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Applications are now being accepted for Term 2 that begins October 19. Apply here by September 19, 2026. Take your first step to start Thirdmill Seminary today!

Courses and Catalog

Academic Year 2026-2027

Students may apply any time during the year.

Existing students can request enrollment starting one month prior to the start of the term.

Year Two | Term 1 | August 10 - October 4, 2026

Course Descriptions – Term 1

The Pentateuch, Part 1 (BIB503) – 3 credits

The first five books of the Old Testament are commonly called the Pentateuch or Torah. They tell the story of the nation of Israel from creation to their preparation to enter the land of Canaan. But the Pentateuch is much more than a historical account of Israel’s origins. It is the collection of covenant documents that defines the character and vocation of God’s covenant people. This first half of our study focuses on the Book of Genesis and situates its original significance in relation to its first hearers, the Exodus community. Based on the lecture series The Pentateuch, produced by Third Millennium Ministries (thirdmill.org)  and hosted by Dr. Scott Redd, this course engages critical and evangelical scholars about the origin of the Pentateuch. It requires graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to understand and communicate the aims of the Book of Genesis to shape the identity and vocation of ancient Israel. (Part 1 is the pre-requisite for The Pentateuch, Part 2).

Building Your Theology (THE501) – 2 credits

For many, theology seems complicated, dry, abstract, and disconnected from the practices of everyday life. This spiritual dryness indicates a lack of spiritual health, and a way of practicing theology that misses the mark of its true aim—applying Scripture to all of life. As an introduction to theological method, this course will help you build your theology on the sure foundation of Scripture for the purpose of forming the mind, affections, and practices of a follower of Jesus Christ. Based on the lecture series, Building Your Theology, produced by Third Millennium Ministries (thirdmill.org)  and presented by Dr. Richard L. Pratt, Jr, this course employs graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials and engagement with a local mentor to explore resources for doing theology from general and special revelation with the aim of equipping local churches for its mission of discipling the nations.

Discipleship Practicum: Worship (MIS501) – 1 credit

Thirdmill Seminary offers three practicums to assist students with ministry activities that are faithful to God’s Word and fitting for their local context. The Worship practicum will give you time to explore the scriptural elements of Christian worship, the history of its theological development, and reflect on the practices of worship in your own tradition, as well as those of other Protestant traditions.

MDIV: Teaching and Preaching (MIS507) – 3 credits

This course enables the student to teach and preach the Word of God. It teaches biblical, theological and practical guidelines for these activities. The first half of the course focuses on teaching and learning together from Scripture with a focus on interaction in small groups. The second half of the course focuses on the preparation and delivery of sermons in corporate worship.

Term 2 | October 19 - December 13, 2026

Course Descriptions – Term 2

October 19 – December 13, 2026

The Apostles’ Creed (THE502) – 3 credit hours

There are many denominations, divisions and theological disputes in the modern church. Despite these types of disunity, there is a common core of belief that all faithful Christians have affirmed throughout history. For almost two millennia, this doctrinal core has been summarized in the Apostles’ Creed. This course explains the history and use of the Apostles’ Creed, as well as the details and significance of each of its twelve articles of faith. Utilizing the lecture series, The Apostles’ Creed, produced by Third Millennium Ministries (thirdmill.org) , this course integrates graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to explore the connection between the Bible and theology, and the usefulness of doctrinal summaries for discipleship today.

Pentateuch, Part 2 (BIB517) – 3 credits – pre-requisite Part 1 BIB503

The first five books of the Old Testament are commonly called the Pentateuch or Torah. They tell the story of the nation of Israel from creation to their preparation to enter the land of Canaan. This second half of our study examines the formative redemptive event of the Exodus and the giving of the covenant at Sinai to constitute Israel as a nation under Yahweh. This course, based on the lecture series The Pentateuch, produced by Third Millennium Ministries (thirdmill.org)  and hosted by Dr. Scott Redd, requires graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to understand how God’s covenant with Israel at Sinai echoes ancient near eastern covenants to form a nation with a peculiar vocation to reveal the wisdom, justice, and mercy of her God to the surrounding nations. [Pre-requisite: BIB503: The Pentateuch, Part 1]

We Believe in Jesus (THE509) – 3 credits.

