Syllabi

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NT 520 Introduction to the New Testament

Ruth Anne Reese

The New Testament (RSV or NRSV; however, multiple translations are recommended) DeSilva, David A. Honor, Patronage, Kinship and Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture. Downers Grove: IVP, 2000. Green, Joel B., ed. Hearing the New Testament: Strategies for Interpretation. Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1995. Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Writings of the New Testament: An Introduction. Rev ed. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1999.
NT 520 Introduction to the New Testament

Ruth Anne Reese

Description: This is an introduction to the New Testament, its content, its context, and its interpretation. In the course of the semester, we will examine the individual books of the New Testament; the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts out of which the New Testament arose; various types of interpretative methods used to study the New Testament; and theological themes in the New Testament. We will work to draw this knowledge together into a means for thinking about the New Testament in our contemporary context.
NT 640 Exegesis of General Epistles

Ruth Anne Reese

Description: A close reading of Jude and 1-2 Peter with special attention given to literary, socio-historical, and theological understandings of the epistles.
NT 724 Exegesis of the Corinthian Correspondence

Ruth Anne Reese

Description: A close reading of the Corinthian Correspondence with special attention given to literary, socio-historical, and theological understandings of the epistles. May include readings from either one or both of the Corinthian letters during any given semester.
NT 740 Exegesis of General Epistles Jude, 1 and 2 Peter

Ruth Anne Reese

Description: A close reading of the General Epistles (James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude) with special attention given to literary, socio-historical, and theological understandings of the epistles. May include readings from any or all of the General Epistles in a given semester.
OT 520 Old Testament Introduction

Sandra Richter

This course is designed to lay a foundation for the rest of the student’s seminary career by familiarizing the student with the story of Redemption as told in the Old Testament. To accomplish this goal, the student will be exposed to the geographical and socio-historical context from which the Old Testament emerges; the genre, content, historical flow, and theological structure of the Old Testament Canon; and the scholarship which has sought for generations to understand this collection of Scripture. It is my hope that this class will provide the student with a framework for their study of the OT, while investing in each a profound excitement and respect for these sacred texts.
OT 651 Intermediate Hebrew

Sandra Richter

Course Description: An intermediate level readings class in which students will read the Hebrew Bible in a seminar setting twice per week. Here selected OT passages are read to develop the student’s mastery of biblical Hebrew. Emphasis is given to vocabulary, grammar, syntax, compositional methodology, rhetorical issues, and general poetics. Selections will come primarily from prose narratives in order to reinforce standard grammatical principles. The last several weeks of the course will focus upon poetry. Class preparation will be complemented by weekly quizzing on vocabulary and verbal distinctives, a midterm, and a final exam.
OT 752 Biblical Archaeology

Sandra Richter

Course Description: Within this century, Biblical Archaeology has proven itself a discipline essential to the serious study of the Old Testament. In many instances, this particular discipline has served to clarify difficult passages, fill in correlative sociological and historical details, and, generally, shed important light on the intent of the biblical narrative. Moreover, archaeology has helped to correct minimalist viewpoints regarding the historical integrity of the text. Recognizing the imperative nature of this still-young discipline, this class seeks to (1) expose students to the archaeological periods of ancient Syria-Palestine; (2) expose students to the major archaeological and epigraphic discoveries of the biblical world; and (3) train students in a sound method of integrating biblical and archaeological data.
OT 753 Summer Archaeology Program

Sandra Richter

Course Description: Asbury Seminary students will spend three weeks living and digging in Israel under the supervision of seasoned archaeologists. Students will live in an international environment, interacting with archaeological enthusiasts from many nations as well as native Israelis. They will spend five days a week digging in the field, recording finds, washing and reading pottery, going on short term field trips, and attending lectures by experts on the intersection of recovered material culture and the biblical text. On weekends, students will tour important sites. The educational objective of this experience is practical exposure to the discipline of archaeology and its relationship to biblical studies.
MM 601 Mentored Ministry Section

Peggy L. Riley

1. Reaching People under 40 while Keeping People over 60 by Edward H. Hammett with James R. Pierce (Chalice Press, 2007). ISBN 978-0-827232-54-9 2. Mentored Ministry Handbook: MM601/602: purchased from the professor for $11.00, the first day of class. 3. Preparing for Ministry: A Practical Guide to Theological Field Education edited by George M. Hillman Jr. (Kregel Press, available October 2008) ISBN-10: 0825427576.
PH 501 Philosophy of Christian Religion

