HIS
STORY THROUGH THE AGES SEMINARS
This seminar is comprised of two
separate seminars - one dealing with history before
Christ, and the other from the birth of Christ until
now. Each seminar includes five, two-hour sessions,
with each session covering approximately a five hundred
year time period. The fifth and final session of
each seminar is both a teaching and evangelistic
message-I will discuss the first coming of Christ
in the BC seminar and the Second Coming of Christ
in the AD seminar.
The purpose of these seminars is
not to simply give an overview of world history,
but rather to present world history, as we know it,
viewed through the eyes of biblical truth. In particular
we will be focusing on the development of the religious
and philosophical views of mankind down through the
ages, and how these views deviate and contradict
scriptural truth and the reasons behind that deviation.
The aim of this approach, therefore,
is to demonstrate that the Bible is not just another
religious book among many others, and that the truth
presented in scripture is not simply one way among
a variety of other ways to approach God. Rather we
will see that the Bible is indeed the Word of God,
and Jesus is the ONLY WAY TO THE FATHER, and why!
Thus, as we examine the deviation from God’s
Word throughout history, we will begin with Cain
in the biblical record. We will then look at the
earliest written deviations from sources outside
scripture such as in ancient Sumeria, Egypt, etc.,
which deviations may be traced from the Tower of
Babel onward. We will discover that these deviations
from biblical truth have been consistent throughout
man’s recorded history in the same way that
the biblical message has also been consistent and
unchanging.
The BC seminar will be divided up
as follows:
- Session One - Pre-history to
1500 BC. In this first session we will discuss
not only Genesis, but also we will also look at
other writings of the Ancient Near East. We will
compare their humanistic and pagan philosophies
and religious thinking and behavior with that of
the biblical message, and we will see how such
pagan thought developed and is still with us today.
- Session Two - 1500 BC to 1000
BC. During this session we will present the emergence
of Israel as a nation. We will also examine other
emerging people groups in Asia and the Middle East,
comparing their religious and philosophical teachings
with that of the Bible, and discovering once again
the clear distinction between their teachings and
the Bible.
- Session Three - 1000 BC to 500
BC. In this session we will examine Israel’s
rise and fall. We will also take a look at the
emergence of Indian, Chinese, Persian and Greek
religions and philosophies with a view, once again,
of seeing the clear, distinct and consistent message
of biblical truth over against the perversion and
corruption of man in rejecting God’s Word
for man’s word!
- Session Four - 500 BC to the
Birth of Christ. In this session we will see how
Daniel’s prophecy of Christ’s first
coming is fulfilled, as well as the changes occurring
in Judaism, including the influence of Greek philosophical
thought and other mystical religious systems, up
to the birth of Christ.
- Session Five - The Birth, Life,
Death and Resurrection of Jesus. In this session
I will teach on the first coming of Christ and
God’s fulfilled promises for a Savior for
the whole world! In this session, the participants
will clearly see from the previous four sessions
why there is no other way to the Father but through
the atonement of Jesus Christ.
The AD seminar will be as follows:
- Session One - From the birth
of Christ to 500 AD. In this session we will examine
the emergence of the early church, and we will
devote special attention to the persecutions and
major heresies it confronted and how these confrontations
helped to forge orthodox belief, as well as the
cannon of the New Testament.
- Session Two - 500 AD to 1000
AD. During this session we will focus on the rise
of the Roman Catholic Church and its gradual corruption,
as well as the rise and spread of Islam. We will
also see that even in the midst of such confusion,
God always has a faithful remnant!
- Session Three - 1000 AD to 1500
AD. During this session we will examine the Crusades
and the continued emergence of Islam; the Catholic
Church’s move to its nadir of moral and spiritual
corruption, which in turn laid the foundation for
the Reformation; the beginning voices of discontent
and proclamation of biblical truth, over against
a developing philosophical and humanistic emphasis
in the Catholic Church that supplanted biblical
authority in favor of man made traditions.
- Session Four - 1500 AD to 2000
AD. We will examine the past 500 years of the evangelical
church’s life and history over against the
rise and development of humanistic thought and
philosophies such as the Higher Criticism of scripture,
Darwinism, Communism, as well as the other world
religions. We will also focus on the history of
the church in America, with special emphasis being
given to the spiritual roots of our nation and
the growth of evangelicalism in our country and
the world. In addition, we will give attention
to the changes that have occurred in the last 100
years in the church in America and the world with
the emergence of ministries such as Calvary Chapel
and others, and how these changes and ministries
have impacted our society.
- Session Five - The Second Coming
of Christ. We will look at both the Old and New
Testament Scripture with reference to Christ’s
Second Coming, as well as a brief overview of historical
perspectives on the coming again of Christ that
have arisen out of previous, apocalyptic movements.
This will give us a good, solid biblical foundation
in order to accurately weigh what the scripture
teaches, versus the milieu of teaching found in
much of the sensational, apocalyptic literature
of today.
I have taught this seminar in three
different formats: 1) Two weekend seminars, beginning
with a three hour session on a Friday night, and
the remaining six hours on Saturday for the BC, followed
by the AD seminar on a subsequent weekend. 2) A week
long intensive, usually beginning on a Sunday afternoon
or evening, followed up with evening classes and
culminating on the following Saturday. 3) Ten two-hour
sessions, meeting once a week for ten weeks, or,
if it is more preferable, it may be conducted over
a longer period of time, say for example over fifteen
weeks with the classes lasting up to 1 1⁄2
hours. Whatever is best for you, I will be more than
happy to work with your specific needs. In addition,
I have taught this at several Schools of Ministry
in numerous Calvary Chapels, as well as to entire
congregations.
Janie and I would be honored to serve
you in any way we can. If you have any questions, please
do not hesitate to contact us, and may the Lord continue
to bless you in every way. Thanks for your consideration
of and prayers for us.
Sincerely in Christ,
Justin T. Alfred
Contact Information
Address: Justin T. Alfred,
39778 Daphne Dr., Murrieta, CA 92563-6538
Phone: (800) 219-2390
Cell: (951) 834-4814
Fax:
(951) 696-7140
E-Mail: jtamin@aol.com
