SYLLABUS

FOR

COURSE NUMBER & NAME:BI 1211.03 LIFE OF CHRIST

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:Based on Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the life of

Christ is studied with special consideration to His life

Being exemplary, His teachings normative, and His

atonement for sin, subsequent resurrection, the sending of the Holy Spirit and the establishment of His Kingdom the chief ends of His first coming.

PREREQUIISITES:None

TERM:Fall 2011(MW 1:40 – 3 p.m.)

NUMBER HOURS CREDIT:Two

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Course Faculty

______

Department Chair (Dr. Cecil May)

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Dean, (Faulkner University)

Disability Services Project Key, a service for students with disabilities at Faulkner University main campus, serves as the central contact point for all students with disabilities, including: Harris College of Business, V.P. Black College of Biblical Studies, Alabama Christian College of Arts and Sciences, Jones School of Law and all extended campuses. Students are responsible for informing the University of their need for accommodations and services.

Contact Pat Morrow, Director of Project Key at 334-386-7185, or 1-800-879-9816, extension 7185. Email , or and click on University Services.

BI 1211.03 Life of Christ

BIBLE DEPARTMENT

DON MYERS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

SYLLABUS

I.PURPOSE:The purpose of the course is to study the history of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible. This study assumes the integrity and authenticity of the Bible as the inspired word of God. The four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are the principle sources for this student with other references used throughout the Bible.

II.COURSE OBJECTIVES

  • To lead the student to fall in love with Jesus Christ;
  • To emphasize the New Testament as the final authority in religious matters and to see it as the culminating and climaxing written record of which the Old Testament spoke and anticipated;
  • To study Jesus Christ as the Being about which the Old Testament prophesied and around which all the New Testament is centered;
  • To learn the attendance of Jesus Christ as a member of the Godhead in a pre-fleshly existence;
  • To become thoroughly acquainted with the facts of His birth, manner of life, teaching, miracles, parables, associations with disciples and response to His enemies, His final death, burial, resurrection, exaltation and apostolic commission;
  • To view the predictions of the coming Kingdom of Christ as the culmination of Old Testament prophesy and its establishment fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ;
  • To learn of Jesus’ foretelling of the sending and the attendance of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of the Apostles and of Christians;
  • To become acquainted with the land, customs and peoples with whom and in which the life of Christ transpired;
  • To view the mission of the Messiah as that of calling out of the physical Jewish nation the true spiritual Israel of God through the instrument of the truth and to learn of the collection of that true Israel into the new Kingdom of Christ and the destruction of those who rejected Him.

III.COURSE PREMISE, PHILOSOPHY, and METHODOLOGY:

The narratives (Matthew, Mark, Luke) and the gospel of John present Jesus of Nazareth as the Divine Son of God proven by His genealogy, miracles and fulfillment of prophesy. This survey course will assume the existence of God and the inspiration of the Bible. Following the gospel accounts, the life of Jesus of Nazareth is seen against the backdrop of His preexistence as the Divine Son of God who becomes incarnate in the fullness of time aiming at fulfilling the eternal purpose of God to call His elect out of the Jewish nation and Gentile nations through the presentation of a body of evidences aimed at winning to faith those whose greatest passion was the truth. The methodology planned in this sixteen-week survey will be to combine classroom lecture, PowerPoint presentations, limited class interactions, student personal reading of outside sources and testing to acquaint the student with the life of Christ.

IV.CONTENT OUTLINE

  1. The course will proceed in survey fashion through various stages of Jesus of Nazareth’s ministry, including the following.
  • Introductions to Jesus Christ
  • Birth, Infancy and Adolescence of Jesus and John the Baptist
  • Truths About John the Baptist
  • Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry
  • The Galilean Ministry of Jesus
  • Last Judean and Perean Ministry of Jesus
  • Jesus’ Final Week of Work at Jerusalem
  • The Resurrection Through the Ascension
  1. Due to the mass of material, selected and representative events and teachings will be presented along the lines of the class methodology.

V.RESOURCES

A.REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS

1.A reliable translation (not paraphrase) of the Bible is required by the student at each class meeting. The instructor will be using the New American Standard translation.

2.Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ (Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House), 1998.

3.Clinton E. Arnold, ed. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Vol. I (Michigan: Zondervan Publishing), 2002.

B.SUPPLEMENTARY/SUGGESTED TEXTS/RESOURCES

1.Josh McDowell, Evidence that Demands a Verdict (Campus Crusade for Christ), 1972.

2.Mark E. Moore, The Chronological Life of Christ, Volume I & 2 (Missouri: College Press Publishing Company), 1997.

3.J. Dwight Pentecost, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ: A Study of the Life of Christ, (Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House), 1981.

