This course will help to teach you the basic research and writing skills that are necessary for clear and accurate written communication.  The goal is to prepare you for research project requirements for courses at CUGN, but also in any academic endeavor you might pursue.  The course includes five lectures on topics including selecting a topic, conducting research, citing sources, ethics and legalities, and, finally, proofreading and publishing.  These topics, which are succinctly presented, will serve as an online resource for you to return to often in your academic pursuits.  The ultimate goal of this course is to equip you to deliver clear written communication, not just in your studies but throughout your life.

0 Credits

90 Days

Linda Triemstra-Cook

Spiritual formation is a topic of discussion in many circles. We all long for intimacy with God, but how is spiritual growth and maturity developed? What are the dynamics in which God most often works in the heart of believers to make them like His Son, Jesus Christ? In this seminar, Dr. Richard Averbeck addresses these and other questions in order to lay a biblical foundation for proper Christian thought and behavior. In this course, he identifies and describes specific practices that can be applied immediately to your walk of faith.

This course is designed to help students grow in intimacy with God and to mature in spiritual life and relationships. Averbeck traces the work of the Holy Spirit through the Old and New Testaments and identifies specific spiritual practices that encourage growth in the spiritual life. The course utilizes lectures from SF403 as a basis for the practice of contemplative exercises and online discussion of issues related to the spiritual life.

1 Credit

8 Weeks

Richard E. Averbeck, Ph.D.

How is spirituality formed both in private and in community? This course explores the meaning of biblical Christianity and its relation to faith and practice, giving special attention to spiritual formation through prayer, meditation, and personal disciplines. The lectures form a paradigm of spiritual growth and maturity that will affect both the individual and the church.

1 Credit

8 Weeks

Gordon T. Smith, Ph.D.

Theology can be intimidating for beginners. Many students have been overwhelmed by the diversity of opinions and sheer volume of information to comprehend. If they are to succeed in theological studies they must first establish a foundation of concepts and terminology on which to build their theological framework. In this course, Dr. Frame covers the essentials of all major areas of systematic theology with the goal of orienting listeners to the basic material necessary to understand and study God’s Word. Focusing on the overarching theme of God’s Lordship, Dr. Frame uses three “Lordship Attributes” (control, authority and presence) to organize the doctrines and help listeners remember and apply them to life.

3 Credits

8 Weeks

John M. Frame, D.D.

Since His ascension, Christians have asked questions about Jesus. What was His nature? What role did He play in creation? For whom did He die? In this course, Dr. C. Fred Dickason takes learners through an indepth study of Christ in an attempt to understand His person, nature, teachings and work. Known as Christology, the study of Christ brings learners face-to-face with the most important event in history as individuals unpack the Bible’s teachings on Jesus. Learners will be stimulated intellectually and spiritually as they visit the decisions reached by the early church councils and explore the questions raised since then. Christology is a wonderful journey that reinforces the firm foundation of the faith and helps the church be equipped to share that faith with a lost world.

3 Credits

6 Months

C. Fred Dickason, Th.D.

Soteriology means different things to different people. Buddhism views salvation as a death of desire. Hinduism sees salvation as an end to samsara. Muslims surrender themselves as they repent and atone for their sins while Sikhism looks to one’s personal meditation and discipline to achieve union with God. But what about Christianity? What does the Bible teach about salvation. In this course, Dr. H. Phillip Hook explores the Scripture’s teachings on soteriology in order to know how one is saved and to understand the impact of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

3 Credits

6 Months

H. Phillip Hook, Th.D.

This course introduces students to the basic doctrines of the Christian faith.  Its method is systematic, but it locates each topic within Scripture and with reference to formative historical concerns.  The class assumes some familiarity with the Bible, although not a lot; it is intended primarily to serve as a general education survey.

The course recognizes that the discipline of theology itself is not well understood, and therefore strives not only to teach theological content, but also method.  It invites students into the act of “faith-thinking” (fides quaerens intellectum), aiming to cultivate the lifelong virtue of intellectual obedience to the Word of God.

Aaron T. Smith, Ph.D.

For good or for bad, philosophy has played a pivotal role in the development of theology and culture. In this course, learners examine the major trends in contemporary theological thought in light of their philosophical contexts. The course begins with a review of the major developments in Western thought prior to Hegel, and then explores the theologies of Hegel, Kierkegaard, Barth, Bultmann, and Tillich. The course culminates in the “Death of God” theologies of Paul Van Buren and Thomas Altizer. The course enables learners to evaluate contemporary, non-evangelical theologies and to recognize their impact on everyday life.

3 Credits

6 Months

John S. Feinberg, Ph.D.

As ambassadors for Christ and the Gospel, we must understand the true nature of man and the magnitude of his sin. This course presents a critical and historical overview of positions regarding the nature of mankind: both as the image of God and as corrupted by sin. The course presents a distinct Reformed anthropology coupled with a fair treatment of differing views and objections. Important and controversial questions regarding the origin of evil, the nature of man, and the effects of sin on humanity are all considered, allowing students to draw informed conclusions on these and other key issues.

3 Credits

6 Months

Roger R. Nicole, Ph.D., Th.D.

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” No question is more important or more debated than this one posed by the Philippian jailer. This course presents a critical and historical overview of the message, plan, and components of salvation. The lectures trace each element of the salvation process, from God’s decree to our final glorification and union with Christ. Topics such as the order of salvation, the nature of justification, and the possibility of perfection are given in-depth treatment. The course emphasizes a Reformed view of salvation, while offering fair treatment to all sides.

3 Credits

6 Months

Roger R. Nicole, Ph.D., Th.D.

To know God and to make Him known is our highest calling. By studying the historic, classic, and orthodox doctrine of the Holy Trinity, learners discover how and why the doctrine emerged in the fourth century, as well as the various and progressive ways this doctrine has been understood throughout history. Throughout the course, Dr. Toon demonstrates that a right understanding of the Trinity is essential to a right understanding of God’s relation to man and man’s relation to God.

3 Credits

6 Months

Peter Toon, D.Phil.

Post-Modernism is having a profound influence on the Church, from within and without. Changing ideas about the source and nature of truth are affecting Christians’ lives and ministry. In this course, learners examine current trends in contemporary theology, and how these trends arose. The course focuses on the theologies that were prevalent in the 1960’s, including Theology of Hope, Liberation Theology, Feminist Theology, Process Theology, New Age Theology, and four forms of Post-modern Theology. Students are encouraged to draw from the course content so as to relate and communicate better to their post-modern world.

3 Credits

6 Months

John S. Feinberg, Ph.D.