Engaging with God - Engaging with Others

Our Vision:

• TRAINING believers in their understanding of biblical Teaching


• NURTURING their spiritual relationships with God


• ENHANCING their ministry skills

IBC Adult Education Program At IBC we strive to equip and teach the participants in our Adult Education Program according to the pattern found in the New Testament. Paul says about his teaching ministry:

Colossians 1:28:

It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Colossians 2:2-3:

I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

An education that includes proclamation, warning and teaching to "present everyone mature in Christ" stresses the importance of training in Christian living. In addition to that Paul’s ministry also emphasized the goal of having "assured understanding", and "knowledge of God’s mystery". This includes a thorough understanding of biblical doctrine as well as guidance in regard to living out that doctrine.

From this principle we draw our first two tracks in IBC’s adult education.

1. The"Christian Foundation Track" concentrates on opening up the Scriptures to provide understanding of such doctrines as the Bible, God, Christ and Salvation. We believe that any spiritual change or growth in our daily Christian walk starts with understanding and appropriating the truths of God’s Word.
   
   An example: How can a Christian trust God for his professional future and live without fear, if he never understood the concept of God’s omnipotence which enables him to do everything, and the concept of God’s love, which directs God’s omnipotence to the benefit of the Christian. A deep biblical understanding of these issues may help the Christian to let go of his fears and to entrust himself to God for his professional future in particular, and also for his entire life.



2. The "Christian Living Track" concentrates on nurturing the heart-level relationship with God by training its participants in the core disciplines of Christian Living. So we focus first on such vital issues as Purification, Dedication, Bible-reading, Prayer, Faith and Obedience. These disciplines are important for every Christian to practice, whether they are new in the faith or not. Our course provides a setting in which these skills can be developed alongside mature believers who are able to help with many practical suggestions from their own experience.
   
   Secondly we provide a series of studies in the field of ethics. The goal is to help the participant find the mind of Christ (God’s will) in respect to important life decisions. These include such topics as Finding the Will of God, Marriage-Divorce and Remarriage, Contraception, Homosexuality, Biological ethics etc.
   
   The Bible also points to a third area of Christian Education. Paul writes:
   
   Ephesians 4:11-12:
   The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
   
   From this model we draw our third track of education:



3. The "Christian Ministries Track" concentrates on training its members for practical ministry. This includes an extensive course on Evangelism Training that enables every participant by the end of the course to articulate the gospel clearly and effectively to the people in their environment. A second course focuses on the church as a body and provides a setting where participants are trained in a biblical understanding of the concept of the church and how they can contribute to the functioning of the "body of Christ." This includes also an emphasis on personal gifts and how to use them for the edification of believers.

We believe that these three tracks, 1. Christian Foundations, 2. Christian Living, and 3. Christian Ministries resemble the New Testament model of Christian education within a church. It is a balanced approach that involves doctrine as well as practical living and ministry. It aims to develop the understanding, character and skills IBC - members. We try to offer a training which will include not only the minds of the believers but also their hearts and their hands. Perhaps the best summary for this model is given in Eph 4:11-15:

11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Christian Ministry Track), for building up the body of Christ,

13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. (Christian Living Track)

14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and from and blown about by every wind of doctrine (Christian Foundations Track), by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.

15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way (this includes all three areas mentioned above) into him who is the head, into Christ,

The Scriptures discussed above lead us to formulate our Vision statement as follows:

Our Vision:

• TRAINING believers in their understanding of biblical Teaching,
• NURTURING their spiritual relationships with God,
• ENHANCING their ministry skills.

This Vision will help to implement IBC’s overall Vision to the area of Christian Education. It will train, nurture, and enhance IBC’s ability for:

The Adult Education Course Structure

The special task of the Adult Education Program is to serve a highly transient community of believers. Since the average member of IBC stays in Brussels for about three years we aim to provide a balanced education for that period of time. Our aim is to provide the best possible and the most effective training for Christian believers within those time limits.

The chart below shows how the structure of IBC’s Adult Education Program is designed to provide education in all three major tracks within a period of only three years.

This structure allows the participant to select his courses as he likes and still to be able to complete the entire program within three years.

The Christian Foundations Course 1 concentrates on providing clear and understandable teaching on the doctrines of Scripture, God and the Holy Spirit. The source book is Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem.

The aims of this course are:

1. To create a thorough understanding of the doctrines of Scripture, God and the Holy Spirit. By the end of the course:
   
   • the student should be able to articulate a summary of the biblical teaching on the Person of God and the Trinity.
   • the student should be able to explain and defend the Canon, the Inspiration, Authenticity and Inerrancy of the Bible.
   • the student should be able to understand the role of the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity.


2. To strengthen the student’s view of the Bible as sole and divine authority for matters of faith and practice.



3. To apply these doctrines to the participant’s practical walk with God to his/her ministry in the church and in the world.

Christian Foundations Course 2

The Christian Foundations Course 2 concentrates on providing clear and understandable teaching on the doctrines of Jesus Christ and Salvation. The source book is the Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem.

The aims of this course are:

1. To create a thorough understanding of these doctrines. By the end of the course:
   
   • the student should be able to explain the two natures of Jesus Christ and the purpose for his incarnation.
   • the student should be able to explain and defend the deity and the resurrection of Jesus Christ as well as His absolute claim to be the only way to the Father.
   • the student should be able to explain the different aspects of salvation in Christ.
   • the student should be able to recognize and challenge false teachings about salvation, such as work-righteousness, or salvation without Christ etc.


2. To strengthen the student’s love for Christ and his gratitude for the salvation he has received.



3. To apply these doctrines to the participant’s daily walk and to his/her ministry in the church and in the world.

Christian Living Course 1

The Christian Living Course 1 concentrates on nurturing a spiritual relationship with God by training its participants in such disciplines as Purification, Dedication, Bible-reading, Prayer, Faith and Obedience.

The aims of this course are:

1. To create understanding of six steps of spiritual growth.
2. To guide the participant in appropriating and applying these steps in his personal life. By the end of the course:
• the student should have started to apply these steps on a regular basis.
• the student should have been able to get his practical questions answered.
• the student should be able to help others in acquiring those disciplines.

Christian Living Course 2

The Christian Living Course 2 concentrates on providing ethical guidance for the Christian Life. The goal is to help the participant to find the mind of Christ in respect to important life-decisions.

The aims of this course are:

1. To create an understanding of the ethical issues that are involved in decision -making. By the end of the course:
   • the student should be able to articulate and defend his own view on the major issues discussed.
   • the student should be able to give biblical evidence for his position.
2. To create confidence in dealing with ethical decisions.
3. To motivate the student to stay faithful to the Bible as he/she deals with ethical issues.

Christian Ministry Course 1

The Christian Ministry Course 1 concentrates on training its members in personal evangelism. The course material is Evangelism Explosion by James Kennedy.

The aims of this course are:

1. To enable the participant to detect the God-given opportunities to witness.
2. To train the student to tell his testimony and give a clear and interesting presentation of the gospel.
3. To train the student in leading somebody to Christ.

Christian Ministry Course 2

The Christian Ministry Course 2 concentrates on helping its participants to find and develop their God-given gifts and to use them for the benefit of the believing community.

The aims of this course are:

1. To guide its participants in finding their talents.
2. To guide them in putting their gifts to work.
3. To provide a biblical framework for the students to use everything they do, for the benefit of their fellow believers.
4. To help students finding a place and ministry in the church.
5. To train the students to become responsible members that are aware of their biblical responsibilities within the church.