The Training Ground

Old Testament Survey

Who is eligible?   Priority to grades 10-12. Will consider students in grades 8 and 9 with strong interest in Biblical studies and who will commit to homework assignments.

When is it?   Wednesdays, 2:30-3:45 PM on the following dates in 2009-2010:

Aug 19 Meets special time: 2:15-3:45 PM

(Note: No meeting on Aug 26)

Sep 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Oct 7, 14, 28 (Note: No meeting on Oct 21)

Nov 4, 11, 18 (Note: No meeting on Nov 25)

Dec 2, 9, 16 (Note: No meetings from Dec 23-Jan 13)

Jan 20, 27

Feb 3, 10, 17 (Note: No meeting on Feb 24)

Mar 3, 17, 24 (Note: No meetings on Mar 10 or 31**)

Apr 7, 14, 21

Apr 28 – possible make up day

**March 31 will be a possible make up day if we had to cancel a previous one due to snow or instructor illness.

Who teaches it?   Mrs. Rebecca Mancini

Mrs. Mancini serves as director of The Training Ground and has also taught Logic, Bible Study, Geometry, Literature, and other enrichment courses.

She taught her own two sons Old Testament Survey using the same book as in this course.

About the course:   This course will be an overview, a survey, of the Old Testament. The instructor is not seminary trained and is not intending to cover the OT in depth, but rather introduce the themes of the books, patterns, parallels, key leaders, symbolism, Biblical principles, warnings, and promises, and signposts to JESUS in the Old Testament, connecting it to the NT.

The course materials are a collection of instructor-created worksheets derived primarily from the information in Peter Leithart’s (PCA minister and author) book entitled A House for My Name, which is an Old Testament Survey. I recommend you do NOT purchase the book since it is written more for adults, and I have broken the long chapters down into more manageable weekly notes.

Although there are many motifs in Scripture, this course will focus on how God is building a House, a people, for His glory—-while still pointing out many other motifs and repeated patterns in the Bible: For example, that of exodus, return, and conquest and another of mercy in the midst of judgment.

Here are the class dates/titles. The syllabus shows what we will cover IN CLASS on each day. If there is homework for the next week, it is clearly stated as Homework. Most of the homework is clustered in the first semester since other courses will become demanding of students’ schedules in second semester. The more Scripture reading the student does independently, even if it is not required for homework, the more he/she will benefit, of course, so feel free to insert your own Bible homework reading, going beyond the class requirements.

FIRST SEMESTER

Aug 19 – Genesis (Beginnings)

Homework due Sep 2 – Between Babel & Bethel (Note that you have two weeks for the assignment since we do not have class on Aug 26th.)

Aug 26 – NO CLASS

Sep 2- Out of Egypt I Have Called My Son

Homework due Sep 9 – The House of the Lord

Sep 9 – Bread of God (Lev. 1-7)

Homework due Sep 16 – complete Bread of God section

Sep 16 – From Sinai to Shiloh

Homework due Sep 23 – War and Rest

Sep 23 – No King in Israel

Homework due Sep 30 – Mercy for Widows: Ruth

Sep 30 – The Glory Departs (I Sam. 1-3)

Homework due Oct 7- The Distress of My Dwelling (I Sam. 3-8)

Oct 7 – Another Fall of Man (I Sam. 9-15)

No Homework.

Oct 14 – Humility Before Honor (I Sam 25; II Sam 6, 11-12)

Homework due Oct 28 – To Obey is Better than Sacrifice AND Son of David (I Kings 1-11) — Note that you have two weeks to complete the two sections since we do not have class on the 21st.

Oct 21 – NO CLASS

Oct 28 – Walking in the Customs of the Nations

Homework due Nov 4 – A Garment Torn (Read only p. 75-middle of p. 77)

Nov 4 – A Garment Torn (complete and discuss in class)

Homework due Nov 11 – Return to Canaan

Nov 11- Aftershocks in Judah

No Homework.

Nov 18 – Assyrian Threat

Homework due Dec 2 – The Last Days of Judah (you have two weeks to complete this since we do not have class on Nov 25)

Nov 25 – NO CLASS

Dec 2 – Another Shiloh

Homework due Dec 9 – The Suffering Prophet

Dec 9 – Jeremiah vs. the Unjust Kings

Homework due Dec 16 – Jeremiah vs. the False Prophets

Dec 16 – Nebuchadnezzar, a New Adam

No Homework. Enjoy your Christmas holiday!

************

SECOND SEMESTER (Note: There is no homework unless you need to complete a section we did not cover fully in class.):

Jan 20- Exile and the New Exodus – Ezekiel

Jan 27 – Times of the Gentiles – Daniel

Feb 3 – From Zealot to Witness – Mordecai in the Book of Esther

Feb 10- Second Exodus – Ezra and Nehemiah, Part I

Feb 17 – Second Exodus, Part II

Feb 24 – NO CLASS

Mar 3 – The Greater Jeremiah / The Greater Solomon

Mar 10 – NO CLASS

Mar 17 – Jesus and the Jews, Part I

Mar 24 – Jesus and the Jews, Part II

Mar 31 – Reserve for possible SNOW make up day; otherwise, NO CLASS.

Apr 7 – Grace and Truth through Jesus, Part I

Apr 14 – Grace and Truth through Jesus, Part II

Apr 21 – A King in Israel

Apr 28 – Reserve for SNOW make-up day; otherwise, NO CLASS.

How much does it cost?   $25 for the entire year

What does it include?   Copies of worksheets (taken from the material in the book and OT)

(Fee covers cost of copies, plus facility fee).

What do I need to bring?   1 1/2 inch three-ring binder.

Bible.

Homework assignments.

Please come prepared to class, having completed all assignments up until that date. Please advise instructor if you will miss a class and keep up with in-class syllabus on your own if necessary, as well as do the homework assignments.

I prefer you do NOT purchase the book. It will allow students to discover material in the OT as we complete the worksheets. The worksheets I have developed are more digestible than the lengthy chapters of the book.

Dress Code Exceptions:   None

When do I need to register?:  

Other notes:

Please register for this course anytime up until August 14. After that I will make copies of worksheets/notes for each student who has registered.