Associates Program

This special Wednesday morning program is for people over 50 who may have more time on their hands and who want to dig deeper biblically without the pressure of exams or assignments. You can come to one, a few, or ideally come to all 12! Each semester a different unit of study is covered.

Our aim is for you to:

• Deepen your knowledge of the Bible
• Be encouraged in your walk with God
• Be encouraged by how God is at work overseas and around Australia
• Enjoy the warm fellowship and community of SMBC
• Learn from great lecturers!

Semester 1, 2025

In Semester 1, 2025, Associates will be joining in on the unit Christianity in History up to 1550 with SMBC Christian Thought and Pastoral Care lecturer Jasmine Lee.

As Christians, we have a shared collective history of thought and experiences that helps to define the Western Church today. Christian History not only reminds us how God has sovereignly worked throughout the centuries, but it also helps us to understand ourselves: that we are very much a product of our history and context, and how our beliefs and practises are never forged in a vacuum.

In this unit, we’ll examine how the first generations of Christians lived and thrived as a persecuted minority in the wealthy, secular society of the Roman Empire. We’ll follow in the footsteps of the first Celtic missionaries who shared the gospel to the far ends of their known world. We’ll look at how the position and office of the Pope emerged, and investigate how, with the command to love our neighbours, the Crusades could possibly have occurred. Finally, we’ll observe how God brought together events and people to bring about the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century.

We will spend time each week reflecting on the implications of each week's topic to our present day lives.

Topics that will be covered over the 12 weeks are:

Here are the topics for each week:

• Week 1 - 12 February: The spread of Christianity to 312AD
• Week 2 - 19 February: The challenge of other religions
• Week 3 - 5 March: Persecution and Apologists
• Week 4 - 12 March: Emperor Constantine and Arianism
• Week 5 - 26 March: Early Monasticism
• Week 6 - 2 April: Re-Conversion of Europe
• Week 7 - 7 May: Rise, Heights and Decline of the Papacy
• Week 8 - 14 May: The Crusades
• Week 9 - 21 May: Precursors to Reforms
• Week 10 - 28 May: Luther & the German Reformation
• Week 11 - 4 June: Calvin & the Genevan Reformation
• Week 12 - 11 June: Catholic Reformation

REGISTER HERE

Program

Please note the change of lecture and Principal's Hour times from previous years.

9.40am: Lecture starts (including the Zoom platform for online attendees)
10.30am: Morning tea
10.55am: Lecture continues (and concludes at 11.45 am)
11.50am: Principal's Hour (main chapel service) for on-campus attendees.
1.00pm: Principal's Hour  concludes

On-Campus and Online Options

You have the choice of attending the full program in person at our Croydon campus, or joining us online and participating in the lecture via Zoom, and then watching a recording of Principal's Hour at a later time. Please note:

1. When registering, please choose ONE mode of attendance and remain in that mode for that week, or for each of the 12 weeks (if booking all 12 sessions). This is so we can be sure we have enough seats in the lecture room.
2. We're sorry, but lectures are not recorded.
3. For on-campus attendance, please note there are only 25 places available. Book early to avoid disappointment.
4. Please contact the Service Centre to book individual sessions

Costs

ATTENDING ONLINE:

Please note for those attending online, Principal's Hour will not be live-streamed, but will be recorded and available at a later time.

All 12 sessions for one person (online): $238.00 (+ booking fee)

All 12 sessions for two people (online): $421.00 (+ booking fee)

Per session (online) for one person: $37.00 (+ booking fee)

Per session (online) for two people: $59.00 (+booking fee)

ATTENDING ON-CAMPUS:

For on-campus attendance, please note there are only 32 places available. Book early to avoid disappointment.

All 12 sessions per person (on campus): $238.00 (+ booking fee)

All 12 sessions for two people (on campus): $421.00 (+ booking fee)

Per session for one person (on campus): $37.00 (+ booking fee)

Got questions? Email us or call us on 02 9747 4780