VI.COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION

A.FORMAL ASSESSMENT

  1. Formal Examinations
  2. Reading and Lecture Tests
  3. The student will be required to read the various weekly reading assignments from the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as indicated in the course schedule in this syllabus. These Bible reading assignments should be done before each class meeting. Further, selected reading assignments are woven into the class calendar from the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary. (It is to be noted that the instructor will not always, necessarily, agree with all these supplement reading assignments and will point out such disagreements as the class advances.) Some additional reading assignments may be posted on the website as the semester advances. The student will be responsible for taking initiative in reading these assignments for testing.
  4. These reading tests will be timed. Although these reading assignments and lectures will be covering a considerable amount of material, time will not allow for extensive testing in class. Yet, the questions on these tests will be selected from the overall reading assignments and the student’s exposure to lectures to get an assessment of the student’s progress.
  5. Three hour students will be assigned portions of Lee Strobel’s book entitled, A Case for Christ. Questions from these chapters will be included in the three hour student’s periodic tests.
  6. Make up Test Policy
  7. When the student misses a test due to illness (documented by campus nurse’s email or written doctor’s excuse), that test may be made up by that student. Of course, other extenuating circumstances may arise, which the instructor might make exceptions on case by case occurrences. Faulkner trips and other university sponsored events are also included in those reasons for the instructor offering excused absences.
  8. All make up test will be given the final day of class before the final examination week or on Wednesday, December 1st. These tests will not, necessarily, be the same tests taken in class.
  9. Oral Tests. Students are urged to take extensive notes on the lectures. Short oral exams will be administered after most lectures testing the student’s listening and note-taking skills. Notes may be used on these oral tests.
  1. Final Examination will account for 40% of the overall grade and will be comprehensive over all the material covered during the semester with emphasis on the material covered after the mid-term examination.
  1. Notebook: Each student must maintain a notebook of all materials in this class and must present said notebook on Wednesday, August 19th, to the instructor. Those failing to present said notebook on that date will receive a 10 point deduction from their first test score. It should be a 1 ½ ” notebook and have sectional dividers as follows:
  2. Title page
  3. Personal Note Section
  4. Instructor’s note section
  5. J. Pentecost handout materials
  6. Power Points
  7. Tests
  8. Exams
  1. INFORMAL ASSESSMENT: Students who have perfect attendance will be awarded three points added to their final averages. Students will have appropriate deductions take from their final averages for unexcused absences and every instance of being late to class or leaving early as noted in the “attendance policy” section of this syllabus.

VII.COURSE EVALUATION

  1. Reading and Oral Tests (35%)
  1. Oral Tests (35%)
  1. Final Examination (30%)

VIII. COURSE CALENDAR

Week One

Wednesday, August 17th

  • Class Orientation and Syllabus
  • You must have the syllabus printed and added to your notebook
  • Map of Jesus’ Life
  • The Historical Jesus (PowerPoint Presentation)
  • Luke’s Introduction (Luke 1:1-4)
  • Pre-Fleshly State of Christ (John 1:1-18)
  • Oral Test #1

Week Two

Monday, August 22nd

  • Genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38)
  • Announcement of Birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25)
  • Announcement of Birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38)
  • Song of Elizabeth to Mary (Luke 1:39-45)
  • Mary’s Song (Luke 1:46-56)
  • Oral Test #2

Wednesday, August 24th

  • Birth, Infancy and Purpose for Future of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57-80)
  • Announcement of Jesus’ Birth to Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25)
  • Birth of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:26, 25; Luke 2:1-7)
  • Proclamation by the Angels (Luke 2:8-14)
  • The Visit of Homage by Shepherds (Luke 2:15-20)
  • Jesus’ Circumcision (Luke 2:21)
  • First TempleVisit: Acknowledgement by Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:22-38)
  • Written Test #1
  • Do all your Bible reading assignments as listed under each day on your class calendar
  • Read the Introduction & chapter one of Strobel (3 hr. students)
  • Review previous lectures
  • Zondervan Background (3 - 13; 319 – 348)
  • Know map of the life of Christ
  • Be completely familiar with Matthew 5:1-12

Week Three

Monday, August 29th

  • Visit of the Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-12)
  • Flight into Egypt and Massacre of the Innocents (Matthew 2:13-18)
  • From Egypt to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23); Luke 2:39)
  • Childhood of Jesus (Luke 2:40, 51)
  • Jesus @ 12 years of age at the Temple (Luke 2:41-50)
  • Jesus’ Adolescence and Adulthood (Luke 2:51, 52)
  • Oral Test #3

Wednesday, August 31st

  • John’s Ministry Begins (Matthew 3:1; Mark 1:1-4; Luke 3:1, 2; John 1:19-28)
  • John: The Man and His Message (Matthew 2:2-12; Mark 1:2-8; Luke 3:3-14)
  • The Picture of Jesus (Matthew 3:11, 12; Mark 1:7, 8; Luke 3:15-18; John 1:26, 27)
  • John’s Courage (Matthew 14:4-12; Luke 3:19, 20)
  • Jesus Baptized (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Mark 3:21-23; John 1:29-34)
  • Oral Test #4

Week Four

Monday, September 5th

(Labor Day…class will not meet.)

