2023-2024
WEEKLY MODULES
Old Testament Survey
This fifteen-week course is a Survey of the Old Testament. The approach will address the main themes of each Old Testament book.
One Story
This class will focus on the scarlet thread of atonement that binds together both the Old and New Testaments. The focus will be upon seeing Jesus as the recurring theme of redemption and God's great plan for mankind.
Progressive Revelation
This class will cover God’s sweeping plan of redemption as revealed in the 4 major covenants in the Bible: the Abrahamic Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, and the New Covenant. The culmination is found in the book of Revelation as we see God’s plan carried out in the redemption of Israel and the redemption of the church.
Doctrine of Christ
The objective of this course is to lift up the Person of Jesus the Christ in His distinct function within the Godhead and with mankind. Attention will be paid to humanity’s timeline, Jesus as the Word of God, and the deity of the Son. Further attention will be given to those issues that underscore doctrinal debates about the person and work of Christ.
The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
This course focuses on the Person and work of the Holy Spirit in His distinct function within the Godhead and with mankind. Attention will be given to the distinctives of the Spirit's function with man, specifically God's people, and to the deity of the Holy Spirit.
The Written Word of God
The object of this course is to give the student confidence in the Word of God to which he or she has committed themselves. Attention will be given to the big story, which is HIS story, the Living Word, authorship, inspiration, inerrancy, canon, and the power of personal study.
The Doctrine of the Church
Scripture teaches, without question, that we as saints are the Church. Our focus should be on ‘being’ the church and not just on ‘doing’ Churchie things. The emphasis here is that being a part of the Body of Christ we need to ‘identify’ ourselves with a local body of believers to encourage, to build up, and to teach in preparation for bringing others to Christ as we live in the world. Identification with a local body is not a suggestion, it is a command. Obedience to Christ compels us to physical participation with a local body.
Introduction to Church History
This course studies the historical church from foundation to recent history and looks at the critical issues faced by the church and the church’s response, dilemmas, and dogmas. Also addressed is the move from Salvation in Christ to Salvation through the Church, Reform, Reason, and Revival.
What Would Jesus Do? (How would Jesus Handle That?)
The life that Jesus lived in the flesh is more than just a compilation of moral stories. There are day-to-day lessons that have application in our lives as the Body of Christ. Jesus is our example for daily living in a world hostile to the Truth teaching of Christ. Attention is carefully given to His ministry so as to fully understand the message of salvation and living a transformed life that we as the church are charged with disseminating.
PRACTICAL MINISTRY MODULES
[* Required]
Holiness and Personal Disciplines
The object of this course is to endeavor to catch a glimpse of God’s holiness, and to train the servant of His Kingdom to embrace a path toward holiness. Attention will be given to personal holiness amidst the crucial mindset of practicing God’s presence.
Prayer
Clarifying the role of prayer in ministry within the Body of Christ is the thrust of this module. Attention will be given to advancing beyond lip service that many impotent American churches espouse. You will identify tools to use so that you can expand your life in ministry with holy boldness, confidant in the power of prayer.
Spiritual Warfare
The battle is on and the battle is real. Unfortunately, most Christians are losing more battles than they are winning. The victories do not have to go to the opposition, but they will continue to, until believers learn to fight biblically
Leadership - Natural & Spiritual
This module is designed to teach leadership skills, and to further develop individuals with a propensity to lead both spiritually and naturally, to do so well, and with integrity. Attention will be given to personal leadership skills and styles, as well as analyzing the potential in others to lead. This is a "how-to" module.
Cultural Exegesis and Community Development
This module is presented to assist participants to accurately exegete the nature of a community and to show them how to devise a community development project that results in redemptive relationships. Bridges that are built by the body of Christ which do not lead to redemptive relationships are bridges to nowhere.
PRACTICAL MINISTRY MODULES
[Electives]
Choose three (3) each year for March - May
Ministry to Children
Children’s ministry in the local church is focused on ministry to families with children in the church. The goal of the local church is to equip families to train up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Within the church, the Body of Christ needs to come alongside and encourage one another, and as a local community of believers, support and encourage this parental responsibility through sound biblical teaching, nurturing, and providing activities that reinforce a spiritual, moral, and ethical worldview.
Ministry to Youth
This module is focused on ministry to the Youth in the church. Ministry in the local church family need to include the understanding that ministering to the pre-teens and teens of the church as well as to those of the community is not an afterthought, but a primary function of a healthy body of believers in any culture. These are the future leaders of the Church and they must not be lost.
Ministry to Marginalized People
The goal of these video presentations is to expose the believer to the often-ignored world of people who are belittled, often maligned, or simply avoided, largely due to discomfort and misunderstanding of the needs or how to address them. The theology of the sanctity of human life is a place to begin. All life is important to God, be it the unborn, the disabled, the mentally disturbed, the homeless, the trafficked, even the elderly. Let’s look into these groups that are too often marginalized and seek to discover how we can minister Christ’s love to all mankind.
Studying God’s Word / Hermeneutics I
This is the first four parts of an eight-module course. The course is designed to train men and women to study and exegete the Scriptures as a foundation for accurately teaching it and effectively preaching it. As all the modules, it is intended to be a practicum course. Attention will be given to learning how to use the best kind of study tools that allow an individual to teach with confidence without having formally studied Biblical languages.
Studying God’s Word / Hermeneutics II
This is the second four parts of an eight-module course. The course is designed to train men and women to study and exegete the Scriptures as a foundation for accurately teaching it and effectively preaching it. As all the modules, it is intended to be a practicum course. Attention will be given to learning how to use the best kind of study tools that allow an individual to teach with confidence without having formally studied Biblical languages
Fortified Marriages I
This module (offered as a two-part elective) is offered as a "practicum" course. We believe that there is little that is more stabilizing in ministry than a great marriage and family life, and that conversely there is little that will destroy ministry faster than continuing crisis at home. The objective of this course then is twofold; to fortify personal marriage and family life, while introducing the family life subjects that leaders will likely have to deal with while leading and discipling believers.
Fortified Marriages II
This module (offered as a two-part elective) is offered as a "practicum" course. We believe that there is little that is more stabilizing in ministry than a great marriage and family life, and that conversely there is little that will destroy ministry faster than continuing crisis at home. The objective of this course then is twofold; to fortify personal marriage and family life, while introducing the family life subjects that leaders will likely have to deal with while leading and discipling believers.
Philosophy of Church Birthing
The objective of this module is to lead students to understand the life of a local body of believers from conception to full maturity. The presenter will teach and provide illustrations of developing body life, while the student develops a sense of natural church maturation.