his understanding of the Christian faith in contrast to other worldviews and religions, and will develop his ability to present and proclaim Christ.