Course Description:
The catalog description of this course is as follows:
106 Life of Christ (2 credits) This course surveys the gospel accounts of the life of Christ to introduce students to both historical and thematic content of the gospels from which practical applications can be drawn.
This course is designed to acquaint the student with the New Testament historical information contained in the Four Gospels and Acts. The student will study the life of Jesus, his teachings, and his passion as presented by each of the four gospel writers. The unique concerns, construction, themes, topics, theology, outline, and purposes of each of the gospels will be studied individually rather than in a "harmonized" method.
Secondarily, the book of Acts will be studied as Luke's second volume of history and will be presented around the book's own declared outline: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, all the earth. The six summary statements in Acts will be noted as transitional bridges between the individual sections of the book. The material in Acts will be presented as the result and effect of Jesus' life on his disciples. The unique dynamic of the early church will be emphasized throughout the book, as will the way in which people entered the church through commitment to Jesus Christ evidenced in changed lives and obedient response.
All students should be equipped with sufficient information about Jesus and the way people followed him to make a personal decision about the impact Jesus has had on society both past and present, and the impact Jesus wants to have and can have in their lives.
2. The student will study the life of Jesus, his teachings, and his passion as presented by each of the four gospel writers, in comparative rather than harmonized studies. The student will be able to identify the unique concerns, themes, topics, theology, outline, chronology, and purposes of each of the gospels. 3. The student will be introduced to the book of Acts as Luke's second volume of history setting forth the result and effect of Jesus' life on his disciples, and will be familiar with the book's own declared outline: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, all the earth. The student will recognize the six summary statements in Acts as transitional bridges between the individual sections of the book. 4. The students will reflect upon the discipleship dynamics reflected in the gospels and make personal applications for their own lives.
Methodology: The student will read Sheldon's In His Steps. The student will then write a personal reflection paper which briefly summarizes the book (no more than 1/3 of the paper), and reflects upon specific ways in which the principles set forth in the book would influence and alter the students' lives today if applied. The validity of such an approach should also be addressed. 5. Each student will learn how to research some element of the biblical story in more detail. As a result, the student will also have a greater grasp of some specific section of the class content. 6. The student will be able to identify the unique dynamic of the early church as presented in Acts, and the way in which people entered the church through commitment to Jesus Christ evidenced in changed lives and obedient
response. 7. Students will be equipped with sufficient information about Jesus and the way people followed him to make a personal decision about the impact Jesus has had on society both past and present, and the impact Jesus wants to have and can have in their lives.
Methodology: Reading and homework assignments, class lecture, overheads, presentations, discussions, study of materials provided on the internet, study questions. GRADING SCALE [% of possible points] Course Assessment COURSE CALENDAR
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 RECOMMENDED READINGS TO SUPPLEMENT CLASS DISCUSSIONS AUTHORS/READING LIST: RESEARCH PROJECTS *Students who are dissatisfied with the grade assigned to their book reports or research project may rewrite.
Rewrites must be submitted within a week of receiving the paper back from the professor.
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Compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
If you have a diagnosed disability and need special accommodations, please notify the
Office of the Provost before or immediately after your first scheduled class meeting. After your disability has been verified, your instructor will work with you and the Office of the Provost to insure that you have a fair
opportunity to perform in the course.
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Student Expectations
[Student expectations are set forth in the catalog. This section clarifies some areas as they pertain to this class.]
Attendance Policy---The school attendance policy will be followed. Students whose unexcused absences exceed one week of class will be dropped. Students dropped are required to meet with the professor and submit their written plan for maintaining attendance and progress in the class before reinstatement. Evaluation is heavily weighted in favor of regular class attendance and unexcused absences may lower the student's final grade up to a grade point (see below under "criteria for evaluation"). Excused absences are available only through contact with the instructor within 24 hours after class is missed or in advance. The student is responsible for consulting with the instructor when absent and is responsible for obtaining and completing all assignments.
