Dear Friend,
We hope that you receive this free course as a token of our gratitude for your prayer and support of our mission.
St. Robert Bellarmine, patron saint of the Emmaus Institute, once wrote, “Now, if anyone wants to see the perfect example of voluntary poverty understood in its fullness, one should fix his gaze on the crucified Christ” (The Seven Last Words from the Cross).
In this mini-series, various members of the Emmaus Institute faculty will unpack and reflect on the seven last words, or sayings, from Jesus on the Cross. We will use work by St. Robert Bellarmine mentioned above as our guide, while also incorporating other rich resources from the biblical and saintly traditions of our faith.
Ultimately, as your gift has been a blessing to us, we hope to be a blessing to you in return. The Spirit constantly beckons us to learn from the Crucified One: “I have been crucified with Christ…” (Gal 2:20). Thank you for joining on this journey through the last words of our Savior. May we all be transformed by them.
Thank You for Your Support. Enroll Here.
About the instructor
Prior to entering the Catholic Church in 2015, Vern enjoyed a long career as an evangelical protestant pastor, seminary professor, and founder and president of a Bible institute. His teaching specializations include biblical introduction and interpretation, languages and exegesis, and exposition and theology. He focused on Bible, History, and Philosophy in his undergraduate studies; he holds masters degrees in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Literature; and he earned his Ph.D. in Exegetical Theology. Vern has authored a number of published and unpublished materials at both general and technical levels. When he is not in his study, he enjoys watching sports, woodworking, and especially spending time with his wife Carol, their two married children, and their ten grandchildren.
About the instructor
Joshua Burks is former faculty of The Emmaus Institute for Biblical Studies in Lincoln, NE. His studies and teaching focus especially on New Testament texts and themes. Previous to his time teaching, Joshua spent four years as a missionary and Team Director with FOCUS, concurrently completing his graduate studies with the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology. Next to love of God is his love for his wife, Elizabeth, and their four boys. Joshua is also the co-host alongside Fr. Andrew Dickinson of the podcast, FAD&DAD, a show that walks through the wisdom of the Church Fathers in the context of good friendship and conversation.
About the instructor
Chad completed his undergraduate studies in Philosophy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln while studying the biblical languages and biblical introduction and interpretation on the side. Following graduation, he taught with his father at a small Bible institute in Lincoln for a number of years before moving to England with his wife Kacy to begin graduate work in biblical studies. Upon their return to Lincoln in 2005, Chad resumed teaching and writing full time with the institute where he remained until its closure in 2013. His interests lie especially in cultivating Christian unity, and in sharing the task of interpreting Sacred Scripture with Christians across denominational lines. He and his family were received into the Roman Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil at St. Peter in 2011. Since then he has enjoyed singing in the choir and serving as a regular catechist for the OCIA program at the parish. He and Kacy have eight children, a goofy pyredoodle, an opinionated Quaker parrot, an easier-going rabbit, a growing population of fish in multiple aquariums, and an ark under construction.
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