ST 801 Course Syllabus (2016)
Course Syllabus Course title:
ST 801 Church
Course description:
A comprehensive overview of the nature, identity, origin, institution, authority, government, mission, ordinances, and destiny of the Christian church.
Course instructor:
Greg Nichols was ordained as a pastor in 1978. He is a graduate and former professor of Trinity Ministerial Academy, Montville, NJ, and holds a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Reformed Baptist Seminary. He is the author of Covenant Theology: A Reformed and Baptistic Perspective (Solid Ground Books). He is a pastor of Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Greg and his wife Ginger have 5 children.
Course credit:
3 credit-hours
Course requirements:
Student must satisfactorily complete the following course requirements:
(1) Lectures
The student must listen to all the audio lectures by Greg Nichols on the doctrine of the church either live or via audio/video format. We highly recommend the student acquire the lecture manuscript. (The student may purchase a hard-copy through the RBS online store or download an electronic copy on RBS Virtual Campus.)
(2) Reading
In addition to reading completely the lecture manuscript (available in PDF format on RBS Virtual Campus), the student must read from the following textbooks related to the doctrine of the church and related to baptism. (1) Read the selected pages from the following works that provide an overview of the doctrine of the church. The student can access this reading in PDF format on RBS Virtual Campus: Bannerman, James. The Church of Christ. 2 vols. 1869; reprint, Still Waters Revival Books, 1991. • Volume 1, pages 5-118, 187-210 [total = 136] • Volume 2, pages 186-244 [total = 58] Murray, John. The Collected Works of John Murray. Vols. 1, 2. The Banner of Truth, 1976. • Volume 1, pages 231-287 [total = 56] • Volume 2, pages 321-384 [total = 63] Total reading: 313 pages (2) Read one of the following books on practical ecclesiology: Dever, Mark. 9 Marks of a Healthy Church. Crossway Books, 2004. [243 pages] OR Mack, Wayne, and David Swavely. Life in the Father’s House: A Member’s Guide to the Local Church. Presbyterian & Reformed, 1996. [191 pages] Total reading: 191 to 243 pages
(3) Read one of the following books on the doctrine of believer baptism: Jewett, Paul K. Infant Baptism and the Covenant of Grace. Eerdmans, 1978. [250 pages] OR Malone, Fred A. The Baptism of Disciples Alone: A Covenantal Argument for Credobaptism Versus Paedobaptism. 2nd edition. Founders Press, 2008. [291 pages] OR Schreiner, Thomas R., and Shawn D. Wright, eds. Believer’s Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ. Broadman & Holman, 2006. [352 pages] Total reading: 250 to 352 pages Total overall reading: 754 to 908 pages The substitution of another work for those listed above in the first three categories will be considered. But the student should submit a request for substitute reading and wait for the instructor’s approval before proceeding. (3) Exams
After completing the lectures and reading, the student will take a midterm exam and a final exam based on the material in the lectures and/or notes. Study guides for the exams will be provided on Virtual Campus in PDF format. The student should direct any questions about the exam to Greg Nichols (616-2497336; [email protected]) or the seminary dean ([email protected]).
Course grading:
Lectures and reading = 10% / Midterm Exam = 45% / Final Exam = 45%
ST 801 Church
Course description:
A comprehensive overview of the nature, identity, origin, institution, authority, government, mission, ordinances, and destiny of the Christian church.
Course instructor:
Greg Nichols was ordained as a pastor in 1978. He is a graduate and former professor of Trinity Ministerial Academy, Montville, NJ, and holds a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Reformed Baptist Seminary. He is the author of Covenant Theology: A Reformed and Baptistic Perspective (Solid Ground Books). He is a pastor of Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Greg and his wife Ginger have 5 children.
Course credit:
3 credit-hours
Course requirements:
Student must satisfactorily complete the following course requirements:
(1) Lectures
The student must listen to all the audio lectures by Greg Nichols on the doctrine of the church either live or via audio/video format. We highly recommend the student acquire the lecture manuscript. (The student may purchase a hard-copy through the RBS online store or download an electronic copy on RBS Virtual Campus.)
(2) Reading
In addition to reading completely the lecture manuscript (available in PDF format on RBS Virtual Campus), the student must read from the following textbooks related to the doctrine of the church and related to baptism. (1) Read the selected pages from the following works that provide an overview of the doctrine of the church. The student can access this reading in PDF format on RBS Virtual Campus: Bannerman, James. The Church of Christ. 2 vols. 1869; reprint, Still Waters Revival Books, 1991. • Volume 1, pages 5-118, 187-210 [total = 136] • Volume 2, pages 186-244 [total = 58] Murray, John. The Collected Works of John Murray. Vols. 1, 2. The Banner of Truth, 1976. • Volume 1, pages 231-287 [total = 56] • Volume 2, pages 321-384 [total = 63] Total reading: 313 pages (2) Read one of the following books on practical ecclesiology: Dever, Mark. 9 Marks of a Healthy Church. Crossway Books, 2004. [243 pages] OR Mack, Wayne, and David Swavely. Life in the Father’s House: A Member’s Guide to the Local Church. Presbyterian & Reformed, 1996. [191 pages] Total reading: 191 to 243 pages
(3) Read one of the following books on the doctrine of believer baptism: Jewett, Paul K. Infant Baptism and the Covenant of Grace. Eerdmans, 1978. [250 pages] OR Malone, Fred A. The Baptism of Disciples Alone: A Covenantal Argument for Credobaptism Versus Paedobaptism. 2nd edition. Founders Press, 2008. [291 pages] OR Schreiner, Thomas R., and Shawn D. Wright, eds. Believer’s Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ. Broadman & Holman, 2006. [352 pages] Total reading: 250 to 352 pages Total overall reading: 754 to 908 pages The substitution of another work for those listed above in the first three categories will be considered. But the student should submit a request for substitute reading and wait for the instructor’s approval before proceeding. (3) Exams
After completing the lectures and reading, the student will take a midterm exam and a final exam based on the material in the lectures and/or notes. Study guides for the exams will be provided on Virtual Campus in PDF format. The student should direct any questions about the exam to Greg Nichols (616-2497336; [email protected]) or the seminary dean ([email protected]).
Course grading:
Lectures and reading = 10% / Midterm Exam = 45% / Final Exam = 45%
