Courses in the Community

Short, seminary-style courses taught by Candler faculty and open to the public.

Explore issues that matter to your faith and community

Enroll in one of our upcoming courses or contact us to design a course that is right for your congregation.

Browse Upcoming Courses

Browse Previous Courses

Here is a list of some of our previous courses through our Courses in the Community program.

Discovering David

This 8-week course offers an in-depth exploration of the complex life and legacy of King David, closely following his story in 1-2 Samuel as well as his connection to the Psalms, the ancestry of Jesus, and later Christian art and theology.

The Book of Jonah

Through this course you will take a closer look at one of the most iconic stories in Scripture and it what it has to teach us about the depths of God’s mercy and compassion.  

The Prophetic Imagination

Through this course you will take a closer look at one of the most iconic stories in Scripture and it what it has to teach us about the depths of God’s mercy and compassion.

Women in the Old Testament

This 6-week course explores how the Bible is read by different people and then situates women in their historical and geographical settings to get a sense of the laws they labored under.

Echoes of Scripture in the New Testament

In this course you will discover how and why the writers of the New Testament tell the story of Jesus and the early church by re-using ideas and images that come from Genesis through Malachi.  

Life After Exile: Migration, Identity, and Hope in Ezra-Nehemiah

Explore Ezra and Nehemiah in its setting of a return migration to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-4) and what this literature might teach us about restoring hope and faith in God today.

Making Sense of the Pentateuch

This course explores key themes in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, including the complex and compelling stories of our great ancestors of faith, from Abraham and Sarah to Moses and Miriam.  

Making Sense of the Prophets

This course introduces the historical and theological background of prophetic literature, including how modern concepts of what a prophet is relates to the mission of prophets in the biblical world.  

Making Sense of Wisdom Literature

This course introduces the concept of wisdom in the biblical tradition and the debates that playout between the different perspectives on wisdom found in the books of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes.

We Have Seen the LORD: The Resurrection in Each Gospel

This course compares the resurrection stories from all four Gospels with an eye towards how the gospel writers use the resurrection appearances of Jesus in order to creature unique portraits of who Jesus is.  

The Gospel of Mark: A Brief Beginning

This course examines how Mark’s Gospel uses various literary techniques and themes to communicate who Jesus truly is – and, therefore, who the community who follows him should be – to the early church and to us today.  

Women in the New Testament

This course introduces a more accurate historical picture of the lived experience of ancient women and why this matters for the way we read the New Testament today.  

The Gospel of Luke: A New and Old Story

This course offers a close examination of the Gospel of Luke, including its major themes, unique presentation of Jesus, and re-use of Old Testament texts to frame Jesus’ identity and and mission.  

Echoes of Scripture in the New Testament

In this course you will discover how and why the writers of the New Testament tell the story of Jesus and the early church by re-using ideas and images that come from Genesis through Malachi.

The Corinthian Correspondence: The Crisis of Church Conflict

This course explores the issues that the church in Corinth faced and the nature of the Apostle Paul’s conversation with them, with a focus on how this ancient correspondence between Paul and Corinth can offer support and guidance to the church as it navigates conflict today.

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

In this four-week course, you will discover key themes in Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, including the role of suffering in the life of believers, the communal identity of Jesus-followers, the wise use of role models and examples, and the complete paradigm shift that believers undergo.

Acts of the Apostles

In this course on the Acts of the Apostles, you will explore the life of the earliest Christian communities, including how it negotiated conflict with and survival in the Greco-Roman world.

Paul’s Letters to the Romans

This course offers a closer look at the book of Romans, including key topics such as freedom from sin, what real love looks like, why family is the best description of our faith, and how to use diversity to create unity.

We Have Seen the LORD: The Resurrection in Each Gospel

This course compares the resurrection stories from all four Gospels with an eye towards how the gospel writers use the resurrection appearances of Jesus in order to creature unique portraits of who Jesus is.  

The Bible and Poverty

This course looks at the dimensions of economic inequality in the biblical world and how that reality is addressed by various parts of Scripture, from the law and prophets to the Gospels and epistles.  

The Book of Jonah

Through this course you will take a closer look at one of the most iconic stories in Scripture and it what it has to teach us about the depths of God’s mercy and compassion.  

Sabbath as Rest and Resistance

In exploring the biblical theology of Sabbath, this course presents how the ancient practice of Sabbath keeping is more than just a good way of managing busyness – it’s a divine gift and social mandate that that invites us into a disruptive way of living out Christian faith.

The Prophetic Imagination

In this course, you will take a closer look at four figures from the Bible— Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Jesus — and how they embodied what Walter Brueggemann refers to as "the prophetic imagination."

How the Bible Came to Be: A Brief History

This course aims to tell the story of how the Bible can to be, from the earliest texts and traditions to modern translations and versions, reflecting on how our modern notion of what the Bible impact the way we approach Scripture today.

