Weekly Email: December 2, 2024
I hope you’ve had a wonderful week filled with meaningful moments with friends and family! This past weekend, I drove back to Louisville from Springfield, IL, after spending four days with my in-laws. During the drive, I tuned into Faith First, a podcast produced by Boyce College, our undergraduate school here at Southern.
This week’s guest was Jason Thacker, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Ethics, discussing how to navigate the complexities of our digital age. Jason’s insights are always thought-provoking, especially when it comes to understanding how digital culture shapes our worldview and how we can live wisely as Christians in today’s world (here is a link to the specific episode).
I find Faith First so encouraging as it’s a reminder of the incredible men and women at Boyce College who are shaping the next generation of Christians to serve faithfully in both the secular marketplace and ministry. If you’re looking for something insightful, inspiring, and encouraging, I highly recommend giving it a listen!
Below is what you will find in this week's email:
Student Tips: Purposeful Planning
Program News: Introducing the Course Snapshots Beta
Faculty Devotional: Dr. Jonathan Pennington
Quick reminder, yesterday marked the conclusion of the Fall 2 term and today we begin our Winter term. Just a quick reminder that December 23–29 is a break week. The winter term looks like this:
Week 1: December 2–8
Week 2: December 9–15
Week 3: December 16–22
Break: December 23–29
Week 4: December 30 - January 5
Week 5: January 6–12
Week 6: January 13–19
Week 7: January 20–26
Week 8: January 27 - February 2
Student Tip: Embrace the Winter Term with Purposeful Planning
As you dive into the winter term, take a moment to pause and breathe. This is your chance to set the tone for the months ahead. Start by reviewing your syllabus and schedule. Compare these with your personal calendar. This isn’t just an exercise in organization; it’s your blueprint for doing well.
Winter brings its own unique challenges. The holidays can turn your schedule into a whirlwind. Holiday parties and get togethers, family gatherings, and other commitments can quickly fill your days. To navigate this busy season, identify the weeks that look particularly hectic. Mark these on your calendar. Recognize them as potential bottlenecks.
Work ahead whenever possible. It’s tempting to rely on the hope that everything will fall into place, but let’s be honest, that’s rarely how things unfold. The truth is, proactive planning is your ally. Even if planning isn’t your natural inclination, give it a try this term.
Consider this: What if you could alleviate the stress of last-minute assignments? Imagine the relief of knowing you’re prepared, even when life gets chaotic. Planning isn’t about rigidity; it’s about creating space for flexibility. It’s about giving yourself the freedom to enjoy the holidays without the nagging worry of unfinished work.
Program News: Introducing Course Snapshots Beta
I’m thrilled to introduce our latest initiative, Course Snapshots, led by Jonathan Ahlgren and our online learning team. Many of you have asked for more information about our courses, including textbook details and online course offerings. Course Snapshots is our answer to these requests.
Currently, we’re in the beta phase and would love your input before the official launch. To access the Course Snapshots Beta and share your feedback, please fill out this form.
Once fully developed, Course Snapshots will allow you to:
Browse and search all online courses available in our program, including the ability to sort by Graduate Certificate offerings.
View textbook requirements from previous offerings, along with insights into the types of assignments you can expect in each course.
Watch a selection of course videos, such as a professor’s welcome, course introductions, or sample lectures.
We’re excited to hear your thoughts and make this resource as helpful as possible! This is only made possible by our incredible online learning team!
Faculty Devotional
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς Σίμων εἶπεν· ἐπιστάτα, δι᾽ ὅλης νυκτὸς κοπιάσαντες οὐδὲν ἐλάβομεν … ἔξελθε ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλός εἰμι, κύριε. (Luke 5:5, 8)
Master," Simon replied, "we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets…When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” (Luke 5:5, 8 CSB)
This beautiful and memorable story in Luke 5 relates Jesus' calling of Simon Peter to be a disciple. It captures the moment when Peter boldly and radically decided to leave his occupation as a fisherman to become, in Jesus' words, a “fisher of men (people).”
This rich narrative intentionally evokes another famous calling story–that of Isaiah. Like Peter, Isaiah received a divine revelation that made him see his sinful, broken, and unworthy state (Isaiah 6:5; Luke 5:8). In both stories, humility before God leads to grace and a commission to serve as God’s messenger (Isaiah 6:7–8; Luke 5:10).
Luke’s Greek text subtly emphasizes the transformation in Peter’s understanding of Jesus. Earlier in Luke, Peter had already encountered Jesus, hosting Him in his home and witnessing the healing of his mother-in-law (Luke 4:38–39). At that time, Peter respected Jesus and addressed Him as ἐπιστάτα (master). This term, in the vocative form ἐπιστάτα, was a respectful acknowledgment of Jesus' authority.
However, in Luke 5:5, Peter is hesitant to follow Jesus' advice, likely because he sees Jesus as a non-expert in fishing. But after the miraculous, net-breaking catch of fish, everything changes. This revelation of Jesus' divine power causes Peter to see himself clearly: sinful and in need of grace.
Peter’s transformation is beautifully reflected in how he addresses Jesus. No longer does he call Him ἐπιστάτα (master); he now calls Him κύριε (Lord). While κύριος can be a term of respect, it is also the title used for God Himself. This shift–from ἐπιστάτα to κύριε–shows Peter’s recognition of Jesus as divine and his own deeper understanding of who Jesus truly is.
May this story remind us of the transformative power of encountering Christ and the grace He extends to those who humbly acknowledge their need for Him.