Wednesday, September 7th

  • Jesus Tempted (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12, 13; Luke 4:1-13)
  • Jesus Calls First Disciples (John 1:35-51)
  • The First Miracle (John 2:1-11)
  • First Stay in Capernaum (John 2:12)
  • First Cleansing of the Temple (John 2:13-22)
  • Received in Jerusalem (John 2:23-25)
  • Written Test #2
  • Do all your Bible reading assignments as listed under each day on your class calendar
  • Read the chapters two and three of Strobel (3 hr students)
  • Review previous lectures
  • Zondervan Backgrounds (14 – 33; 205 – 211; 348 – 357)
  • Know map of the life of Christ
  • Be completely familiar with Matthew 5:13 – 47

Week Five

Monday, September 12th

  • Teaches Nicodemus (John 3:1-21)
  • Co-Ministry with John (John 3:22-30)
  • Leaves for Galilee (Matthew 4:12; Mark 1:14; Luke 4:14; John 4:1-4)
  • Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s Well (John 4:5-42)
  • Returns to Galilee (Mark 1:15; Luke 4:15; John 4:43-45)
  • Oral Test #5

Wednesday, September 14th

  • Healing of the Nobleman’s Son (John 4:46-54)
  • Rejected at Nazareth (Matthew 4:13-17; Luke 4:14 - 30)
  • Moved to Capernaum (Matthew 4:13-17)
  • Four Become Fishers of Men (Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11)
  • Demoniac Healed on the Sabbath Day (Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37)
  • Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed of Fever (Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41)
  • First Preaching Tour in Galilee (Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 1:35-39; Luke 4:42-44)
  • Oral Test #6

Week Six

Monday, September 19th

  • Leper Healed and response Recorded (Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16)
  • Paralytic Healed (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26)
  • Matthew’s Call and Reception Held (Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32)
  • Disciples Defended via a Parable (Matthew 9:14-17; Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39)
  • Goes to Jerusalem for Second Passover (John 5:1-47)
  • Plucking Grain Precipitates Sabbath Controversy (Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5)
  • Withered Hand Healed Causes Another Sabbath Controversy (Matthew 12:9-14; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11)
  • Multitudes Healed (Matthew 12:15-21; Mark 3:7-12; Luke 6:17-19)
  • Twelve Apostles Selected After a Night of Prayer (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16)
  • TEST #3
  • Do all your Bible reading assignments as listed under each day on your class calendar
  • Read the chapters four & five of Strobel (3 hr students)
  • Review previous lectures
  • Zondervan Backgrounds (28, 54-64; 76 – 79; 212 –227; 357 –377)
  • Know map of the life of Christ
  • Be completely familiar with Matthew 6:1 - 34

Wednesday, September 21st

  • Oral Test #7
  • Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1 – 7:29)
  • Any student who memorizes the sermon on the mount and writes all three chapters in the instructor’s office, will receive ten (10) points added to their final average in this class.
  • This assignment may be done in stages as follows:
  • Matthew 5
  • Matthew 6
  • Matthew 7’

Week Seven

Monday, September 26th

  • Centurion Servant Healed (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10)
  • Raises Widow’s Son from Dead (Luke 7:11-17)
  • Jesus Allays John’s Doubts (Matthew 11:2-19; Luke 7:18-35)
  • Woes Upon the Privileged (Matthew 11:20-30)
  • A Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus (Luke 7:36-50)
  • Another Tour in Galilee (Luke 8:1-3)
  • Oral Test #8

Wednesday, September 28th

  • Jesus Accused of Blasphemy (Matthew 12:22-37; Mark 3:20-30; Luke 11:14-36)
  • Jesus’ Answer to a Demand for a Sign (Matthew 12:28-45
  • Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Seek Audience (Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21)
  • Famous Parables of Sower, Seed, Tares, Mustard Seed, Leaven, Treasure, Pearl, Dragnet, Lamp Told (Matthew 13:1-52; Mark 4:1-34; Luke 8:4-18)
  • Sea Made Serene (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25)
  • Gadarene Demoniac Healed (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39)
  • Jairus’ Daughter Raised and Woman Healed of Hemorrhage (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56)
  • Two Blind Men Healed (Matthew 8:27-31)
  • Mute Demoniac Healed (Matthew 9:32-34)
  • Nazareth’s Second Rejection of Christ (Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6)
  • Oral Test #9

