This seminar focuses on the task of preaching the Word of God. It assumes that preaching correctly comes only from understanding the Word correctly. Accordingly, the seminar has two focuses: hermeneutics and homiletics. The hermeneutics component has a threefold emphasis: a brief synopsis of the history and basic issues in interpretation, a survey of contemporary issues in interpretation, and a thorough discussion of proper principles and methodologies involved in interpretation. The goal is to preach biblical passages in a manner consistent with God’s intent. The homiletics component deals practically with sermon preparation and delivery in light of the hermeneutical reference points. Specific texts are analyzed, and sermon guidelines are discussed. This component emphasizes the communication and application of the Word of God today.

The goal of this seminar is to provide a historical overview of preachers and preaching. Particular emphasis will fall upon the spiritual lives of great preachers and their homiletical works.

This seminar seeks to provide the student with an overview of contemporary preachers and their methods of preaching. Students will learn some of the latest means and methods of preparing and delivering sermons.

This seminar focuses on pastoral leadership. Special attention is given to leadership theory, leadership roles, personal leadership development, and equipping leaders. Individuals who excel in specific leadership and administrative areas are used as team teachers.

This seminar focuses on the task of teaching the Word of God. It assumes that teaching correctly comes only from understanding the Word correctly. Accordingly, the seminar has two focuses: hermeneutics and homiletics. The hermeneutics component has a threefold emphasis: a brief synopsis of the history and basic issues in interpretation, a survey of contemporary issues in interpretation, and a thorough discussion of proper principles and methodologies involved in interpretation. All of this is done with a view to teaching biblical passages in a manner consistent with God’s intent. The homiletics component deals practically with lesson preparation and delivery in light of the hermeneutical reference points. Specific texts are analyzed, and lesson guidelines are discussed. This component emphasizes the communication and application of the Word of God today.

This seminar focuses on the development and administration of educational programs within the local church. Special attention is given to the role of education leadership in promoting the growth of the church, approaches to leadership theories, roles, ministries, and training, development of church staff, selection and development of education curriculum, and administrative organization, organization paradigms, and program implementation in the different stages of church growth. Consideration is given to qualifications and duties of staff members, to staff relationships, to the place of each staff member in carrying out the functions of the church, and to choosing curriculum that aids teachers in an effective Bible teaching ministry.

The purpose of this seminar is to provide an increased understanding in the field of pastoral care. Emphasis is given to pastoral care as a ministry of teaching, preaching, and counseling. The seminar integrates biblical, historical, and psychological perspectives in pastoral understanding and care of persons.

This seminar focuses primarily on evangelism from a church growth perspective. Methodologies which are currently producing church growth are presented and evaluated. Models of evangelistic ministry are examined.

The first section studies the elements of life and work on the mission field. Special attention is given to developing contextualized models of ministry to meet the changing paradigms of missions in the 21st century. The second section examines current issues and global trends that impact missions theory, methodology, and strategy.

This seminar is an introduction to the basic concepts of cultural anthropology that have practical relevance to effective missionary communication of the gospel in a culturally heterogeneous world. The course examines marriage, family, and kinship structures, authority and decision-making structures; status, role and function; the life cycle and rites of passage; and other factors relevant to meaningful public confession of Christ and church membership in traditional societies. Special attention is given to the significant features of animism and traditional folk religions, with a focus upon the manner in which traditional religious expressions underlie and permeate even the more developed formal religions such as Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. It is designed to equip practicing cross-cultural missionaries for more effective evangelism and church development among un-reached people groups.

The first section examines interpersonal relationships and offers biblical and practical strategies for relationship building and conflict resolution among families and peers. The second section examines primary areas of ministry stress and the personal formation, development, cultivation, and nurturing of a personal walk with God.

The goal of this seminar is to explore methods of congregational and community exegesis and contemporary models for church revitalization.

In this seminar, participants will examine biblical, theological, and historical aspects as well as current realities in church revitalization.

This seminar focuses on methods and approaches for effectively managing change, power, and conflict within the context of the local church. This will include a study of the effects of change on people and the church. Ways to diffuse the negative reactions people have to change will also be discussed to help leaders make needed changes without raising resistance or conflict. The issue of power will also be explored so church leaders better understand the people dynamics within a church that drive it. Biblical ways of responding to and handling conflict will also be discussed.

This seminar helps discover strategies for leading existing membership into a deeper discipleship that will help them to reach into their surrounding community with the Gospel and make disciples.

This seminar is a foundational course dealing with the need for and the fundamentals of biblical counseling. Attention will be given to an understanding of what nouthetic counseling means and how it differs from the prominent secular and religious counseling models. In addition, the course will address the key elements of the counseling process including data gathering, questioning, homework, giving hope, methods of change, and the role of the Holy Spirit in counseling. Other topics include the sufficiency of Scripture, self-esteem, and counseling failure.

This seminar will deal with the importance of sound theology as it relates to the counseling process. The class will survey the entire scope of theology as it relates to counseling issues and process. The importance of solid exegesis and hermeneutics will also be discussed. Additionally, students will examine the process of training others to be biblical counselors.

The seminar will begin with an overview of the history and current state of the modern biblical counseling movement. Included will be a survey and critique of many Christian counseling teachers, philosophies, and organizations with a special focus on the dangers of integrating secular psychological concepts. Other topics will include legal issues in counseling, counseling in the local church, evaluating counseling resources, the value and process of certification in biblical counseling, and the critical stages in the progression of typical counseling cases.

The seminar consists of an examination of the biblical concept of marriage and the specific Scripture passages that relate. The student will be challenged to lead couples to biblical solutions to marriage conflict. Specific topics include communication, the purpose of marriage, gender roles, the sexual relationship, adultery, finances, raising children, and the dynamics of counseling couples. In addition, the course will include a study of the relevant Scripture passages dealing with the issue of divorce and remarriage with the goal of leading the student to a biblical view of the issue and an application of that view to counseling situations. The course concludes with an examination of specific counseling cases in a church setting.