Weekly Email: October 28, 2024
Spring and summer registration opens this week on Thursday, October 31. This week’s email is covering all things registration related.
Topics included in this week’s email:
Student Tip: Registration resources available for you
Program News: Course updates
Faculty Devotional: Dr. George Martin
And following up from last week, I was able to capture some fall photos here at Southern this past week, here and here.
Student Tip: Registration resources available for you
One of the things I love about of Southern is the wealth of resources available to students. It doesn’t matter if you’re attending classes online or in person—we believe in providing equal resources to all.
Here are a couple of key resources designed to help you choose your courses with confidence:
Academic Advising and The Center for Student Success
Our advisors are here to meet with you, explore your degree plans, and offer personalized suggestions. They’re your partners in navigating your academic journey. MySBTS can be a dizzying maze of abbreviations and codes, especially if you’re just getting started. That’s why we have the Course Registration Instructions page. It’s your go-to guide, breaking everything down in one convenient location.
Academic Coaches
Meet Simon and Aaron, our dedicated academic coaches for online students. They’re not just here to answer your questions—they’re proactive, checking in to make sure you’re on track. If you haven’t heard from them yet, reach out to me. I’ll make sure you’re included in our communication loop.
Monthly Chat and Q&A
Starting in November, I’ll be hosting a monthly chat and Q&A session just for you. Imagine it as a live, interactive version of this email, a chance for us to have a conversation. Whether you have questions about study habits, productivity tips, things happening at Southern, or specific course details, this is your opportunity talk and get answers.
The first one will be on Monday, November 18, at 4:00 PM EDT. It’s going to be laid-back and engaging, designed to make you feel comfortable and connected. I’ll send out more details soon, so keep an eye out.
Program News: Course Updates
This week, as registration opens, I’m excited to share some updates and additions to our course offerings. Let’s dive in:
New Course with Dr. Mohler - Leaders and Leadership: Lessons from Leaders Who Changed History (42577WW)
I’m thrilled to announce a new course with Dr. Mohler, focusing on leadership lessons (both the good and the bad) from historical figures. This course will be streamed live via Zoom, allowing you to engage directly with Dr. Mohler and ask questions as if you were in the classroom. The course consists of 10 sessions, running from March 11 to April 17. If you can’t attend live, don’t worry, recordings will be available within 24 hours. This course can replace the required 40080 - Christian Leadership or serve as an elective for the Christian Leadership graduate certificate.
Limited Spots: Experiential Modular Courses
Next week, I’ll provide more details about our latest Experiential Modular course, which just concluded. In the meantime, I encourage you to explore our Spring 1 and 2 offerings. It’s best to register through the link provided to streamline hotel bookings and dietary preferences. If you prefer registering through MySBTS, look for courses marked with an “X” (e.g., 27080 X MD). After registering, watch for a follow-up email with additional details.
Added: Beginning Hebrew (20400WW) with Dr. Garrett
We’re adding Beginning Hebrew with Dr. Garrett to the schedule. While it isn’t visible on MySBTS yet, it should be available for registration by Thursday. We’ve heard your requests for this course in the spring, and we’re pleased to offer it.
New Course: Worldview Analysis (28550WW) with Dr. Timothy Jones
Dr. Timothy Jones will be teaching a new course, Worldview Analysis, available in Spring 1. This course counts as an elective for the graduate certificate in Apologetics and Philosophy. With its addition, we now offer enough online courses to complete the advanced graduate certificate.
Faculty Devotional: Dr. George Martin
This week’s faculty devotional is from Dr. George Martin, reflecting on Matthew 1.
It is quite correct to think of the Old Testament as promise (of the Messiah) and the New Testament as fulfillment (Messiah’s coming). At the end of the OT, Malachi had foretold the coming of Elijah, who would “turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers” (Mal. 4:6). Jesus identified himself as the fulfillment of that and many other OT prophecies. Matthew immediately begins with “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matt. 1:1).
Not only does Matthew reach back into the genealogy to explain who Jesus is; when the angel spoke to Joseph about Mary giving birth to a son by the Holy Spirit, he clarified: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet” (Matt. 1:22). Matthew goes on to quote Isaiah. From the beginning, God had set his redemptive plan into place and, step by step, he has worked it out, “the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints” (Col. 1:26). We are the glad recipients of that good news! And, so, we can sing:
Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. –Charles Wesley (1744)
That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading and check in next Monday. You can find an archive of each week’s email here.
