The Local Church (BC-203)

About this course

The meaning of Church comes from the Greek word ‘Ekklesia’ which refers to a gathering together of people who have been called out, for a specific purpose. As believers, we, are the church - the physical expression of the spiritual body of Christ and a complete representation of the Lord Jesus in a geographical location to minister and to carry out the Lord’s purposes. The mission of the church is the Great Commission itself and it is God’s strategy reaching the world with the Gospel and for discipleship. The New Testament paints many pictures of the Church. The Church is the Body of Christ, the Family of God, the Pillar of truth, an army, the Bride of Christ, a house of prayer and worship, the temple of God and more. Each picture reveals what the Church was intended to be on the earth. And then, there is the natural side of the church, its organization, administration, and practical functioning. This course is intended to help us understand the purpose and function of the Church and give us a blueprint on how to establish, nurture and build strong local churches that have influence and impact, locally and beyond. The Church has indeed left the building and will never be the same again!

Requirements

The pre-requisite for this course is simply to have a deep hunger for the truth presented in God’s Word – allowing His Word to change all areas of your life especially the way you ‘do’ church.

What you will learn

In this course you will learn about:

Section One: Origins And Purpose

• The Church – Its Spiritual And Natural Dimensions
• The Purpose Of The Local Church – Its Mission, Message, Methods
• The Government And Structure Of The Local Church
• Stages Of Growth And Development
• What Makes A Strong Local Church
• Church Growth Principles

Section Two: God's Blueprint

• God's Blueprint For The Local Church
• The Local Church - The Body Of Christ
• The Local Church – The Family Of God
• The Local Church - The Pillar Of Truth
• The Local Church - As An Army
• The Local Church - The Bride
• The Local Church - A House Of Prayer And Worship
• The Local Church - The Temple Of God
• The Local Church - Zion : God's Chosen People
• The Local Church - The Vine And The Branches
• The Local Church - The Lampstand
• Building According To God's Design

Section Three: Divine Order

• Sacraments Of The Church
• Church Discipline
• Church Order In Gatherings
• Women In Ministry

Section Four: Ministry Organization And Development

• Systems And Processes Within The Local Church
• Nurturing & Equipping The Saints
• Nurturing And Developing Leaders
• Church Administration
• Organizing Small Groups
• Megachurch And Multisite Church

Section Five: Reaching Out

• The Local Church In Relation To Other Churches
• Shepherding The City
• Urban Evangelism
• Church Planting And Missions

Section Six: Closing Thoughts

• Pitfalls To Avoid : Lessons From The Seven Churches

And more.

Course evaluation

Students will be given graded assessments during the Semester. Each of these assessments will be in reference to all content covered till that point in the course.

Course will be graded as follows:
91% - 100% Grade A+
76% - 90% Grade A
51% - 75% Grade B
35% - 50% Grade C
Below 35% Grade F (Fail)

Course learning options

You can do this course on-campus, online or via the E-learning portal.

Free learning resources

In addition to course materials provided by instructors, students are encouraged to make use of APC’s free learning resources: free APC books , free teaching sermons series , and other material available in the Resources section of our church website. Video recordings of course lectures are also available at APC Bible College YouTube channel.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do some courses ON-CAMPUS, some ONLINE and some via E-LEARNING?

Regardless of the learning option you choose (ON-CAMPUS, ONLINE or E-LEARNING) once you enrol, you are considered a student at APC Bible College and receive the same certificate/degree on completion of the program requirements. We also offer you the flexibility of completing some courses ON-CAMPUS, some courses ONLINE and others via the E-LEARNING platform. Your student Id remains the same. Please enrol in a course only in one learning option at a time (Example: Please do BC-101 either in Online classes or in E-learning during a particular semester. If you fail to complete BC-101 while doing it in Online Classes, in a future semester you can repeat BC-101 in E-learning).

Can I take courses in any order, or should I follow the order specified by the college?

We strongly recommend that you follow the sequence of courses outlined by the college, semester by semester, year by year. However, at your discretion you are welcome to take courses in any order and sequence. Kindly ensure you successfully complete all courses required for a particular program (C.Th., Dip.Th., or B.Th.) in order to receive that certificate.

Are the requirements to pass a course the same in all three learning options?

Not exactly. The course content remains the same in all three learning options (ON-CAMPUS, ONLINE or E-LEARNING). To successfully complete a course for ON-CAMPUS and ONLINE classes you must have both (A)minimum 85% attendance and (B)obtain a passing grade 35% marks or higher (grade C or better). For the E-LEARNING option, you must (A)watch all the lecture videos and (B)obtain a passing grade 35% marks or higher (grade C or better). The course assignments for ON-CAMPUS, ONLINE and E-LEARNING students may differ, and is left to the discretion of the Course Instructor.

Do you offer transfer credit for completing a certificate program?

We offer a certificate, diploma or bachelors degree from APC Bible College. We do not offer transfer credit for completing a course(s) or certificate program. Recognition of APC Bible College can vary based on the church/ Christian ministry/ institution/ organization/ agency that is reviewing your credentials and the country/region of their location and is the sole determination of the receiving church/ Christian ministry/ institution/ organization/ agency. Governmental agencies can also vary in their recognition of APC Bible College. At their discretion, the receiving organization may choose to give you transfer credit for the course(s) and certificate you have received from APC Bible College.

Will Christian organizations offer employment based on course(s) or certificate programs from APC Bible College?

This is the sole determination of the receiving church/ Christian ministry/ institution/ organization/ agency. Many APC Bible College graduates are successfully and fruitfully engaged in Christian ministry, some working independently and some working with Christian and other organizations.

APC Bible College is a ministry of All Peoples Church and World Outreach.