April 30 – June 11, 2026
Thursdays 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Overview
This 8-week course (meeting 4 times) develops one’s knowledge of the New Testament with the option of adding skills to preach and teach in ways that are biblically sound and practically effective. The course pays special attention to the issues and struggles that arise in handling the New Testament in a way that honors the various genres involved and ultimately centers on the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Learners engage with Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible (2020) and Tim Keller’s Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism (2016).
Intended Competencies
Our learning together in community aims to enable learners to:
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Develop key strategies and practices for preaching and teaching Scripture well
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Explain why we should preach and teach from the New Testament, including understanding some of the challenges and pitfalls that can occur in doing so.
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Understand how the various genres of the New Testament should shape our preaching and teaching.
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Effectively preach a sermon or teach a lesson based on a New Testament text that integrates the strategies and practices of the course.
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Dates and Time: Thursdays
April 30, May 14, May 28, June 4
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: The Bridge in Portage, MI
Cost per individual: $600 (invoiced to the church)
Instructor: Dr. Branson Parler


