This course guides students through an intensive biblical study of the New Testament in identifying the essential marks of the church. Students will explore the characteristics of the church as demonstrated primarily through Acts and the epistles. Additionally, students will evaluate the health of a local church.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

There are approximately 350,000 churches in the United States alone. According to a North American Mission Board study, 85% of the churches in North America are experiencing plateau or decline. Church leaders today need to understand the Biblical basis for a strong and dynamic ministry to overcome the challenges the church faces today. Once a good Biblical basis is established, the church needs to practice the good habits of a Biblical church to impact today’s world.

Textbook Readings and Lecture Presentations/Notes

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. 

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will participate in 2 Discussions that will consist of a thread and 2 replies in response to the provided prompt. Each thread must be at least 400 words and must cite 2 scholarly sources in current Turabian format to support the content in the thread. Each reply must be at least 200 words. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E)

Written Assignments (5)

The Written Assignments will address the critical areas related to the philosophy, principles and practices of a Biblical Church. Each assignment must be at least 5 pages and must utilize at least 5 scholarly sources. Each paper must be in current Turabian format. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E)

Research Paper Assignment

The Research paper will be a detailed explanation of the Biblical foundations, the core principles and philosophy, the language, the goals and verifiers of a Biblical Church. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E)