1. Every potential candidate seeking admission into the School must submit a completed application and list of references.

2. Subsequent to application submittal and review, every applicant being considered for admission will undergo a thorough oral examination by the Board of Elders of Sovereign Grace Community Church. The purpose for this examination is to provide an initial assessment of the gifts and calling of the applicant as they pertain to the work of the gospel ministry, together with an examination of his doctrine and practice. Admission into the program is contingent upon the appraisal of the applicant by the elders of Sovereign Grace Community Church, and the final decision for admission resides with them.

3. Because of the nature of the School and its program, initial admission is probationary. This affords both the student and the School a period of examination and proving. Subsequent to this probationary period, and at the recommendation of the Board of Elders, the student will be formally matriculated into the School.

4. Each applicant accepted into the School must agree to place himself under the oversight of the Board of Elders of Sovereign Grace Community Church.

1. Most importantly, continuance in the School and final completion of the program will be dependent upon the student manifesting observable spiritual growth and conduct in the development of his spiritual graces and gifts for the gospel ministry. While the elders of Sovereign Grace Community Church are committed to give all diligence to the assistance, encouragement, and exhortation of students, any man who fails at any time to meet the spiritual requirements of the program will be dismissed.

2. Being inseparable from the spiritual development of the student, all academic requirements of the course of study must be met in an acceptable manner, including the timely completion of all assignments, examinations, etc. Students who are able to demonstrate competence in a particular area of study may be exempted from the related course work. The faculty of the School will make the final determination regarding all such exemptions. Failure to complete assignments or courses, or an evident inability to maintain the pace of the program will result in the dismissal of the student.

* In addition, every student will be required to complete a senior project involving a thorough exegetical and theological examination of an approved Old or New Testament book or specific area of biblical study.

1. Hermeneutics: The goal of this course is to provide the student with the tools and principles required for sound biblical interpretation. Different hermeneutical approaches and presuppositions will be examined, with the course emphasis being given to a redemptive historical approach to the grammatical-historical method of interpretation.

2. Principles of Logic: This course is intended to provide the student with a fundamental understanding of the principles of logic as they pertain to the exegetical study of the Bible and the fallacies commonly associated with it.

1. Greek I: This one year course has as its content the fundamentals of New Testament Greek grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. Additionally, there will be selected readings and translation exercises from the New Testament. The final assignment is the translation of the entire first epistle of John.

2. Greek II: This course provides further instruction in grammar, syntax, Greek idioms, etc. intended to enhance the student’s understanding of case usage, the various aspects of verbal constructions, participle usage, parts of speech, etc. in preparation for Greek exegesis. Coursework will include the fundamentals of diagrammatical analysis together with introductory exegetical exercises from selected passages of the New Testament.

3. New Testament Exegesis I: This is the first of two required Greek exegesis courses. The goal of this course is to develop the ability to apply the acquired skills in Greek grammar and syntax to the exegesis of the New Testament text. The course will consist of the application of sound exegetical methods to selected passages from the epistle of James with the goal of preparing three expository messages. Successful course completion includes the formal delivery of one of the three prepared messages.

4. New Testament Exegesis II: This course is the follow-on to N.T. Exegesis 1 and is intended to further enhance the student’s New Testament Greek exegetical skills. The exegesis work will be accomplished using passages taken from the epistle to the Hebrews. This course also requires the preparation of three expository messages with one of the three to be formally delivered.

1. Hebrew I: Course content is the fundamentals of Old Testament Hebrew grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. Included in the instruction will be selected readings and translation exercises from the Hebrew Old Testament.

2. Hebrew II: This course provides further instruction in intermediate/advanced Old Testament Hebrew grammar and syntax, and will therefore build upon the knowledge acquired in the Hebrew I course. Numerous readings and translation exercises are part of the course material.

3. Old Testament Exegesis I: The goal of this course is to effectively apply acquired Hebrew grammar and syntax skills to the accurate exegesis of the text of the Old Testament. In addition to exegeting several Old Testament passages of differing genre, the student will be required to prepare an expository message for each assigned text.

