Level One Classes
Principles Track: Grounding the Leader in the Word of God
#101 Holy Habits
Oswald Chambers writes, “Never say God’s holiness does not mean what it does mean. It means every part of the life under the scrutiny of God, knowing that the grace of God is sufficient for every detail. Holiness is the characteristic of the man after God’s own heart.” Is your life characterized by seeking God’s heart? Paul’s letters to Timothy contain relevant lessons for living holy lives,
developing holy habits, and training in godliness (I Timothy 4:7b).
This course will help you:
- Gain an understanding of our world/society/culture
- Look into our own lives to discover personal challenges
- Gain insight and practical tools to develop holy habits
- Understand the importance of holy habits in the life of a leader
#102 Unlocking the Scriptures
Anyone can learn the tools and methods to study the Bible well. This workshop will equip you with a step-by-step method for interpreting the Bible which you can then apply to any passage of Scripture.
We will compare various English translations, discuss the different kinds of literature in the Bible, examine historical context, learn how to do word studies, and more. Because the Bible is foundational
to our faith, what could be more practical than learning how to interpret it? This course will help you:
- Enrich your personal Bible study by giving you a deeper understanding of God’s Word
- Equip you to lead Bible studies with greater confidence
- Provide you with practical tools for evangelism and counseling.
#103 From Eden to Jerusalem: A Journey through the Old Testament
People often say that the Old Testament is too difficult to understand and that only the New Testament is relevant for us today. This is not so! In this course you will discover the wonder of
God's story. See how it unfolds in the Old Testament and is being fulfilled in the New Testament. You will learn how the promises God gave to Abraham are central not only to the Old Testament, but
also to Paul's teaching on salvation in Romans and Galatians. We were wonderfully included in God's plan of salvation from the beginning! This course will help you:
- Place the Old Testament books in chronological order and historical context.
- Discover the "big picture" of God's story in the Old Testament.
- Learn how the Old Testament promises are being fulfilled in the New Testament.
- Gain a vision for who we are and how we are to live in light of God's story.
#104 From Jerusalem to Eden: A Journey Through the New Testament
The New Testament continues God's story begun in the Old Testament, explaining how all His promises find fulfillment in Christ. Come walk through the New Testament from the Gospels to Revelation. We will see the intimate relationship between the Old and New Testaments and discover that God's fulfillment of past promises
guarantees He will keep future ones. Our goal is to have a broad grasp of the New Testament, with a view to making sense of the time in which we live and to developing a healthy hope for what God still has in store for His people. Pre-requisite: Course #103 This course will help you:
- Understand how each book fits into the New Testament, and into the Bible as a whole
- Identify the overarching New Testament themes that give us the "big picture" of God's story
- Grasp the unity of the Bible and how important the Old Testament is for understanding the New Testament
- Articulate the gospel message as the New Testament presents it so that you might share the good news with others more dynamically
- Consider how we are to live in light of the promises God has yet to fulfill
People Track: Growing the Leader to Serve Like Christ
#105 Where Have All the Leaders Gone?
One of the greatest challenges facing churches today is the “search for and development” of leaders. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul urges Timothy to entrust the good news “to reliable men who will also be
qualified to teach others.” This principle applies today. In this new millennium, who will carry the message of Jesus Christ to a lost world? Where are the leaders and how do we find them? This course will help you:
- Define leadership and explore the qualities and characteristics of a healthy leader
- Look at unique ways to discover leaders and encourage them to “join the team.”
- Learn how to develop leaders by helping them to deepen their spiritual walk
- Discover ways to encourage them to “make a difference.”
#106 Spiritual Gifts
God calls the Church the "body of Christ" (I Corinthians 12). He declares that every person in it has received ability through the Holy Spirit to minister to other parts of the body, to help reach the world with the Gospel, or to further the purposes and works of God's Kingdom in some distinctive way. In this class we will explore ways in which we can help ourselves and others find that place where we can each be most effective and most fulfilled as we commit ourselves to service for God's glory. This course will help you:
- Study the scriptural basis for the use of spiritual gifts and appreciate their benefits
- Explore some of the differing persuasions regarding spiritual gifts and God's call to unity
- Discuss specific tools and materials to help identify gifts
- Match representative needs and programs with appropriately corresponding gifts
#107 Biblically Balanced Self-Worth for Women in Leadership
In our appearance-obsessed, performance-based world, the voices of our culture and our past can easily drown out God’s voice. As leaders, we may be especially vulnerable. A precarious or performance-based sense of our own self-worth can seriously sabotage our ministry effectiveness. We can also resist God's call to use our gifts in leadership, or our own insecurities can lead to an unhealthy need to prove ourselves. This course will help you:
- Identify the debilitating messages that bombard us and consider the ways we frequently respond
- Explore the biblical basis for our worth
- Discuss practical handles which help us hold on to God's truth and see ourselves as He does
- Reclaim the JOY of living as confident, joyful "daughters of the King"
#108 Knowing When to Refer to a Professional Counselor
All of us in ministry get exposed to situations that are more complex than we can handle. Other situations seem to drain us of all energy. Some leave us feeling very guilty because we just can't give
enough. Some leave us anxious and worried, questioning our faith in God, our ability, or our commitment. These can be indicators that a referral to another professional is in order. This course will help you:
- Set guidelines for determining circumstances which may call for referral
- Address the various responses associated with the referral process
- Look at how this is a part of our commitment to caring for one another in the Body of Christ.
