Who we are:
St John's Shaughnessy Anglican Church, Vancouver is a community of Christians dedicated to the exposition and teaching of the Word of God, to the spreading of the good news of the Gospel at home and abroad, and to the application of God's purpose in our own lives and families.
education > preliminary theology
"W3 is like a Bible study on steroids" Eric Thurston
Working With the Word is for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of God's word. In particular, leaders of Bible studies and teachers of Sunday school will benefit from this in-depth material.
W3 is based on the Moore Theology College Preliminary Theology Certificate (PTC). At St. John's Shaughnessy W3 is conducted by the Artizo Institute. There are 24 units and each unit consists of ten one-hour lectures provided weekly on Sunday mornings. The lectures are taught by the Artizo trainer and/or an Artizo intern.
At the end of each unit, students have the option to take the Moore exam. Auditing positions for the course are also available. The Preliminary Theological Certificate is awarded by Moore Theology College once a student has passed six prescribed units.
The units may or may not be taught in the following order. If you are interested in a unit that has already been taught, we encourage you to contact us. We may be able to connect you with someone who has already taken that unit.
The Moore College site is at www.external.moore.edu.au
1. Introduction to the Bible (Spring 2006)
An overview of the entire Bible, plus helpful hints on how to understand its main themes.
2. New Testament 1 (Fall 2006)
Exploring God's purposes in sending Christ. Getting to know Jesus through the Gospel of Mark.
3. Old Testament 1 (Spring 2007)
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy together. What do they teach? What holds them together?
4. Doctrine 1
We explore the Bible's teaching about God - how we get to know him, what he is like, what he has done for us.
5. Ephesians (Spring 2008)
This letter teaches us that we can only understand the present by relating it to what God has done in the past, and therefore to his intentions for the future. Ephesians presents a big picture, with cosmic dimensions, of God and his world for us to take in.
6. Prayer Book*
An historical and theological exploration of why and how Anglicans meet together.
* Prayer Book is required to obtain a lay readers licence in the Sydney Diocese.
7. Christian Worship
What is the biblical meaning of 'worship'? How will that meaning be expressed?
8. Old Testament 2
This unit considers the Former Prophets from Joshua to 2 Kings.
9. New Testament 2
We trace how the risen and ascended Christ continues to achieve his gospel purposes through the events of the book of Acts.
10. Doctrine 2
Who is Jesus Christ? What is the nature of sin? How did Christ’s death deal with sin?
11. Romans
Romans opens up the central truths of the gospel. This book has changed many lives. Some of these lives have changed history.
12. Early Church History
A look at the life of the church (its struggles, persecution and consolidation) through the first five centuries AD.
13. Reformation History (Fall 2007)
The Reformation was the time when the gospel was rediscovered. Learn how Christians found the freedom that Christ brings.
14. Christian Ethics
The place of ethics in the Christian life, covering motives and moral standards, with a study of some contemporary ethical dilemmas.
15. Promise to Fulfillment
This is a new course that is designed to help students interpet the Bible and so is particularly useful for those involved in any teaching ministry.
16. Old Testament 3
This unit focuses on the Latter prophets from Isaiah through to the Minor prophets.
17. New Testament 3
Paul and his ministry. Investigating the problems he faced, the gospel he preached and the letters he wrote.
18. Doctrine 3
The Church. What it is and what does it do in the purposes of God? Attention is paid to Christian worship, baptism and the Lord's supper.
19. Old Testament 4
The focus of this unit is on the ‘Writings’ with a particular look at the nature of wisdom literature in the Old Testament.
20. Gospel and Epistles of John
The gospel and the letters of John, showing to us the importance of his witness to the life and work of Jesus Christ.
21. New Testament 4
An overview of the non-Pauline letters, with an in-depth look at Hebrews and how to understand Revelation.
22. Historical Theology 1
This unit considers significant church leaders and their contribution to the development of doctrinal understanding from the First century to the Twelfth.
23. Apologetics
This course is written with the conviction that apologetics is more than just intellectual and philosophical debate. Apologetics involves people's whole beings. Modern apologists need to be as concerned with how people feel toward Christ and the gospel as with how they think about Christ and the gospel.
24. Historical Theology 2
This unit considers significant church leaders and their contribution to the development of doctrinal understanding from the Thirteenth century to the Twentieth.
