Course Descriptions

Getting Started Class: Reproducible Walk With God and Christian Basics  CLI Professors (7 credits) 

This course gets you started. This course is the core orientation to Christian Leaders Institute (CLI), where you meet some of the leaders of CLI and get your computer ready for study.  You will also learn about discipleship, evangelism and basic biblical doctrine. This course secures your scholarship. You will study how to get a reproducible walk with God!  After you complete this class you will have full standing at Christian Leaders Institute and you will receive your first certificate, the “Christian Basics Certificate. ”

Old Testament Survey  Dr. David Graves and Dr. David Feddes  (3 credits )

This class explores God’s Word in the Old Testament, paying particular attention to literary, historical, and theological dimensions. Your ministry  will benefit from Old Testament Survey.

New Testament Survey   Rev. Pedro Aviles, Dr. Jeff Weima, Dr. David Feddes
Supervisor: Dr. David Feddes  (3 credits)

This course explores God’s Word in the New Testament, paying particular attention to literary, historical, and theological dimensions. Your ministry will benefit from New Testament Survey.

Church History  Dr. David Feddes  (4 credits)

(Outside Books Needed)
The church is almost 2000 years old. A significant ministry training emphasis is church history. This course looks at major events and key persons in the history of the Christian church. Such study helps you to see God’s faithfulness in the past and to better understand the church’s present challenges and opportunities.

Pastoral Care and Marriage  Rev. Henry Reyenga Jr. Brian DeCook, Dr. Drew Brown  (3 credits)

This ministry training course is essential for being an effective pastor. This course will cover listening skills, important relationship boundaries, conflict resolution, marriage issues including preparing couples for marriage. This important ministry training course can be taken with your spouse if you have one.

Church and Ministry  Rev. Henry Reyenga Jr. (3 credits) (No Outside Books Required)

This ministry training core course explores some key aspects of pastoring a church: praying, setting priorities, training other leaders, delegating, visiting, handling pressure, and more. It also offers guidance for dealing with important transitional events, such as baptisms, weddings, and funerals.

Systematic Theology I  Dr. David Feddes  (4 credits)

Important for ministry training is sound doctrine. This course considers core biblical doctrines about God, humanity, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and salvation. (Can be taken either before or after Systematic Theology II)

Systematic Theology II  Dr. David Feddes  (3 credits)

Ministry training must include understanding of sound doctrine. This course considers core biblical doctrines about Scripture, the church, and the future. (Can be taken either before or after Systematic Theology I)

Preaching Methods  Rev. Steve Elzinga  (3 credits)

This class aims to help you “fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Tim 1:6) in order to proclaim the Word faithfully and effectively. Areas of emphasis include: (1) blending accurate biblical interpretation with contemporary relevance; (2) preaching as an overflow of personal holiness; (3) sharpening communication skills; and (4) integrating weekly preaching at church with daily Bible reading by the congregation at home. This is a core ministry training class that will enhance your ministry. This course also gives some basic instruction on worship issues as well.

Christian Ethics  Dr. David Feddes (3 Credits)

(Outside Book Required)
This course focuses on living according to God’s pattern for you.  You will study biblical commands and their wise application to various life situations. You will expose demonic strategies of temptation and learn about spiritual warfare. You will seek ways to express the Christ-life within you by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Hermeneutics and Exegesis  Dr. David Feddes, Dr. Jeff Weima, and Dr. David Graves  (3 credits)

How to interpret the Bible is an advance part of your ministry training. This course deals with key issues in how to interpret the Bible. Students learn steps for studying a passage and practice using various study tools, including computer software, to become more skilled in understanding biblical passages and preparing sermons.

Christian Apologetics  Dr. Voddie Baucham and Dr. David Feddes (3 credits)

This ministry training course is designed to introduce students to basic issues in apologetics (defending and contending for the faith). The course will emphasize Biblical Worldview and Cultural Apologetics, the application of apologetics to contemporary cultural issues.

Sermon Construction and Presentation  Rev. Henry Reyenga ( 4 Credits)

This preaching class will strengthen your preaching as you learn basics of communication, study how to prepare and preach sermons, and watch a variety of preachers and teachers in action. You will access teaching from preachers and communicators from all over the world. You will do two messages in this course. The course is will also meet preaching core requirements.

Missions and Revivals Dr. Bruce Ballast and Dr. David Feddes (4 credits)

In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. (Acts 19:20) This class looks at mighty things the Holy Spirit has done at various times and places, causing the church to grow in holiness, power, and numbers. By examining major mission advances and revivals, we gain insights for mission and revival in our own time and place. This class will examine the gospel cultivation cycle to give insights in how to spread the growth of Christianity everywhere. You will see how important your Bible School training is for sustainable revival.

Biblical Greek I  Dr. David Feddes  (4 credits)

This is the first in a sequence of three courses on the basics of New Testament Greek. This course takes your ministry training deeper as you study the original language the New Testament was written in.

Biblical Greek II  Dr. David Feddes  (4 credits)

This is the second in a sequence of three courses on the basics of New Testament Greek. This course takes your ministry training deeper as you study the original language the New Testament was written in.

Biblical Greek III  Dr. David Feddes  (4 credits)

This is the third in a sequence of three courses on the basics of New Testament Greek. When you make it this far in your Biblical Greek expertise, you will be able to read the New Testament in Greek.

Personal and Family Godliness  Rev. Joel Miller  (3 credits)

An important part of your ministry training is a walk with God that is worth reproducing, and a family life that is worth multiplying.