Course objectives
To equip believers in newly responsive areas with a better understanding of the Church and their place in it, in order to make them more effective leaders and followers for the growth of God’s kingdom.
Course description
This course reviews the centrality of the Church Universal in God’s plans for reaching and transforming the world. It not only examines the theological place and importance of the Church, both local and universal, but also covers how it is supposed to function and grow as a closely-knit organism would. Among the subjects studied are God’s covenants with mankind, both old and new, interaction among the believers, church leadership, Christ’s headship of the Church, the believer’s personal commitment to the group and its activities, the sacraments of communion and baptism, the place of spiritual gifting, maintaining unity, and the Church’s future as the bride of Christ.
Learning Outcomes
Content: By the end of the course, the student will be able:
- To comprehend the glory, diversity and universality of the Church.
- To recognise the church as central to God’s plan of salvation.
- To understand the church in the New Testament as an extension of God’s people in the Old Testament.
- To describe Christ’s headship of the church and how the church is his body in the world.
- To recognise the place of the local church within the universal church.
- To understand some essential elements of church life, as well as the Biblical foundation and meaning of the two sacraments instituted by Jesus.
Character: By the end of the course, the student will:
- Embrace the reality of God’s love and care for the church and its centrality to his plans.
- Show a desire to be part of a local church, contributing humbly to its growth and unity.
- Show understanding of Christian community: keeping the bond of unity, humility, forgiveness and forbearance, giving and receiving rebuke in love, with mutual commitment and encouragement.
Competency: By the end of the course, the student will be able:
- To participate in the sacraments in keeping with the theology & practice of one’s church.
- Visualize the Church as the body of Christ, a living and active organism, whose health and growth depends on commitment to and practice of the two greatest commandments, found in Matthew 22:37-39.