Course Descriptions - Word of Life Bible Institute

Freshman Bible Survey

Old Testament Survey BSHG101
This course conducts an overview of the Bible from Genesis to Malachi. Pertinent background and introductory material is covered. The theme and main teaching of each book are considered. The particular contribution of each book to the Canon is noted. Time permitting, difficult or vital passages of each book are explained.
45 clock hours

New Testament Survey BSHG103
This course conducts an overview of the Bible from Matthew to Revelation. Pertinent background and introductory material is covered. The theme and main teaching of each book are considered. The particular contribution of each book to the Canon is noted. Time permitting, difficult or vital passages of each book are explained.
45 clock hours

Freshman General Courses

Christian Disciplines PRTH101-104
A minimum of 225 hours each semester are spent in a variety of required activities designated to cultivate and mature each student in a godly fashion. Students must complete these components in each semester of their studies. Approximately 50% of the grade will be objective. The rest is subjective: evaluations by the Deans, Resident Assistants, other students and the student himself. The student is trained in the areas of quiet time, prayer, personal evangelism, testimonies, Sunday school lessons, and devotional talks. In the fall, the students are prepared for witnessing with weekend seminars by experienced evangelists. During the first half of the fall semester, the students are led on witnessing trips by the staff. The student body is then divided into several ministry groups: Choir, Open Air Evangelism, Local Church Ministries, Children’s Ministry Teams, Spanish Outreaches, etc. This course provides a tool for the staff counselor and a measuring stick for the student to gauge his character as observed through the eyes of others. Included in these hours are quiet time (a personal time of intense Biblical reflection: 2.5 hours per week), devotions (observed recitation time: 1.5 hours per week), chapel (less formal lecture time addressing a wide range of current or pertinent issues: 2 hours per week), worship (structured services with student participation in various aspects of traditional worship services: 3 hours per week), work assignment (supervised training addressing market-place skills and attitudes: six to eight hours per week) and Scripture memory (recitation time testing the student’s mastery of assigned verses).
225 clock hours per semester

Church History CHHI102
One week is given to tracing the conflict between God and Satan throughout human history. Two weeks are spent in providing the outline of church history. The student will gain an appreciation for the faithful personalities of the past, aspiring to learn more and become more like them.
31.5 clock hours

Daniel & Revelation BIBL167
Daniel: Many of the foundations of Dispensationalism can be traced to this book. Special attention is devoted to the role of a strong testimony in a decadent society.

Revelation: The signs and symbols of this prophetic book are presented within a dispensational framework.
31.5 clock hours

Personal Evangelism & Acts EVAN102
Personal Evangelism--Ten lectures are provided by a prominent specialist in the field. Also included are three hours of supervised practical experience in actual evangelistic settings.

Acts – In twenty lectures the start of the Church is traced and the evangelistic techniques of the Apostles are emphasized.
31.5 clock hours

Summer Institute of Camping – CHCA101-103
This ministry provides ten weeks of intensive practical training and experience in the operation of a Christian camp. Two semester-hours are awarded for the counseling classes, two semester-hours for counseling experience, and two semester-hours for First Aid or two hours for supervisory skills.
400 clock hours (class and practicum)

Freshman NT Exposition

General Epistles BIBL160
The student will study either 1 Peter or 2 Peter/Jude plus James and Hebrews. 1 Peter reveals the heart of Peter and exhorts believers to endure in the Christian life. 2 Peter and Jude emphasize the dangers of personal and corporate apostasy. James is a personal challenge to a pure Christian life. Hebrews is a masterful explanation of the superiority of Christ as taught in light of the background of the book of Leviticus. The New Covenant is a major emphasis.
31.5 clock hours

Gospels Exposition BIBL175
The student will study Matthew for twenty lectures and then either ten lectures in John or the Passion Week of the Life of Christ. In Matthew the life and ministry of Christ is studied from the Jewish perspective. In John the Life of Christ will be presented with an emphasis on why John expected Jews and Gentiles to believe in Jesus of Nazareth. In the Passion Week, ten class sessions will cover the events of the last week of the life of Christ. Background and calendar issues will be discussed. The physical, social, and spiritual suffering of Christ will be analyzed leading to a renewed appreciation of Christ’s love for us.
31.5 clock hours

Pastoral Epistles & Counseling BIBL180
Pastoral Epistles – In twenty lectures 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus are taught with the goal of showing the exegetical basis for church organization and function. Special emphasis is placed on the qualifications for elders and deacons.

