Instructor: Joe Whitchurch

Picture
Joe Whitchurch has been a student of the Bible since 1973, focusing on apologetics, evangelism, and creative use of arts in outreach and discipleship. He came to faith in Christ as a young college student and now holds a Master of Arts degree in Christian Thought and Systematic Theology and a Philosophy of Religion degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Joe has served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in various parts of the world, ministering to undergraduates, grad students, international students, and faculty.

Course description

The objective of this class is to gain a biblical understanding the church and how such can change your life and the life of those around you, by exalting Jesus Christ who is the foundation. You will learn what the different churches believe about church governance, why do we have different denominations, what does it mean to be a church, why deacons and elders, etc. With this class, as with all future classes, our hope is that when you are finished you will have a greater love for the word of God, the people of God, the gospel of God, and God’s sure prerogatives in the world which will ultimately prevail.  The goal is a growing love for God and His word and His people that compels us to study, worship, love, witness, and serve more with greater faith in the One who said “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” It is not our desire to increase your knowledge as an end in itself which puffs up, but to increase your knowledge so that you can see the magnificence of your God and Savior and grow in Him.   Colossians 1:28

COURSE PLAN:

CLASS 1. The identity of the church, replacement or mystery, founding/duration, and how so.
CLASS 2. Church governance and leadership, elders, deacons, apostles/prophets. The rock.
CLASS 3. Priesthood of the Believer, Spiritual Gifts, Stewardship, Resident aliens.
CLASS 4. Church ordinances; Baptism, Communion. The ‘worship wars’. 
CLASS 5. Church discipline, Church/State, the covenant of Marriage mystery.
CLASS 6. Emergent continuum, the false ‘church’, discernment, martyrs, authority. 
CLASS 7. Church universal and triumphant. Church, so what? Apologetic and integrative ST.
CLASS 8. Practical theology of your posture and dynamic connection to the local body of Christ.
CLASS 9. Civil religion of the Left, and of the Right versus what Jesus is building.
CLASS 10  Reports from a Church Project.
CLASS 11-12  Class Presentations on a Biblical Church theme.