Christian Ministry

Christian Ministry Program Overview

The Christian Ministry faculty of Missouri Baptist University desires to assist churches in developing leaders with Christ-like characteristics so that they can extend Christ-like influence, by providing majors, minors, and certificates which are foundational and practical. This course of study has been designed in an effort to emphasize applicability to life, orientation toward the church, and fidelity to the biblical revelation. In accordance with the mission statement of Missouri Baptist University and the academic program, the Christian Ministry faculty provides curriculum leading to general education and degree requirements as well as major and minor programs of study in the disciplines of Christian Ministry, Ministry and Leadership, and Religion.

Applicability to Life: The intellectual discipline of theology has often been separated from the experience of human life which is lived before God. The ultimate concern of theology should be with God in his relationship with humans, and thus with human life as it is lived before God, hence one’s life as lived unto God. Theological study should involve not only correct thinking about God but also good living before God. It should involve a consideration of the question, “How can we use what we learn to glorify God, to live well before him, to do his will, to cause his name to be honored in the world, and to enjoy him?”

Orientation toward the Church: Theological study has been relegated to the academy and is often divorced from the life of the church. At a distance of two millennia from the New Testament era, there may indeed be a need for special training for those who minister the Word of God; but the New Testament itself does not envision any locus for such training apart from the local congregation. In a time when professionalization and academic credentials are emphasized, the study of theology needs to be undertaken as an adjunct of church life, with a concern for the church, and with the goal of feeding theological truth back into the church.

Fidelity to the Biblical Revelation: Modern theological study has often taken its cues from the surrounding culture instead of occupying the ground established by divine revelation and thus speaking an alien word to the culture. In recent times this has meant surrendering the concept of “truth” and acceding to the relativism of modern thought, relegating “religion” to the realm of subjective personal preference. In contrast, the core of a common Christian theology must be seen as the expression of divinely- revealed truth, valid for and making claims upon all people.

Christian Ministry Bachelor’s Requirements

The Christian Ministry Major must take CPHI 203 and CPHI 213 as part of their General Education Requirements.
The Christian Ministry Major must take CBIB 213, CBIB 223, CBLA 210, CBLA 214, and CBLA 224 as part of their Bachelor of Arts Requirements.
The Christian Ministry Major must minor in either Apologetic Studies, Biblical Counseling, Biblical Studies, Church Planting, Family Ministry, Intercultural Studies, or Pastoral Studies; but may not minor in Christian Ministry.
REQUIRED BIBLICAL LANGUAGES COURSES
CBLA 313 – Intermediate New Testament Greek
CBLA 323 – Advanced New Testament Greek
Total: 6 Hours
REQUIRED BIBLICAL STUDIES COURSES
CBIB 313 – Advanced Old Testament 1
CBIB 323 – Advanced Old Testament 2
CBIB 333 – Advanced New Testament 1
CBIB 343 – Advanced New Testament 2
Total: 12 Hours
REQUIRED CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COURSES
CSCE 303 – Missions and Mercy
CSCE 343 – Discipleship and Evangelism: Leading in Spiritual Formation
Total: 6 Hours
REQUIRED CHRISTIAN HISTORY COURSES
CMHS 303 – The Role of Baptists in American History
CMHS 313 – History of Christianity
Total: 6 Hours
REQUIRED CHRISTIAN MINISTRY COURSES
CSCM 303 – God and Humanity
CSCM 333 – Redemption and Reconciliation
Total: 6 Hours
REQUIRED CAPSTONE COURSE
The following courses will be taken simultaneously in the last Spring Semester.
CEWL 473 – Christian Ministry Internship
CSCM 423/523 – Theology of Christian Ministry
Total: 6 Hours

Minor Requirements

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY MINOR
CBIB 443 – Biblical Hermeneutics
CSCE 273 – Foundations for Christian Ministry
CSCE 303 – Missions and Mercy
CSCE 343 – Discipleship and Evangelism: Leading in Spiritual Formation
CSCM 303 – God and Humanity
CSCM 333 – Redemption and Reconciliation
CSCM 423/523 – Theology of Christian Ministry

APOLOGETIC STUDIES MINOR
CBIB 443 – Biblical Hermeneutics
CPHI 413/513 – Christian Ethics
CPHI 433/533 – World Religions (MOTR RELG 100)
CPHS 433/533 – Contemporary World Views
CSCE 273 – Foundations for Christian Ministry
CSCE 343 – Discipleship and Evangelism: Leading in Spiritual Formation
ENCP 433/533 – C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien

BIBLICAL COUNSELING MINOR
CBIB 443 – Biblical Hermeneutics
CMPS 423/523 – Pastoral Counseling and Care Giving
CSCE 273 – Foundations for Christian Ministry
CSCE 343 – Discipleship and Evangelism: Leading in Spiritual Formation
CSCE 423/523 – Basics of Biblical Counseling
CSCM 433/533 – Principles of Pastoral Ministry
PSCM 433/533 – Psychology Of Moral/Spiritual Development

