TBA-Spring 2009

Start Time:  9:00 am each day

Instructor:  Rev. David Ashton

Location: TBA-Ontario

This course is also being offered at Briercrest Theological Seminary January 19-23, 2009 with Rev. David Ashton as instructor.  Contact Briercrest directly at 306-756-3200 or www.briercrest.ca to register. 

This Course will investigate the life and times of John Wesley, and the unique practical and theological contribution he made to Christendom, with particular focus on the doctrines of Salvation and Sanctification.

Why such a course?

In recent years across Christendom there has occurred a revival of interest in John and Charles Wesley.  It has been sparked by several recent phenomena.  The Church Growth movement, the Small Group movement, the Evangelical Movement, the Charismatic Movement, the Ecumenical Movement, and the Openness of God theology have all focused considerable attention on the Great Awakening of the 18th Century and in particular the contribution of the Wesley Bothers.  This course will introduce us to what happened in history and how it affects our perception on many of the central issues of church life today.

At the conclusion of this course, the student should

• Be conversant with the major emphases of Wesleyan theology and in what ways “Wesleyanism” offers an alternative to other interpretations of the Christian Faith.
• Have gained an understanding of one of the major strands of Christian thought that shaped the development of North American culture.
• Have developed an awareness of the close connection between theology and praxis.
• Have increased the ability to discourse irenically with those of variant viewpoints.
• Have further developed the skill of reading, writing and conversing about matters of substance.
• Be better prepared for further study in the areas of historical and systematic theology as well as in the practice of ministry for the 21st century.

• Albert C. Outler, John Wesley. New York: Oxford University Press, 1964.
• Randy L. Maddox, Responsible Grace: John Wesley’s Practical Theology. Nashville: Kingswood Books, Abingdon, 1994.
• The CD, Course Resources for the Theology of John Wesley, produced and distributed by David N. Ashton.