God at the Center of the Old Testament: A Glimpse of the Old Testament Course

By Andrew Webster

This semester, students of NorthStar Academy continue to dive deeper into the roots of the Bible by taking one of NSA’s best beginner theological courses, Old Testament Survey. Taught by one Jason Harvel, this course invites the students to see the Old Testament not as a collection of stories and tales, but as one unified story about a God who keeps his promises.

Unlike the average Sunday School class that emphasizes the feats of man in the Old Testament, this course highlights the connectedness of God and man throughout the first 39 books of the Bible. From Adam to Abraham, from the kings of Israel and Judah to the Prophets who lived during Hebrew captivity, this course goes through all of them in a way that not only delves into the historical aspect, but the religious and spiritual aspects as well. 

Mr. Harvel leads students through heavy themes yet still manages to keep the topics lighthearted through well-placed humor. This may seem like a trait that could prevent students from feeling the weight of events like the Fall or the death of certain characters, but the course does not leave out any important details. Rather, it presents said details in a way that makes it harder for students to comprehend, which is a quality that many students embrace with open arms. Hannah, upon being asked how the aspect of humor in the OT course affected their learning, Hannah said, “It made the course a bit more fun and enjoyable, but other than that it did not supplement my learning that much.” This goes to show how effective this style of teaching has been in the student community at making schoolwork, commonly seen as a boring task, fun and more engaging.

Yet another aspect of the Old Testament Survey course are the projects. Throughout the course there are three big projects that students have varying feelings towards. After being asked what their favorite project from the course was, Nathan replied, “The ballad project because I enjoy writing things with depth in clever ways,” even further reflecting how much even a single project can affect a student's worldview especially to those who enjoy writing or creative arts.

In a world where the Old Testament is often overlooked or misunderstood, this course provides NSA students with the tools and insight they need to read Scripture well and grow in their faith. As Mr. Harvel puts it, “Through this lens, the Old Testament reveals itself not just as history or theology, but as a masterwork of divine artistry.” Whether you're looking for an introduction to the Old Testament or trying to understand the Bible more fully and see God’s hand in every chapter, NSA’s Old Testament Survey course is an amazing place to start.

Andrew W. lives in the state of North Carolina in the United States. He has been a student at NSA for seven years and is working on his eighth. He has three siblings, all older, who have either graduated from NSA or are still currently attending NSA. Alongside writing for Navigator, Andrew is a part of student council, serving as one of the club coordinators. He enjoys hiking, playing ultimate frisbee, hanging out with friends, and writing down random stuff in his many notebooks.

Popular, ✝️Spiritual Life, 📓Class SpotlightsEIC NSA2025-2026, October 2025 Publication