Beeson Divinity School’s Lay Academy of Theology Announces Spring Schedule

Published on February 12, 2021

Beeson Divinity School’s Lay Academy of Theology at Samford University has announced its spring 2021 schedule. Due to COVID-19, this semester’s Lay Academy courses will be offered fully online.

The online format allows interested students and ministers living outside the Birmingham area the opportunity to study God’s Word under Beeson faculty in these non-credit, six-week courses, which begin the last week of February.

“The Lay Academy is central to the mission of Beeson Divinity School,” said Beeson Dean Douglas A. Sweeney. “We’re here to serve the church, which means that we’re here to support churches, buttressing their discipleship ministries with faithful, high-level biblical and theological teaching. We hope that more and more people in the Birmingham area will take advantage of this program every year.”

A Study of the Christian Life in Light of the Wisdom of the Christian Past
Six Monday nights, 6-8 p.m., beginning Feb. 22, 2021
By Michael Pasquarello III, Methodist Chair of Divinity, Director of the Robert Smith Jr. Preaching Institute, Director of Doctor of Ministry

By exploring practical wisdom of key figures throughout the church’s story, Dr. Pasquarello seeks to highlight the ways Christian convictions shape who we are and how we live by faith in Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of Luke
Six Wednesday nights, 6-8 p.m., beginning Feb. 24, 2021
By Osvaldo Padilla, professor of New Testament

The evangelist, Luke, has often been compared to a painter because his Gospel is so beautiful that the church has confessed it to be no less than a work of art. Learn from Luke with Dr. Padilla, who has studied Luke-Acts for over a decade, and how Luke’s Gospel is crucial for the church today.

Sacred Worship
Six Monday afternoons, 2-4 p.m., beginning Feb. 22, 2021
By Kenneth Mathews, professor of Old Testament

By understanding a biblical theology of worship in the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Mathews will examine how “sacred worship” is what is pleasing to God, and how it is attained perfectly through God’s own Son, Jesus Christ.

Resolving Confusion of Christian Identity: A Study in 1 Corinthians
Six Thursday afternoons, 2-4 p.m., beginning Feb. 25, 2021
By Sydney Park, associate professor of New Testament

As the church at Corinth dealt with many crises in the first century, so does the church today. By examining Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians, Dr. Park will guide students through theological answers to perennial problems the church faces.

Each course costs $59.00. Employees and alumni may register at the discounted price of $29.50 per course.

Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.