Semester 1, Week 02: Becoming Christian - Culture and Missions

Tonight's class begins a series on "Becoming Christian". Luke 2:1-5 gives us a glimpse of the cultures that would help shape the faith - Jews, Greeks, and Romans. We learned a little more about these cultures and their relationship with Palestine. When the Temple is destroyed in 70 AD, Jews and Christians are forced out into those cultures. This sets up the next few lessons where we will consider how the Christians dealt with their new reality.

Teacher's Guide

Student's Guide

Slide Deck

Lecture Recording (1:00:34; 55.4 MB)

Semester I, Week 01: Introduction

In this class, the groundwork is laid for the semester. We learn how history helps us to be more passionate servants of Jesus Christ. We consider the idea of transition: not this-then-that but rather this-TO-that. We then focus our attention on the first part of a story that will cover two semesters. How did the church transition from a small, Jewish sect willing to die for its faith - into a powerful, Gentile empire willing to kill for it? The answers will set up next semester when we learn how the church is humbled and corrected.

Teacher's Guide

Student's Guide

Semester Overview Drawing

Slide Deck

Lecture Recording (1:04:38; 59.1 MB)
(note: teaching begins at 18:00 and corresponds to page 7 in the Slide Deck)