4. Old Testament Exegesis II: This course is the follow-on to OT Exegesis I. It is intended to further the student’s skill in handling the Old Testament text through the exegesis of additional genre of Hebrew literature. The student will be required to prepare an expository message for each assigned text and formally deliver one of the messages.

1. Old Testament Survey and Introduction: The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the Old Testament scriptures from a redemptive historical standpoint. The framework for the course will be the biblical covenants as they pertain to the outworking of God’s redemptive purpose in the Old Testament economy.

2. Old Testament Biblical Theology I: Introduction to the discipline of Biblical Theology. This first course will examine redemptive history as viewed from the standpoint of the biblical covenants up to the ratification of the Mosaic Covenant at Mount Sinai.

3. Old Testament Biblical Theology II: This course is the follow-on to O.T. Biblical Theology I and deals specifically with the substance and significance of the Mosaic Covenant: 1) as the basis of the covenantal relationship between God and His chosen nation of Israel, 2) as an ordained instrument within God’s purpose in redemptive history.

1. New Testament Survey and Introduction: The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the New Testament scriptures. Topics will include an overview of the intertestamental period, the Canon of the New Testament, and New Testament textual criticism. It will also provide an introductory overview and survey of the four gospel accounts, the book of Acts, the Pauline and General Epistles, and the Apocalypse of John.

2. New Testament Biblical Theology I and II: These courses will examine redemptive history as it reached its pinnacle in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, the establishment of the New Covenant, and the emergence of the Church. Topics include the earthly ministry of Christ, various aspects of the New Covenant, the significance of Pentecost, the identity of the Church, the apostolic gospel, and the various issues of consummative eschatology.

1. Historical Theology I: This course will cover the history of Christianity from its first century origin until the sacral transformation of the Church associated with the reign of Constantine. Specific topics include Christianity in the Graeco-Roman world, early ecclesiology, the theology of the Church Fathers, and early heresies and controversies.

2. Historical Theology II: This second course in the series will examine the history of the Christian Church during the Medieval Period from the fourth century up to the Reformation. Topics include the institutionalization of the Church under Constantine and its progressive perversion as a sacral entity, Medieval heresies, the Scholastics, and the precursors to the Reformation.

3. Historical Theology III: This course will focus on the Protestant Continental Reformation. The lives and doctrine of the primary reformers will be examined, together with an in-depth assessment of the soteriology, anthropology, theology, bibliology, and ecclesiology of the Reformation. Other important topics such as sacramental differences, sacralism, and the Anabaptists will also be covered.

4. Historical Theology IV: Concerned with post-Reformation Christianity, areas of study will include the English Puritans, covenant theology, and Classical and Evangelical Arminianism. Early American Christianity will also be addressed, including the ministries and doctrine of such men as George Whitefield, John Wesley, Charles Finney, and Jonathan Edwards.

1. Theology Proper: The doctrine of God, this course is a focused, concentrated examination of the incommunicable and communicable attributes (perfections) of God as taught in the context of the Scripture. The course approach is systematically structured so as to be polemical rather than apologetic, and is designed to be a foundational course for all theological study.

2. Anthropology: The doctrine of man, this course covers the creation of man in the image of God, his original innocence and standing, the nature and consequence of the Fall including the imputation of Adam’s sin, man’s depravity and the issues of original and actual sin.

3. Soteriology: The doctrine of salvation, areas of study include God’s sovereignty in salvation, His eternal redemptive purpose expressed in election and predestination, the universal and effectual call, faith and repentance, regeneration, conversion, sanctification, the preservation and perseverance of the saints, and Christian assurance.

4. Christology: The doctrine of Christ, this course examines God’s redemptive plan as expressed in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Study topics include the revelation of Christ throughout redemptive history in the covenants and the prophets, His deity, incarnation, Messianic office and ministry. Special emphasis will be given to His redemptive work including His humiliation, vicarious atoning death, resurrection, and exaltation.

5. Pneumatology: The doctrine of the Holy Spirit, the areas of emphasis include the deity and personality of the Spirit as the third member of the Holy Trinity, the role and work of the Spirit in salvation, sanctification, and preservation, the gifts of the Spirit and their necessity, manifestation and use, and the coming of the Spirit under the New Covenant.