Classroom Conduct---Students must arrive at class on time. (See catalog.) A student who must arrive at class late is expected to enter class without being disruptive and wait until after class to explain the reason for his or her tardiness.
Late Assignments---Homework must be turned in on time or early. Late work will be accepted only within one week of the due date and will be penalized up to 10%. Daily work and quizzes cannot be made up. Makeup examinations are not available.
Withdrawal Procedure---Class withdrawal procedures set forth in the catalog must be followed. Non-attendance does not constitute withdrawal. The student who neither attends nor drops the class will receive a grade of "F."
Goals and Objectives
1. The student will learn the general chronology of the life of Christ and events in the early church as reflected in events, personalities, teachings and themes, and as presented in readings and class presentations. The student will understand the New Testament historical backgrounds as well as the information contained in the Four Gospels and the early chapters of the book of Acts.
Methodology: Reading and homework assignments, class lecture, overheads, presentations, discussions, study of materials provided on the internet, study questions.
Assessment: Evaluation of reading and homework by quizzes; evaluation of content mastery on examinations.
Methodology: Reading and homework assignments, class lecture, overheads, presentations, discussions, study of materials provided on the internet, study questions.
Assessment: Evaluation of reading and homework by quizzes; evaluation of content mastery on examinations.
Methodology: Reading and homework assignments, class lecture, overheads, presentations, discussions, study of materials provided on the internet, study questions.
Assessment: Evaluation of reading and homework by quizzes; evaluation of content mastery on examinations.
Assessment: Evaluation of the students' reports.
Methodology: Each student will research and write a paper on an assigned topic as reflected in the class outline below (bold topics). Each student will make a brief presentation in class of their research.
Assessment: Evaluation of the student papers and presentations.
Methodology: Reading and homework assignments, class lecture, overheads, presentations, discussions, study of materials provided on the internet, study questions.
Assessment: Evaluation of in class responses and informal examination. This objective is not assessed as part of the class grade.
Assessment: Evaluation of in class responses and informal examination. This objective is not assessed as part of the class grade.
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION
The successful student will master all course objectives to some degree. The successful student will cooperate with the professor in a mutually stimulating, exciting learning experience. Evaluation will be based
upon mastery of goals and objectives as reflected in class participation, quizzes, homework, and examinations.
Class Requirements:
1. Mastery of the general chronology of the life of Christ and in the early church as reflected in events, personalities, teachings and themes, as reflected in readings and class presentations. This will be tested on the examinations.
2. Homework and readings according to the schedule provided. A quiz may be given at the beginning of any class period over all assigned readings due.
3. Personal Research Project and in class presentation
4. All students will read and write a essay on Sheldon's In His Steps as described above.
Extra Credit: (Can be substituted only for attendance and class participation, maximum 100 points.)
1. Each student will read an approved book (submit your selection to professor for approval before beginning reading) and submit a one-page book summary (100 points).
2. Students will complete an approved project, e.g. timeline, creative composition (music, poetry, drama, essay, art, etc.), or other projects suggested by the students and approved by the professor, which reflects the content of the class (100 points).
Evaluation
100 Class Attendance (each unexcused absence deducts 50 points)
100 Daily quizzes/homework, in-class participation
100 Sheldon book assignment (due October 15)
200 Personal Research Project and presentation. Higher grade counts 2/3, lower grade 1/3.
500 Examinations (5 x 100) including final
1000 Total points possible
A 90-100%
Note: This syllabus is an agreement between the student and instructor of BIBLE 106. The professor reserves the right to amend this syllabus as necessary during the course of the semester, and will promptly notify students involved of the changes.
B 80-89%
C 70-79%
D 60-69%
F <60%
Course assessment will be accomplished through (1) evaluation of student grades, (2) evaluation of the students' active participation in the class through assigned activities, both in class and out of class, and (3) institutional course evaluation.
