Bible Study Helps
Bible Gateway
The Bible Gateway is a tool for reading and researching scripture online - all in the language or translation of your choice! It provides advanced searching capabilities, which allow readers to find and compare particular passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
Training
The Open Bible Institute
The Open Bible Institute is a Bible-centred distance learning college which was launched in September 2006. It seeks to help you learn more about the Bible and the Christian Life through a range of courses in Theology, Biblical Studies and Christian Ministry.
The Open Bible Institute is for everyone - not just for those in full-time
ministry. It offers a variety of courses.
Short Courses
These are standalone courses for those who
are new to studying or who just want to understand more about a particular
topic (or topics). All the courses can be taken in ten weeks or less.
To make them as widely accessible as possible, the prices have been
kept low, just £15-£35 per course. The topics of the short
courses available are as follows.
- Administration
- Pastoral Care
- Preaching
- Christian Mission and Ministry (see example below)
Christian Mission and Ministry
This 10-session course is ideal for anyone involved in any sort of church leadership, be that small group leadership, youth group leadership or leading a women's group. The course is also suitable for anyone wishing to serve God with a truly biblical understanding of what it means to serve.
The syllabus includes:
- The Gospel - its nature and implications
- The Characteristics of Christian living
- The concept of sin and Christian maturity
- The place of Christian experience
- The nature of the Church
- The Church as a missionary community
- Church planting
- The principles and practicalities of evangelism
- The relationship between social involvement and evangelism
- An introduction to pastoral care and communications skills
Fees for this course cost just £30.
Other courses that the Open Bible Institute offers are:
Moore College Correspondence Course. This is a well-known distance learning course in biblical studies and theology.
Certificated Courses. These are for those with some leadership responsibility or those who want to study for a formal academic qualification.
Prepared for Service
PfS was established in 1994 based in Reading, run by FIEC. In September 2005, a second training centre was established at Walton Evangelical Church, Chesterfield. More than 40 students are currently in training. Prepared for Service is a two year part-time programme of training which provides teaching, pastoral care and practical experience for individuals with the support of their local church.
Other courses
Information on courses at LTS, Oak Hill, WEST and PfS was published in the Autumn 2008 
issue of the FIEC Training Bulletin.