BIBLICAL STUDIES MINOR
CBIB 313 – Advanced Old Testament 1
CBIB 323 – Advanced Old Testament 2
CBIB 333 – Advanced New Testament 1
CBIB 343 – Advanced New Testament 2
CBIB 443 – Biblical Hermeneutics
CSCE 273 – Foundations for Christian Ministry
CSCE 343 – Discipleship and Evangelism: Leading in Spiritual Formation

CHURCH PLANTING MINOR
CBIB 443 – Biblical Hermeneutics
CSCE 273 – Foundations for Christian Ministry
CSCE 343 – Discipleship and Evangelism: Leading in Spiritual Formation
CSCP 403/503 – The Philosophical and Scriptural Foundations of Church Planting
CSCP 433/533 – Church Planting Methods
CSCP 443/543 – Gospel-Centered Cultural Engagement
CSCP 453/553 – Disciple Making in the Church

CHURCH REVITALIZATION MINOR
CBIB 443 – Biblical Hermeneutics
CSCE 273 – Foundations for Christian Ministry
CSCE 343 – Discipleship and Evangelism: Leading in Spiritual Formation
CSCM 433/533 – Principles of Pastoral Ministry
CSCP 443/543 – Gospel-Centered Cultural Engagement
CSCR 413/513 – Church Revitalization Strategies
CSCR 473/573 – Church Revitalization Internship

FAMILY MINISTRY MINOR
CBIB 443 – Biblical Hermeneutics
CSCE 273 – Foundations for Christian Ministry
CSCE 343 – Discipleship and Evangelism: Leading in Spiritual Formation
CSFM 413/513 – Leading a Ministry to Families
CSFM 423/523 – Youth Education in the Church
CSFM 433/533 – Youth and Media
CSFM 443/543 – Issues in Family Ministry

INTERCULTURAL STUDIES MINOR
CBIB 443 – Biblical Hermeneutics
CSCE 273 – Foundations for Christian Ministry
CSCE 343 – Discipleship and Evangelism: Leading in Spiritual Formation
CSCE 483/583 – Storying and Discipling Cross-Culturally
CSCP 403/503 – The Philosophical and Scriptural Foundations of Church Planting
CSCP 443/543 – Gospel-Centered Cultural Engagement
CPHI 433/533 – World Religions (MOTR RELG 100)

PASTORAL STUDIES MINOR
CBIB 443 – Biblical Hermeneutics
CSCE 273 – Foundations for Christian Ministry
CSCE 343 – Discipleship and Evangelism: Leading in Spiritual Formation
CSCE 423/523 – Basics of Biblical Counseling
CSCM 433/533 – Principles of Pastoral Ministry
CSCM 483/583 – Expository Biblical Ministry
CSCP 403/503 – The Philosophical and Scriptural Foundations of Church Planting

Certificates

FAITH AND LEARNING CERTIFICATE
Required Core
CBIB 443 – Biblical Hermeneutics
CPHI 203 – Introduction to Logic (MOTR PHIL 101)
CPHS 433/533 – Contemporary World Views
CSCE 343 – Discipleship and Evangelism: Leading in Spiritual Formation
CSCM 303 – God and Humanity
CSCM 333 – Redemption and Reconciliation
TOTAL: 18 HOURS

1 of 3 Ethics Pairs
BIOT 323 – Bioethics AND
CPHI 413/513 – Christian Ethics
OR
BUSN 303 – Business Ethics and Professional Integrity AND
CPHI 413/513 Christian Ethics
OR
CRPH 423/523 – Criminal Justice Ethics and Leadership AND
CPHI 413/513 Christian Ethics
TOTAL: 6 HOURS

1 of 3 Global Pairs
ENCP 433/533 – C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien AND
CPHI 433/533 – World Religions (MOTR RELG 100)
OR
IDST 313 – History and Philosophy of Science and Technology AND
CPHI 433/533 World Religions (MOTR RELG 100)
OR
POPH 333 – Political Philosophy AND
CPHI 433/533 World Religions (MOTR RELG 100)
TOTAL: 6 HOURS

MINISTRY AND LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE
Required Biblical Studies Course
CBIB 443 – Biblical Hermeneutics
TOTAL: 3 HOURS

Required Christian Education Courses
CSCE 273 – Foundations for Christian Ministry
CSCE 303 – Missions and Mercy
CSCE 343 – Discipleship and Evangelism: Leading in Spiritual Formation
CSCE 423/523 – Basics of Biblical Counseling
CSCP 403/503 – The Philosophical and Scriptural Foundations of Church Planting
CSFM 413/513 – Leading a Ministry to Families
TOTAL: 21 HOURS

Required Christian Ministry Courses
CSCM 303 – God and Humanity
CSCM 333 – Redemption and Reconciliation
CSCM 423/523 – Theology of Christian Ministry
CSCM 433/533 – Principles of Pastoral Ministry
CSCM 483/583 – Expository Biblical Ministry