How to use the Seminary Curriculum
Schools, teachers, students, and other groups or individuals are free to implement lessons and courses in any fashion they choose. Below are a few recommendations that have led to successful deployments in the past.
Study the courses in any order you like, or follow this recommended order:
- Building Your Theology
- Building Systematic Theology
- The Apostles' Creed
- Building Biblical Theology
- He Gave Us Scripture: Foundations of Interpretation
- Kingdom, Covenants & Canon of the Old Testament
- The Primeval History
- Father Abraham
- Kingdom and Covenant in the New Testament
- The Gospels
- We Believe in Jesus
- The Book of Acts
- The Heart of Paul's Theology
- Paul's Prison Epistles
- He Gave Us Prophets
- The Book of Revelation
- Making Biblical Decisions
Online Courses and MOOCs
- Schools looking for turnkey distance education, online courses and/or MOOCs (massively open online courses), please contact the [email protected] for information on having set up a Moodle website for your students. Courses are fully customizable according to your school's needs.
- Anyone with broadband internet access can enroll in existing online programs using the curriculum, such as the free Birmingham Theological Seminary Certificate in Christian Ministry, or the free Moodle demo website.
For Groups and Individuals
- If you have broadband internet access, the lessons can be viewed online using a computer or similar device.
- If you don't have broadband internet access, download the highest quality version of the lesson you can. This may be the video, audio, or manuscript. These resources can also be accessed from our mobile apps.
- If you don't have broadband or a mobile device, or if you will be displaying the lessons on a large screen, consider obtaining DVD versions of the lessons, or a USB flash drive with the completed curriculum-to-date. Email [email protected] for other delivery options.
- For a video explanation of a flourishing offline solution we call the "tablet model," please view this user-made video from Will Savell of ESEPA in Costa Rica.
- There are no "rules" for using these resources. Customize your study as seems appropriate to your circumstances.
Viewing Lessons in a Group Setting
- Each group meeting can focus on entire lesson, or on one or more major sections of a lesson.
- It's helpful for each student to have a copy of the study guide and to complete the Notes section of the guide while viewing the lesson.
- After each major section of a lesson, it's recommended to include a period of discussion so that students can reflect on the content of the lesson and interact with each other. The study guide for each lesson includes Review Questions and Application Questions that can help spark discussions.
- The Review Questions in the study guides can also be used as homework or essay test questions.
- The Application Questions in the study guides are often useful as topics for essay assignments.
Classroom Flipping / Assigning Lessons as Homework
- Flipped classrooms assign videos as homework to be watched before class, and spend classroom time on valuable activities like group discussions and projects.
- Each assignment can focus on entire lesson, or on one or more major sections of a lesson.
- Each student can replay portions of the lesson as desired.
- It's helpful for each student to have a copy of the study guide and to complete the Notes section of the guide while viewing the lesson.
- The Review Questions in the study guides can also be used as homework or essay test questions.
- Classroom meetings following completion of these homework assignments can be used to discuss the content of the lessons.
- The Application Questions in the study guides are often useful as topics for essay assignments.
Self-directed Study
- Lessons can be used by individuals who are not part of a class or study group.
- View as much of the lesson as feels comfortable to you.
- Replay any portion of the lesson if you find it helpful.
- Complete the Notes section of the study guide while you view the lesson.
- Complete the Review Questions in the study guides to make sure you understand the major concepts of the lesson.
- Reflect on the Application Questions in the study guides. You may also find it helpful to write out your thoughts in short answers or journal entries.
Research and Additional Assignments
The Third Millennium Ministries website provides many resources that can be used as study aids, references for research, and homework. Students shoud also be encouraged to make use of any other resources to which they have access.