Get Equipped
to reach the nations
Practically-engaging, theologically-robust courses in your community
The Training You've Been Missing
Like many people in your shoes, the dream of taking in-person Bible, theology, and missions courses from trusted professors has never been possible.
I'm Not Equipped
Ever tried to lead a Sunday School class or Bible study but didn’t feel fully equipped?
I'm Not Prepared
Ever wanted to take an in-depth course on the Old Testament or basic doctrines?
I'm Not Ready
Ever desired to learn more about global missions or how to better engage your community with the Gospel?
ACCESSIBLE THEOLOGICAL TRAINING
Your Opportunity Is Here.
Affordable
No need to take a loan out to pay for tuition, we’ve made this as inexpensive as possible
Theologically-Robust
Serious, seminary-level training from pastor-scholars who know their stuff, and will push you
Practically- Engaging
Courses that connect sound doctrine to real life, so you can thrive in the places God puts you
In-Person
Engage with your Instructor and other students face-to-face, not through a screen
Passionate About
Equipping You
For Faithful Obedience
Our teaching fellows are theologians, missiologists,
and Christian leaders who are committed to the local church.
We know that sometimes there’s a disconnect between formal theological training and the day-to-day mission God has called you to. That’s why our classes are taught by practitioners—to make sure you’re equipped to confidently serve wherever God leads—whether that’s in your local church as a Bible study leader or deacon, or on a church planting team here or around the world.
Take an Individual Class
Or Get a Certificate
Spend some time below and look to see what classes and certificate programs are right for you.
Certificate in Theological Foundations
Creation, Covenants, and Christ: An Introduction to the Old Testament (3 hrs)
The Christ, the Cross, and the Church: An Introduction to the New Testament (3 hrs)
From Eden to Eternity: The Grand Narrative of Scripture (3 hrs)
The Good Confession: What Christians Believe (3 hrs)
The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings point to Jesus, Son of David and Son of God. This course will survey the Old Testament with a focus on its theological emphases. Attention will be given to the historical background, purpose, message, structure, and themes of each Old Testament book, with an eye toward understanding the promises God both makes and keeps through his Son.
As of first importance, the New Testament unfolds the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. This course will survey the New Testament with a focus on its theological emphases. Attention will be given to the historical background, authorship, provenance, audience, purpose, and themes of each NT book, in order to understand how the gospel of the kingdom of God shapes the church and its mission.
Every sentence of the Bible must be understood in light of the whole. This course will explore the grand narrative of Scripture, tracing the work of God as it unfolds in creation, the fall, redemption, and finally in the consummation and restoration of all things in the new creation. Other themes (e.g., the King and the kingdom, law and grace, the true God versus idols, worship and the sanctuary, justice and judgment) will also be considered.
What comes into our minds when we think about God and his works is the most important thing about us. This course will survey foundational Christian doctrines in order to understand and preserve the faith once for all delivered to the saints. The doctrines of God, Scripture, humanity, sin, Christ, salvation, the Holy Spirit, the church, angels, and the last things will be studied, all with an eye toward deepening loving devotion and witness to the triune God.
Certificate in Missions & the Church
Mission and Foundations of the Local Church
(3 hrs)
The Church: Gathered, Governed, and Led (Biblical Ecclesiology) (3 hrs)
Engaging Neighborhoods with the Gospel (3 hrs)
Engaging the Nations with the Gospel (3 hrs)
God didn’t create a mission for the church to accomplish. He created a church to accomplish his mission. This course will evaluate various ancient and contemporary models of the church and its mission before developing a biblical vision for the church’s mission that is informed by a strong ecclesiology, highlighting ways in which the church’s mission is both centrifugal and centripetal.
The church of Jesus Christ should reflect the very character of God. Far from being pragmatic and incidental, then, the leadership and organization of the church is profoundly significant. This course will explore the doctrine of the church, giving attention to the church’s essence and nature and asking who belongs to it, how it is governed and led, and what symbols shape and bind it together, with an eye toward strengthening churches who will display and declare the gospel.
Missions begins not by crossing oceans, but by crossing the street. The course will examine how healthy local churches engage their communities with the gospel. Attention will be given to cultivating cultures of evangelism, hospitality, and discipling, planting and revitalizing other churches, and reaching unreached peoples in order to impact lostness.
The nations will be glad and shout for joy in God, but gospel witness comes first. The course will study how healthy local churches—both international and domestic—reach the unreached and multiply disciples and churches for the glory of God. The difference between church-centered and movement-driven missions will be examined.