6. Ecclesiology: The doctrine of the Church, this course will examine the biblical teaching concerning the Church as the Body of Christ. Emphasis will be given to its nature, origin, and destiny, its character and structure, its role in society and relationship to other divinely ordained institutions such as civil government and the family.

7. Eschatology: The doctrine of last things, the emphasis will be upon the culmination of redemptive history. The course will present an overview of the various historical and theological positions surrounding the end times, unfulfilled prophecy, and the return of Christ, including the eschatological distinctives of covenantal and dispensational theology and the hermeneutical presuppositions that undergird them.

1. The Biblical Pastor: A course in what has been referred to historically as "experimental theology," the subject material deals with the Christian pastor as a man of God. Topics include private prayer and personal devotions, progression in holiness and true piety, pastoral leadership in the Church, and the pastor’s domestic life including the spiritual nurture and oversight of his family.

2. Biblical Preaching 1: This course provides an introduction to the discipline of biblical preaching. A definition of biblical preaching will be developed, different types of sermons will be described, and the constituent parts will be defined and examined. Finally, the process for developing, writing, and delivering a sermon will be addressed.

3. Biblical Preaching 2: As the follow-on to Biblical Preaching 1, this course involves the actual preparation and delivery of the various types of sermons including topical, textual, and consecutive expository.

4. Biblical Counseling: This course addresses the pastoral role of biblical counselor. The various aspects of this pastoral function will be examined including the principles, practices and process of biblical counseling. The fallacies and dangers of integrating psychological premises with biblical principles in counseling will also be examined.

5. The Biblical Church: This course will examine the practical function and mandate of the local church. It is intended to take the biblical principles learned in Ecclesiology and apply them to specific issues in the life and administration of local church bodies. Topics to be addressed include the formal assembly, biblical worship, the sacraments, pastoral oversight, church government, the practice of church discipline, and the extent and scope of biblical ministry.

6. Study Methodologies: Both computer-based and written tools and materials designed for biblical study will described and presented in this course. Additionally, the various elements that comprise a good study method will be emphasized. This course is preeminently "hands-on" and will allow the student to personally interact with computer-based tools.

Successful completion of the course of study requires the submittal and acceptance of a formal research project. The substance of the project is the complete exegetical and theological analysis of a book of the Bible or a biblical topic to be approved by the School. The senior project is intended to be the student’s capstone work and must therefore draw upon and demonstrate proficiency in every area of his biblical, exegetical and theological training.

1. Biblical Evangelism: The believer’s mandate to evangelize the lost and the means by which it is accomplished are the emphasis of this course. Topics will include the substance of the biblical gospel, evangelistic theology, and both the individual’s and Church’s role in evangelism.

2. Apologetics: This course addresses the nature and role of biblical apologetics. Students will examine various views concerning apologetics, and both valid and faulty apologetic principles and presuppositions toward the development of a biblical apologetic methodology.

3. Christian Ethics: An examination of important and prominent ethical issues facing the Church of Christ today.

4. Puritan Theology: This course provides an overview of the distinctive elements of Puritan theology. Emphasis will be given to the origins and history of the Puritan movement in sixteenth and seventeenth century England together with the cultural and theological differences among the English Puritans. American Puritanism, and particularly its influence in the Great Awakening, will also be addressed.

5. Revivalistic Theology: The history of revivalism, the character and evidence of true revival, and the theology and influence of various personalities associated with revival movements are the covered topics.

6. Modern Cults and Aberrant Movements: Several modern cultic movements and their theologies will be examined including the Church of Latter-Day Saints, the Nation of Islam, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Additionally, the course will address the teachings of other pseudo-Christian groups such as the word-faith movement, Christian Science, and the Unity School of Christianity.

7. Major World Religions: This course examines the historical roots, theology, and cultural outworking of several of the world’s major religious systems including Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

8. Contemporary Christianity: The emphasis of this course is twentieth century phenomena and trends in American Christianity. Topics include the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements, ecumenism, contextualization, and the Church Growth Movement.