Discipleship
DISC 5302 (3-3-0) Biblical Servant Leadership
(CHST 4312)
This course will explore the practice of leadership from a biblical servant leader point of view and the various styles of leadership. Students will be encouraged to develop a personal set of leadership principles reflecting those of a servant. Considerations will also be given to developing people skills, team-building skills, and conflict management skills.
Students must take this course during their first year in the program. This 5000-level course is cross-listed with a 4000-level course and includes specific graduate course requirements which reflect appropriate deeper learning experiences and rigor in the higher-level course.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer, Online.
DISC 5310 (3-3-0) Small Group Ministry Leadership
(CHST 4310)
This course is designed to provide a thorough introduction to small group ministry design and practice. The design and practice of a small group ministry includes the biblical, historical, sociological, and organizational foundations of small group ministry. The various approaches to group content, function of roles and support structures, and best practices for assimilation, multiplication, evaluation, and assessment employed in the local church are addressed in the context of practical implementation strategies. This 5000-level course is cross-listed with a 4000-level course and includes specific graduate course requirements which reflect appropriate deeper learning experiences and rigor in the higher-level course.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Spring.
DISC 6301 (3-3-0) Christian Education in the Local Church
This course provides an overview of the field of Christian education as a means for making disciples through the local church: including a theological and philosophical foundation, basic concepts and models, organization, and methods. Consideration will be given to current church practices and to developing a criterion for building a Great Commission-driven teaching ministry for all age groups in the local church.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Online.
DISC 6302 (3-3-0) Biblical Strategies for Discipleship
This course examines the Scriptures, history, and current church practice to identify intentional strategies for making and maturing disciples of Jesus Christ. Emphasis will be focused on defining essential terms, relating the practices of the church to disciple-making functions, and exploring the varying environments and relationships through which disciples are matured most effectively.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Online.
DISC 6304 (3-3-0) Principles for Bible Teaching
This course explores the teaching/learning process in the context of biblical instruction, with an emphasis on small group environments, and for the purpose of developing effective teachers who will, in turn, lead disciples to greater knowledge of and obedience to the word of God. Topics include models and methods of study and instruction, the learning process, curricular development and design, and lesson planning and presentation.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Online.
DISC 6307 (3-3-0) Church and Business Administration
This course reviews the philosophy and principles of church and business administration in relationship to ministry objectives. Areas considered in the study are: functional areas of church administration, preparing of a constitution and by-laws, church organization, planning, church staff development, staff meetings, office management, finances, facilities, food services, insurance, and legal issues related to personnel, taxes, and the security of children and others involved in church ministry.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer, Online.
DISC 6308 (3-3-0) Disciple-Making through Evangelism and Missions
This course will focus on the role of evangelism, missions, and growth in the education ministry of the church. It will include a study of church growth principles and their application in education ministry. Students will formulate an understanding of the plan of salvation and share their personal testimony through witnessing and teaching evangelistically. Missions and mission development will be examined through the venues of the local church, community, and distant settings. Some attention will be given to contemporary and innovative church growth methodologies and their role in Christian education.
Requisites: None
Offered: Spring, Online.
DISC 6309 (3-3-0) Equipping Disciples for Ministry (S-L)
This course will examine the role of the church leader in making disciples through equipping ministry volunteers in the local church and other related Christian ministries. Areas of focus include: volunteering in contemporary society and the church, recruiting, developing, empowering, and leading volunteers for ministry effectiveness. This course contains a field-based service-learning component.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall, Spring.
DISC 6314 (3-3-0) Ministry with Adults
This course is designed to help students identify foundational issues of effective educational ministries with adults (married and single) in the local church. Adult developmental theories, ministries, programs, and educational approaches appropriate with adults will be included. Special attention will be given to reaching adults for Christ, church membership and ministry involvement.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Online, Periodically.
DISC 6315 (3-3-0) Ministry with Senior Adults
This course is a study of the characteristics, needs, and potential of later adulthood. A review of biblical and theological foundation for senior adult ministry will be considered. Special emphasis will be given to church and education programming for ministry with seniors.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Periodically, Online.
DISC 6317 (3-3-0) Biblical Foundation and Models for Small Group Ministry
The student will explore models of Christian Education small group ministries, develop a biblical philosophy for small group ministry, and consider the multi-level relationship that must exist between the home church and the respective small group ministry relative to curriculum, leadership, and other resources.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Periodically.
DISC 6318 (3-3-0) Equipping and Nurturing Small Group Leaders
The student will gain knowledge and skills for enlisting, organizing, developing, leading, and training leaders of small group ministries.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Periodically.
DISC 6355 (3-3-0) Recreation Ministry in the Church
This is a survey class designed to help students learn how to develop a comprehensive recreation ministry for the local church. This course will include an overview of various recreational elements including but not limited to sports and games, physical fitness, camping, adventure recreation, drama, interpretive movement, clowning, puppetry, and crafts. Special attention will be given to a philosophy of church recreation and ministry as well as to the work of the recreation minister in a local church. In addition, students will explore church recreation administration and discover the benefits of a recreation program that meets the needs of various age-groups in the local church.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Online, Periodically.
DISC 6360 (3-3-0) Communication Strategies for Ministry
Course will cover effective communication channels used in the church and denominational ministry. It will provide overview of the kinds of communication strategies such as verbal, print, art, drama, radio, television/film, multimedia, the Internet, and more. The course will also explore the process of communication analysis, internal and external audience communication, and include readings from various Christian publications as well as speaking and writing assignments in various contests.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Fall.
DISC 6361 (3-3-0) Writing and Editing for Christian Publishing
This course will help equip students in basic forms of writing for non-academic, general Christian communication, and curriculum as well as academic journals. Students will also evaluate various forms of Christian journalism and publishing. Focus will be given to improving writing and editing skills, writing for religious audiences, and understanding the publishing process. Students will write and edit a variety of pieces including opinion, editorial, devotionals, academic journal articles, feature articles, as well as developing, writing, and editing curriculum.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Spring.
DISC 6362 (3-3-0) Christian Public Relations and Marketing for Ministry
The course will cover the principles, techniques, and tools of church public relations, including the role of publicity in the church and community. Learners will have an opportunity to develop a public relations campaign for a church or Christian ministry. In addition, the course will cover the functions of marketing for the local church and denomination from producer to consumer. The course will include market analysis, planning a promotional campaign, and selecting a method of distribution.
Requisites: None.
Offered: Periodically.