William Rodriguez

Course Description: The Philosophical exploration of the classical issues of religious thought, such as the existence and reality of God, the problem of evil, religious experience, and religious pluralism, and ethics.
CO 610 Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling

George R. Ross

Herlihy, B. & Corey, G., (1996). ACA ethical standards casebook. American Counseling Association, Alexandria, VA. (326 pages) Sanders, Randolph K., (1997). Christian counseling ethics: A handbook for therapists, pastors and counselors, Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. (404 pages) Moline, M.E., Williams, G.T., & Austin, K.M., (1998). Documenting psychotherapy: Essentials for mental health practitioners. Sage, London. (189 pages) _____, (1998). AACC Christian counseling code of ethics. American Association of Christian Counseling, Forest, VA. (20 pages) available to down load at [ http://www.AACC.net ]www.AACC.net Bennett, B.E., et. al., (1990). Professional liability and risk management. American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.. (128 pages) Nagy, T.E., (2000). Ethics in plain English: An illustrative textbook for psychologists. American Psychological Association, Washington, D.C.. (260 pages)
CO 610 Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling

George R. Ross

Course Description This three (3) credit hour course is designed to help students in the M.A. Counseling Program and the M.Div. program to identify and examine ethical and legal issues encountered in the counseling process and to explore ways to effectively deal with them. Students completing the course will develop sensitivity to the ethical and legal aspects of counseling process, better appreciate the ethical constraints under which a counselor works, and develop skills to critically examine how they conduct themselves as counselors.
NT 510 The Gospel of Matthew

Brian D. Russell

General Description A basic course in inductive Bible studies. The primary purpose is to enable the student to begin developing an inductive approach to Bible study, especially in the areas of observation and interpretation. Parts of the Gospel of Matthew are used to demonstrate and to practice a methodical approach which can be used in other biblical books. Some of the main themes of the Gospel are highlighted in the process. This course is also the prerequisite or co-requisite of the biblical language classes as well as the prerequisite for exegetical electives. This course seeks to introduce the student to the "inductive method" of biblical study, and to direct this interpretive approach to the Gospel of Matthew. This orientation implies several things, including (1) an emphasis upon methodology and methodological concerns, and (2) a strong commitment to direct, independent study of the biblical text, with secondary sources (e.g., commentaries, grammars, dictionaries of the Bible) to be consulted by the student only after extensive, firsthand study has been completed. The English Bible (RSV/NRSV) will serve as the basis for study, but students are encouraged to make use of the original whenever you are able (of course, I am aware that very few of you have taken Greek).
OT 520 Old Testament Introduction

Brian D. Russell

An introduction to (1) the literature of the Old Testament in its socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; and (2) critical study of the OT. Note: This course is not a survey of the literature of the OT. If you desire a survey course to prepare for the Bible Competency exam, you should consider taking BS400.
OT 520 Old Testament Introduction

Brian D. Russell

GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION An introduction to (1) the literature of the Old Testament in its socio-historical, literary, and canonical contexts; and (2) critical study of the OT. Note: This course is not a survey of the literature of the OT. If you desire a survey course to prepare for the Bible Competency exam, you should consider taking BS400.
OT 610 Pentateuch

Brian D. Russell

GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is a study of Genesis through Deuteronomy. It builds on the methodology of the first Inductive Biblical Studies course by further use of what has been previously learned and by emphasizing the study of books as wholes. Accordingly, there is special focus on the initial survey of books as wholes, the interpretation of parts of books in the context of the books as a whole and the synthesis of books. In addition, attention is given to thinking, valuing and living biblically by learning how to apply Scripture to life and ministry.
OT 611 Exegesis of Exodus

Brian D. Russell

Course description This course explores selected exegetical issues in the Book of Exodus and provides students with opportunities to apply original-language tools to the book’s strategic passages. The focus will be on developing appropriate interpretive skills for the pastoral ministry.
OT 611 Exegesis of Exodus

Brian D. Russell

John I. Durham. Exodus. WBC. Waco: Word, 1987. Terrence E. Fretheim. Exodus. Interpretation. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1991. Michael Walzer. Exodus and Revolution T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker. Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship. Downer’s Grove: InterVarsity, 2002. Arnold, Bill and John Choi. Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax. Cambridge University Press, 2003. If you don’t have this text, you definitely need to purchase it. Seow, C. L. A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew. Rev. ed. Nashville: Abingdon, 1995.
PR 700 Creative Preaching on the Sacraments

