Basic Bible Course

What believers know about the Bible they learn from listening to their pastor, or Sunday school teacher, or from their small group Bible study. Most believers have never received any formal Bible training.

A more formal approach to Bible training, such as one would receive in a Bible college or seminary, would include classes on an overview of the Bible, an introduction to each book of the Bible, and one on the major doctrines of the Bible. It would also include classes on evangelism, how to study the Bible and how to preach or teach the Bible.

The Basic Bible Course is designed to simply and practically summarize the material present in a formal Bible training program. When Mike was in seminary, he conceived of condensing the essentials of a basic Bible course for believers who did not have to opportunity to obtain formal Bible training. When he was pastor of the Church of the Open Door in downtown Los Angeles, he founded the Torrey Bible Institute (named after R. A. Torrey, the first pastor of the church) and he designed the curriculum for it. In the years since, Mike was written the Basic Bible Course, which is his version of what should be covered in a formal basic course in the Bible.

In order to be a disciple, a believer needs three things: attitudes, knowledge and skills. The attitudes are, of course, the attitudes of Jesus Christ, the knowledge is an understanding of the Bible that leads to conformity to Christ and the skills are those needed to introduce others to Christ and teach them the Word.

This Basic Bible Course covers two of those three items, knowledge and skills. It is designed to give you a basic knowledge of the Bible and a fundamental understanding of the skills needed to study it and share it. It contains seven sections to aid in that process.

Bible Overview              The Plane View of the Bible

Bible Chronology            The Chronology of the Bible

Bible Survey                 The Bible: Book by Book

Bible Doctrine                Relating Doctrine to Daily Life

Bible Evangelism            Evangelism without Pressure (TBA)

Bible Study                  Oh, To Know the Truth (TBA)

Bible Teaching              How to Prepare Effective Messages (TBA)

 God never intended for this process to be apart from a community of believers, called a church. In fact, it cannot be done, as God said it should be, without involvement in a church. This material can give you basic knowledge of the Scripture and an understanding of some of the skill needed to be a disciple, but only personal implementation and church involvement will produce the Christ-like maturity God desires.

 © G. Michael Cocoris