Morningview Baptist Church

March 18 – June 10
Sunday Evenings • 5:00 – 6:15 PM

Text and Tools (300)

Instructor: Dr. Shawn Merithew • Room: 329
Textbook: Greek for the Rest of Us by William Mounce ($17.00)

Course Description: Text and Tools will teach students the basics of Greek and Hebrew to equip them for deeper study of God’s Word. We will spend 5 weeks studying basic Hebrew and 5 weeks studying basic Greek. Understanding the basics of the original languages will enrich your personal study of the Bible. If you aspire to teach the Bible, this class will provide you with tools to take advantage of available language study resources.

Theology of Worship (200)

Instructor: David Hardgrave • Room: 330
Textbook: Recalling the Hope of Glory by Allen P. Ross ($25.00)

Course Description: In this class, members will do an in-depth study on the nature of worship throughout the Bible and learn how God commands that He be honored and enjoyed in both public and private worship. During the class, members will develop a basic biblical theology of worship and will be guided in applying it to practices in personal devotion, family life and in the life of the church body.

The Holy Spirit (200)

Instructor: Jim Smith • Room: Chapel
Textbook: The Holy Spirit by Edwin Palmer ($15.00)

Course Description: This course will examine the person and work of the Holy Spirit in redemptive history, in the establishment of the first century church, and in the life of the believer today.  We will discuss how the Spirit operates in creation, salvation, and sanctification.  Other topics will include: gifts, baptism, leading/guidance, and fruit of the Spirit.

Gospel Sanctification (200)

Instructor: Dr. Tom Hicks • Room: 331
Textbook: The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification by Walter Marshall ($21.00)

Course Description: Do you want to grow in faithful loving obedience to Christ?  Scripture teaches that we believers in Christ as we learn to understand and apply the gospel of free grace.  This course will be a study of a mid 17th century classic work.  The reading will be difficult, but it will be well worth it!  John Murray, a great theologian, said that this is the best book ever written on the topic.

As we begin to work our way through the 24th chapter of Matthew on Sunday morning, we are going to be wading into the study of eschatology.  Our eschatology is our theology of the end times.  As I noted on Sunday morning, when Jesus delivers His Olivet Discourse, He is speaking of two different events:  the “near” event of the destruction of Jerusalem which came just 40 years later in 70 A.D., and the “far” event of His second coming and the final judgment, which at this time is still a future occurrence for us.

Rightly interpreting apocryphal texts, like those we have in Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation, and here in Matthew 24, is often very challenging.  These texts are recorded visions which employ an incredible amount of metaphor and symbolism to reveal truths about God’s judgment of the wicked and His preservation of the righteous.  Though we might prefer more clarity, we must remember that Scripture is absolutely Continue reading

Fall Quarter • September 11 – November 20
Sunday Evenings • 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM

Textbooks will be for sale on the 3rd floor before class begins

Christian Worldview (200)
Instructor: Reid Ward ~ Room: 300 (The Big Room)
Textbook: none

Systematic Theology 3 (103)
Instructor: Rick Quave ~ Room: 330
Textbook: Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

Biblical Conflict Resolution (300)
Instructor: Scott Estes ~ Room: 329
Textbook: The Peacemaker by Ken Sande

Personal Evangelism (300)
Instructor: Joel Thompson ~ Room: 322
Textbook: Today’s Gospel by Walt Chantry

Men’s Accountability (300)
Instructor: Mark Reese ~ Room: 331
Textbook: none

Fall Quarter • September 11 – November 20
Sunday Evenings • 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM

Christian Worldview (200)
Instructor: Reid Ward ~ Room: 300 (The Big Room)
Textbook: none

Course Description: The Truth Project is a small group curriculum comprised of 12 one-hour DVD lessons taught by Dr. Del Tackett. This study is designed to equip believers with a comprehensive biblical worldview.  Participants will be reintroduced to the truth claims of God, as each lesson discusses in great detail God’s design for living out the Christian worldview within each sphere of daily life, and the important need to marry our actions to our core beliefs.

Systematic Theology 3 (103)
Instructor: Rick Quave ~ Room: 330
Textbook: Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

Course Description: Theology is the science that deals with all the facts that are knowable concerning God and His relation with the universe.  It seeks to organize these facts in a logical manner in order to determine what the whole Bible teaches about any given topic.  In this course, we will examine the doctrine of redemption, including election, regeneration, justification, conversion, sanctification, glorification (the order of salvation), and union with Christ.

