Note: The cross-reference number for the Course of Study is in bold type at the end of the summary.
For more up-to-date information, here is a link to the homepage for the NNU ministerial studies program.
| BIBLE |
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Interpreting Scripture A set of procedures by which to pursue the meaning of the text for its author and/or original audience and the ability to move from that “original” meaning to a contemporary application or contemporary significance is what this module provides the student. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 141. |
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Telling the New Testament Story of God This module will introduce the student to the New Testament biblical literature, Bible study methods, and the environment of the Early Church. Special attention will be given to the political, cultural, religious, and geographical setting, the literary genre, and the meaning of the text in its original cultural, historical, and literary context for the purpose of discovering the principles of truth to be applied to our contemporary setting. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 111. |
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Telling the Old Testament Story of God This module is an introduction to the serious study of the Hebrew Scriptures in their historical, cultural and literary contexts. The module emphasizes the essential contents, structure and theological message of the books of the Old Testament. Students are introduced to the practice of biblical exegesis and to the geography and archaeology of the lands of the Bible. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 121. |
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Tracing the Story of God in the Bible - not yet available Through this biblical theology module students will learn to sort through the Bible’s witness to God’s involvement in the lives of people long dead to discern the timeless truths that should shape our understanding of God and life as his people in the present and our aspirations for the future. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 131. |
| THEOLOGY |
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Becoming a Holy People Holiness of heart and life is traced as a theological doctrine from early Judeo-Christian literature through the 21st century expression in the Church of the Nazarene. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 132. |
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Exploring John Wesley's Theology The module will examine the life of Wesley in historical context—Britain in the 18th century. It will also examine Wesley’s dependence upon and creative appropriation of certain theological traditions. Each aspect of the "Wesleyan Quadrilateral" will be examined. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 142. |
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Investigating Christian Theology 1 This module introduces the student to Systematic Theology, a thematic approach to understanding Christian Theology. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 113. |
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Investigating Christian Theology 2 This module continues the introduction to Systematic Theology, a thematic approach to understanding Christian Theology. It is advisable that Christian Theology 1 be taken before Christian Theology 2 although it is not a requirement. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 122. |
| CHURCH HISTORY |
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Examining Our Christian Heritage 1 The foundation and development of the Christian Church up to the Reformation period (1500 A.D.) is studied in this module. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 123. |
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Examining Our Christian Heritage 2 Developments in the Church since 1500 A.D. is the focus of this module. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 133. |
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Exploring Nazarene History & Polity The History and Polity module gives a brief overview of the development of the Church of the Nazarene as a denomination. It also provides an introduction to the organization of the denomination via a study of pertinent sections of The Manual of the Church of the Nazarene. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program courses 115 & 143. |
| PRACTICS |
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Administering the Local Church Here the prospective pastor is introduced to the art/science of Church Administration which is a continual and intentional process that connects and uses gifts of individual believers to enable a particular congregation to win people to Christ and to build a spiritually healthy church. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 136. |
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Declaring the Gospel of God The fundamentals of evangelism are considered in this module and various approaches to evangelism are presented. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 112. |
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Exploring Christian Ministry The module writer views the minister and the ministry from a biblical perspective, presents the ministry as a high calling demanding holy living and hard work, and encourages a hunger for and commitment to a lifetime of arduous study and patient ministry. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 134. |
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Leading the People of God The overarching vision for this module is for each student to embrace the biblical model of “servant” as the driving force and organizing principle within the individual as he or she seeks to lead a Christian community of faith. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 125. |
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Practicing Wesleyan-Holiness Spiritual Formation
Spiritual formation is the transformational outworking of the grace of God in the hearts and actions of human beings. It includes Christian fellowship, community, and worship (Eph 4:15-16) as well as acts of service (Gal 6:10). This course focuses primarily on the spiritual disciplines, devotional skills, and practices that open the door to the transforming Spirit. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 116. |
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Preaching the Story of God The fundamentals of sermon preparation and presentation are addressed in this module. Students are expected to produce and preach sermons in their local setting. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 124. |
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Providing Christian Education for All Ages The course is an introduction to the field of Christian education. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 135. |
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Shepherding God's People In this module the student is introduced to the fundamentals of pastoral counseling. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 145. |
| OTHER |
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Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally This module acquaints the student with the fundamentals of Missiology, the theology of missions. Pastors must be knowledgeable of and sensitive to cultures other than their own in this rapidly diversifying world. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 146. |
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Communicating the Gospel in a Pluralistic World - coming
9/5/05 In this module students confront the ideology of religious pluralism from a Wesleyan-Arminian perspective. Religious pluralism claims that not only are there many religions, the diversity represents the way things “ought to be.” There exists no single religious perception of reality that is universally applicable and binding. No religion can legitimately claim to proclaim the truth for all persons. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 146. |
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Communicating with Spoken and Written Language - not yet
available Fundamentals of English grammar and speech are addressed here. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 114. |
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Living Ethical Lives - coming 9/5/05 This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 126. |
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Supervised Ministry Experience - not available online This module is presented and facilitated by District Boards of Ministerial Studies. It corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 144. |