This course investigates the biblical accounts about Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah of Israel and Lord of all. The canonical witness of the prophets and apostles provides the core content translated, interpreted, summarized, and developed in the doctrine of Christology. In this course, students will see how the teachings of Scripture about Christ have been applied as the gospel has entered new cultures and as its peoples have raised new questions about Christ and his kingdom. Employing the lecture series, We Believe in Jesus, produced by Third Millennium Ministries (thirdmill.org)  and hosted by Dr. Dan Doriani, this course requires graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to understand and apply the three offices of Christ in local ministry. How does Christ continue to reign as King, intercede as Priest, and speak as Prophet? 

(MDIV) Defending the Faith (MIS505) – 3 credits

Sometimes Christians tend to shy away from the world, living in a “spiritual bubble” where it feels more comfortable and secure. Sometimes we aren’t sure how to articulate our faith or relate it to current issues, because we have our own questions and doubts. We find it difficult to share our faith with people who have left the church because of difficulties or hurts. But studies show that a large majority of the “de-churched” remain spiritually interested or curious. How do we engage their questions and invite them back?

This course guides students to take their own doubts seriously and to develop Christian practices of inquiry in order to better understand non-believers and become more confident in addressing their honest questions. In a word, the student will be more confident of God’s care for and involvement with the people and pain of the world, and better able to bear witness to it.

 

Term 3 | January 11 - March 7, 2027

Course Descriptions – Term 3

The Book of Acts (BIB504) – 2 credits

The Acts of the Apostles is the second volume in Luke’s two-volume account of the arrival of the reign of Israel’s God in Jesus, the Son of David, and its extension through Jesus’ witnesses to the ends of the earth. This study of Acts focuses on how Luke’s narrative shaped early Christian identity and mission in the wake of “the Way’s” rupture with the synagogue and its relationship to the rival claims of other gods and lords in the Mediterranean culture(s) of the first century. How, then, does the Book of Acts continue to shape the Church’s worship and witness to Christ and His Kingdom among the nations? Utilizing the lecture series, The Book of Acts, produced by Third Millennium Ministries (thirdmill.org)  and presented by Dr. Hans F. Bayer, this course employs graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to understand and apply the Book of Acts in the worship and witness of local congregations.

 What is Man? (THE510) – 3 credits

This course is an introduction to theological anthropology – the doctrine of humanity. In every culture throughout history, people have asked fundamental questions of human identity and vocation: “Who are we? Why are we here? What went wrong? How can we heal and flourish?” The Bible tells us that human beings, both male and female, are God’s images, created to rule over and care for creation on God’s behalf. Though sin has defaced and deformed humankind, diminishing our identity and compromising our vocation, God sent Christ, his Son and True Image to restore us to our true selves and work. This course combines the lecture series, What is Man?, produced by Third Millennium Ministries (thirdmill.org)  and hosted by Dr. Gregory R. Perry, with graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to explore these fundamental questions of human identity and vocation.

MDIV elective: Christian Counseling (MIS504) – 3 credits

Books written on Christian counseling generally describe “what” it is without showing us “how” to counsel. This course relies heavily on the book “Skills for Effective Counseling” written by Elisabeth A. Nesbit Sbanotto, Heather Davediuk Gingrich, and Fred C. Gingrich, who have decades of professional experience. They show us how they do it. Recognizing the limitations of training in counseling through the internet, we will learn and practice the “micro skills” necessary to effectively counsel people. Some of the topics that we will deal with are: the counselor as an instrument; how do I perceive the counselee and how do they perceive me?; how do I develop the ability to accurately interpret what the counselee communicates to me?; how can I manage emotions and develop deep empathy? All of these questions will be considered from a faith-based integration perspective.

Discipleship Practicum: Nurture (MIS502) – 1 credit

This practicum develops your ministry practices of spiritual care, taking into account the emotional dimension of ministry, which is often omitted in traditional discipleship programs. The gospel changes our whole being, including our emotions. This course uses graduate level readings, discussion forums, faculty tutorials, mentor meetings, and ministry activities  to cultivate an emotionally healthy spirituality that is consistent with the teachings and practices of Jesus. This course is not intended to treat issues of pastoral care exhaustively but aims at an understanding of how transformation occurs through the Spirit’s work in each of us through the means of grace.  

MDIV elective: Vocational Discipleship (MIS510) – 2 credits

The Law and the Prophets speak directly to Israel’s relationship to the land and other means of production; to the just valuation of the products of their labor; to fair wages for workers; and, to the dignified treatment of vulnerable members of society. Indeed, the scriptures of the Old and New Testament support Martin Luther’s claim that God does his work through the work of people to provide for humankind’s needs.

