Higher Certificate IN
THEOLOGY

This course is constructed in order to assist the learner on how to understand and study the Bible.

One of the hindrances to our learning to study the Bible well is the fear that perhaps only certain people are capable of this.

While we are not all called to be teachers, all of us can learn to study the Bible more effectively. In any given group of people there are many who have a real gift of studying and communicating the Scriptures, but who simply lack the training. This becomes clear when one sees the insights which the students come up with from Scripture. The next stage of the process is how to preach what one has discovered, and be astounded by the quality and variety of the sermons produced. Many find themselves touched profoundly by these messages; many of them as good as any that are listened to in churches Sunday by Sunday, except that they lack some of the polish that comes with experience – perhaps a good thing. The students themselves become amazed at what they produce.

It has become our growing conviction that we can all embark on a journey of increasing self- discovery from the Scriptures whether for preaching, leading a Bible Study or personal self-study. Our hope is that you will embark on this journey of discovery in this course, at whatever point you find yourself in the process right now.

The course, Gospel Communication, empowers students with knowledge to preach the Christian Scriptures. We believe that the Bible is God’s Word and must be correctly interpreted and proclaimed by those whom the Lord has gifted. Through a disciplined application of the Word of God, the health and growth of local churches, communities and any nation are made possible. This course is designed to help students to become better preachers of the Word of God in whatever context the Lord has placed them, so that they may become world-changers.

The course is designed to orientate the student to the gift of preaching. This course is designed to apply the lessons learned in the companion discipline within the Biblical Studies program, where exegetical principles are learned. This course helps the student in applying the exegetical principles for communication through the discipline of preaching. Therefore, knowledge of relevant concepts that form the discipline of preaching, such as, the function of sermons, forming sermons, refining sermons, preaching sermons, etc. are included to help the student. All of this is important for preaching the truth of the Word of God to the local church, which forms the Gospel Communication course.

Mission Sending is an integral Course in the field of Missiology within the Mission Sending (NQF 5) certificate program. God the Father is a sending, missionary God, who send Jesus to this world, and Jesus commissions the church to complete the mission of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. The fullness of God participates in the mission. This course aims to define apologetics, evangelism and discipleship and their inter-connectedness in the sending capacity of the local church; from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. This course is exploratory and aims toward broad-based inclusion of relevant subject matter in a way that is challenging practically and engaging intellectually.

Welcome to this course. One cannot really call it a course as no lectures whatsoever are given, yet it requires hard work and discipline to comply with its requirements. All that is needed is reading… and reading… and reading.

We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, and it is the one thing we as ministers (and Christians) cannot (should not) compromise. The Bible is fundamental to all our living, teaching, instruction and equipping. We hold the Bible in high esteem and encourage all our learners to make it central to their life and ministry now and in the future.

Welcome to History of Christianity in South Africa! This is an important and challenging

foundational course at BTC.

It is important because it helps us understand why churches in the South African context

are the way they are. If you do not know the historical background and history in the

context you live you cannot be effectively engage with the people, challenges, and

doctrines when they talk about the past and how their church context has developed.

It is challenging because as you look into the course of South African Church history you

will learn to appreciate the full picture of God’s work through the local church in South Africa.

I hope is that you will cherish the Gospel and use what you learn in this course to share the

Gospel more effectively.