Plan Track: Grooming the Leader for the Work of the Ministry
#109 Designing a Women’s Ministries: Part One
As women, we have a unique place in God’s redemptive plan for His world. A well-organized, biblically-centered women’s ministry in the local church is a significant way to nurture and grow the believer as well as reach our world for Christ. In this inter-active class we will look at how to ascertain God’s plan for your ministry, the importance of godly leadership and how to develop a purposeful ministry. This course will help you:
- Explore the meaning of a biblically “successful” women’s ministry
- Define qualities of godly leadership
- Learn how to create an overall philosophy that energizes your ministry
- Gather resources for further ministry development
#110 Designing a Women’s Ministries: Part Two
Once you clarify vision, purpose, and have laid out a foundational plan, what’s next? In order for a ministry to grow and to thrive, attention must be given to determining the specific needs of your
group. Pre-requisite: Course #109 This course will help you:
- Assess needs to determine priorities
- Develop a workable plan for effective ministry
- Build a team to implement the plan
- Promote the ministry in order to reach others
#111 Designing a Women’s Ministries: Part Three
Is your ministry too inward-focused? Our world is in desperate need of the “good news” of Jesus Christ and provides us many opportunities for reaching out to others in hope and compassion. Let’s get out of our ‘holy huddles!’ We need a strategy to creatively reach women for Christ. This course will help you:
- Evaluate your ministry’s current effectiveness in reaching unbelievers
- Learn how to build on current programming to be more seeker-sensitive
- Strategize on how to compassionately and intentionally reach others for Christ.
# 112 Designing A Women’s Ministries: Part Four
With so many available options for Bible studies, how can we choose the right one(s) to meet the needs of our group? Does one size fit all? The purpose and basic principles of Bible Study are basic;
the methods for studying God’s Word are diverse, as they are influenced by several factors. We will look at a variety of available resources and discuss options for implementation.
This course will help you:
- Investigate different types of studies that are available and suitable for church-based ministry.
- Determine the type of study to best suit specific needs.
- Learn how to maximize spiritual formation and growth in your own church/ministry setting
- Share what has been effective in your local ministry.
Level Two Classes
Principles Track: Grounding the Leader in the Word of God
#201-Unlocking the Scriptures Part 2
There is a wide variety of literature in the Bible, including poetry, historical narrative, parable, prophecy, gospel, and law, each of which contains important clues for interpretation and application. In this session we will explore the differences between these types, and how they effect our understanding of a passage. We will also focus on determining the literary context of a passage and
how this helps us to interpret and apply the scripture. Pre-requisite: Course #102 This course will help you:
- To train individuals and Bible study leaders to interpret and apply the Scriptures with greater confidence and accuracy
- To gain not only information, but to seek transformation by the Spirit through the Word!
#202-Applying Scripture to Life
God promised Moses that he would bless his people, but how does that covenant relate to us today? Is God promising us material blessing in the same way He did in the Old Testament? How does a story in the Old Testament fit into the “big picture” of salvation in the New Testament? Through this course we will study how to apply different parts of the Bible to our daily life. We will study especially, how the Old Testament relates to the New Testament. This course will:
- Help you understand how different parts of the Bible fit into God’s story
- Help you to seek and understand contemporary significance of the Bible text, and learn how to apply the text to our daily life
- Help you to articulate how the Old Testament messages relate to the good news so that you might share the Gospel with others more confidently
#203- A Journey Into God’s Presence: Goats, Bulls and the Lamb of God
The sacrificial system was central to worship in ancient Israel. But what was God doing with all those strange laws and rituals? Why all the slaughtered animals and washings in Leviticus? Come along and find out how the Old Testament wonderfully prepares us for the New Testament! This course will:
- Help you understand the Old Testament priestly system and purity laws, and see how they are fulfilled in the New Testament.
- Provide you with a visual overview of the temple, priesthood and sacrificial system.
- Enrich your devotional life as you learn afresh what it means to enter into God's presence!
#204- A Journey With God's Presence: The Holy Spirit and the Temple of God
The Holy Spirit and the Temple have been the marks of God's presence with his people from Creation on. Even more, God's indwelling Spirit is crucial to Christian living. Still, the Holy Spirit is probably the least understood member of the Trinity. In this course, we will take a walk through the Old and New Testaments to grasp the significance of God's presence through his Spirit and Temple, and make important applications to our own lives and ministries.
