Educational Ministries Course Descriptions

An introduction to the Pentateuch and the Historical Books of the Old Testament with special reference to background, historical setting, literary composition, theology and message. After successfully completing this course, the student should be able to demonstrate a knowledge of background issues which introduce one to the study of various concepts of the Old Testament, the historical milieu of each Old Testament book studied, the purpose and general content of each Old Testament book studied, the use of the Old Testament in modern ministry, and the foundation the Old Testament provides for the New Testament. Three hours.

An introduction to the Poetic and Prophetic books of the Old Testament with special reference to background, historical setting, literary composition, theology and message. After successfully completing this course, the student should be able to demonstrate a knowledge of background issues which introduce one to the study of various concepts of the Old Testament, the historical milieu of each Old Testament book studied, the purpose and general content of each Old Testament book studied, the use of the Old Testament in modern ministry, and the foundation the Old Testament provides for the New Testament. Three hours.

This course introduces the New Testament with special reference to background, historical setting, literary composition, theology, and message. After successfully completing this course, the student should be able to demonstrate a knowledge of background issues which introduce one to the study of various concepts of the New Testament, the historical milieu of each New Testament book studied, the purpose and general content of each New Testament book studied, the relationship between the New and Old Testaments, and the use of the New Testament in modern ministry. Three hours.

Students will seek to discover what transpired in Christianity from the 1st century to modern times in order to understand what Christianity is in the present. They will identify the major events, personalities, and theological issues, both Western and non-Western, that shaped the development of Christianity. They will appreciate the challenges that the church faced as it matured in history, and they will gain perspective on the challenges still facing the church today. Prerequisite: BIB1050. This is an upper level course available to juniors and seniors. It is also offered at a graduate level. Three hours.

Students will explore the various dynamics that converge to produce maturity in the life of a Christian. They will seek to construct a theory of spiritual formation based on a practical knowledge of God, a realistic awareness of self, a full-orbed understanding of pertinent scriptural insights, and a historical perspective of various approaches to spirituality. They will examine the necessity of the integration of the individual pursuit of spiritual maturity with the corporate dimension. The approach of the course will include practical application along with classroom discussion and outside research. Prerequisite: BIB 2010. Three hours.

Students will identify the central affirmations of Christianity that distinguish orthodoxy from heresy, heterodoxy, liberalism, and neo-orthodoxy. Students will be able to support each defining doctrine from Scripture. The role of creeds, church councils, and doctrinal statements in defining and preserving orthodoxy will be explored. Students will appreciate the diversity within Christian orthodoxy, while the central affirmations are preserved. Prerequisite: BIB1050. Three hours.

This is 3-credit course that explores the biblical basis and theological framework of humanity as “image bearers”. It teaches students how to understand culture, engage current moral conversations, and effectively communicate their faith in contemporary and intercultural contexts.

Students will identify the central affirmations of Christianity that distinguish orthodoxy from heresy, heterodoxy, liberalism, and neo-orthodoxy. Students will be able to support each defining doctrine from Scripture. The role of creeds, church councils, and doctrinal statements in defining and preserving orthodoxy will be explored. Students will appreciate the diversity within Christian orthodoxy, while the central affirmations are preserved. Prerequisite: BIB1050. Three hours.

This course is designed to facilitate senior level students in the application of theory to ministry practice. The learner will be challenged to integrate biblical/theological knowledge gained in a variety of courses together with specialized research that pertains to specific ministry issues. Three hours.

Theoretical principles of interpersonal communication and conflict management skills will be applied to ministry settings in order to equip the learner to work more effectively with a variety of people in diverse settings. Through course material, individual reflection, and small group experiences, learners will explore the biblical foundations of relationships, personal relating style, small group dynamics and roles, and conflict management skills. The focus of this course contains principles for evaluating relational maturity, elements that help and hinder spiritual community and skills for dealing with conflict in healthy ways utilizing effective communication skills necessary for personal and ministerial development. Three units.

This course exposes students to learning theories and educational practices that can be applied to ministry settings. Learning theories help teachers understand how humans acquire new knowledge and embrace truth for transformational life change. This course will address not only inner processes that bring about growth, but also the environmental and social influences that can either promote or hinder wholistic learning that results in biblical wisdom.

This course looks at the life of Jesus to learn from Him as the Master Teacher, Leader and Discipler. Students will explore Scripture and the lives of other godly men and women to gain a composite picture of leadership that addresses heart issues in the lives of people they will lead. Leadership from a biblical perspective will be countercultural and address issues of pride vs. humility, how we view failure/success and taking initiative in a Spirit-driven process. Students will have the opportunity for hands on integration of theory with practice as they process the course concepts in life with others in a relational context of ministry.

This is an applied learning course that requires students to gain supervised, hands-on experience in a ministry setting. Students complete a minimum of 3 credit hours while applying biblical principles and teaching strategies to real-world educational and leadership contexts.

