Special Feature
Do you want to have a firm faith foundation for life- with all of its unexpected twists and turns- in 2021? Beeson Divinity School’s Lay Academy offers a great opportunity to grow in your faith and knowledge of God’s Word during the spring semester. The focus is Matthew 7:24-25, “…The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the work.”
A Study of the Christian Life in Light of the Wisdom of the Christian Past is one course that Dr. Mike Pasquarello, Beeson’s Methodist Chair of Divinity, will teach. He explains, “This course on the Christian life draws from the wisdom of well-known Christian teachers and leaders in Christian history: Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and C.S. Lewis.” The class begins on February 22 and will meet online for six Monday nights from 6 – 8 p.m.
Sacred Worship will be taught by Dr. Kenneth Mathews. The class will seek to answer the question, “What is pleasing, authentic worship to the Lord?” He shares that, “God has made us creatures of worship. By our study in the Old and New Testaments we will learn anew who it is that we worship and how we engage God as his people,” adding that, “typically, we think of worship as a formal act at our local church, but Scripture teaches us to experience an informal daily worship.” Sacred Worship will be taught online for six Monday afternoons from 2 – 4 p.m. beginning February 22.
Resolving Confusion of Christian Identity: A Study of 1 Corinthians will delve into Paul’s writings. Dr. Sydney Park will lead the class and says, “In these troubling times, the question of what it means to be a disciple of Christ is more urgent than ever. Come discover what the Apostle Paul writes about Christian faith and practice to a church struggling with various aspects of the Christian life.” She adds, “His advice remains pertinent still for the modern-day church. Come and be renewed and restored with hope and faith to live out the life of faith in Christ.” Dr. Parks’ class will begin on February 25 and meets for six Thursday afternoons from 2 – 4 p.m.
Read about all of the classes offered this semester and register at www.beesondivinity.com/lay-academy.
-Melissa Armstrong
