Essentials of Faith

012 HSWTL The Renaissance

There is a lot to explore and appreciate about this time in history. It is indeed the beginning of modern  history. These are just some of the sites on the web that you can find - enjoy yourself!

Explore this website to get an overall feel for the Renaissance Period - The Renaissance.
This is another site about the Renaissance that might be of interest - La Renaissance.

This is a link to Renaissance Architecture - Architecture of the Renaissance.

It would be good to familiarize yourself with the Art of the Renaissance.

011 HSWTL The Middle Ages

Read the biographies of four important figures of the Middle Ages provided in the Research Links:
Charlemagne
Thomas Aquina
Jonh Wycliffe
John Huss

You may also want to search out sites that will give you a feel for the art and architecture of the MIddle Ages - it is a period that is indeed a fascinating one and one we today no way too little about - enjoy!

010 HSWTL The Roman Age

Review the material on this website for background on the decline and fall of the Roman Empire - the material does not necessarily agree with Francis Schaeffer or a Christian viewpoint - Roman Empire - about.com

Explore this website related to Edward Gibbon's classic Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire - Best of Gibbon's Decline and Fall

Try to see if you can piece together enough information related to Edward Gibbon's reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire and contrast that with the view presented by Francis Schaeffer.

009 The Fruit

Please read Nehemiah 5.

Read the research articles: "The Evangelical Crackup" and "The Demise of the Religious Right."

These two articles are really  for information only but I believe that you may see something of what I hope this series on the fear of God has been pointing out; the need for the fear of God in our country is greater than ever, both inside as well as outside the church.

007 The Beginning of Wisdom

Read, study, and meditate on Psalm 111.

006 What's the Problem With the Church?

Read 1 Peter 2 and 1 Corinthians chapters 5 & 6.
Read the article: From George Washington to Vicky Imogene Robinson. This article describes some of the problems facing the church today.

005 What is Man's Problem?

Please read Leviticus 9.1- 10.7; and Romans Chapter 3.
If you can find it, a great background work to this series is John Bunyan's The Fear of God. It is well worth the read if you can find it. if you cannot get the hard copy use this link to read it online or print it yourself:
John Bunyan: Fear of God

004 Sacred Wisdom

In this class we will look to the Bible to help us develop a "sacred" wisdom that will sustain us through postmodern times, during times of persecution, and allow us to make a positive impact on the secular world.

Read Romans 12 - special attention to v1-2
        Colossians 2 - special attention to v8
        1 Peter 3      - special attention to 15
          The Book of James paying particular attention to the author's references to "wisdom."

Review Mt 22.37-39

I will list articles of interest throughout the week.

You might find the following article interesting: Interpreting Biblical Wisdom Literature

003 Where's The Salt?

For our next class try to develop an overview of Anti-intellectualism in American Christianity. This web site has a good current perspective - lengthy but God. Anti-intellectualism in American Christianity

It may also be helpful to review Scopes trial of 1925 and its impact on Christianity in the U.S. This web site will provide adequate background. The Scopes Trial

Please read Ro 12.1-2 and 2 Cortinthians 10 for this class.

Assignment for 002With All Your Mind

Readings: Romans 10; 2 Corinthians 10

Identify and list what you believe are the three most critical ideas from each reading - we will discuss in class.