Word Studies: Church History Part 1

Class: Church History Part 1

Week #10-11: April 16-27
Professor: Dr. Tom Taylor

Assignments: Students should read the book, One Hundred Dates in Church History before the time of the second major test. It must be a reading… not a quick scan of the table of contents. By reading this book you can elevate your grade by one letter, i.e., a “C” to a “B”.

Dr. Tom Taylor will be teaching Church History for the next two weeks. Dr. Taylor received his BA from Bryan College, MDiv and STM from Faith Seminary and a Doctorate from Philadelphia Biblical University. To quote his own words, he is “retired emeritus from Biblical Seminary having held the post of Associate Professor of Church History and Old Testament for 24 years... I have written few books (but lots of articles that were not all wanted!) and have concentrated lately on conference ministry… Married to Ruth with five children and a small army of grandchildren and great grandchildren. Better known for humour and playing the harmonica than for scholarship, but that is just another of the inequities in the world.”



Church History allows each student to understand the role the church has played in history and the process the church has undergone in the past 2000 years. Dr. Taylor takes the class through the formation of the church in the first century to Constantine's  legalization of the church to Luther's 95 Theses. The importance of learning about church history lies not in the knowledge of what happened but the understanding of how the church got to where it is today and the implications of that on the lives of believers today.


Dr. Taylor loves to interact with the students in and out of class. His many experiences give him much to talk to the students about and he regales them with many stories. The students shared their thoughts on their teacher and the class:


"It was an incredible privilege ad honor to sit underneath Dr. Taylor's teaching. His in depth knowledge of the subject matter enabled me to understand the important role the church has had throughout the course of history. His joy and passion for learning inspires me still today."
- Benjamin, Muskoka (Alumnus)

"Amazing to really realize how the church has played such a huge part in history in the past. It was a class like no other."

- Jordan, Goulais River

"This class taught me much about the history of the early church. Dr. Taylor presented his material with excitement and enthusiasm. He knows his stuff."

- Ryan, Wyoming

Word Studies: Revelation

Class: Revelation

Week #9: April 9-
Professor: Dr. Jimmy DeYoung

Dr. and Mrs. Jimmy DeYoung

Assignments:  Students are to read the Book of Revelation at least twice (two times) during the time period of the classes. Students are also to read the textbook, Revelation: A Chronology by Dr. DeYoung in its entirety.


Dr. Jimmy DeYoung is a well-known prophecy teacher in North America and Europe. He worked with Word of Life in Schroon Lake for 12 years. Later, Dr. DeYoung was the VP and General Manager of New York City’s first Christian radio station for 5 years. Since 1991, he and his wife, Judy, have been residing in Jerusalem where they work as journalists in the second most populated journalistic city in the world. More recently, he received his doctorate from Tennessee Temple. Dr. DeYoung has written several books, produced videos and has a weekly radio broadcast, Prophecy Today.

the revelation of Jesus Christ

The book of Revelation is a controversial topic in the Christian world today. The many views surrounding prophecy create unending debates among theologians and laymen alike. However, this controversy should not deter the believer from studying this incredible section of the Word of God. 

This class helps each student understand the importance of studying all of the written Word of God and having an understanding of Biblical prophecy. Dr. DeYoung emphasizes early on in the class the impact that Revelation should have on the believer's life today.  His passion and enthusiasm for studying prophecy quickly engages each and every student. Giving up-to-date reports of what is happening in the world today, especially in the Middle East, Dr. DeYoung illustrates the imminence of Christ's return, Some of the students shared their thoughts on the teacher and his class:

"Revelation is a very interesting book. It was really amazing to see how prophecy is starting to come true today."
- Esther, Quebec

"Dr. DeYoung was very knowledgeable about how the different prophecies intertwine and was able to clearly present the places the prophecies will occur."
-John, Mount Forest

Plan to come to Campus Days this May and discover what Word of Life Bible Institute has to offer!

Word Studies: Judges

Class: Judges

Week #3: September 26-30
Professor: Pastor Jeff Eastwood

Assignments:
Read Judges 3x -Once in a single reading before class, and twice during the week of Judges classes. At least one of these readings must be done in a translation other than the one you normally use.
Read Judges - Such a Great Salvation by Dale Ralph Davis prior to, or during, the week of classes.
Memorize Judges 21:25



Pastor Eastwood is currently the interim lead pastor at Northside Baptist Church in Waterloo, Ontario. He is a graduate of Northland International University with Bachelor of Arts in Theology and is now working on a Master of Divinity Degree from Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary. This will be his first year teaching at WOLBI in Owen Sound. What's interesting is many of the students this year are coming from Waterloo and Kitchener and call Northside their home church. They were thrilled to have their pastor come up for a week as was he.

Judges is an interesting book and many times it is hidden away as if it is some deep, dark secret of the Bible. Filled with murder, deceit and heinous crimes, this seventh book of the Bible is the attic of the Bible. Yet, here it is, containing this record of Israel's rebellion against God and subsequent disregard for God's commands. Blatant disobedience would be at the core and the theme of Judges is clearly stated in the memory verse for the class.

"In those days, there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

-Judges 21:25

When one of the students stated what he learned from the class, unknowingly, he explained how this verse is relevant to the book as a whole.

"I have been learning that Israel is just like our day now. I'm seeing the history... they keep falling into sin and they don't pass the faith onto the [next] generation. They weren't following God's Word. It was a very sinful time"
- Derek, Waterloo

It was a very sinful time. The statement alone sums it up. What can be learned from a book that has this reputation? Since Timothy says in the New Testament, "All scripture is profitable...", Judges has been placed in the Bible for a purpose.

This purpose is hinted at in the following from one of the students:

 "I learned how loving God is, in that, no matter how much sin I am in, God is always there when I repent and turn back to Him."
-Brandon, Waterloo

Judges shows us the grace of God. Every time Israel rebelled, God called them back to Himself. The Lord would raise up a judge, hence the name of the book, and that judge would bring the people back to the Lord by leading them in repentance. Then when the judge died, the people would fall into sin again. This cycle of sin, judging and repentance occurred seven times in Judges. Even the judges themselves were not the best example of godliness and fell into sin soon after Israel repented. But God's grace continually prevails and still brings people to repentance today. When asked what he was learning from Judges, Pastor Eastwood replied with the following:

"I am learning that sin is deceitful and subtle and we need the grace of God."

God's grace is a beacon of light in the darkness of Judges. This world desperately needs God's grace just as Israel did over three thousand years ago. This grace comes in the form of God's Son dying on the cross, taking the punishment of sin for every person. The message of Judges and the gospel is one and the same: repentance. The message of repentance has always been the same: turn from your sin and turn to God's grace for redemption from the punishment of sin. Let us not forget this incredible gift of salvation.

BW