The Lay Academy of Theology offers non-credit evening classes and other study opportunities led by Beeson faculty for interested laity as well as ministers desiring continuing education.
Evening Courses
The Holy Trinity
How does the Bible present and teach the doctrine of the Trinity? How has the church received and clarified the Bible’s teaching on the Trinity? If you would like to understand better the scriptural basis for the Trinity and how the faithful throughout the history of the church have confessed the coeternity and coequality of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, then join Dr. Carl Beckwith for a thought-provoking study into this often-overlooked doctrine.
Ireland; M.A., Yale University; Ph.D., University of Notre Dame) teaches at
Beeson Divinity School in the areas of history and doctrine.
Schedule
Six Monday nights - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., beginning on February 25, 2019.
Cost
$89.00 If registered prior to February 18 or $115.00 thereafter.
The Cost of Discipleship: The Sermon on the Mount
Through Bonhoeffer’s Eyes
Dr. Mike Pasquarello will be leading this study of Bonhoeffer’s most well-known book, The Cost of Discipleship. This course will explore Bonhoeffer’s interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount and other parts of Matthew’s Gospel as wisdom for the life of Christian discipleship today. The class will also
include helpful background information on Bonhoeffer’s role as a leader of the Confessing Church in Germany for which The Cost of Discipleship was written. Join us for a rich study of church history and Scripture through the life and ministry of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Divinity School; M.A., Ph.D., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
is Beeson’s Methodist Chair of Divinity and Director of the Robert Smith
Jr. Preaching Institute and teaches in the areas of biblical preaching and
Wesleyan theology in the school’s Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry
degree programs.
Schedule
Six Tuesday nights - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., beginning on February 26, 2019.
Cost
$89.00 If registered prior to February 19 or $115.00 thereafter.
God the Creator and Redeemer in Genesis and John’s Gospel
Join Dr. Ken Mathews and Dr. Grant Taylor as they co-teach this class by presenting the Bible’s lessons on God’s creation. The professors will alternate corresponding sessions, giving a biblical theology that centers on the primary message of the Bible. Dr. Mathews will guide you through Genesis 1-3 in three sessions, focusing on God’s sovereign work of creation, the image of God in humanity, and sin and the promise of redemption. Dr. Taylor in three sessions will show you how John’s Gospel interprets the creation accounts in light of the incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is a unique approach and sure to be an exciting study.
School in the areas of Old Testament and Hebrew.
for academic affairs and teaches in the areas of New Testament theology and Greek exegesis.
Schedule
Six Wednesday nights - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., beginning on February 27, 2019.
Cost
$89.00 If registered prior to February 20 or $115.00 thereafter.
Weekday Seminars
The English Reformation
The English Reformation was the greatest single event in that nation’s history and it has shaped the English-speaking world to the present day. But, it was controversial at the time and full of events that are hard to understand. Join Dr. Gerald Bray in this course that will explain what happened step-by-step and help us to understand why it matters and how its influence is still felt today.
Schedule
Six Wednesday afternoons - 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., beginning on January 23, 2019.
Cost
$89.00 If registered prior to January 16 or $115.00 thereafter.
The Parables: Jesus’ Friendly Subversive Speech
Jesus used parables to get people to think about life. He questioned popular expectations and convenient convictions, by drawing his images from the work place. His characters were farmers, merchants, and fishermen. His stories were about sowing seed, finding hidden treasure, and casting nets. Jesus used simple stories to convey profound truths. His approach to the truth was more
metaphorical than philosophical. Jesus was more a poet than a logician. Getting at the truth is serious business, especially in an age that has largely given up on truth. The belief that there are no universal truths–no sacred revelation, has gained popular acceptance. Jesus avoided reaching a communicational impasse by turning to a style of speech that separated out disciples from the crowd. His friendly subversive speech continues to challenge anyone who has ears to hear and eyes to see. Dr. Doug Webster has enthusiastically studied and preached the parables and is looking forward to leading this in-depth study of the parables of Jesus.
Schedule
Six Thursday afternoons - 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., beginning on February 28, 2019.
Cost
$89.00 If registered prior to February 21 or $115.00 thereafter.
Saturday Class
The Gospel of Mark
When Christians forget or become confused about their identity as Christians, the best corrective is Christ. But who is Christ? What has he accomplished for his people? And what did he teach? Each of these dimensions seem too basic; doesn’t everyone know Jesus Christ? If believers truly understood Christ and our faith, the church would be dramatically different from what it is today. As Dr. Sydney Park leads this study through the Gospel of Mark, we discover Jesus, who comes to purify his people, once and for all through his suffering, death and resurrection. The implications of this atonement are fundamentally life changing. In Mark, we also find that the disciples are all too human, afraid and flawed, giving modern disciples encouragement for renewal and hope.
Seminary; Th.M., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Ph.D., University of
Aberdeen) joined the Beeson Divinity School faculty in 2006, and teaches
biblical interpretation, New Testament theology, and Greek
Schedule
Six Saturday afternoons - 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., beginning on March 2, 2019.
Cost
$89.00 If registered prior to February 23rd or $115.00 thereafter.
Registration Options
There are three ways to register:
- Register Online (with Visa or Master Card)
- Register by Mail (with check)
- Call (205) 726-2338 or (800) 888-8266 ext. 2338