Week Eight

Monday, October 3th

  • Twelve Sent Out (Matthew 9:35-11:1; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6)
  • Fearful Herod Beheads John (Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-0)
  • Return of 12, Jesus Withdraws, 5000 Fed (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14)
  • Walks on Water (Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:15-21)
  • Sick of Gennesaret Healed (Matthew 14:34:36; Mark 6:53-56
  • Peak of Popularity Passes in Galilee (John 6:22 – 7:1)
  • TEST #4
  • Do all your Bible reading assignments as listed under each day on your class calendar
  • Read the chapters six & seven of Strobel (3 hr students)
  • Review previous lectures
  • Zondervan Background (33 – 55; 62 – 94)
  • Know map of the life of Christ
  • Be completely familiar with Matthew 7:1 – 29

Wednesday, October 5th

  • Traditions Attacked (Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23)
  • Aborted Retirement in Phoenicia; Syro-Phoenician Healed (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30)
  • Afflicted Healed (Matthew 15:29-31; Mark 7:31-37)
  • 4000 Fed (Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-9)
  • Pharisees Increase Attack (Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:10-13)
  • Disciples’ Carelessness Condemned; Blind Man Healed (Matthew 16:5-12; Mark 8:14-26)
  • Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-21)
  • Jesus Foretells His Death (Matthew 16:21-26; Mark 8:31-38; Luke 9:22-25)
  • Kingdom Promised (Matthew 16:27, 28; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:26, 27)
  • The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36)
  • Oral Test #10

Week Night

Monday, October 10th

  • Epileptic Healed (Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-42)
  • Jesus Tells of His Death & Resurrection (Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45)
  • Taxes Paid (Matthew 17:24-27
  • Disciples Contend About Greatness; Jesus Defines Greatness, Loyalty, Forgiveness (Matthew 18:1-35; Mark 9:33-50; Luke 9:46-62)
  • Jesus Rejects Brothers Advice (John 7:2-9)
  • Galilee Departure and Samaritan Rejection (Matthew 19:1; Luke 9:51-56; John 7:10)
  • Cost of Discipleship (Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 9:57-62)
  • Oral Test #11

Wednesday, October 12th

  • Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2, 10-52)
  • Forgiveness of Adulteress (John 7:53 – 8:11)
  • Christ: The Light of the World (John 8:12-20)
  • Pharisees Cannot Meet the Prophesy Thus Try to Destroy the Prophet (John 8:21-59)
  • Man Born Blind Healed Followed by Consequences (John 9:1-41)
  • Parable of the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-21)
  • The Service of the Seventy (Luke 10:1-24)
  • Oral Test #12

Week Ten

Monday, October 17th

  • Lawyer Hears the Story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
  • The Hospitality of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)
  • Another Lesson on Prayer (Luke 11:1-13)
  • Accused of Connection with Beelzebub (Luke 11:14-36)
  • Judgment Against Lawyers and Pharisees (Luke 11:37-54)
  • Jesus Deals with Hypocrisy, Covetousness, Worry and Alertness (Luke 12:1-59)
  • Repent or Perish (Luke 13:1-5)
  • Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9)
  • Crippled Woman Healed on Sabbath (Luke 13:10-17)
  • Parable of the Mustard Seed and Leaven (Luke 13:18-21)
  • TEST #5
  • Do all your Bible reading assignments as listed under each day on your class calendar
  • Read the chapters eight & nine of Strobel (3 hr students)
  • Review previous lectures
  • Zondervan Backgrounds (94 – 121; 399 – 436)
  • Know map of the life of Christ
  • Be completely familiar with Matthew 13:1 – 58

Wednesday, October 19th

  • Feast of Dedication (John 10:22-39)
  • Withdrawal Beyond Jordan (John 10:40-42)
  • Begins Teaching; Return to Jerusalem with Special Words about Herod (Luke 13:22-35)
  • Meal with a Pharisee Ruler Occasions Healing Man with Dropsy; Parables of Ox, Best Place and Great Supper (Luke 14:1-24)
  • Demands of Discipleship (Luke 14:25-35)
  • Oral Test #13

Week Eleven

Monday, October 24th

  • Parables of Lost Sheep, Coin, Son (Luke 15:1-32)
  • Parables on the Unjust Steward; Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:1-31)
  • Lessons on Service, Faith, Influence (Luke 17:1-10)
  • Resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:1-44)
  • Reaction to it: Withdrawal of Jesus (John 11:45-54)
  • Oral Test #14

Wednesday, October 26th

  • Begins Last Journey to Jerusalem (Luke 17:11)
  • Heals Ten Lepers (Luke 17:12-19)
  • Lessons on the ComingKingdom (Luke 17:20-37)
  • Parables of Persistent Widow; Pharisee and Tax Collector (Luke 18:1-14)
  • Doctrine on Divorce (Matthew 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12)
  • Oral Test #15

Week Twelve

Monday, October 31st