Students will seek to discover what transpired in Christianity from the 1st century to modern times in order to understand what Christianity is in the present. They will identify the major events, personalities, and theological issues, both Western and non-Western, that shaped the development of Christianity. They will appreciate the challenges that the church faced as it matured in history, and they will gain perspective on the challenges still facing the church today. Prerequisite: BIB1050. This is an upper level course available to juniors and seniors. It is also offered at a graduate level. Three hours.

Students will explore the theological methods and presuppositions practiced by the diversity of theological systems. Students will seek answers to questions such as, how is presuppositional apologetics different from evidential apologetics. How is systematic theology different from biblical theology? How is dispensational theology different from covenant theology? How is reformed theology different from Armenian theology? How is progressive dispensationalism different from classic dispensationalism? Students will study the methods and presuppositions of leading theologians, from the Apostle Paul to the present. Prerequisite: BIB1050. This is an upper level course available to juniors and seniors. It is also offered at a graduate level. Three hours.

Students will seek to understand how people thought, communicated, and lived in the ancient world during the OT, NT and Intertestamental Periods. Special emphasis will be placed on key people groups and political, cultural, theological, and literary developments that form the background to the Bible. Students will learn to use insights from geography, cultural anthropology, archaeology, sociology, philosophy, politics, literature, and history for the interpretation of Scripture in light of the history and culture of the people to whom it was addressed. Three hours.

This course is designed to provide instruction and experience in the process of communicating God’s truth to people through the avenues commonly referred to as “teaching” and “preaching.” It introduces a functional methodology of organizing and developing the components of sermons, and examines issues related to the bridging of exegesis and exposition. It also explores some of the elements of how to “connect” with contemporary audiences and maintain their attention. Learning will be accomplished through (a) classroom instruction, dialogue, and group activities and (b) a preaching/teaching lab experience. This lab experience is intended to provide an environment where the student may gain benevolent feedback while perfecting skills in the oral presentation of biblical truth. Prerequisites: COM1100, BIB1050 and BIB2010. Three hours.

This is an upper-level course that surveys major non-Christian religious traditions from an evangelical, biblically grounded perspective. Three hours.

This is a 3-credit hour undergraduate course at Grace College that examines the belief systems, symbols, and rituals of major religions originating and concentrated in the Middle East. The course focuses on comparative religious studies and provides practical guidance for effective ministry and witness to these groups.

This is a foundational 3-credit course. It provides a comprehensive overview of the global missionary enterprise, covering the history, theology, and strategy of Christian missions, as well as essential concepts for cultural adaptation.

This is a 3-credit course designed to explore foundational leadership concepts. It bridges theory and practice, focusing on developing essential leadership skills, building team environments, and understanding how different styles of leadership impact organizations and groups.

An examination of the theory, processes, and applications of small group communication. Specific topics of consideration include leadership, roles, norms, decision making, problem solving, group cohesiveness, management of member participation and conflict management.

A survey of various applications of communication theory to business and organizational life. Special emphasis is given to small groups, interviewing skills, and persuasive proposals. Three hours.

An overview of the sources, formats, and features of persuasion. Students analyze persuasion in political, religious, advertising, and everyday rhetorical settings. They also examine the nature of effective and ineffective persuasion. Students will make persuasive presentations.

This course is designed to give the student a theoretical and practical understanding of addictive disorders. The topics covered in this class will include sexual, gambling and other addictive disorders. In addition, this course will examine the addictive process and relevant treatment issues in working with a variety of addictive disorders.

This course develops a theoretical base for evaluating human problems within a biblical framework. Once this has been accomplished, practical techniques will be discussed to help counselors structure the counseling session and implement change.

An introduction to the profession of teaching. Learning experiences are structured both in and out of the classroom with the purpose of assisting the college student in making career decisions.

This course examines the learner across all grade levels, covering factors influencing education, such as learning theories, environment, and development. It also includes academic assessment and emphasizes practical application.

SED 2400 introduces prospective educators to identifying and assisting children with exceptionalities, covering legal requirements, classroom adaptations, and services for diverse learning environments.

SED 2500 uses a cooperative, facilitator-led approach to explore diversity, culture, and socioeconomic factors in education. Through discussions, writing, and research, students examine topics such as multicultural education, race, religion, gender, and social class within school environments in Indiana and surrounding regions.

SED 2600 provides a research-based foundation for classroom instruction and assessment, covering topics such as learning theory, instructional planning, and methods for improving student motivation.

SED 2210 equips educators with strategies for responsive instruction, focusing on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), differentiation, and multi-tiered systems within general education to support all learners. The course emphasizes using assessment data to guide instruction, alongside integrating technology and culturally responsive teaching practices.

The Intercultural Communication course examines the principles of communicating effectively across cultural boundaries. It equips students with the cultural competency, sensitivity, and theological framework needed to share the Gospel, navigate differences, and build meaningful relationships with diverse, global audiences.