THE 2210 Course Schedule - Fall 2025 - In Person (projected)

1 | Thu Sep 4 | Introduction and Overview

READ:

• Psalm 1 - Outline
• THE 2210 Syllabus
• Bible Abbreviations Optional
• Psalms Introduction Optional

COMPLETE:

• Course Ready Worksheet

2 | Mon Sep 8 | Studying the Church - Ecclesiology | Why the Church?

READ:

• Psalm 2
• Veli-Matti Karkkainen, Introduction to Ecclesiology, pgs. 7-14
• Luigi Guissani, Why the Church?, Chapter 1, pgs. 5-9

WATCH:

• Bishop Barron, “Catholicism”, Episode 6, Church Suffering and Glorious (45 min)

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 1

UNIT 1: Biblical Ecclesiology

3 | Thu Sep 11 | Biblical Ecclesiology | Old Testament: The People of God - The People of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

READ:

• Psalm 8
• Genesis 1:1 – 4:16, 12:1–9, 15:1–21, 17:1–27, 22:1–19
• Lecture on Bible Notes 01

WATCH:

• Dr. Sutton Lecture on Bible as a Drama and the Book of Genesis optional

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 2

4 | Mon Sep 15 | Biblical Ecclesiology | Old Testament: The People of the Torah, Temple, and Return

READ:

• Psalm 15
• Exodus 1:1 – 20:20
• Joshua 24:1-33
• 1 Samuel 8:1 - 10:27; 16:1-13
• 2 Samuel 7:1-29
• Nehemiah 7:73 - 9:38
• Malachi 3:1 - 4:6
• Lecture on the Bible Notes 02

WATCH:

• Dr. Sutton Lecture on Old Testament and the Covenant Relationship of God and Israel - Part 1 optional
• Dr. Sutton Lecture On Old Testament and the Covenant Relationship of God and Israel - Part 2 optional

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 3

5 | Thu Sep 18 | Biblical Ecclesiology | New Testament: Jesus, Kingdom of God, and the Passion

READ:

• Psalm 105
• Luke 1:1 - 24:53
• Lecture on the Bible Notes 03

WATCH:

• Dr. Sutton Lecture on the New Testament and Jesus in the Gospel of Luke - Part 1 optional
• Dr. Sutton Lecture on the New Testament and Jesus in the Gospel of Luke - Part 2 optional

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 4

6 | Mon Sep 22 | Biblical Ecclesiology | New Testament: Birth of the Church - Gospel, Pentecost, and Apostolic Mission

READ:

• Psalm 23
• Acts 1:1 - 2:47, 9:1-22, 10:44-48, 15:1-35
• Philippians 2:1-11
• Romans 9:1 - 11:36
• 1 Corinthians 10:1 - 12:31
• Lecture on the Bible Notes 04

WATCH:

• Dr. Sutton Lecture on Acts of the Apostles and the Church of the New Testament - Part 1 optional
• Dr. Sutton Lecture on Acts of the Apostles and the Church of the New Testament - Part 2 optional

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 5

7 | Thu Sep 25 | Biblical Ecclesiology - Review | Receive TAKE HOME EXAM

READ:

• Psalm 34

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 5 (continued)

UNIT 2: Second Vatican Council

8 | Mon Sep 29 | Growth of Christianity and Introduction to Second Vatican Council | Sacrosanctum Concilium | Liturgy

READ:

• Psalm 37
• Hahnenberg, Concise Guide to the Documents of Vatican II, “Introduction,” pgs. 1-7
• Hahnenberg, Concisce Guide to the Documents of Vatican II, “Liturgy,” pgs. 13-25 optional
• Catechism, “The Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic,” para. 811-870 optional
• Benedict XIV, Introduction to Vatican II: The Essential Texts, pgs. 3-13
• Hahnenberg, “Introduction to Sacrosanctum Concilium” in Vatican II: The Essential Texts, pgs. 29-33
• Constitution on Sacred Liturgy: Sacrosanctum Concilium in Vatican II: The Essential Texts, paragraphs 1-57, 122-130
• Basic Mindmap of Second Vatican Council
• Advanced Mindmap of Second Vatican Council

WATCH:

• Dr. Sutton Lecture on Vatican II (16 min)
• NETTV: History and Genesis of Vatican II - Episode 1 (22 min)
• NETTV: Opening of Vatican II & Sacrosanctum Concilium (26 min)

ADVANCED READING:

• Hitchcock, History of the Catholic Church, “Joy and Hope, Grief and Anguish,” online

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 6
• TAKE HOME EXAM 1 on Biblical Ecclesiology
• Advanced Assignment 1

9 | Thu Oct 2 | Second Vatican Council - Dei Verbum | Revelation

READ:

• Psalm 43
• Hahnenberg, “Introduction to Dei Verbum” in Vatican II: The Essential Texts, pgs. 79-83
• Constitution on Divine Revelation: Dei Verbum in Vatican II: The Essential Texts, paragraphs 1-26

WATCH:

• NETTV: Introduction to Dei Verbum (21 min)

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 7

10 | Mon Oct 6 | Second Vatican Council - Lumen Gentium | Church

READ:

• Psalm 50
• Hahnenberg, “Introduction to Lumen Gentium” in Vatican II: The Essential Texts, pgs. 100-105
• Constitution on the Church: Lumen Gentium in Vatican II: The Essential Texts, paragraphs 1-23, 30-34, 39-42, 48-51

WATCH:

• NETTV: Introduction to Lumen Gentium (21 min)
• Bishop Barron, “Catholicism”, Episode 7: Eucharist (48 min) optional

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 8

11 | Thu Oct 9 | Second Vatican Council - Lumen Gentium | Mary

READ:

• Psalm 72
• Hahnenberg, Concise Guide to the Documents of Vatican II, “Dogmatic Constitution on the Church,” pgs. 37-55
• Constitution on the Church: Lumen Gentium in Vatican II: The Essential Texts, paragraphs 52-69
• Catechism, “Mary - Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church,” paragraphs 963-975 optional
• Thomas Thompson, “Virgin Mary and Vatican Council II,” Selection optional

WATCH:

• Robert Barron, “Catholicism”, Episode 4: Mary Mother of God (48 min)

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 9

12 | Thu Oct 16 | Second Vatican Council - Gaudium et Spes Part 1 | Modern World

READ:

• Psalm 57
• Hahnenberg, “Introduction to Gaudium et Spes in Vatican II: The Essential Texts,” pgs. 189-193
• Constitution on the Church in the Modern World: Gaudium et Spes in Vatican II: The Essential Texts, paragraphs 1-45
• Lectures Notes on Church Economy and Politics

WATCH:

• NETTV: Introduction to Gaudium et Spes (29 min)

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 10

13 | Mon Oct 20 | Second Vatican Council - Gaudium et Spes Part 2 | Holiness Today

READ:

• Psalm 62
• Constitution on the Church in the Modern World: Gaudium et Spes in Vatican II: The Essential Texts, paragraphs 46-62, 73, 76, 77-78, 91-93

WATCH:

• NETTV: Universal Call to Holiness and Gaudium et Spes (25 min)
• Bishop Barron Speech at National Eucharistic Congress (30 min)

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 11

14 | Thu Oct 23 | Second Vatican Council - Dignitatis Humanae | Mission

READ:

• Psalm 22
• Hahnenberg, “Introduction to Dignitatis Humanae” in Vatican II: The Essential Texts, pgs. 299-303
• Declaration on Religious Freedom Dignitatis Humanae in Vatican II: The Essential Texts, paragraphs 1-15

WATCH:

• NETTV: Missionary Activity and Vatican II (29 min)
• NETTV: Media and Vatican II (29 min)

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 12

15 | Mon Oct 27 | Second Vatican Council - Nostra Aetate | Interfaith Dialogue

READ:

• Psalm 16
• Hahnenberg, “Introduction to Nostra Aetate” in Vatican II: The Essential Texts, pgs. 319-322
• Declaration on the Church’s Relation to Non-Christian Religions: Nostra Aetate” in Vatican II: The Essential Texts, paragraphs 1-5
• Lecture Notes on Islam
• Lectures Notes on Islam and Catholicism

WATCH:

• R&E: Nostra Aetate 50th Anniversary (7:31 min)

ADVANCED READING:

• Benedict XVI, What is Christianity? “The Christian-Islamic Dialogue”