Introduction to Biblical Counseling – Ten lectures will be invested developing a biblical basis for counseling and giving guidance in the counseling process. The Nouthetic model of Biblical Counseling is explained and promoted.
31.5 clock hours

Pauline Epistles BIBL185
Galatians – Ten lectures are devoted to this Epistle which provides warnings against the dangers of mixing works with grace, and challenges believers to godly Christian living through the power of the indwelling Spirit.

1 Corinthians – Ten lectures are devoted to this Epistle which addresses several problem areas for the Church. Paul’s view on the proper use of spiritual gifts is a major emphasis.

Philippians – Ten lectures are devoted to this Epistle which is a word of encouragement and comfort expressing how believers can pattern their thinking and behavior after Jesus Christ and find lasting joy and contentment.

Romans BIBL145A
Romans is the classic treatise on justification by faith. Students will be able to use select verses from Romans in soul-winning. Emphasis is placed on Israel’s relationship to the Church. Students will also recognize the practical results of justification in Christian life and service.
30 clock hours

Freshman OT Exposition

Old Testament Exposition I BIBL170
Genesis 1-11 – Ten lectures will place special emphasis is placed on the literal interpretation of Genesis 1-11. Students are introduced to the four key events of early human history: Creation, The Fall, The Flood and The Tower of Babel.

Ezra – Ten lectures will be spent examining the spiritual leadership principles found in Ezra.

Leviticus – In ten lectures a thorough description of the Old Testament sacrificial system and religious practices connected with the holy days are presented.

Judges – Judges may be substituted for Ezra some years. In the book of Judges, the spiritual decline of Israel under the judges is noted.
31.5 clock hours

Old Testament Exposition II BIBL171
Ecclesiastes— Ten lectures will be spent examining a piece of Old Testament wisdom literature which provides surprisingly contemporary evaluations of the cycles of life and the futility of living apart from the divine point of view.

Creation Seminar – Ten lectures will be spent studying the Biblical and scientific foundations for a creationist view of origins.

Ezra – Some years Ezra will be substituted for the Creation Seminar. Ten lectures will be spent examining the spiritual leadership principles found in Ezra.
Proverbs – The student is introduced to Old Testament wisdom literature in ten lectures. Proverbs is a source of practical, relevant wisdom for everyday life and interpersonal relationships.
31.5 clock hours

Freshman Theology

Theology I THEO101
This course includes Theology Proper, Bibliology, Anthropology, and Christology.
45 clock hours

Theology II THEO102
This course includes Soteriology, Angelology, Pneumatology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology.
46.5 clock hours

Physical Education

Physical Education I, II, III, IV PHED101-102; 201-202
A weekly gym class plus aerobics is required for all students. Students may sign up for hiking, mountain biking, sailing, horsemanship, bowling, advanced first aid and CPR, PE 101, weight training, snowboarding, skiing, and other activities.
15 hours per semester

Sophomore Communications

Bible Study Methods COMM208A
This course is designed to introduce the student to the basic principles of Biblical research. The various Bible study tools and methods will be taught. The skills learned in this course will be used in the Homiletics and Public Speaking Courses.
30 clock hours

Homiletics/Public Speaking COMM201/202
Male students will become familiar with the various types of sermons including the topical, textual and topical/textual. Expositional preaching will be emphasized. The various parts of a sermon will be discussed. Female students will learn how to prepare Bible presentations for Sunday school class, Ladies’ Bible studies and other speaking opportunities. Both male and female students will prepare their own sermons/lessons.
30 clock hours

Sophomore Exposition Courses

Old Testament Exposition III BIBL270
Genesis 12-50 – Ten lectures will be invested developing God’s dealings with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

Nehemiah – The student is introduced to the last historical book of the Old Testament. The godly life and leadership ability of Nehemiah is emphasized in ten lectures.