Certificate in Ministry Leadership
Gospel-Driven Ministry and Leadership (3 hrs)
Discipling and Developing Leaders
(3 hrs)
Christ-Centered Biblical Interpretation and Teaching (3 hrs)
Collaborative Local Mission (3 hrs)
A leader’s sufficiency is Christ and his gospel—not himself. This course will explore how the gospel shapes every aspect of ministry, from leading yourself to leading others. It will confront the dangers of ministry leadership and cast vision both for personal soul care and intentional congregational shepherding, with the aim of forming leaders who preach, pray, love, and stay with their churches and/or ministries.
The church grows strong when leaders entrust what they have learned to faithful people who will be able to teach others also. This course will have a twin focus on fostering a disciple-making culture and raising up leaders within the local church. It will explore how to teach, correct, and model the faith to others—with humility and love—while advancing trust and delegating responsibility in order to develop leaders.
In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Taking that thesis seriously, this course will equip students to interpret the Scriptures rightly and teach them to others, such that Christ is magnified. Attention will be given to biblical genres, the cruciality of context, language (grammar, syntax, words, fallacies), and finally, responsibly teaching Christ from every text in the Bible, corresponding to its place within the grand redemptive narrative of Scripture.
The kingdom of God is bigger than any single local church. This course will explore how churches, fueled by trust, friendship, and likemindedness, can partner together for gospel work in their community and abroad. Collaborative strategies for church revitalization and church planting, as well as mobilizing and sending for mission, will be studied.
Find the Track That's
Right for You
We offer three tracks to meet your needs—no matter where you’re serving or starting from.
Graduate Certificate
In Theological Foundations, Missions & the Church, or Ministry Leadership
Designed for: pastors, church staff members, vocational Christian workers
Our Graduate Certificates consist of seminary-level coursework equivalent to the Masters level. Students
completing work at this level have the opportunity to transfer credits to our seminary and graduate school
partners in order to continue their education and receive an accredited graduate degree from those
institutions. To complete coursework and earn a Graduate Certificate, students will read a minimum of 800
pages (from a combination of books, book chapters, journal articles and web media) and write a minimum of
twelve pages in each of their courses.
Undergraduate Certificate
In Theological Foundations, Missions & the Church, or Ministry Leadership
Designed for: gap-year students, college students
Our Undergraduate Certificates consist of undergraduate-level coursework equivalent to the Bachelors level.
Students completing work at this level have the opportunity to transfer credits to our undergraduate
partners in order to continue their education and receive an accredited undergraduate degree from those
institutions. To complete coursework and earn an Undergraduate Certificate, students will read a minimum
of 400 pages (from a combination of books, book chapters, journal articles and web media) and write a
minimum of eight pages in each of their courses.
Equip Certificate
In Theological Foundations, Missions & the Church, or Ministry Leadership
Designed for: elders, deacons, ministry leaders, faithful church members
Our Equip Certificates are designed for those who desire a seminary-level experience but who don’t seek a
certificate that may transfer to an accredited degree. Though we believe the greatest benefit comes to
students committed to the discipline of reading widely and writing extensively, we know this may not be
practical for every season of life. This certificate track offers a chance to sit in the same seminary-level
classes and receive the same learning experience, but with reduced requirements. Students will read the
main text as designated by the instructor and write a one-page reflection on it.
Your Next Steps
There are no prerequisites required to take a class, just fill out our quick and easy online application form to get started.
Register.
Fill out a quick form.
Attend.
Classes that are engaging and
in-person.
Apply what you’ve learned to your life, church, and community.
Serve.
Select.
The learning track that is right for you.
Why We Exist
We are passionate about accessible
theological education
Christians need to be better equipped theologically. And while books, podcasts, conferences, and online courses abound, they fail to provide the kind of cohesive framework needed for theological formation.
Most Christians truly want to be better trained, but traditional models for that training are often out of reach. And that’s frustrating for the pastors, ministry leaders, and faithful church members who want to equip others (and get equipped themselves), but don’t have access to training that is both practically engaging and theologically robust. With so many well-trained pastors and theologians, there ought to be a way for Christians to get the theological training they’re looking for.
The Institute for Theology and Mission exists to provide practical theological training that is rooted in Scripture, oriented toward missions, and is centered on the local church. We offer courses that equip men and women for life and mission, so that they can serve the local church faithfully and fulfill the Great Commission.
Students can take standalone courses or earn a graduate-level certificate by taking multiple courses in a specific subject area.
