INTENTION BEHIND ESSENTIALS
When Jesus first called His disciples, His words were, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). He spoke of two roles: following Him and calling other people to follow Him. We want our church family to be marked by these same two commitments. People who follow Jesus are people who love Him, who enjoy spending time with Him, who know His teaching and pattern of life and seek to live according to His will. They also understand that this commitment must not stop with them. Like their Savior, they invest time with others and say to them, as Paul did in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, as I imitate Christ.”
The elders at Grace Church are committed to doing everything we can to equip you to do these things. With that in mind, we are pleased to offer the Biblical Essentials Certificate Program. Participants in this three-year long program will study God’s Word from cover to cover. Experienced teachers will help you engage your mind in the study of Scripture and theology, all with the purpose of engaging your heart to know and worship God and participate in His mission for the world. We heartily encourage you to consider taking part in this opportunity.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Biblical Essentials Certificate is designed as a three-year program beginning with Old Testament Survey. Classes are offered on Thursday evenings during the school year on our church campus from 6:30 – 8:00pm. Terms are six to seven weeks long with breaks in between and/or for holidays. Each term is $50. Registration for a full year is available in the summer. Full year registrants receive a $50 discount off the entire year's cost. You can also register term by term as registrations become available throughout the year. Email Steve Doucette with any questions.
Frequently ASKED
Who is this program for?
This program is designed for those who attend Grace Church of Simi Valley and who desire to expand their knowledge of the Scriptures in order to be more effective in local church ministry. It is geared for all adults.
Is there homework?
Most of the homework will be reading through the Bible. An instructor does have the freedom to assign some short, supplemental reading as well as a short writing assignment, but this is on rare occasion.
Are there requirements for attendance?
We understand that you may not be able to attend every class and expect there may be a few nights throughout the year that you may have to miss. Please let your instructor know when you will be gone so you can work out a way to get the notes and/or recording of the class.
Who is teaching?
These classes will be taught by a variety of staff and lay leaders in our church who have been trained in higher Christian education and who are faithfully serving in the church.
The Biblical Essentials Program begins with a 31-week study through the Old Testament. While often neglected, the Old Testament provides incredible insights into the character of God and lays the foundation for understanding the way the Lord has worked through human history in preparation for the advent of Jesus Christ. The first term provides an introduction to the program before unpacking the significance of the five books of Moses. Term 2 continues by tracing God’s faithfulness in the unfolding of Israel’s history through the exile and return. Terms 3 and 4 walk students through the Major and Minor Prophets before year one concludes with a study of the Wisdom books.
OT SURVEY TERMS:
- The Pentateuch
- History of Israel
- Major Prophets
- Minor Prophets
- Wisdom Literature
The second year of the Biblical Essentials Program spends 31 weeks unpacking the establishment of the church through the New Testament. These books not only provide critical instruction for the lives of believers today but also help us understand the role and purpose of the church as we move towards the Lord’s return. This course opens with a survey of the Life of Christ through the four gospel accounts and the book of Acts. Terms 2 and 3 cover most of the Pauline Epistles while Terms 4 unpacks what are usually referred to as the General Epistles. The final term looks at the book of Revelation and a few of the other epistles which address components of the End Times.
NT SURVEY TERMS:
- Life of Christ
- Pauline Epistles Part 1
- Pauline Epistles Part 2
- General Epistles
- Revelations & End Time Epistles
With the foundations of both Bible Survey courses, the third year of Biblical Essentials shifts to focus on Christian Theology. Following Wayne Grudem’s Bible Doctrine book as a guide, this year seeks to format weekly discussions around various components of basic Systematic Theology. Term 1 will cover Bibliology (the study of the Bible), Theology Proper (the study of God Himself), and Angelology (the study of angels). Term 2 addresses Anthropology (the study of man) and Christology (the study of Christ). Term 3 covers Soteriology (the study of salvation) while Term 4 delves into Ecclesiology (the study of the church) and Pneumatology (the study of the Holy Spirit). Term 5 concludes by looking at Eschatology (the study of end times).
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY TERMS:
- Bibliology & Theology
- Anthropology
- Soteriology
- Ecclesiology & Pneumatology
- Eschatology