Zechariah -- The motivational aspects of rebuilding the Temple will be the background for the fantastic visions of Judah’s future in ten lectures.
31.5 clock hours

NT Exposition BIBL275
1, 2, 3 John – These books have been chosen for their contribution to practical Christian living. There will be a detailed exposition of these timely Epistles. The students will be taken verse-by-verse through the three books.

2 Corinthians – Ten lectures will be spent evaluating the Christian’s life and ministry principles in this Epistle from the Apostle Paul.

Thessalonians – Twenty-five lectures will be invested in the exposition of Thessalonians, a valuable study because of the debate over the pretribulational rapture theory. The two epistles also have many practical exhortations for successful church service and the Christian life.
46 clock hours

Sophomore General Courses

Marriage, Family & the Home YTHC214
Christian Manhood/Womanhood: Ten lectures will be in split sessions with the men studying “The Man of God” and the women studying “The Woman of God.”

Marriage and Family: Ten lectures will be invested in a discussion of the Biblical standards for marriage and family life.

Life Transitions: Ten lectures will be devoted to a consideration of the next steps in life for the student including discussions of choosing their next college and degree program, student aid, the consideration of seminary or graduate school, creating resumes, applying for jobs, establishing a routine that considers personal growth, family life, community life, ministry and employment. Some years a Personal Finances module will substitute for the Life Transitions lectures.

Personal Finances: Ten lectures preparing the student for creating a personal budget and managing their finances with a view to the special needs of fulltime Christian workers, particularly those who raise support.
31.5 clock hours

Youth Work YTHC213
Thirty lectures from the following potential topics will be combined for this course.

Biblical Philosophy of Ministry – Ten lectures devoted to the principles developed by Word of Life Clubs for ministering to young people in the local church.

Developing Youth Leaders – Ten lectures considering successful church youth programs. Specific attention will be given to the training of lay-leaders for youth ministry in the local church. The course will be practical in nature, and will expose the student to working models and “best practices” of effective local church youth ministries. Topics: a) Recruitment of Leaders, b) Expectations of Leaders, c) Placement of Leaders, and d) Training of Leaders.

History of Christian Education – Ten lectures providing an overview of the historical development of Christian Education.

Children’s Ministries –Ten lectures providing insight into the learning styles and learning needs of children at various stages of development.

Youth in the Local Church—Ten lectures considering the role of youth work in the local church, the special needs of young people and the Biblical principles to meet those needs in the context of the local church.
31.5 clock hours

Evangelizing Monotheists EVAN203
This course is designed to explore principles for evangelistic work among monotheists. Ten lectures will be devoted to each of the following: Jewish evangelism, Islamic evangelism, and evangelism among Roman Catholics.
31.5 clock hours

Missions MISS207
History of Missions: Ten class lectures will include a general survey of the history of missions with special emphasis on the last 150 years and the student volunteer movement.

Missionary Realities: This course, and a 10-day international trip coordinated through the WOL Reachout Department, is designed to help prepare WOLBI sophomores for a life of service to the Lord. In addition, the course will prepare students for the task of evangelism and discipleship through a combination of classroom teaching and actual field experience. Assignments will include: creation of a prayer letter, church presentations, displays, daily journal, 1000 word report, a ten-question missionary interview, and a performance evaluation completed by the staff member overseeing the trip.
30.5 clock hours

Sophomore Practical Theology

Practical Theology I PRTH216
Discipleship – Ten lectures will emphasize the need for and techniques of directive Biblical counseling. It will also demonstrate the importance of one-on-one discipleship. Models of discipleship will be studied with practical principles for discipleship in a local church structure.

