Nazarene Theological College Moodle

Those engaged in Pastoral Care will often find themselves called upon to offer Pastoral Counselling formally or informally. How does one prepare? How do Pastoral Care and Counselling overlap? What is distinctive about Pastoral Counselling? What are its relationships to the Bible, theology, and the behavioural sciences? And what are the attitudes, values, strategies, and skills that help turn a well-meaning conversation into a therapeutic dialogue? Explore these and other questions while developing the basic skills of this very practical and important aspect of pastoral care.

The rise and growth of the Pentecostal movement have led to a renewed interest in the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit. Questions have been raised about the way the Spirit works in both the church community and individual lives. How is this reflected in worship and ministry? Does the Spirit only work directly in the heart of the believer, or can the Spirit work through things like sacraments? When the news is filled with violence and destruction, what purpose does the Church play in society? Explore these questions and consider the ways in which our understanding of the Holy Spirit and Church equips our engagement with the world.

Why does asking questions improve our critical thinking skills? How can we ask questions that invite dialogue, engage diversity, and probe issues and problems more deeply? Is there a right answer to every question? When reading, when do we soak up a lot of information like a sponge and when should we select and filter it? Why do critical readers read the conclusion of an article or book first? What is a “hook” and a “thesis statement” and why do the introductions to our essays need them? How to we integrate the views of “scholars” into our writing? The learning activities in this class will respond to these questions and will improve critical thinking, reading, and writing skills for theological studies.

When God speaks, new life is formed. As a preacher, you get to participate in proclaiming God’s life-giving word. It’s a great privilege but also a challenge. In this course, we will explore together how we can listen well, write well, and then deliver well. You will learn by doing, as you prepare and deliver sermons. Whether your context is a Sunday morning gathering or youth group devotions, if you’re new to preaching or looking to grow your skills, this course will grow your ability to communicate what God is saying today.

Have you ever wondered about God, the meaning or purpose of life, the problem of evil, or the possibility of a future life? Explore these questions and others within the context of Christian understanding. No prerequisites, including faith, are required. Come with an openness to explore the meaning of life with some helpful guides from the past and present.

The Christian church is an evolving institution, which has constantly acted and reacted in terms of its own developing sense of identity, and in terms of its historical and social context. In this way, the theology and the ecclesiology of the church have come to assume their current shapes. This survey of church history introduces students to methods of historical inquiry and provides an overview of the church’s doctrinal and institutional evolution as a framework for other theological study and more advanced historical study.

Information and resources for all students, including:

• orientation materials
• templates for assessments, including essays and the cover sheets
• extension requests for assessments
• library resources, including electronic database login details
• student handbooks
• relevant student policies
• grievance resolution.