Biblical Conflict Resolution (300)
Instructor: Scott Estes ~ Room: 329
Textbook: The Peacemaker by Ken Sande

Course Description: Serious, divisive conflict is everywhere: within families, in the church, and out in the world. And it can seem impossible to overcome its negative force in our lives.  This class will be a comprehensive and practical theology for conflict resolution designed to bring about not only a cease-fire but also Christlke unity and harmony.  The course will show how conflicts can can be turned into true, life-changing reconciliation with family members, coworkers, and fellow believers.

Personal Evangelism (300)
Instructor: Joel Thompson ~ Room: 322
Textbook: Today’s Gospel by Walt Chantry

Course Description: Scripture calls us to be faithful to proclaim the gospel wherever God has placed us.  Walt Chantry writes, “Differences between much of today’s preaching and that of Jesus are not petty; they are enormous. The chief errors are not in emphasis or approach but in the heart of the Gospel message.” Based on the account of the Rich Young Ruler, this class will demonstrate that what so often passes for the gospel message today is not what Jesus was teaching.

Men’s Accountability (300)
Instructor: Mark Reese ~ Room: 331
Textbook: none

Course Description: Are you a man without an accountability group? God calls men to walk in faith together, not to be “loners” in their relationships with Christ. If you don’t have an accountability group or you would like to fold your group into another, this is the class for you! You will be encouraged to sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron, and to resist the devil’s temptation with the Word of God and the power of the gospel.

I love being an American. Despite all of the troubles our country faces today, the cultural and material advantages that we experience as modern Americans are really so far beyond the standard of living of the vast majority of humanity across the world and though the ages that they are almost incomparable. Oh how blessed we are! Thanks to God’s grace to me through the blessings of this land, I am warm in winter, cool in the summer, medicated when sick, fed when hungry and even entertained at the touch of button. Statistically speaking, I can be reasonably confident, Lord willing, that all of my children will survive to adulthood, and I’ll probably one day even enjoy grandchildren. This is a combination of blessings that most of humanity would have, at one time, considered only available to the richest of the rich.

You and I have so much to be thankful for, but least we stop there, we would be wise to remember that blessings in the hands of sinners (read “us”) are easily misused and can quickly become curses. Abundance of food becomes gluttony. Abundance of leisure time becomes idleness. Abundance of provision becomes entitlement and thanklessness and the list goes on. How, you may ask, could this relate to corporate worship? It’s actually quite simple. We come to worship as Americans and not as Christians. This is not at all to say that the categories “American” and “Christian” are necessarily exclusive, but to assume that they are necessarily connected is to do so at the peril one’s own soul. As Americans, we are always looking for the return on our investments. This is the way that we are taught to think about our money, our time, our attention, and sometimes even friendships. Thus, rather than arriving at our corporate gathering as the redeemed adopted heirs of the Kingdom of Christ, we often find ourselves in worship as consumers, spectators, thrill-seekers or even critics.

The fact is, when we apply these habits to worship and come with underlying assumptions and expectations of a capitalistic-type transaction of mutual benefit (i.e. “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours”) we are treating the church like the market and thinking like pagans. Sadly, much in contemporary Evangelical church culture even encourages us to think just this way. Rather than describing our own churches in terms of what we believe to be true of God (theology), we drop theological words from our names and instead advertise our churches as if they were time-shares, attempting to coax prospective members to spend a weekend with us while we show our amenities (programs, activities, worship styles for every preference) and eventually push toward closing the deal and working out the payment plan. Thinking like this is worlds removed from the biblical concept of the church as the “Pillar and support of the truth” (I Tim. 3:5) and a gathering of “aliens and strangers” (I Peter 2:11), or the fellowship of redeemed sinners (I Pet. 1:18) and it will destroy your joy.