Lester Ruth

--O’Keefe, John J. and R. R. Reno, Sanctified Vision: An Introduction to Early Christian Interpretation of the Bible --Satterlee, Craig and Lester Ruth, Creative Preaching on the Sacraments, Discipleship Resources. --Yarnold, Edward, The Awe-Inspiring Rites of Initiation, The Liturgical Press.
PR 700 WO 700 Creative Preaching on the Sacraments

Lester Ruth

--O’Keefe, John J. and R. R. Reno, Sanctified Vision: An Introduction to Early Christian Interpretation of the Bible --Satterlee, Craig and Lester Ruth, Creative Preaching on the Sacraments, Discipleship Resources. --Yarnold, Edward, The Awe-Inspiring Rites of Initiation, The Liturgical Press.
WO 520 The History of Christian Worship

Lester Ruth

Describing WO520 Do the nature and activity of the Trinity have anything to say about how we worship today? In light of the Trinity, does the history of Christian worship have anything to say about how we worship today? These are the questions that will organize WO520, The History of Christian Worship. The class is designed to be an environment in which a student can explore answers to these questions. We’ll explore these questions by imagining ourselves as leadership in a church named First Methodist Church (we will call it the Touchstone Church in this course), responsible for the church’s “contemporary” service called the New Covenant Service. The premise is that we have felt like we have “hit the wall” in terms of this service. We wonder if there is anything more. What else could we do to renew our worship? What must we leave in place? (For more information on this church, please see the links on the course website.) In this course each student will imagine that she or he is either the associate pastor, who has primary ordained responsibility for this course, or the church musician. The worship design committee has commissioned you to do a study of worship and write a series of five newsletter articles on what we ought to do and think about the worship of this church. Enriching this service in our Touchstone Church will be the goal of this course. With this premise, what specifically will this course be about? WO520 will be about…. � …forming students for leading worship in Christian communities (the focus is on corporate worship, not individual experience of worship) in certain key facets; � …having a key theological conviction of the Christian faith guide our exploration (the class will be spent in extended reflection on the implications of that compelling theological conviction for Christian worship); and � …pursuing a recurring, imaginative placement of the student as a leader within a hypothetical Christian community, giving her/him a chance to see the theological implications in a realistic pastoral situation. The course will have this flow: becoming familiar with the Touchstone Church and its desire for renewed worship, then cultivating Trinitarian perspective and expectations about Christian worship, and finally, the use of this perspective and expectations to explore the worship of 5 historic Christian communities (Rome, Jerusalem, Salisbury, Geneva, and Baltimore) for possible answers to the Touchstone Church’s desire for renewed worship. In this manner we will accomplish the catalog description for the course that speaks of it as a survey of Christian worship over the last 2,000 years. We will grapple with basic issues in worship as well as recurring themes and understandings about worship as represented by different historical traditions. We will explore whether past ways of worshiping, explored under the spotlight of Trinitarian doctrine, might offer options for approaching worship renewal today. Are there “basics,” “essentials,” or “nonnegotiables” for Christian worship today and in the past?
WO 525 Time and Remembrance in Christian Worship

Lester Ruth

--Webber, Robert. Ancient-Future Worship: Proclaiming and Enacting God’s Narrative. Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8010-6624-5. --Rienstra, Ron. Ten Service Plans for Contemporary Worship. Grand Rapids: Faith Alive Resources, 2002. ISBN 156212868X. --Hickman, Hoyt, et al. The New Handbook of the Christian Year. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1992. ISBN 0-687-22760-4 --Blain, Susan A. et al., editors. Imaging the Word: An Arts and Lectionary Resource, volume 2. Cleveland: United Church Press, 1995. ISBN 0-8298-1033-1 --Stancliffe, David. Celebrating Common Prayer. Mowbray or Continuum. ISBN 0-264-67351- 4 or 0826465293 --course packet
WO 700 PR 700 Creative Preaching on the Sacraments

Lester Ruth

Prerequisites: a course in the range of PR610-49 and a course in the range of WO510-549.
MS 655 CL 655 MB 730 The Change Agent in Mission

Michael A. Rynkiewich

This is a course in applied anthropology and cultural dynamics with special attention to how culture change occurs, the dynamics and variables that effect change, and appropriate strategies for the church. The course also deals with contemporary areas of social responsibility for those in mission. In this postmodern, postcolonial age, everyone has a mission. Wherever one positions oneself, one has a perspective and a strategy for change. Anthropologists, missionaries, indigenous church leaders, development agencies, drug dealers: all have spiritual, political and economic interests to pursue. All are different from each other, all act out of a different view of society, and all hope to be able to direct change.