What Electives are Offered?
There
will be a variety of elective courses offered as time and space allow.
Our goal is to enhance the student's learning experience by providing the
opportunity to study subjects more in depth, or to delve into areas of study
that are not part of the normal courses of study.
Navigators: Biblical Interpretation
(Hermeneutics: Rules of Engagement
While this 8-week course delves deeper into the subject matter introduced in the Bibliology & Hermeneutics course of The Theology Program, B&H is NOT a prerequisite for this course.
The student will be involved in studying such matters as:
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The search for meaning
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Understanding the text
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Responding to the text
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Utilizing modern tools for exegesis
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Uncovering exegetical fallacies, including their own
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Further challenges to the search for meaning and proper biblical interpretation in today's environment
The course will provide the student with a complete methodology that can be used to study any book of the Bible.
For those desiring a grade, the required reading will include class handouts, plus one book that can be purchased through our bookstore. Honors reading will also be available. There will be two tests on vocabulary, and there will be one practicum due one week following the last class. The course description can be found here.
Developing Christian Counselors (SAFE Certification)
This 9-week course will introduce students to the integration of Christian counseling and spiritual formation. At its core, Christian counseling parallels spiritual formation in that it is transformation of the heart and mind, as well as restoration of the soul. This is a hands-on course, not book-learning and theory.
Those who successfully complete this course will qualify for certification as SAFE Program Group Leaders through Truth in Love Ministries.
In this course, students will be involved in studying matters such as:
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The foundations of Christian Counseling
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Comparing secular psychology with biblical counseling
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Basic strategies and skill-sets necessary to do counseling in a variety of contexts
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Evaluating methodologies used in counseling
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Formulating a solid, biblical approach to Christian counseling in today's world
Our program is designed to provide you with the basic foundations for any kind of counseling, spiritual formation or mentoring ministry. You may choose to build on this foundation with further education and/or training specific to an area in which you choose to specialize. However, the materials utilized in the course are the most effective tools used today to transform lives of even the most emotionally troubled and chemically dependent.
For those desiring certification, the required reading will include completing weekly assignments, maintaining a daily record, class interaction, plus one book that can be purchased through our bookstore. Honors reading will also be available. The course syllabus can be viewed here.
Defenders: Basic Apologetics
This 8-week course will introduce students to the art and science of "defending the faith" to those outside the Christian faith. It has always been the duty of every believer in every generation to be prepared to do so.
In this course, students will be involved in studying matters such as:
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Differences in apologetic systems
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Evaluating systems of thought and worldviews that confront a Christian apologetic
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Defining a biblical basis for a Christian apologetic
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Formulating a reasonable, adequate personal apologetic
Paid registration for this course includes both the textbook and the workbook. Honors reading will also be available. TThis course will first be offered during Summer months. The course syllabus can be found here.
Principles of Biblical Teaching
This is a course on the basic principles of biblical teaching. It is designed to give an overview of methods and principles of teaching biblical truth. In doing this, the course will attempt to give the student helpful feedback so that he or she can assess with more confidence God's calling in his life and develop more effective methods and skills if gifted or called to teach.
In this course, we ask and answer several questions. Among them:
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What constitutes good teaching?
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Why is good teaching so hard to find?
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What role does the Holy Spirit have to play in our teaching?
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What are the various teaching methods that can be used?
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What do I need to do differently to be a more effective teacher?
This is a great course for all believers, actually, since we are all called to teach in one capacity or another.
This course is designed to be taught in several formats:
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8-week course
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4-week course
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Weekend seminar
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Week-long seminar
For those desiring a grade, the required reading will include class handouts, plus two books that can be purchased through our bookstore. Honors reading will also be available. There will be one practicum due for the last class. The syllabus can be found here.
"May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word."
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