However, the Bible also testifies to the effects of sin on people’s work, creating inequities; damaging relations; even causing injury and death. However, Christ’s work of redemption created a new way for humans to work and create as God originally intended. While pastors and other Christian leaders are not necessarily experts in the many aspects of human labor, they are called to train God’s people to work in faith, to do everything as unto the Lord. This course is designed to provide perspectives and practices for this work of vocational discipleship.

Term 4 | March 29 - May 23, 2027

Course Descriptions – Term 4

 Heart of Paul’s Theology (BIB514) – 2 credits

Paul passionately proclaimed the good news of individual salvation in Jesus Christ, but this wasn’t the heart or scope of his gospel. According to Paul, salvation is not primarily about individuals being saved; rather, it is the triumph of God over evil and the reality of Christ’s kingdom taking root in communities of renewed image-bearers amidst all nations. This course unpacks Paul’s missional hermeneutic and missionary method. By studying Paul’s letters to the Galatian, Thessalonian, and Corinthian churches, you will gain a deeper understanding of the kingdom of God and rejoice in Christ’s plans for his people and his world. Based on the lecture series, The Heart of Paul’s Theology, produced by Third Millennium Ministries (thirdmill.org)  and presented by Dr. Reggie M. Kidd, this course employs graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty input and oversight with local mentor engagement to explore the message, missionary methods and church-forming mission of the Apostle Paul.

Making Biblical Decisions (THE513) – 3 credits

Christian morality has always been challenged and rejected by unbelievers, but today even many believers have lost their moral footing. Moreover, believers who want to live ethically are frequently confused by the complexities of ethical decisions. Based on the lecture series, Making Biblical Decisions, produced by Third Millennium Ministries (thirdmill.org)  and presented by Dr. John M. Frame, this course incorporates graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to build on both parts of the Foundations of Interpretation series. We cultivate biblical wisdom by studying the Bible’s own system of covenantal ethics and learning to apply its evaluative framework and practices to approach present challenges, temptations, and problems in ways that lead to biblical solutions.

MDIV elective: Greek for Exegesis (BIB525) – 3 credits

This course teaches the fundamentals of Greek morphology and grammar as well as the steps of New Testament exegesis. It explains how to use linguistic tools, including software programs. It includes PowerPoint presentations with pronunciation of Greek vocabulary and exercises in grammar. As students make progress, they do their own exegesis of a New Testament passage and prepare a summary of their findings in preparation for preaching or teaching.

Term 5 | June 7 - August 1, 2027

Course descriptions – Term 5

Your Kingdom Come: Eschatology (THE511) – 2 credits

The topic of eschatology, or the end of history, has fascinated people for centuries. What does the Bible say about the goal of history? How have various branches of the global church described the Day of the Lord and the Millennium? In this course, students examine what the Scriptures teach about the last days, including a variety of challenging topics, such as the general resurrection, the final judgment, and the consummation of Christ’s messianic kingdom in the new heavens and new earth. Incorporating the lecture series, Your Kingdom Come: The Doctrine of Eschatology, produced by Third Millennium Ministries (thirdmill.org)  and hosted by Dr. Matt Friedman, this course requires graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to understand and apply eschatology to Christian missions and ethics.

Discipleship Practicum: Outreach (MIS503)1 credit

This practicum is divided into two parts: 1) congregational practices of outreach, and 2) congregational structures of outreach. The structures of outreach support and extend the practices of outreach to a congregation’s neighbors locally and to the nations globally. These practices and structures are the focus of the Church’s mission to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19).

This course includes graduate level readings, discussion forums, outreach activities, faculty tutorials, and mentor meetings.  Students are provided an evaluative framework for congregational outreach, and opportunities for direct participation.

MDIV: Evangelism & Church Planting (MIS509) – 2 credits

This course encourages and trains students to share the gospel and to plant new churches. It presents the principles, steps, and different models for developing healthy churches and guides the students through the process of preparing their own plans for starting a new church.

Capstone Project & Portfolio (MIS603) – 3 credits (MACS students eligible if all other courses are completed)

This cumulative assessment is designed in two parts: the Portfolio and the Project. The Portfolio requires you to revisit earlier assessments that were designed to demonstrate mastery of one of five program learning outcomes, each of which is tied to a key resource for sustainable ministry. The Project celebrates your learning by applying your findings to your current or future ministry in the form of a philosophy of ministry and strategic plan. The fifth resource for sustainable ministry is your own sense of your pastoral identity, ministry calling, spiritual gifts, personal wounds and weaknesses. Your Capstone Project appropriates the other four resources—Scripture, Theology, Discipleship Practices in the Church, and the cultural resources of your local context—through your own awareness of your pastoral identity, calling, gifts, and weaknesses. This depth of self-awareness only comes through consistent appropriation of the other resources in ongoing relation to a mentor, spiritual director, or other ministry colleague, who will encourage you, pray for you, and tell you the truth in love.