Leadership – This series of ten lectures starts with an examination of Biblical leadership principles. These will be applied to people management, time management, and team building. The emphasis will be on how to develop esprit de corps, staff loyalty, cooperation, and positive attitudes for an atmosphere conducive to individual effort, creativity, and success.

Prayer—Ten lectures will be devoted to an exegetical and topical evaluation of the Bible’s teaching on prayer.
31.5 clock hours

Practical Theology II PRTH217A, B
Organization and Administration of the Local Church –Twenty lectures will be taught by a pastor who has first-hand knowledge of the structure, organization, and operation of a local church. It will include a discussion of the role of pastors, elders, deacons, and lay leadership. The various departments of the local church will be described in relation to a chain of command and organizational chart. The relationship of the Christian day school to the youth program of the church will be considered. During the second ten lectures female students will separate for lectures on women’s ministries. The women’s lecturer will investigate the various ministry opportunities for women in the local church and in society. She will discuss the biblical principles and practical steps to take to participate in these various ministries.

Counseling Youth – Ten lectures will emphasize counseling issues unique to young people and the Biblical principles that apply to those situations.
31.5 clock hours

Spiritual Disciplines PRTH 219
Evangelistic Public Speaking – Ten lectures for both men and women on the design, delivery, and techniques of evangelistic public speaking.

Revival—Ten lectures tracking the history of significant revivals, Biblical principles for revival and the application of those principles to individuals, families, local churches, communities and the nation.

Spiritual Gifts – In ten lectures students study how to identify and develop spiritual gifts.
31.5 clock hours

Youth Ministries or Missions Internship – PRTH310
This course consists of 20 hours of ministry per week for 10 weeks, one book report, Scripture memory, and a written evaluation of the experience.
200 clock hours

Sophomore Theology

Apologetics & World Views THEO219
Apologetics: Twenty lectures will be invested in the Theology of Evangelism: How should we approach the secular mind with the claims of Christ? In this topic we will investigate the various models of Christian Apologetics: rational, semi-rational and presuppositional; concluding with support for the presuppositional approach. Various “rational” presentations will be considered for the sake of “pre-evangelism” such as: the historicity of Scriptures, Jesus Christ and His resurrection; prophecy and the law of averages; and the contribution of archaeology.

Cults & World Religions: Twenty six lectures will be invested in a study of the cults and world views youth workers may face while ministering with young people. This study will include Jehovah Witnesses, Mormonism, Moonies, Hare Krishna, the New Age Movement, and five lectures on the non-monotheistic World Religions.
46 clock hours

Contemporary Issues THEO220
This course will deal with the “Issues” of the 21^st century. Ten lectures will be dedicated to an analysis of the charismatic movement. Ten lectures will be dedicated to Postmodernism and the Emerging Church. These lectures are designed as an introductory study of postmodernism and some of its cultural, social, moral, and spiritual implications. The working hypothesis of the course is that the postmodern thinking presents new cultural, social, moral and spiritual challenges for the Christian. These lectures examine the development of postmodernism and its logical conclusions. They will especially focus on the theory of Moral Relativism. These lectures will also examine the nature and the challenges of the emergent church movement which is heavily influenced by postmodern culture. A final ten lectures will be spent discussing the history of fundamentalism, liberalism, neo-orthodoxy and neo-evangelicalism. Also discussed will be: abortion, sexual addictions, divorce and remarriage, the KJV debate, inter-racial marriages, the role of women in the church, the Christian and social responsibility, pacifism, and Christian standards.
31.5 clock hours

Dispensationalism THEO211
The Christian philosophy of history will be discussed and the dispensational system of interpretation presented as the best way to understand God’s program on planet Earth, both for the “The Church” and “Israel.”
30 clock hours

Hermeneutics THEO212
This course deals extensively with the science and art of biblical interpretation. It surveys the major schools of interpretation, including a historical study of their rise and influence on the church. There will also be discussions of theological methodology – how hermeneutical and exegetical considerations inform the development of systematic theology.
30 clock hours

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