Year 1

Required Reading

2 page book reports due at the end of the year.

• Church Planting is for Wimps by Mike McKinley
• Revitalize by Andrew M. Davis
• Reclaiming Glory by Mark Clifton
• Holiness by J. C. Ryle
• The New Pastor’s Handbook by Jason Helopoulos

Fall

The Gospel and Evangelism

This is a unique class that will start on a Saturday and at the conclusion of 8 weeks will end with open air evangelism led by missionary Aaron Krause in Chicago!

Leading Church Revitalization | Essential Heart Postures

• Week 1: Understanding God’s Heart for Revitalization
• Week 2: The Costs and Joys of Revitalization
• Week 3: Humility: The Foundation of Leadership
• Week 4: Patience: The Wisdom of Leadership
• Week 5: Love: The Heart of Leadership
• Week 6: Faith: The Fuel of Leadership
• Week 7: Passion: The Contagion of Leadership
• Week 8: Joy: The Overflow of Leadership

Foundations of Biblical Faith | Angelology and Christology

• Week 1: Angels, Satan and Demons – Part 1
• Week 2: Angels, Satan and Demons – Part 2
• Week 3: Spiritual Warfare
• Week 4: The Person of the Son of God – Part 1
• Week 5: The Person of the Son of God – Part 2
• Week 6: The Offices of the Son of God
• Week 7: The Work of the Son of God
• Week 8: Resurrection, Ascension, and Exaltation

Old Testament Survey (1)

• Week 1: Form and Message of the Old Testament, Literary and Cosmic Foundations of the Old Testament, and the Image of God
• Week 2: Human Response to Divine Creation, Israelite Covenant, Covenant with Abraham
• Week 3: Exodus from Egypt, Ratification of the Covenant, Covenant Stipulations
• Week 4: Responding in Life and Ritual, Deuteronomy: The Covenant Renewed and Historiographic Writings
• Week 5: Joshua – Samuel
• Week 6: Reign of David – 2 Kings
• Week 7: Temple to Daniel
• Week 8: Persian World through Nehemiah

Winter 1

Christian Ethics

• Week 1: Introduction: What is Ethics and Why Study It?
• Week 2: Christians and the Biblical Law
• Week 3: Life Ethics: Abortion; Reproduction; Genetics
• Week 4: Death Ethics: Suicide; Euthanasia; Capital Punishment
• Week 5: War Ethics: Pacifism; Just War Theory; Personal Protection
• Week 6: Sexual Ethics: Marriage and Divorce; Fornication, Adultery, Polyamory; Alternative Lifestyles
• Week 7: Money Ethics: Poverty as a Virtue, Economic Systems, Work and Vocation
• Week 8: Putting It All Together

Leading Church Revitalization | Pastoral Priorities

• Week 1: The Nature and Calling of the Shepherd Pastor and the Work of the Shepherd Pastor
• Week 2: Creating a Clear Shepherding Strategy
• Week 3: The Importance of Building Trust and Credibility
• Week 4: The Power of Persistent Prayer and the Urgency of Expository Preaching
• Week 5: The Wisdom of Word-Driven Leadership
• Week 6: Developing and Deploying Leaders
• Week 7: Raising up Pastors and Deacons
• Week 8: Making Membership Meaningful

Foundations of Biblical Faith | Soteriology

• Week 1: Introduction
• Week 2: Sola Scriptura: Salvation Communicated in the Word of God
• Week 3: Sola Gratia: Salvation Planned in Eternity Past
• Week 4: Solo Christo Part One: Salvation Accomplished by the Person of Christ
• Week 5: Solo Christo Part Two: Salvation Accomplished in the Work of Christ – Part 1
• Week 6: Solo Christo Part Three: Salvation Accomplished in the Work of Christ – Part 2
• Week 7: Sola Fide: Salvation Applied and Experienced in Human History
• Week 8: Soli Deo Gloria: Salvation Celebrated in Eternity Future

Old Testament Survey (2)

• Week 1: Prophecy through Hosea
• Week 2: Jonah through Ezekiel
• Week 3: Jeremiah’s Historical Context through Joel
• Week 4: Obadiah through Hebrew Poetry
• Week 5: Psalms and Biblical Wisdom
• Week 6: Proverbs and Song of Songs
• Week 7: Job
• Week 8: Ecclesiastes