MDIV: Ministry Leadership & Design (MIS515) – 3 credits (MDIV students eligible if all other courses are completed)

This course is the culmination of the series of Missional Leadership Formation courses, and its objective is to prepare the students to fulfill their calling to leadership in Christian ministry. There are three aspects of the course: a) Reflect on the call, character, and spiritual maturity expected of a pastor or leader in the church, b) Analyze how the studies in this series have transformed the student’s perspective on the ministry and his or her call to leadership. c) Practice how to lead groups through periods of significant organizational and/or cultural change.

Year One - Academic Year 2027-28 | Term 1 | August - October 5, 2027

Course Descriptions

MDIV: We Believe in the Church (THE512 – 3 credit hours)

This course is a deep dive into the Biblical doctrine of ecclesiology (the doctrine of the Church) in scripture. We will explore the foundational aspects of the Church throughout the Old and New Testaments, the relationship of the Church to the Kingdom and the Covenants, the government of the Church, the marks of the Church, the offices of the Church, the means of grace, and the sacraments of the Church (baptism and the Lord’s supper). Gaining a solid understanding of ecclesiology is crucial to Christian life and ministry. This course requires graduate-level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to understand and apply the theology of the church to Christian witness and service.

The Gospels (BIB505 – 3 credit hours)

The four gospels are key books of the Bible, since they narrate the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Indeed, Jonathan Pennington has described the Gospels as ‘a canon within the canon,’ the climax of the Bible’s redemptive drama. Each evangelist offers a unique perspective with some shared and some unique communicative aims for describing the life of Christ to their original audience(s). This course examines those aims and explains the historical background, literary structure, main contents, and major themes of each gospel. Integrating the lecture series, The Gospels, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and hosted by Dr. Pete Alwinson, this course requires graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to study the life of Jesus and his proclamation and practices of the reign of God. These are demonstrated in four unique perspectives. Students will consider how Jesus himself used parables and symbolic actions not only to reveal his identity as Christ, the Son of God, but also to train his followers how to participate as citizens in the kingdom of God. 

Kingdom, Covenants & Canon of the Old Testament (BIB501 – 2 credit hours)

This course gives a brief survey of the Old Testament, examining the themes of kingdom, covenants, and canon. Students learn that the Old Testament is not a random amalgam of episodes, genealogies and prophetic tidbits. Instead, it is unified around the central theme of the kingdom of God which was administered through covenants and applied to life through the Old Testament as a “canon,” or rule of life in covenant with Israel’s God. This course, based on the lecture series, Kingdom, Covenant, & Canon of the Old Testament, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and presented by Dr. Richard L. Pratt, Jr., requires graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to understand and apply the covenantal structure and patterns of the Old Testament canon to life and ministry in the new covenant.

Discipleship Practicum: Worship (MIS501 – 1 credit hour)

This practicum explores the scriptural elements of Christian worship, the history of its theological development, and its practice in a variety of cultural contexts. While the ministry of Word and Sacrament lies at its core, corporate worship reenacts the Gospel in other ways as well, including confession of sin and assurance of pardon, and our offer of ourselves, our gifts, both spiritual and material, and our praises and prayers back to God. This course uses graduate level readings, discussion forums, faculty tutorials, mentor meetings, and ministry activities to provide you with opportunities to worship God in different contexts and to reflect on practices of worship through the lens of Scripture, theology, and the history of the Christian mission where you serve. 

Term 2 | October - December 2027

The Apostles’ Creed (THE502)  3 credits

This well-known creed has united Christians in apostolic faith and the worship of the Triune God across centuries, and cultures since the early 4th century. Apply today and begin this foundational course to study Scripture and better understand what you believe.

 

He Gave us Scripture, Part 1 (BIB515)  3 credits

If you are looking for a deep engagement with Scripture in order to understand and teach it clearly, this course is for you.

Plan to take both courses in the two-part series together (Term 2 and Term 3) to discover principles of interpreting biblical texts for understanding and application that will cultivate fruit for God’s eternal kingdom.

