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 Power and Necessity of Prayer
C.S. Lewis wrote that a person who wants to grow in intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ must “be busy learning to pray.” In this class, led by Dr. Lyle Dorsett, expect to pay close attention to the Psalms as a school of prayer, the prayer practices of several Old Testament saints, and the prayer lives of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, and some of the great prayer warriors of church history. Finally, we will offer the prayer of Jesus’ disciples: “Lord, teach us to pray.” [Luke 11:1]
University of Missouri-Columbia; Post-Doctoral Studies, Iliff School of
Theology) is formerly the Billy Graham professor of Evangelism at Beeson
Divinity School.
Schedule
Six Monday nights - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., beginning on February 24, 2020.
Cost
$89.00 If registered prior to February 17 or $115.00 thereafter.>
Being Human: God’s Finest Creation
Dr. Piotr Malysz returns to offer this class that will consider a range of biblical, theological and philosophical perspectives on what it means to be human—recognizing that we are created by God. The more specific topics will include freedom and virtue, the significance of the body, personhood and dignity, action and work, community, and, not least, love and death. Throughout we will bring Christian insight into conversation with contemporary social and technological developments.
M.Div., Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN; Th.D., Harvard
University) joined the faculty of Beeson Divinity School in 2011 and teaches
church history and doctrine.
Schedule
Six Tuesday nights - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., beginning on February 25, 2020.
Cost
$89.00 If registered prior to February 18 or $115.00 thereafter.
The History of Salvation
This class will be approaching a systematic theology in a new way—as history. This is an area in which Dr. Gerald McDermott is currently investing a great amount of his research…so this should be an exciting study! The course will begin very differently than one would expect…rather than starting with, say, a doctrine of Scripture and then a doctrine of God and then a doctrine of man, this approach will start with the three divine Persons in eternity planning a creation. This will be followed by the story of creation, the Fall, and then the story of the first civilizations until Babel. That will be followed by the story of Israel throughout the Old Testament, then the story of the early church and the history of Christianity. At the same time, this class will also relate sacred history to secular history—for example, an analysis of the development of the world religions in light of the development of the religion of Israel.
State University; M.R.E., Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary; Ph.D., University
of Iowa) joined the Beeson Divinity school faculty in 2015 as the Anglican
professor of divinity, and teaches in the areas of history and doctrine.
Schedule
Six Thursday nights - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., beginning on February 27, 2020.
Cost
$89.00 If registered prior to February 20 or $115.00 thereafter.
Weekday Seminars
Puritanism
This class will cover the origins of Puritanism, its particular doctrinal and spiritual emphases and its early successes. It will then consider divisions within the Puritan movement, opposition to it and its eventual collapse at the end of the 17th century. Come join Dr. Gerald Bray as he offers another exciting study
focusing on this important era in church history.
Schedule
Six Wednesday afternoons - 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., beginning on January 29, 2020.
Cost
$89.00 If registered prior to January 22 or $115.00 thereafter.
Genesis: The “Book of Beginnings”
Genesis is, above all, divine revelation—disclosing God’s perspective on the origins of the universe, humanity and his plan of salvation for creation and for all nations. Join Dr. Kenneth Mathews as he helps us learn that Genesis, as the beginning of the Bible, gives readers the foundation for understanding the whole Bible. Genesis also provides the intellectual and spiritual framework for our understanding of what and who God is, and for knowing the identity of the human “Self,” and our relationship to God, to nature, and to one another.
Theological Seminary; M.A., Ph.D., University of Michigan) teaches at
Beeson Divinity School in the areas of Old Testament and Hebrew.
Schedule
Six Monday afternoons - 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., beginning on February 24, 2020.
Cost
$89.00 If registered prior to February 17th 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