The Lay Academy of Theology offers non-credit evening classes and other study opportunities led by Beeson faculty for interested laity as well as ministers desiring continuing education.
Evening Courses
The New Testament Gospels
The Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John each proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This course, taught by Jonathan Linebaugh, will explore the historical contexts, the genre and especially the content and message of the four New Testament Gospels. After a consideration of the term “gospel” in the New Testament and a general introduction to the Gospels, this course will study each of the New Testament Gospels in order to hear the distinct way Matthew, Mark, Luke and John narrate the history of and announce the good news about Jesus.
Jonathan Linebaugh (PhD, Durham University) serves as Beeson's Anglican Chair of Divinity and teaches in the areas of New Testament and Christian Theology. He also serves as director of the Institute of Anglican Studies.
Schedule: Six Mondays, 6-8 p.m., beginning on Sept. 21.
Cost: $94 if attending on campus; $74 if participating virtually. Discounted rates expire on Sept. 7 - $120/$100 thereafter
Systematic Theology
This theology class taught by Deric Thomas will be a systematic, organized, coherent, logical, comprehensive and practical study of Christian doctrine that seeks to synthesize what the entire Bible teaches about major foundational theological topics. We will analyze relevant biblical passages and arrange them into a structured framework. We will look at the doctrine of God (Theology Proper), Jesus Christ (Christology), the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology), humanity (Anthropology), angels (Angelology) and salvation (Soteriology). All of this will be applied to the contemporary practical everyday life of the Christian in their relationships, work, recreation and even to their eternal existence. We will seek to engage the head, heart, hands and habitat of each class participant.
Deric Thomas (DMin, Beeson Divinity School, PhD (ABD), Liberty University) serves as Beeson's director of operations and director of the Lay Academy. He also pastors Hope Mountain Church in Calera, Alabama.
Schedule: Six Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m., beginning on Sept. 22.
Cost: $94 if attending on campus; $74 if participating virtually. Discounted rates expire on Sept. 7 - $120/$100 thereafter
Weekday Seminar
In and Out of Season: Preaching the Word in the Ancient Church
This semester we will sit under exposition, exhortation and edification from the preachers of the Golden Age of Patristic preaching, the 4th and 5th centuries. Among the church fathers, there were impressive theologians and orators like Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, Augustine and John Chrysostom, but first and foremost, these were preachers and Bible teachers who served the church week after week, feeding their flock with the Scriptures throughout the liturgical year and in diverse contexts. In this course, taught by Stefana Dan Laing, we will learn from pastoral voices of the past that still ring clear on doctrinal, liturgical and ethical topics.
Stefana Dan Laing (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) teaches in the area of history and doctrine, as well as spiritual formation. She also serves as the director of Beeson's Center for Women in Ministry.
Schedule: Six Thursdays, 2-4 p.m. beginning on Sept. 24.
Cost: $94 if attending on campus; $74 if participating virtually. Discounted rates expire on Sept. 7 - $120/$100 thereafter