 

MDIV Course: Global Christianity (BIB518) 3 credits

The new course on Global Christianity for MDIV students will explore God’s world mission and ministry of reconciliation between every tribe and nation. In this course you will find both opportunities and challenges for churches in both the global North and South, and consider your role in the multicultural and multilingual expansion of the global Church.

 

MA or Grad Certificate students may take this course as an elective.

 

MDIV Course: Church History I – The Early Church, Its Councils and Creeds (HIS501) 3 credits

This term we are offering a new Church History I course, required for the MDIV program. This first of two courses provides a panoramic view of the Early Church from the first century to the fifth century. We will look at significant characters such as Augustine, and review creeds about the Trinity and Christology.

 

MA or Grad Certificate students may take this course as an elective.

Term 3 | January - March 2028

We Believe in God (THE508)    2 credits

This course, We Believe in God, briefly surveys what theologians call theology proper or the doctrine of God. It deals with questions such as: Who is God? What are his attributes? What is his eternal plan? What are God’s works in history? At the most fundamental level, the Scriptures were given to teach us about who God is and what he has done for us. In fact, knowing God is essential for us to understand ourselves and our world.
Required course for MACS, MDIV

 

He Gave Us Scripture, Part 2 (BIB516)  3 credits – Prerequisite: He Gave Us Scripture, Part 1

He Gave us Scripture, Part 2 is about the Foundations of Interpretation. This course builds on Part 1 for students learning their approach to and investigation of the text’s historical background, literary shape, and theological themes. You will practice how to summarize the concepts, behaviors, and affections that are featured or implied in the text, and how to discern whether they were intended to be mimicked or avoided by readers. Students will then practice how to responsibly apply these concepts, behaviors, and affections to themselves and those they are discipling.
Required course for Graduate Certificate, MACS, MDIV

 

Outreach Practicum (MIS503)  1 credit

This practicum is divided into two parts: 1) congregational practices of outreach, and 2) congregational structures of outreach. The structures of outreach support and extend the practices of outreach to a congregation’s neighbors locally and to the nations globally. These practices and structures are the focus of the Church’s mission to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19).

This course includes graduate level readings, discussion forums, outreach activities, faculty tutorials, and mentor meetings.  Students are provided an evaluative framework for congregational outreach, and opportunities for direct participation.

MDIV: Church History 2 (HIS502) 3 credits – no prerequisite, may be taken in any order

Church history describes the growth of God’s kingdom on earth starting with Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem to the emergence of a global religion with countless followers from all nations. In this course, we’ll explore the growth and development of the church throughout history from the time of the Reformation to the present day. In the process, we’ll examine the development of Protestant Christian theological traditions, especially regarding the major protestant denominations coming out of the Reformation: Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, Arminian, Baptist, and Pentecostal traditions. God has worked powerfully through all these traditions, though these traditions have not had the same impact equally across all regions where the Church is present.
Both Church History courses are required for the MDIV program, and can be taken in any order. Students in other programs will receive elective credit.

 

MDIV: General Epistles (BIB518) 3 credits

 

General Epistles is a new elective option for the MDIV program. We are continuing our deep engagement of Scripture and our cultivation of exegetical skills by studying the New Testament letters from James, John, Peter and Jude, as well as the letter to the Hebrew Christians. Our exegetical study will identify the unique contribution each epistle makes to the New Testament canon for the formation of the Church’s identity and vocation.
General Epistles is a new course offering designed as an elective option for the MDIV program. Students in other programs will receive elective credit.

Term 4 | March - May 2028

Kingdom and Covenant in the New Testament (BIB502) 2 credits

Have you ever wondered why the New Testament gives so much attention to the Kingdom of God, its threefold framework of inauguration, continuation, and consummation or how this framework relates to the New Covenant in Christ? This course explores these fundamental features of the New Testament by examining where they originated and what they mean for us today. Integrating the lecture series, Kingdom & Covenant in the New Testament, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and hosted by Dr. Simon Vibert, this course requires graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to examine continuities and discontinuities between the older and new covenants, and to build a strong foundation for understanding the goal of the biblical story and how it provides the framework for ministry.

We Believe in the Holy Spirit (THE505)  2 credits

Practically speaking, the Holy Spirit is the person of the Trinity who is most involved in the daily lives of Christians and the practical ministry of congregations. But many Christians know far more about the Father and the Son than they do about the Holy Spirit. In this course, students will discover how different traditions in the Church emphasize various dimensions of the Spirit’s work in creation and redemption. Utilizing the lecture series, We Believe in the Holy Spirit, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and hosted by Dr. Ramesh Richard, this course requires graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to explore the Spirit’s dynamic work in the world, in the church, and in the lives of individual believers.