In contrast to the spectator/consumer mindset that we can so easily (and even unknowingly) adopt, the Christian response in worship to God’s person and work is one of overflowing thankfulness (Eph. 5:19, Ps. 23:5, I Thess. 5:18, Rom. 1:21) and praise (Eph 1:3-10, I Pet. 2:9). This is not at all to suggest that when we come to worship we should check our minds at the door, but rather that the central desire of our hearts should be glorifying God through joining together in communion with Him around the elements of worship. If we come to worship looking for fulfillment and perfection from the “forms” of worship or even other worshippers, our focus is misplaced, for these things can only be found in Christ himself. Again, this is not to say that we should adopt an “anything goes” attitude, but rather that our hearts should be set upon the Christ who pardons and sanctifies sinners, and thus gracious towards our co-heirs of God’s unmerited favor. The idea that we should offer or withhold our praise based upon our preferences in worship style, personal comfort with public singing or even approval or disapproval of other believers is completely alien to the Bible. Try to imagine a “Consumerist” among the worshipers pictured in the book of Revelation. It’s absolutely inconceivable! In John’s view of the throne room of God, everyone in the company of Heaven worships: the Elders, the Living Creatures, the Angels and especially the Redeemed. The only people in the book not joining in to worship the Lamb are those who have no purchase with him. Oh dear Saint, do you love the Lamb? If so, you have no business being among those who stand before him with no praise to offer for their place is a sad one indeed.

If you find yourself attending corporate worship with the mindset of the concert-goer or a critic, then you probably need, in that moment, to privately repent to God of making your preferences the true object of your worship. Be thankful for the earthly blessings that your citizenship in our country affords you, but reject the idols of our culture! Oh dear Believer, fight to remember that you have received more from Christ that you can ever measure or repay and let thankfulness consume you! Consider anew your citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven and fight to remind yourself that you come to worship as one purchased by precious blood. Consider the depths of sin from which Christ has redeemed you and tremble in joy that the Lamb has written your name in his book of Life, the great register of all of His worshippers.

In His Eternal Mercies,

David

The Aletheia Center will be selling M.I.T. books immediately after the service on Sunday morning.  You may purchase your books then, to avoid the lines at night.  They will also sell the books again at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.  If you wait until Sunday night, please come early, since we will stop selling the books when M.I.T. begins at 5:00 p.m.

The prices are as follows:

Godly Marriage 1

Tying the Knot Tighter – $8.00

This Momentary Marriage – $13.00

Systematic Theology 2

Bible Doctrine – $20.00

Holiness in Christ 2

Holiness – $10.00

Preparing for Short Term Missions

Serving with Eyes Wide Open – $11.00

Spring Quarter • March 20 – June 12
Sunday Evenings • 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM

Godly Marriage 1 (301)

Instructor: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Co-Instructor: Lisa Merithew
Room: Fellowship Hall
Textbook: This Momentary Marriage by John Piper and Tying the Knot Tighter by Martha Peace and John Crotts.

Course Description: Do you long to go deeper in your marriage?  Godly Marriage 1 is the class for you.  We will begin by examining marriage as a covenant relationship that represents the relationship between Jesus Christ and His Church.  We will also examine biblical roles, communication, conflict resolution, sexual intimacy, and management of the home.  Husbands and wives must attend together.  Homework will consist of reading and discussion with your spouse each week.

Systematic Theology (102)

Instructor: Rick Quave ~ Room: 330
Textbook: Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

Course Description: Systematic Theology is the summarization of what is taught by the relevant passages in the Bible on various topics so that we can know and profess what we believe about each one.  Systematic Theology II will include the study of the creation of man and his nature, the fall and sin, the person of Christ and His role in the salvation of man, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Preparation for Short Term Missions (300)

Instructor: Jonathan Oue ~ Room: 322
Textbook: Serving with Eyes Wide Open by David Livermore

Course Description: Are you planning to go on a short-term missions trip this year? If so, this study is for you. The class will help you prepare for that trip from the mundane to the spiritual. Among other things, you will learn how to get your passport, write support letters, deal with hostile governments in restricted countries, prepare for cultural challenges and prepare spiritually for your short-term trip.

Small Group Study: Holiness in Christ (202)

Instructor: Dr. Tom Hicks ~ Room: 329
Textbook: Holiness by J.C. Ryle

Course Description: This course will be a study of what is widely considered the best book ever written on the Christian life: Holiness by J.C. Ryle.  Ryle teaches the Bible’s theology of loving Christ, growing in His grace with faith, humility, and persevering obedience to Him. To facilitate group interaction, the course will be a small group study of only 12 people.  If you’re interested, please sign up before space runs out!

Sign up Sunday morning during service or by calling the church office at 272-2304.