The Gospel of Mark: A Brief Beginning

This course examines how Mark’s Gospel uses various literary techniques and themes to communicate who Jesus truly is – and, therefore, who the community who follows him should be – to the early church and to us today.  

Women in the Old Testament

This 6-week course explores how the Bible is read by different people and then situates women in their historical and geographical settings to get a sense of the laws they labored under.

Women in the New Testament

This course introduces a more accurate historical picture of the lived experience of ancient women and why this matters for the way we read the New Testament today.  

The Gospel of Luke: A New and Old Story

This course offers a close examination of the Gospel of Luke, including its major themes, unique presentation of Jesus, and re-use of Old Testament texts to frame Jesus’ identity and and mission.  

Echoes of Scripture in the New Testament

In this course you will discover how and why the writers of the New Testament tell the story of Jesus and the early church by re-using ideas and images that come from Genesis through Malachi.  

The Corinthian Correspondence: The Crisis of Church Conflict

This course explores the issues that the church in Corinth faced and the nature of the Apostle Paul’s conversation with them, with a focus on how this ancient correspondence between Paul and Corinth can offer support and guidance to the church as it navigates conflict today.

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

In this four-week course, you will discover key themes in Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, including the role of suffering in the life of believers, the communal identity of Jesus-followers, the wise use of role models and examples, and the complete paradigm shift that believers undergo.

The Temple and the Wilderness

 In this course, you will explore how in the Book of Acts the Holy Spirit uses and transforms space in order to spread the church over the whole world, and how this work might change the way in which you imagine and participate in sacred spaces today.  

The Bible and Race in America

This course introduces students to the ways the Bible has been used throughout American history to construct, support, and challenge America’s racial caste systems – particularly the categories of “blackness” and “whiteness.”  

Acts of the Apostles

In this course on the Acts of the Apostles, you will explore the life of the earliest Christian communities, including how it negotiated conflict with and survival in the Greco-Roman world.  

The Bible and Trauma

This course presents strategies for approaching the Bible from the lens of trauma, with special emphasis on how Scripture can inform the way we respond to our own experiences of violence, grief, injustice, and dislocation. 

Life After Exile: Migration, Identity, and Hope in Ezra-Nehemiah

Explore Ezra and Nehemiah in its setting of a return migration to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-4) and what this literature might teach us about restoring hope and faith in God today.

Making Sense of the Pentateuch

This course explores key themes in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, including the complex and compelling stories of our great ancestors of faith, from Abraham and Sarah to Moses and Miriam.  

Making Sense of the Prophets

This course introduces the historical and theological background of prophetic literature, including how modern concepts of what a prophet is relates to the mission of prophets in the biblical world.  

Making Sense of Wisdom Literature

This course introduces the concept of wisdom in the biblical tradition and the debates that playout between the different perspectives on wisdom found in the books of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes.

Asian and Asian-American Feminist Biblical Studies  

This course introduces the development and issues in Asian and Asian American feminist biblical studies, including commonalities and differences between Asian and Asian American feminist approaches to Scripture.

Paul’s Letters to the Romans

 This course offers a closer look at the book of Romans, including key topics such as freedom from sin, what real love looks like, why family is the best description of our faith, and how to use diversity to create unity.  

Science and Faith: A Dialogue

This course explores the relationship between what we learn about the world by our own efforts (science) and what God has revealed to us (faith), including where the conclusions of science and faith intersect and conflict.

How the Bible Came to Be: A Brief History

This course aims to tell the story of how the Bible can to be, from the earliest texts and traditions to modern translations and versions, reflecting on how our modern notion of what the Bible impact the way we approach Scripture today.

Christianity in Asian-American History  

This course provides an overview of the presence and influence of Christianity in Asian American history.

The Doctrine of the Trinity

This course will review the history and development of the trinitarian doctrine, its content, significance for the Christian faith, and how it can be explained without any reference to three-leaf clovers.

The Stories We Tell: Medievalism and White Supremacy

This course explores how many white supremacists seek out stories from the “Middle Ages” as evidence to support ethnic nationalism, and how people of faith can respond.

Desert Fathers and Mothers: Ancient Spirituality for a Modern Church

This course explores the stories, world, and spirituality of a fascinating period in Christian history in which many felt the Church had become more enamored with the power of Rome than the humble way of Jesus.

Queens, Saints, and Visionaries: Exploring the Legacy of Medieval Women

This course introduces the wide range of women who contributed to Christian identity formation and the way in which they defied conventions, left their mark on history, and continue to inspire us today.

Faith in Conflict

This course presents the historical and theological roots of one of the world's longest running conflicts, the Troubles of Northern Ireland, with attention to how a community of faith helped build peace and pursue reconciliation in that region.