Nurture Practicum (MIS502) 1 credit

This practicum develops your ministry practices of spiritual care, taking into account the emotional dimension of ministry, which is often omitted in traditional discipleship programs. The gospel changes our whole being, including our emotions. This course uses graduate level readings, discussion forums, faculty tutorials, mentor meetings, and ministry activities to cultivate an emotionally healthy spirituality that is consistent with the teachings and practices of Jesus. This course is not intended to treat issues of pastoral care exhaustively but aims at an understanding of how transformation occurs through the Spirit’s work in each of us through the means of grace.

MDIV: We Believe in Salvation: Soteriology (THE507) 2 credits

According to the Scriptures, Christ accomplished our salvation with His life, death, and resurrection. But why does the world and its inhabitants need saving? How do humans receive and “work out” Christ’s gift of salvation? What is the role of Christ’s atonement, the Holy Spirit, and the church in salvation? Can a Christian lose his or her salvation? This course of study will be exploring questions of ultimate importance not only for its participants but also for those they will serve.

MDIV: Hebrew for Exegesis (BIB530) 3 credits

Students on the Biblical Languages for Ordination track are required to take Hebrew for Exegesis, a tools-based approach to engaging the texts of the Old Testament in preparation for preaching and/or teaching the Bible. Like Greek for Exegesis (BIB525), this course establishes the exegetical process and provides opportunities for students to engage each step in that process with a primary learning aim of using biblical commentaries more critically by evaluating them in relation to the original texts of scripture. The Story of Joseph in Genesis will provide the primary text for our exegetical work together.

Term 5 | May - July 2028

He Gave Us Prophets (BIB513) 3 credits

Many Christians are intrigued by biblical predictions but at a loss when it comes to understanding them. Feeling overwhelmed by their complicated history and literature, we often disregard them altogether. When we understand the prophets’ motivations and methods, we are better equipped to discover the significance of their words for today.

Integrating the lecture series, He Gave Us Prophets, produced by Third Millennium Ministries and presented by Dr. Richard L. Pratt, Jr., this course requires graduate level readings, spiritual formation activities, faculty tutorials, and engagement with a local mentor to dispel common misunderstandings about the prophets, provide guidelines for interpreting biblical prophecy, and, cultivate confidence in students for their ongoing study and appropriation of the prophetic literature in their Christian life and ministry.

MDIV elective: OT Historical Books (BIB519) 3 credits

The Books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings and 1-2 Chronicles describe the conquest of the land of Israel following their Exodus from Egypt, the period of tribal confederation under the Judges, and the rise of kingship in Israel. Uniquely, the history of the Hebrews is written and evaluated through a covenantal lens. Many have described it as a Deuteronomistic History written by prophets because Israel’s relationship to the land and the rule of its judges and kings is evaluated on the basis of the Sinaitic covenant.

MDIV elective: Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament (BIB520) 3 credits

Old Testament poetic books and wisdom literature, mostly contained in Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs, contain some of the most practical Biblical content in all of Scripture. Yet these books are frequently misused by well-intended believers. In this course, we’ll look at the nature of Hebrew poetry and wisdom literature in general, and Job, Psalms, Proverbs Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon in particular, to develop our abilities in both understanding and applying these portions of Scripture in our personal and ministerial lives. A brief study of the Epistle of James is also included, since wisdom is one of its main themes.

Capstone (MIS603) 3 credits – for students who have completed all other requirements of the MACS

This cumulative assessment is designed in two parts: the Portfolio and the Project. The Portfolio requires you to revisit earlier assessments that were designed to demonstrate mastery of one of five program learning outcomes, each of which is tied to a key resource for sustainable ministry. The Project celebrates your learning by applying your findings to your current or future ministry in the form of a philosophy of ministry and strategic plan. The fifth resource for sustainable ministry is your own sense of your pastoral identity, ministry calling, spiritual gifts, personal wounds and weaknesses.

Your Capstone Project appropriates the other four resources—Scripture, Theology, Discipleship Practices in the Church, and the cultural resources of your local context—through your own awareness of your pastoral identity, calling, gifts, and weaknesses. This depth of self-awareness only comes through consistent appropriation of the other resources in ongoing relation to a mentor, spiritual director, or other ministry colleague, who will encourage you, pray for you, and tell you the truth in love.

2025-26 Catalog

This Catalog is in effect August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026

Calendar

Find the full schedule on our Academic Calendar.