[Note concerning reading assignments: A more recent edition of the text had added a chapter five. If this is the edition you have, you should alter reading assignments in chapters five and higher accordingly. The number would be one higher.]
Jan 12--Syllabus, assign research topics
Jan 17--Read ch. 1-Political World and 2-Social/Economic World, discuss, take reading and class notes
Jan 19--Read ch. 3-Religious World and 4-Judaism, discuss, take reading and class notes
Jan 24--THE POLITICAL WORLD OF ROME; Read ch. 11-The Life of Christ, discuss, take reading and class notes
Jan 26--RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS TO THE NEW TESTAMENT, read ch. 8-Gospel of Mark, 1st discussion of Mark, handout and websites (HO/W). Web: Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels.
Jan 31--THE NEW TESTAMENT, read ch. 5-NT Name and Content and 6-Gospels as Literary Works, discuss, take reading and class notes; 2nd discussion of Mark,HO/W
Feb 2--THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM, 3rd discussion of Mark, HO/W
Feb 7--UNDERSTANDING MARK, 4th discussion of Mark, review, Mark test
Feb 9--Sheldon reports due for students who have not done in-class report to this point.. THE PERIODS OF JESUS' LIFE, read ch. 7-Gospel of Matthew, 1st discussion of Matthew, HO/W.
Feb 14--2nd discussion of Matthew, HO/W
Feb 16--3rd discussion of Matthew, HO/W
Feb 21--4th discussion of Matthew, HO/W
Feb 23--UNDERSTANDING MATTHEW, review, Matthew test
Feb 28--Sheldon reports due from all students. Read ch. 9-Gospel of Luke, 1st discussion of Luke, HO/W.
Mar 1--2nd discussion of Luke, HO/W
Mar 13--3rd discussion of Luke, HO/W
Mar 15--UNDERSTANDING LUKE, 4th
Mar 20--Review, Luke test
Mar 22--Read ch. 10-Gospel of John, 1st discussion of John, HO/W
Mar 27--2nd discussion of John, HO/W
Mar 29--3rd discussion of John, HO/W
Lectureship. Study the following sites.
Apr 10--3 book summaries, UNDERSTANDING JOHN, review, John test
April 12--3 book summaries, Read ch. 12-Ac 1:1-8:3, take class notes
Apr 17--3 book summaries, Read ch. 13-Ac 8:4-11:18, take class notes
Apr 19--3 book summaries, Read ch. 14-Ac 11:19-15:35, take class notes
Apr 24--3 book summaries, Read ch. 15-Ac 15:36-21:16, take class notes
Apr 26--3 book summaries, Read ch. 16-Ac 21:17-28:31, take class notes
Aebi, Charles J. New Testament History Workbook. OVC, 1993.
Alexander, ed. Eerdmans' Handbook to the Bible
Anders, 30 Days to Understanding the Bible
Shelly, Rubel. A Book-by-Book Study of the New Testament. Nashville: 20th Century Christian.
(choose any work from *authors, or select your own book; submit to professor for approval)
*Bonhoeffer
Kushner, Why Bad Things Happen to Good People
*C. S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters
Potok, The Chosen
Pryor, You Can Trust Your Bible
*Francis Shaeffer
*Stott, Basic Christianity
*Trueblood, Elton
Each student will complete a research project. Resulting papers will be approximately 3-4 pages in length, typed, double-spaced. Students should use at least three sources in their research. Topics are listed below.
THE POLITICAL WORLD OF ROME
RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
THE NEW TESTAMENT--BACKGROUNDS AND CONTENT
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
UNDERSTANDING MARK
MARCAN THEMES
THE PERIODS OF JESUS' LIFE
UNDERSTANDING MATTHEW
MATTHEAN THEMES
UNDERSTANDING LUKE
LUCAN THEMES
UNDERSTANDING JOHN
THE CANON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
HOW WE GOT THE BIBLE
JOHANNINE THEMES
