Exploring the Old Testament
(Intensive School for Lay Preachers and others)
Are you...
- Keen to in deepen your knowledge and understanding of Scripture?
- Interested in (or already) preaching or leading in your local congregation?
- Undertaking a Period of Discernment?
- Wanting to update your Bible and Leadership skills?
Then the Exploring the Old Testament Intensive School is for you!
The ELM Centre is committed to providing learning opportunities for those seeking accreditation as Lay Preachers as well as those who wish to update their knowledge for Lay Ministry Leadership.
This is one of 4 modules:
- Proclaiming Jesus Christ (Christology)
- Exploring the Old Testament (OT Foundations)
- Exploring the New Testament (NT Foundations)
- Talking Faith (Theology—Uniting Church Perspectives)
Skills related to proclamation of God's good news and leading worshipping communities will be incorporated in each of these modules. Students who attend all 4 modules will also have completed the study components for Worship and Preaching.
These Lay Preacher modules will be competency based and use multiple methods of learning and assessment including reflections, journaling, group and individual presentations, film, workshops and lectures.
Some pre-reading will be required and there is an expectation that some preparatory work will be undertaken and brought to the LP School. The first assignment, is due on Day 1. You will need to bring this completed to the School. More information will be given on enrolment.
The Set Text is "How to Read the Bible for All its Worth" (by Fee & Stuart), available from Kentigern Books (02 9894 5364) or bookshop@kentigern.com.au.
Course Outline:
Input Sessions
1) Timeline & Geography - An introduction to the narrative timeline of the OT - done via an exercise with the group putting cards up on a long timeline. Also a brief introduction (using a map) to the geographic locations mentioned in the OT (Ur, Palestine, Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Syria, Edom, Moab, Sinai, North and South Kingdoms etc.).
2) The Primeval history (Gen 1 - 11) - An introduction to the theological themes of the primeval history. Also thinking about some OT genres and how they should be approached. Distinctions and definitions of myth, legend, saga, history.
3) The patriarchal narratives (Gen 12 - 50) - An introduction to the patriarchal narratives. How the themes of these narratives relate to the primeval history, and to the rest of the pentateuch. Also a specific discussion of the patriarchal nature of these narratives and the place of women (positively and negatively) within these stories and the wider OT.
4) The Exodus - An introduction to the Exodus as a formative event in Israel’s selfunderstanding. Tackling questions of historicity, theological meaning, ethical difficulties, examples of the use of the Exodus motif in later OT writings.
5) The Law An exploration of the place of law for Israel in different historic settings. A brief exploration of the content of the law and the literary context within which it is set in the pentateuch. Varied ways of understanding and applying law for Christians.
6) Conquest/Settlement/The Tribal Confederacy/Kingship standing of the pre–kingship and early kingship period. Historical considerations. Understanding tribal politics. The tension between priestly and kingly approaches to religion and the rise of the prophetic response.
7) The divided kingdoms - understanding the politics and historical settings of the divided kingdoms. What are ‘the former prophets’? Understanding the function of what we often characterise as ‘historical books’. The idea of deuteronomic history.
8) Approaching Exile - what writings are defined as the ‘latter prophets’? Who are the ‘minor prophets’, and why minor? The destruction of the Northern Kingdom. The Exile and its place in the history and self-understanding of Israel. Theological questions concerning the conquest and exile and how the prophets answered these questions.
9) The Writings – An introduction to poetic and wisdom literature, including Psalms - types, historic settings, cultic use. Brief introduction to Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs. Focus on Job and its theology and message.
10) Exile and Beyond - The historical and literary settings of the book of Daniel. The post-exilic history books (Ezra, Nehemiah) and prophets (Hagga, Zechariah, Malachi). The affect of the exile on faith and Jewish practice. A brief introduction to the intertestamental period and literature including the books of the Apocrypha.
Note: Additional practical sessions will include Psalm-singing and the participation in a meal highlighting stories related to the Passover and Exodus.
As part of their practical skills development, students will read and tell stories and deliver short impromptu talks.
Students will watch and discuss the film Ten Canoes. This will give us a chance to think about story, parable, history, identity, culture, stories-within-stories, etc... lots of the issues we need to be aware of when we read the Old Testament.
ELM Trainers for this course include:
(At least two of these will be at every course)
- Rev Lindsay Cullen (Course Co-ordinator), ELM Adult Education Consultant
- Rev Lorna Martin, Toronto Uniting Church, Hunter Presbytery
- Rev Audrey de Witte, Mid North Coast Presbytery
- Rev Brian Hayes, Freshwater Uniting Church, Sydney North Presbytery
- Rev Graham Perry, Balgowlah Uniting Church, Sydney North Presbytery
- Pr Karl Hand, Paddington, Sydney
- Ms Cherie Strudwick, Parrmatta-Nepean Presbytery
- Rev Russell Morris, Resource Minister, New England North West Presbytery
- Rev Richard Harris, Resource Minister, Mid North Coast Presbytery (North Sector)
- Rev Bronwyn Murphy, Resource Minister, Macquarie Darling Presbytery
- Rev Betty Stroud, Mid Lachlan Mission Resource Area, Macquarie Darling Presbytery
- Rev Chris Lockley, ELM Resource Ministry Consultant
- Rev Dr Anita Monro, Armidale Uniting Church, New England North West Presbytery
- Rev Amelia Koh-Butler, ELM Director
