NOTE: The first digit of a Subject Unit number indicates the level; the second digit indicates the subject area (0 = Preliminary; 1 = Old Testament; 2 = New Testament; 3 = Church History; 4 = Theology; 5 = Pastoral Theology and Practice; 6 = Missions and Cross-cultural Ministries; 9 = Residential Seminars/Exit Thesis). The final digit is that of the individual Subject Unit in that category. Subject Units have a value of 9 credit points and represent 162 demand hours.
PRELIMINARY UNIT: REQUIRED FOR ENROLMENT
001 Effective Writing and Study (does not count towards an award)
A preparatory Unit which provides guidance about how to listen to lectures and take notes, how to study and learn from what you are studying, how to find your way around a library to get the books you need, how to research a topic and write an exercise, a book review, or an assignment using what you find, how to lay out and present a piece of written work, how to prepare for examinations, and how to write examination answers which really show to best advantage what you have learnt. Then it moves on to how to read and understand the Bible and its different kinds of writings. Aim: to equip the student with the practical skills to be able to undertake a course of study (especially biblical and theological study) and gain the greatest practical benefit from it.
LEVEL ONE (ASSOCIATE CERTIFICATE IN THEOLOGY) 111 Introduction to the Old Testament (BTB106)
Structure of the Old Testament canon: Jewish and Christian; the name “Old Testament”; the geography of Palestine; Old Testament History, beginning with the Creation stories to Abraham and the Patriarchs; Exodus and Early Israel, Monarchy to Exile and Return. Throughout there is an emphasis upon the outworking of God’s covenant and plan of salvation. A survey of books, following the order of the English Bible. In this, there is a constant emphasis on the unique content, the theological themes, and the contribution of each to Messianic revelation. Aim: that the student should have a good general understanding of the content of the Old Testament, its historical framework and sweep, its major theological themes, and its relevance for the Christian today.
121 Introduction to the New Testament (BTB108)
The relationship of the Old Testament to the New Testament; background to the New Testament; the New Testament era; the writing of the New Testament; the text of the New Testament; translations of the New Testament, early and current; reading and understanding the New Testament today; survey of the books of the New Testament. Aim: that the student should have a good general understanding of the content of the New Testament, the background circumstances of the advent of Jesus Christ, the spread of the Christian message during the Apostolic age, and how the New Testament is to be used in the life of the church and the individual Christian today.
112 Introduction to Biblical Languages (ATB110/120)
Introductory Hebrew grammar; Introductory Greek grammar. Aim: to equip a person to be able to read and pronounce the Hebrew and Greek alphabets, to read Hebrew and Greek words, to be able to make use of commentaries and other books which refer to, use, or discuss Hebrew and Greek words, and to be able to consult Hebrew and Greek lexicons and similar reference books.
131 Church History 1: The History of the Church to the Reformation (HTB111)
Early church writers and writings; the major doctrinal controversies of the early centuries; the credal statements of the early church; key events, developments, and people; how the Christian faith came to and took root in early Britain; later developments in British Christianity; Continental Christianity; the people and events of church history to the Fifteenth Century. Aim: to give a basic knowledge of the people, events and controversies from the New Testament period to the Fifth Century (including of the origins of British Christianity), an introduction to the writings of the Church Fathers, and a coverage of the major developments linking the Fifth and the Fifteenth Centuries.
141 Doctrine 1: The Doctrine of God (TTB101)
The inspiration and authority of the Bible; the doctrine of God; the doctrine of the person of Christ; the doctrine of the person of the Holy Spirit; the doctrine of the Trinity; the doctrine of Salvation. Aim: a solid understanding of the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith, which will provide a basis for further theological study.
142 Doctrine 2 (TTB105)
Humanity and sin; the doctrine of the Church; the doctrine of the sacraments; the Christian life; the doctrine of Last Things. Aim: an overview of the balance of essential Christian doctrine, so as to provide the student with a well-rounded basic grasp of the cardinal beliefs of Christianity.
151 Gifts of Ministry in the Church (PTB162)
Differing gifts, differing ministries; the nature of God’s gifts for ministry; spiritual gifts and natural gifts; recognizing and developing one’s gifts; the exercise of one’s gifts in the church; recognizing and developing the gifts of others. Aim: to understand accurately the biblical teaching about the nature of God’s gifts and their diversity, to help the student to be able to recognize his/her own gifts, develop and use them, and to provide guidance for church leaders in how to identify and provide appropriate opportunities for the training and exercise of the gifts of the members of the congregation.
152 Christian Leadership and Small Groups (PTB163)
The concept of leadership in the Church, lay and ordained; biblical qualifications for leadership; the leader’s self-discipline; evaluating differing styles of leadership; leadership of youth groups; especial attention to the principles and methods of leadership in small groups. Aim: to assist the student in developing the skills of leadership for differing situations in church life.
153 Christ’n Communication (writing, speaking, preaching, teaching) (PTB141)
The nature of communication; formal and informal communicating; the message intended and received; factors which hinder successful communication; how to communicate effectively; the written and spoken word; principles of Christian education; preparing and presenting material; gaining attention; the art of illustration; the use of notes; making use of teaching aids; evaluating our effectiveness. Aim: to understand what is required for effective communication, and to improve one’s skills in communicating in appropriate ways.
154 Evangelism and Outreach (PTB128)
Evangelism and discipling within a particular region (whether within Australia or overseas). Within this focus:
(a) The Gospel Message: The Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God; Cross and Resurrection; the New Birth, grace, repentance, forgiveness, faith
(b) Foundations For Christian Discipleship: prayer, Bible reading and meditation; worship and fellowship, stewardship, witnessing
(c) Introduction To Cultural Anthropology
(d) Introduction To Crosscultural Communication, with specific focus on the various cultures of the chosen region(s)
(e) Church and Missions History, with reference to the chosen region(s)
(f) Evangelistic outreach in the chosen region, in a Mission Week or equivalent
Aim: to equip each student for evangelism and discipleship both within their own culture and crossculturally, and in a supervised environment to give opportunities for, and experience in the practical use of, the skills and knowledge they have acquired.
Note: This Unit must be taken in conjunction with a mission society, college, or church evangelism outreach program, in which the student is actively involved, under approved personal supervision. Students are required to submit to their Supervisor prior to Mission Week a written plan outlining their goals and strategies for this Week. After Mission Week they are to submit to their Supervisor a report evaluating the effectiveness of their Mission plan, and setting out how a suitable follow-up program is being implemented. Assessment of this Unit will cover not only classwork but also the student’s work prior to, during, and after Mission Week, including the student’s individual debriefing by their Supervisor after Mission Week.
155 Christian Witness (PTB134)
[Exclusions: This Unit may not be taken for credit in addition to Unit 152 Christian Leadership and Small Groups, for which it is an alternative.]
[Prerequisites: Unit 121 Introduction to the New Testament; plus EITHER Unit 151 Gifts of Ministry in the Church OR Unit 154 Evangelism and Outreach.]
Applying the principles of Christian outreach in practical ministry in the world, with attention to the problems, challenges, and opportunities in a specific region or regions. Particular attention is focussed on these topics:
(a) Introduction to World Religions and Cults: with emphasis upon those active in the chosen regions; consideration of suggested approaches to evangelism.
(b) Child Evangelism and Youth Work: covering the specific needs of children and their psychological development towards maturity, looking at appropriate methods and strategies for evangelizing various age groups, together with relevant ethical considerations; similar study of teenage and early adulthood.
(c) The Christian Family: seeking to establish biblical principles for family life, with discussion on culturally appropriate expressions of these principles.
(d) Bible Study Leadership: focuses on the skills necessary for the development and nurture of small groups; their various functions in the local church body.
(e) Culture and the Bible: helps each student to come to grips with their own culture, and how to assess it in the light of the Scriptures; examines questions of appropriate leadership, traditions, relationships, ceremonies, etc.
Aim: to equip each student more fully with an understanding of the theory and practical implications of what is involved in various basic areas of ministry, particularly as these relate to the student’s own cultural context.
161 Missiology 1: Introduction to World Christian Missions (MTB101)
The biblical basis for missions - a survey of the Scriptures; God’s purposes for the whole world; the mission of the church to the world; Jesus as the model for the missionary; Paul as the model for the missionary; the importance of world missions in the mind of God; the importance of every Christian having a biblically-based world outlook; missionary work in the world of today; preaching and teaching missions in the local church; developing the local church as a strong sending and support base for missionary outreach. Aim: to guide students to have an understanding of the biblical basis for missions, to give an awareness of what is being done and remains to be done in world missionary outreach today, and to provide specific assistance in enabling the student to participate meaningfully within his/her local church as a support base for worldwide missionary outreach.
191 Three-day Residential Conference 1 (Held at Hunters Hill in Sydney)
A three-day theological intensive with both scholarly and practical lectures presented by the Faculty. A required Subject Unit for the Associate Certificate in Theology.