Winter 2

Apologetics

• Week 1: The Biblical Foundation for Apologetics
• Week 2: The Existence of God: Answering Atheism and Agnosticism
• Week 3: The Reliability and Authority of the Bible
• Week 4: The Problem of Evil and Suffering
• Week 5: The Case for Jesus
• Week 6: Responding to Other Religions and Worldviews
• Week 7: Engaging the Modern Culture
• Week 8: Practical Application of Apologetics in Ministry

Leading Revitalization | Ministry Practices

• Week 1: Developing a Ministry Strategy
• Week 2: Leading Gospel-Centered Sunday Mornings
• Week 3: Creating Transformational Community
• Week 4: Reimagining Sunday School
• Week 5: Reaching Your Community
• Week 6: Mobilizing Your Congregation for Evangelism
• Week 7: Ministering to Children and Teenagers
• Week 8: Maximizing the Use of Your Church Building

Foundations of Biblical Faith | Ecclesiology

• Week 1: The Church: Nature and Marks
• Week 2: Purity and Unity of the Church
• Week 3: Church Discipline
• Week 4: Church Offices
• Week 5: Church Government
• Week 6: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
• Week 7: Worship
• Week 8: Mission and Ministry

New Testament Survey (1)

• Week 1: Preview and Introduction
• Week 2: How the Bible was Written and Can We Trust Our Bible
• Week 3: How We Received the Bible and Mark 1-5
• Week 4: Mark 6-13
• Week 5: Mark 14 – Matthew 5
• Week 6: Matthew 5 – Luke 24
• Week 7: John
• Week 8: Acts – Galatians

Spring

Leading Revitalization | Joyful Perseverance

• Week 1: Cultivating a Heart for Long-Haul Ministry
• Week 2: Putting Your Marriage and Family First – Part 1
• Week 3: Putting Your Marriage and Family First – Part 2
• Week 4: Facing Criticism in a Godly Manner
• Week 5: Handling Conflict Biblically – Part 1
• Week 6: Handling Conflict Biblically – Part 2
• Week 6: Managing Your Schedule
• Week 7: Rooting Your Life and Ministry in the Gospel

Foundations of Biblical Faith | Pneumatology

• Week 1: The summary of the person of the Holy Spirit
• Week 2: Major Affirmations of the Spirit: His Deity, Personhood, and Trinitarian Relations – Part 1
• Week 3: Major Affirmations – Part 2
• Week 4: Major errors to avoid concerning the Spirit
• Week 5: The work of the Holy Spirit – Part 1
• Week 6: The work of the Holy Spirit – Part 2
• Week 7: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Part 1
• Week 8: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Part2

Foundations of Biblical Faith | Eschatology

• Week 1: The Rapture and the Church
• Week 2: The 70^th Week of Daniel
• Week 3: The Second Advent of Jesus Christ
• Week 4: The Millennium Reign of Christ
• Week 5: The Resurrections
• Week 6: The Final Judgment
• Week 7: Eternal Punishment
• Week 8: The New Heaven and New Earth

New Testament Survey (2)

• Week 1: Acts 15:36 – 1 Corinthians 6
• Week 2: 1 Corinthians 7 – Romans 4
• Week 3: Romans 5-16
• Week 4: Acts 21:27 – Philippians
• Week 5: Colossians – Philemon
• Week 6: Hebrews – James
• Week 7: 1 Peter – 3 John
• Week 8: Revelation and Statement of Faith

Year 2

Required Reading

2 page book reports due at the end of the year.

• The Shepherd Leader by Timothy Witmer
• Brothers, We are Not Professionals by John Piper
• The Imperfect Pastor by Zack Eswine
• Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp
• The Pastor’s Family by Brian and Cara Croft

Fall

Pastoral Care

• Week 1: The Heart of Pastoral Care – Understanding Your Role
• Week 2: Caring for Yourself – Preventing Burnout
• Week 3: The Pastor’s Home
• Week 4: Connecting with Members: Caring for the Broken; Marriage and Family Care; Hospital Visits – Part 1
• Week 5: Connecting with Members – Part 2
• Week 6: Planning Services: Communion; Baptism; Weddings; Funerals – Part 1
• Week 7: Planning Services – Part 2
• Week 8: Conflict Resolution and Church Discipline