January 9 – March 13

Sunday Evenings

5:00 PM – 6:15 PM

Ladies’ Study: An Inductive Bible Study in Philippians 300

Instructor: Lisa Merithew, Room: 331
Textbook: That I May Know Him by Kay Arthur

Course Description: Ladies, it’s time to get in the Word together!  We will work through the book of Philippians using Kay Arthur’s study: That I May Know Him.  Expect to devote about 15 minutes each day to studying God’s Word.  During class, we will have a teaching time, small groups with discussion questions, and prayer as we seek the Lord together.  Join us and discover for yourself that knowing Christ is knowing joy!

Men’s Study: Calling Men to Supreme Loyalty 300

Instructor: Joe Medlin, Room: 322
Textbook: What Jesus Demands from the World by John Piper

Course Description: This is a class for men to consider the demands Jesus made in the Gospels.  The aim is rightly to understand these demands, to seek God’s grace, and to find in Him our supreme joy.  We will learn not only the severity of Christ’s demands but also their sweetness. Using the Bible, Piper’s book, discussion and prayer, the class will call men already saved into more God-glorifying obedience to Jesus.

Systematic Theology 101

Instructor: Rick Quave, Room: 330
Textbook:  Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

Course Description: Theology is the science that deals with all the facts that are knowable concerning God and His relations with the universe.  Systematic Theology is the summarization of what is taught by the relevant passages in the Bible on various topics so that we can know and profess what we believe about each one.  In Systematic Theology 101, we will examine the Doctrine of the Bible and the Doctrine of God.

Small Group Study: Holiness in Christ 200

Instructor: Tom Hicks, Room: 329
Textbook: Holiness by J.C. Ryle

Course Description: This course will study what is widely considered to be the best book ever written on the Christian life: Holiness by J.C. Ryle.  Ryle teaches the Bible’s theology of loving Christ deeply, growing in His grace with faith, humility, and persevering love for Him. To facilitate group interaction, the course will be a small group study of only 12 people.  If you’re interested, please sign up before space runs out!

M.I.T. Courses Fall 2010

September 19 – November 21
Sunday Evenings, 5:00 pm – 6:15 pm

Practical Instruction for Lifestyle Evangelism (300)
Instructor: Dr. Shawn Merithew – Room: 330
Textbook: The Complete Evangelism Guidebook, edited by Scott Dawson

Theology of Evangelism (200)
Instructor: Rick Quave – Room: 329
Textbook: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer

Evangelizing Your Children (300)
Instructor: David Hardgrave – Room: 331
Textbooks: Disciplines of a Godly Family by Kent and
Barbara Hughes and A Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent

Also offered during the M.I.T. time

White Stone Men
Instructor: Mark Reese – Fellowship Hall

To register, please call the church office at 272-2304.

M.I.T. Courses Fall 2010

September 19 – November 21

Sunday Evenings, 5:00 pm – 6:15 pm

Practical Instruction for Lifestyle Evangelism (300)

Instructor: Dr. Shawn Merithew
Textbook: The Complete Evangelism Guidebook, edited by Scott Dawson
Room: 330

Course Description: Have you ever passed up a witnessing opportunity because you didn’t know how to begin a spiritual discussion?  This class is for you! The class will explore specific, practical ways to engage lost persons in witnessing conversations. We will establish the basic message of the gospel and discuss hospitality evangelism, servant evangelism,
and marketplace evangelism.  We will explore how to initiate encounters and witness to people in different vocations, religions, generations, and ethnic groups.

Theology of Evangelism (200)

Instructor: Rick Quave
Textbook: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer
Room: 329

Course Description: God has spoken and is speaking to His creatures.  What is the essence of that communication and what are we as believers to do with what has been communicated?  In this class, we will examine what the whole Bible teaches about the content of the gospel and the command to go and make disciples of all the nations.  The study will seek to establish a summarization of what is taught by the relevant passages in the Bible on the subject of evangelism.

Evangelizing Your Children (300)

Instructor: David Hardgrave
Textbooks: Disciplines of a Godly Family by Kent and Barbara Hughes and A Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent
Room: 331

Course Description: Do you want to learn how to be more faithful in evangelizing your children? This course is for you! We will examine the biblical issues surrounding sharing the gospel with children in the context of the home.  Special attention will be given to methods for developing a gospel culture within the family as well as methods for discerning a child’s comprehension of the essential truths of the gospel itself.

SIGN UP THIS SUNDAY!