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 13
• Advanced Assignment 2

16 | Thu Oct 30 | Second Vatican Council | Eastern Orthodox Churches | Ecumenism Part 1

READ:

• Psalm 80
• Veli-Matti Karkkainen, Introduction to Ecclesiology, “Eastern Orthodox Ecclesiology,” pgs. 17-25
• Pillar: Interview with Patriarch Bartholomew of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
• Joint Declaration of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, online

WATCH:

• NETTV: Ecumenism and Vatican II (31 min)
• CNS: Pope Francis and the Orthodox (3 min)
• PBS: Pope Francis and Bishop Kirill in Cuba (8 min)
• Khan Academy - Great Schism 1 (8 min) optional
• Khan Academy - Great Schism 2 (7 min) optional

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 14

17 | Mon Nov 1 | Second Vatican Council | Protestant Churches | Ecumenism Part 2 | Receive TAKE HOME EXAM 2

READ:

• Psalm 98
• Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, paragraphs 1-7, 13, 14-18, online

WATCH:

• NETTV: Final Session and Vatican II (30 min)
• Khan Academy: Introduction to the Protestant Reformation - Martin Luther (11:14) optional

ADVANCED READING:

• George Weigel, To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican II, Selection

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 15
• Advanced Assignment 3

UNIT 3: Christianity Today

18 | Thu Nov 6 | Introduction to Christianity Today | Disciples of All Nations - Preface and Chapters 1 - 2

READ:

• Psalm 42
• Jenkins, The Next Christendom, Preface and Chapters 1-2, pgs. xi-50
• Lecture Notes on Growth of Christianity

WATCH:

• Philip Jenkins - Lecture on The Next Christendom (90 min) optional

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 16
• TAKE HOME Exam 2

19 | Mon Nov 10 | Christianity Today | Churches of Africa and Asia - Chapters 3 - 4 | Receive CHURCH MEETING PAPER

READ:

• Psalm 84
• Jenkins, The Next Christendom, Chapters 3 - 4, pgs. 51-100

WATCH:

• Khan Academy - Spain, Portugal, and the Creation of the Global Economy optional

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 17

20 | Thu Nov 13 | Christianity Today | New Christianity and New Terms - Chapters 5 - 6

READ:

• Psalm 96
• Jenkins, The Next Christendom, Chapters 5-6, pgs. 101-170

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 18

21 | Mon Nov 17 | Christianity Today | God and the World - Chapters 7 - 8

READ:

• Psalm 108
• Jenkins, The Next Christendom, Chapters 7-8, pgs. 171-236

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 19

22 | Thu Nov 20 | Christianity Today | Coming Home - Chapter 9

READ:

• Psalm 110
• Jenkins, The Next Christendom, Chapter 9, pgs. 237-265
• Benedict XVI, What is Christianity? “The Church and the Scandal of Sexual Abuse” optional

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 20 - Part 1

23 | Mon Nov 24 | Christianity Today | Christianity in the Third Millennium - Chapter 10

READ:

• Psalm 115
• Jenkins, The Next Christendom, Chapter 10, pgs. 266-276

ADVANCE WATCH:

• C-SPAN: Scott Hanson - City of Gods - Religious Diversity in Flushing, Queens optional

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Church Assignment Sheet 20 - Part 2

24 | Mon Dec 1 | Christianity Today | Persecution of Christians

READ:

• Psalm 119
• John Allen, Global War on Christians, Introduction - Chapter 1, pgs. 1-46 optional
• Open Doors, World Watch List 2025, online
• Pew Research Center, Global Restrictions on Religion Report

COMPLETE:

• Church Meeting Paper DUE

25 | Thu Dec 4 | Christianity Today | Consequences and Responses about the Persecution of Christian

READ:

• Psalm 121
• John Allen, Global War on Christians, Chapters 7-9, 13-14 optional

26 | Mon Dec 8 | Future of Christianity and the Joy of the Gospel

READ:

• Psalm 131
• Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel: Evangelii Gaudium, online
• Pope Francis in the United States extra credit
• Or Pope Leo Writing - To be Announced

COMPLETE:

• Encountering the Pope Francis’ Joy of the Gospel extra credit

27 | Final Exam Week - Dec 11 - 17 | Final Paper Assessment

COMPLETE:

• Final Research Paper