DMin Upcoming Classes | Reformed Theological Seminary

Summer 2022

Charlotte

July 18 – 23, 2022
Preaching the General Epistles
Dr. Brandon Crowe
03DM8275 – Charlotte
Syllabus | Registration for this course will be open from April 1 – May 15

The General Epistles (James–Jude) contains some of the most neglected books in the New Testament. Yet these epistles have a contemporary word for the church today. The purpose of this class is to equip you to grasp the message of these epistles more fully, with an eye to contemporary application. We will thus consider both exegetical and practical issues arising from these texts.

July 25 – 29, 2022
Presbyterian Ministry in American Culture
Dr. S. Donald Fortson & Prof. John Muether
03DM8335 – Charlotte
Syllabus | Registration for this course will be open from April 1 – May 15

This class is an introduction to the faith and practice of Presbyterianism in America. The course will trace the historical path of the American Presbyterian family as it has unfolded from the colonial period up to the present day. Emphasis will be placed on major events, movements, controversies, institutions and personalities that have helped shape the contemporary church’s faith. In telling the uniquely American story of Presbyterianism, the course will address the changing culture of the United States and its impact on Presbyterians.

July 30, 2022 – January 15, 2023 – Online course (Prerequisite: Must have completed 7 DMin courses)
Doctoral Project and Research Methodologies
Dr. S. Donald Fortson
03DM8990 – Charlotte and Orlando
Syllabus | Registration opens April 1

This online course will assist the student to understand the required components of the DMin Project and to prepare an acceptable Project Proposal. As an outcome of the course, students will write the first draft of a Project Proposal with bibliography and be prepared to submit this draft to the DMin committee on their home campus – Charlotte or Orlando.

Orlando

July 18 – 23, 2022
Interpreting Scripture with the Great Tradition
Dr. Craig Carter
02DM8355 – Orlando
Syllabus | Registration for this course will be open from April 1 – May 15

Since modern historical study of the Bible has created problems for preaching that did not exist before modernity, we need to recover models of premodern interpretation. The purpose of this course is to examine how church fathers from the first five centuries interpreted the Psalms and Isaiah and to reflect on what we can learn from them. We will read background material on the history of interpretation and discuss the writings of figures like Irenaeus, Origen, Athanasius, Cyril of Alexandria and Augustine.

July 25-29, 2022
Preaching from Luke/Acts
Dr. Guy Waters
02DM8210 – Orlando
Syllabus | Registration for this course will be open from April 1 – May 15

Preaching Luke and Acts is both challenging and rewarding. The challenges stem from the length of Luke and Acts, and from the hermeneutical challenges posed by each book (“Do miracles happen today?” “Should Christians speak in tongues?”). The rewards stem from the main concern of each book – the person and work of Jesus Christ. In this course, we will think about how to interpret, explain, and apply these two books in a way that keeps Christ central to our preaching and teaching ministries

July 30, 2022 – January 15, 2023 – Online course (Prerequisite: Must have completed 7 courses)
Doctoral Project and Research Methodologies
Dr. S. Donald Fortson
03DM8990 – Charlotte and Orlando
Syllabus | Registration opens April 1

Winter 2023

Charlotte

January 9 – 12, 2023
Christ-centered Worship
Dr. Bryan Chappell
03DM8410 – Charlotte
Registration for this course will be open from November 1 – December 15

This course addresses Christian worship principles for pastors with an emphasis on preparing church leaders to develop structures and styles of worship that reflect the unchanging truths of the Gospel within particular and varied cultural contexts. We will emphasize the ways in which the grace that pervades Scripture and culminates in Christ affects the integration of worship and mission in the local church.

January 23 – 27, 2023
Puritan Theology and Ministry
Dr. Joel Beeke
03DM8325 – Charlotte
Registration for this course will be open from November 1 – December 15

An in-depth examination of some major themes of Puritan theology, such as the Puritan view of Scripture, meditation, the experience of God, providence, the sinfulness of sin, adoption, sanctification, assurance of faith, church and worship, preaching, the sacraments, the promises of God, conscience and casuistry, and heaven and hell. Concluding lectures will consider how the Puritans applied their theology to their daily living and particularly how it made them to be a joyful people rather than “killjoys,” as they are caricatured to be. The course will give special emphasis to the nature of experiential religion, a singular characteristic of Puritan writings, and how the subjects covered interface with practical ministry.

January 30, 2023 – July 15, 2023 – Online course (Prerequisite: Must have completed 7 DMin courses)
Doctoral Project and Research Methodologies
Dr. S. Donald Fortson
03DM8990 – Charlotte and Orlando
Registration opens November 1

Orlando

January 9 – 13, 2023
Augustine and the City of God
Dr. Michael Allen
02DM8360 – Orlando
Registration for this course will be open from November 1 – December 15

In this course we explore the life and theology of Augustine of Hippo, reflecting particularly on his City of God and the long, varied reception history of this work. We consider how it serves as a guide to engaging in apologetic discussion with non-Christians, whether in antiquity or in contemporary form. We also consider how it guides our public theology and engagement of a host of pastoral challenges. Through exploring this classic text, students grow in their confidence and competence to engage Augustine’s works on their own as a prompt and resource for pastoral theology and leadership today.

January 16 – 20, 2023
Preaching Old Testament Narrative
Dr. John Currid
02DM8100 – Orlando
Registration for this course will be open from November 1 – December 15

Preaching Old Testament narrative texts is often neglected by the church. The reasons for this neglect are complex and complicated. Part of the problem is the church’s difficulty in seeing the application of OT narrative texts that appear to be so strange and esoteric. In this course, we will focus on the means and methods of preaching OT narrative texts. OT historical narrative can be most challenging and difficult to interpret and to preach, but it can also provide wonderful, in-depth training and theology when appropriately understood.