Freshmen Theology
Syllabus
This syllabus is a basic overview of what the freshmen theology students will be studying in the course of the year. Ordinarily there will be a test for each unit covered. Some tests will cover two units. *This is subject to change*
I. Unit I: What is the Bible?
a. Parts of the Bible
i. Old and New Testament
ii. Reading the Bible as a Story: Bible Timeline and 7 covenants
1. Salvation History
2. Characteristics of Scripture
3. How the Bible came to be
4. Reading the Bible with the Catholic Church
5. Senses of Scripture
II. Unit 2: The Early World and the 1st & 2nd Covenant [Genesis 1-11]
a. Creation
i. Realm and Rulers
ii. Creation of Man
iii. God as Father and the family of creation
iv. Sabbath as climax
b. The Fall
i. Story of the fall
ii. Sin of Pride and lack of trust in God
iii. Consequences of the Fall
1. Damage to the covenant
c. Cain, Abel, and Seth
d. Noah and sons
i. Family Covenant
ii. Sin of Ham and tower of Babel
III. Unit 3: The Patriarchs and the 3rd Covenant [Genesis 12-50]
a. Abram
b. God’s covenant with Abraham
c. Jacob and Esau
d. The Story of Joseph
IV. Unit 4: Egypt and Exodus and the 4th Covenant [Exodus]
a. The Israelites slaves in Egypt for 400 years
i. The birth and life of Moses
ii. God calls Moses
b. The 10th Plague and the Passover
c. The Crossing of the Red Sea
d. Food in the Wilderness
e. God’s covenant with Moses on Mr. Sinai
f. The Golden Calf
g. Tabernacle
V. Unit 5: Desert and Wanderings [Numbers]
a. Moses Strikes the Rock
b. Moses sends out 12 Spies
VI. Unit 6: Conquest and Judges [Joshua and Judges]
a. The Conquest of the Promise Land
i. Crossing of Jordan
ii. Conquest of Jericho with Joshua as leader
iii. Covenant renewed at Shechem
b. Period of Judges
c. Samuel [last Judge] anoints Saul as 1st King
VII. Unit 7: Royal Kingdom and the 5th Covenant [1st/2nd Samuel & 1 Kings 1-11]
a. God’s Covenant with David
b. David’s Sin with Bathseba
c. King Solomon’s Reign
VIII. Unit 8: Divided Kingdom [1 Kings 12:22]
a. Davidic Kingdom Splits
b. Assyrians Conquer Israel
IX. Unit 9: Exile [2 Kings]
a. Conquest and Exile of Judah
i. Prophecies of Isaiah
ii. Babylonian Conquest
iii. Babylonian Captivity
X. Unit 10: Return [Ezra and Nehemiah]
a. Cyprus
b. Happy/Sad return
XI. Unit 11: Revolt of the Maccabees [1st/2nd Maccabees]
a. Antiochus desecrates the Temple
b. Purification of the Temple (Hannukah-164 B.C)
XII. Unit 12: Messianic Fulfillment
a. Introduction to New Testament
i. Luke
b. Annunciation
c. Baptism
d. Sermon on the Mount
i. Beatitudes vs. 7 Deadly Sins
e. Wedding at Cana
f. Keys to Peter
g. Last Supper
h. Passion
i. Resurrection & Ascension
XIII. Unit 13: The Church
a. Paul’s & Other Letters
i. Three Waves:
1. Witness in Jerusalem
2. Witness in Judea and Samaria
3. Witness to the ends of the Earth
b. Revelations
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT
Freshmen Theology—Miss La Coy
Course Description
This is an introductory course designed to explain the Bible in an exciting and engaging way and to read the Scriptures under the guidance of the Catholic Church. The goal of this course is to give a basic overview of all of Scripture using The Great Adventure Bible Timeline as the guide. As a class we will explore the greatest love story between mankind and God. By the end of the year, students will know the basic story of salvation history and how it relates to them.
Classroom Expectations
Charity-- Charity is the root of all virtue and the foundation of the Christian life. It encompasses both a love for God and a love for one’s neighbor. The spirit of charity is expected to be present in the classroom in the relationships between students and in the relationships between students and faculty and staff. Growth in charity requires an openness to living in virtue. Every student is expected to strive for charity in his or her actions. This includes saying only positive things about each other; we are a family!
Respect-- At the most basic level, this will include respect for all celebrations of prayer—whether in the classroom or in the chapel, respect for the content of the course (although open dialogue is encouraged), respect for the authority of all teachers and staff, respect for fellow classmates, respect for self, and respect for the classroom. Please raise your hand if you wish to contribute to the class; please do not talk unless called upon. Listen to one another. When someone is speaking, his or her words are important and should be listened to just as you want to be when you are speaking. Respect for the classroom includes no food, drinks, gum, or operating cell phones in the classroom.
Responsibility-- Students are expected to take responsibility for their assigned tasks, completing them fully and on time. Each student is expected to arrive on time and be prepared for each class, equipped with a Bible, Bible Timeline, writing material for note taking, their assigned textbooks, and a heart and mind ready to learn!
Grading Policy
o Your quarterly grade will be determined by the following: tests and quizzes, class participation [note taking, participation in classroom discussion and in class assignments], homework/journals, and projects. Grades will be based upon the grading scale outlined in the handbook.
o All work is due on assigned day. Late work can be turned in at any time during the quarter for ½ credit.
o If you are absent from class on the day an assignment is due, you are expected to turn in that assignment the day you return unless an illness or another emergency should prevent you.
o If you are absent for a class on a day an assignment is given, you are expected to see me BEFORE school begins on the day you return to get your assignments. One day will be allotted for each day you are absent.
o Students’ notes will be graded as participation points. I will collect your notebooks to award points; so you must have one notebook for theology! If you are absent it is your responsibility to get a copy of those notes taken for the day.
o My website will be updated frequently with weekly lessons and assignments. Students will also be able to find study guides for tests on my website as well.
o Cheating is never acceptable. Any student caught cheating on a test or home work will receive an automatic zero!
o Please see me if you ever need extra help; I am available before and after school. I want you to do well, succeed, and most importantly grow in your faith in this class!
Materials Needed
1. Pens or Pencils
2. Folder and loose-leaf paper
3. 1 Notebook (for Theology only)
4. Daily Planner
5. Bible, Bible Timeline, and Textbook
Contact Information
E-mail: llacoy@blmcchs.org
Phone Number: (309) 661-7000, ext. 1234
Website: http://www.blmcchs.org/sites/llacoy/
“I am merely a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world”- Mother Teresa