Gun Violence in America: A Chirstian Response

This course offers an introduction to the history American gun culture, examining both the theology that has enabled the relationship to flourish, and theologies of dissent.

Howard Thurman: Spirituality and Community

This 5-week course explores the writings and ministry of Howard Thurman, focusing especially on the meaning of personal commitment and social transformation as they relate to Christian discipleship.

Christianity in Asian-American History

This course provides an overview of the presence and influence of Christianity in Asian American history.

The Doctrine of the Trinity

This course will review the history and development of the trinitarian doctrine, its content, significance for the Christian faith, and how it can be explained without any reference to three-leaf clovers.

The Temple and the Wilderness

In this course, you will explore how in the Book of Acts the Holy Spirit uses and transforms space in order to spread the church over the whole world, and how this work might change the way in which you imagine and participate in sacred spaces today.

Let's Talk About Immigration

Drawing on sources ranging from the news and novels to scripture and the arts, this course explores various theological, moral, and socio-economic perspectives on the present state of immigration in the US, including how local faith communities might respond.

Spirituality and Health

This course explores how faith and religious practices impact our physical, mental, and social well-being and what it means to understand salvation more wholistically.

Faith in Conflict

This course presents the historical and theological roots of one of the world's longest running conflicts, the Troubles of Northern Ireland, with attention to how a community of faith helped build peace and pursue reconciliation in that region.

Sabbath as Rest and Resistance

In exploring the biblical theology of Sabbath, this course presents how the ancient practice of Sabbath keeping is more than just a good way of managing busyness – it’s a divine gift and social mandate that that invites us into a disruptive way of living out Christian faith.

Desert Fathers and Mothers: Ancient Spirituality for a Modern Church

This course explores the stories, world, and spirituality of a fascinating period in Christian history in which many felt the Church had become more enamored with the power of Rome than the humble way of Jesus.

Spirituality and Health

This course explores how faith and religious practices impact our physical, mental, and social well-being and what it means to understand salvation more wholistically.

Latinx Theology and Spirituality

Discover the dynamic intersection of Latinx culture and Christian faith through an exploration of influential Latiné thinkers and spiritual practices.

The Bible and Poverty

This course looks at the dimensions of economic inequality in the biblical world and how that reality is addressed by various parts of Scripture, from the law and prophets to the Gospels and epistles.

Sabbath as Rest and Resistance

In exploring the biblical theology of Sabbath, this course presents how the ancient practice of Sabbath keeping is more than just a good way of managing busyness – it’s a divine gift and social mandate that that invites us into a disruptive way of living out Christian faith.

Gun Violence in America: A Christian Response

This course offers an introduction to the history American gun culture, examining both the theology that has enabled the relationship to flourish, and theologies of dissent.

The Bible and Race in America

This course introduces students to the ways the Bible has been used throughout American history to construct, support, and challenge America’s racial caste systems – particularly the categories of “blackness” and “whiteness.”

Transgender Persons, Pastoral Care, and the Catholic Church

This course explores ways to offer pastoral care for transgender persons in the Catholic Church, as well the concept of Catholic anthropology and how it may apply to transgender identities in order to develop a renewed Catholic theological understanding of the human person.

Let’s Talk About Immigration

Drawing on sources ranging from the news and novels to scripture and the arts, this course explores various theological, moral, and socio-economic perspectives on the present state of immigration in the US, including how local faith communities might respond.

The Bible and Poverty

This course looks at the dimensions of economic inequality in the biblical world and how that reality is addressed by various parts of Scripture, from the law and prophets to the Gospels and epistles.

Gun Violence in America: A Christian Response

This course offers an introduction to the history American gun culture, examining both the theology that has enabled the relationship to flourish, and theologies of dissent.

Howard Thurman: Spirituality and Community

This 5-week course explores the writings and ministry of Howard Thurman, focusing especially on the meaning of personal commitment and social transformation as they relate to Christian discipleship.

Seeking Shalom

This 6-part study offers an in-depth exploration of the biblical concept of shalom, including its relationship to economics, justice, community flourishing, and the mission of the church.

The Bible and Race in America

This course introduces students to the ways the Bible has been used throughout American history to construct, support, and challenge America’s racial caste systems – particularly the categories of “blackness” and “whiteness.”

The Bible and Trauma

This course presents strategies for approaching the Bible from the lens of trauma, with special emphasis on how Scripture can inform the way we respond to our own experiences of violence, grief, injustice, and dislocation. 

Faith in Conflict

This course presents the historical and theological roots of one of the world's longest running conflicts, the Troubles of Northern Ireland, with attention to how a community of faith helped build peace and pursue reconciliation in that region.

Seeking Shalom

This study offers an in-depth exploration of the biblical concept of shalom, including its relationship to economics, justice, community flourishing, and the mission of the church.

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