This course will:
- Help you understand the unfolding role and ministry of the Holy Spirit from the OT through the NT
- Help you see the practical significance of the fact we are "temples of God", individually and corporately
- Give you a framework for understanding the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life and ministry
People Track: Growing the Leader to Serve Like Christ
#205- Conflict Resolution
Conflict! No matter how fast we run or how much we hide, conflict seems to find us. How can we grow from it? In this class, we will look at the basis for conflict, some scriptural characters in conflict, the consequences of conflict, how to confront conflict, and how to reach common/holy ground. This course will help you:
- Learn about the basis for conflict
- Analyze scriptural characters in conflict
- Consider the consequences of conflict
- Learn how to confront conflict
- Learn how to reach common/holy ground
#206- Understanding Your Personal Calling and Mission
Your Purpose, Your Place--We each have a divine call, a specific purpose, and a unique mission in today's world. Everyone of us is important. Everyone of us has a role in God's plan for this time and place. This course will help you:
- Identify your purpose
- Recognize your God-designed preparation
- Fulfill your call
#207- Learning From Our Differences
Have you ever wondered why some people do things so differently from your way? Do you ever want to just tell them how to do things right? Come learn about how our culture affects every aspect of our life, especially our relationships. This course will help you:
- Recognize differences between cultures and come to value relationships more than culture
- Learn what culture is and how it functions in our societies
- Identify their own cultural beliefs, values and behaviors
- Learn the way their culture affects their relationships
- Modify their behavior as they relate to those who are different from them
#208- Women Impacting Women
In this day of information and resource overload, the simplicity of Jesus’ strategy for making disciples is refreshing. He taught the crowd to build relationships by training and coaching the twelve to become a team, and mentored three for leadership. Jesus showed us by His example, that training, coaching, and mentoring played a large role in developing his disciples. He taught them how to win the lost, grow disciples and multiply leaders. The early church was built on that foundation. Using Christ’s example, we will discover how to implement a coaching and mentoring strategy that creates exponential growth. This course will help you:
- Develop people not programs
- Understand the relational impact of coaching and mentoring
- Implement a coaching and mentoring strategy that creates exponential growth
Plan Track: Grooming the Leader for the Work of the Ministry
#209-Building a Team that will Last
Creating, building, and sustaining a dynamic team requires prayer, purpose, process, and persistence. The environment for growth and health must first be established in an atmosphere of trust, grace, and redemption. Healthy teams grow people in relationship. Learn how to work through the process to a strategy based on Ephesians 4:11-16.
This course will help you:
- Understand the basic culture of “team.”
- Identify the characteristics of a healthy team.
- Explore methods of connection and development of team.
- Mobilize the team for effectiveness.
#210- Basic Training: Evaluation and Administration
In order to position your women’s ministries for further growth and effectiveness, the need for consistent evaluation is imperative. Are you asking the right questions to allow this process to make a significant impact on your ministry? Further, having a flexible yet organized structure will allow for continued growth and facilitate your overall ministry. This class will help you:
- Design a workable structure for your ministry that will accommodate growth
- Consider using a variety of tools to aid you in your process of evaluation and administration.
- Develop a plan for evaluation within your ministry
#211- Planning an Effective Retreat/ Event and Making it Happen!
Initiating an idea for a special event or a retreat is one thing. It takes a team to carry it out! Prayer, Purpose, a workable Plan, Preparation, Promotion and Presentation are essentials in creating a
special ministry to women. It isn't enough to secure the site and set the date. Learn how to use the tools you have developed to accomplish your mission. "Building a Team that will Last" is a desired prerequisite to this course. In this class you will learn:
- How to establish the purpose and develop a plan for your retreat/event.
- Assemble and utilize a team to implement the purpose and plan.
- Develop tools to equip the team to carry out the retreat/event.
- Practical helps in making your retreat/event most effective and meaningful
- Evaluating and long term planning techniques.
#212 Caring Connections
Our relational God has made us to be relational people who long to be connected with others in meaningful ways. In addition to finding ways to connect women in the church with each other, your women's ministry can be designed to reach out and connect with women who do not yet have a relationship with Christ. Learn how to develop caring ministries that women will change their schedules for, and in the process learn about a God who loves them. In this class you will learn:
- How to map current ministries in the church to determine how well they are providing relational ministry.
- Cover the five motivators that encourage women from the church as well as the community to participate in a woman's ministry program.
- Learn about the various ministry options that match these motivators.
Back to the Women's Ministries Homepage.
In today’s rapidly changing culture, women have unique needs that require a varied and perceptive approach to ministry. No matter what their season of life they need opportunities to grow spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. Because of their strategic involvement in the home, workplace and community, women are able to contribute significantly in reaching our world for Christ. Women are key to God’s plan for evangelism and discipleship.
Mission Statement: Our passion is to develop women in servant leadership for the equipping of God’s church and the enlarging of His Kingdom.
Acknowledging our prayerful dependence upon the Lord:
