Calvary School of the Bible

The Concept

Christian education often proceeds in snippets and snapshots - a message on one topic here, and a message on another there; a passage read from the New Testament today, and another read from the Old Testament tomorrow. We were encouraged in our new found faith to read the Gospel of John first, then perhaps, the book of Romans, and eventually, Genesis or Exodus - that's good advice. Guided encouragement to read an appropriate book of the Bible is always wise advice. But to understand the Bible in its full counsel, one must see it unfold in its progressive sense, from its beginning to its fulfillment.

The Bible is not a collection of disjointed books. The Bible is a cohesive tapestry of the story of redemption. That story unfolds progressively from Genesis to Christ.

The courses before you are designed to lead you in that progressive pathway of knowledge. Both the Old and New Testament tracks move progressively. The Old Testament track moves chronologically from Genesis to Malachi. And the New Testament track moves chronologically from the birth of Jesus, through the maturing 1st century church, and to the final conflict and Second Coming. This is "the concept," this is our aim.

I would like to set before you a biblical example of this way of education. The Gospel of Luke tells of it. There we encounter two disciples who are perplexed at the death of Jesus. Our story picks up with the two walking with the divinely disguised resurrected Jesus. Here we join the threesome, on their journey, in their conversation...

Luke 24:21-27

..."we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see."

And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?"

Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

There it is, "...beginning with Moses and with all the prophets" we will travel the journey of redemption, and on the way, see the construction of God's spiritual house: the church the body of Christ. That's our idea of a Bible education.

The Clarification

You must not think that you need to take all the courses in sequence. Take one or two as you desire. It would be nice if we all had the time to do the complete set of classes, both Old and New Testament, but that is not reasonable. They will be offered again. It is enough to mentally note the progressive flow and then take a class or two as you are able.

The Cost

The cost per class is $25.00 per hour. That amounts to $75.00 per class. Each class is a 3 hour class. This cost does not include books. Payments should be made to: Calvary Community Church.

The Concerns

If you have questions, please feel free and welcomed to call Tom Brown at: (440) 716-0102. If he is not there, please leave a message and he will call you back at his first opportunity.


The Connection

Registration is easy. Call us and let us know of your desire to take a class or two. Then, merely show up. It's that simple.

For your convenience and our administration, a simple registration form will be sent to you. When you call, please leave your telephone number and tell us a good time to reach you.  Our telephone number is: (440) 716-0102. You may pay at your leisure, pay when you can, or pay not at all - if the burden is more than your finances can manage. Our aim is not gain, but to promote the Word of God to those who desire to receive and grow by it.

Cancellation

You may cancel at any time with a full refund.

Certification

Certification will be granted upon completion of 30 hours of the core curriculum. The "core" curriculum consists of the course outlined before you. Other courses may be added, but the ones before you are the essential courses that carry the heart of the school.

The process and application for certificate accreditation is being pursued with:

The Association for Biblical Higher Education
5890 Semoran Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32822
(407) 207-0808
www.abhe.org.

The Challenge

A pocket full of verses, a popular Christian book, a favorite psalm, a proverb or two, a prized old hymn and the basic plan of salvation tucked away in the heart - such is the 'safe-deposit-box' of faith for many 21st century Christians.

It is not enough. The present global threats and economic unrest in a world that stands hostile to the gospel, may only be the beginning of tougher days to come; days that will certainly demand a greater strength of faith; perhaps the kind of strength exemplified in the endurance of Joseph, the courage of Joshua, the assurance of Ruth, the prayer of Hannah, the passion of Josiah, the integrity of Daniel, and of course, the life of Jesus displayed in the works of Peter and John, Martha and Mary and so many more men and women of old...

...time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection (Hebrews 11:32-42).

These are the men and women of faith who go before us; the ones we are called to emulate as Hebrews 12:1-4 tells.

But no matter what kind of days lay hidden ahead, Christians are called always to:

"Prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13).

"Set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence" (1 Peter 3:15).

Christians need a fortified faith built on the strength of the full counsel of God - the ability to think well from the progressive flow of the Old and New Testaments.

A public school science teacher was subtly chided for her belief in the Bible. A colleague, picking up on a sound bite from a contemporary musical that mocks the Bible by poking fun at the seemingly insignificant laws of the Old Testament, boasted in her presence saying, "Christians have a lot to say about what is an 'abomination to God'... do they know that the Bible teaches that eating shrimp is an 'abomination' to God?"

The science teacher calmly responded, "The Bible does say something like that, but not that eating shrimp 'is an abomination to God,' but that eating scaleless fish 'is to be an abomination to you,' that is, to Israel of old - the passage is Leviticus 11:10-11."  The science teacher went on in her response to say, "The dietary laws of ancient Israel were not meant to be an end in themselves; they served a greater purpose. That purpose was to keep Israel separated from the unhealthy practices of the surrounding nations, both in spirit and body - scaleless fish are more likely to carry parasites since they are scavengers and bottom feeders; and shell fish, like in present times, may have carried hepatitis."

I wondered how many Christians today would have been buffeted by the simple-minded statement of the chiding teacher; buffeted in a way that may even tempt them to doubt the Bible's sincerity.

The teacher's understanding of the Old Testament reinforces how important it is to know the Bible within its proper context.

The opportunity is before you; the opportunity to systematically study the Bible within its grammatical and historical setting. Below is the master calendar of classes that will meet that opportunity. The classes unfold in a progressive way (again, you need not take all the classes in sequence, and certainly should take any one or two as time and desire permits):