Homiletics 1

• Week 1: The Call and Purpose of Preaching – Part 1
• Week 2: The Call and Purpose of Preaching – Part 2
• Week 3: The Source and Effect of Preaching
• Week 4: The Style of Preaching
• Week 5: The Goal of Preaching
• Week 6: The Responsibilities and Blessings of Preaching
• Week 7: The Approach and Blessings of Preaching
• Week 8: Preaching with the Power of the Holy Spirit

Introduction to Church Planting

• Week 1: The Biblical Basis for Church Planting
• Week 2: Understanding the Call to Church Planting
• Week 3: What is Church Planting: Definitions and Models
• Week 4: Understanding the Cultural Context of Church Planting
• Week 5: The Power of Vision and Mission in Church Planting
• Week 6: The Role of Prayer in Church Planting
• Week 7: Building a Launch Team
• Week 8: Counting the Cost – Challenges in Church Planting

Winter 1

Pastoral Counseling

• Week 1: Introduction to Biblical Counseling
• Week 2: The Foundations of Biblical Counseling
• Week 3: The Goal of Biblical Counseling – Heart Change
• Week 4: Understanding Suffering and Trials
• Week 5: The Role of Scripture in Counseling
• Week 6: Confronting Sin Biblically
• Week 7: Common Issues
• Week 8: Counseling Those who have been Sinned Against

Homiletics (2)

• Week 1: Crafting a Sermon – Part 1
• Week 2: Crafting a Sermon – Part 2
• Week 3: The Delivery of Sermons – General
• Week 4: Connecting with Your Audience
• Week 5: The Power of Application
• Week 6: Expository Preaching from Old Testament Narrative
• Week 7: Expository Preaching from the Gospels
• Week 8: Expository Preaching from the Epistles

Church Planting Foundations

• Week 1: Biblical Ecclesiology – What is the Church?
• Week 2: Developing a Core Theological Foundation
• Week 3: Leadership Development and Disciple-Making Strategy
• Week 4: Church Governance and Legal Considerations
• Week 5: Creating a Financial Plan
• Week 6: Preaching and Teaching in a Church Plant
• Week 7: Community Engagement and Evangelism
• Week 8: Preparing for Growth and Multiplication

Winter 2

Pastoral Coaching

• Week 1: The Biblical model of Leadership and Shepherding
• Week 2: The Call and Character of a Biblical Leader
• Week 3: Leadership Development
• Week 4: Developing a Leadership Culture in the Church
• Week 5: Overcoming Leadership Challenges and Conflicts – Part 1
• Week 6: Overcoming Leadership Challenges and Conflicts – Part 2
• Week 7 Leading with Vision and Mission
• Week 8: Multiplying Leaders

Church Planting Master Plan 

• Week 1: Developing a Church Planting Master Plan
• Week 2: Selectin the Right Location and Venue
• Week 3: Launch Sunday Planning
• Week 4: Establishing Church Ministries
• Week 5: Digital Presence and Communications
• Week 6: Measuring Success
• Week 7: Navigating Conflict
• Week 8: Long Term Vision and Multiplication

Healthy Church Metrics (1)

• Week 1: Gospel-Centered – Part 1
• Week 2: Gospel-Centered – Part 2
• Week 3: Missional – Part 1
• Week 4: Missional – Part 2
• Week 5: Elder-Led – Part 1
• Week 6: Elder-Led – Part 2
• Week 7: Deacon Supported
• Week 8: Holy Spirit Empowered

Spring

Church Planting in Action

Healthy Church Metrics (2)

• Week 1: Disciple-Making – Part 1
• Week 2: Disciple-Making – Part 2
• Week 3: City-Reaching – Part 1
• Week 4: City-Reaching – Part 2
• Week 5: Leader-Developing
• Week 6: Multiplying – Part 1
• Week 7: Multiplying – Part 2
• Week 8: Globally Engaged

12 C’s of Biblical Leadership

• Week 1: Christ: The Power of the Leader
• Week 2: Calling: The Purpose of the Leader
• Week 3: Character: The Person of the Leader
• Week 4: Conviction: The Belief of the Leader; Commitment: The Resolve of the Leader
• Week 5: Care: The Love of the Leader; Competency: The Practice of the Leader
• Week 6: Capacity: The Development of the Leader; Chemistry: The Interaction of the Leader
• Week 7: Community: The Colleagues of the Leader; Coach: The Multiplication of the Leader
• Week 8: Credibility: The Trustworthiness of the Leader